Denise Farrell reports:
Mike Britt reports:
24 HORNED LARKS looked like they were actively migrating, as they moved south along the Hackie at Mill Creek Point around 11AM [Saturday] morning. Geese moving high overhead as well.
The DeKorte area held 18 SNOW BUNTING which were flying over the Kingsland Landfill…a splinter of the big flock, a RAVEN was observed flying along Valley Brook before it headed out over Oritani Marsh, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS (adult & immature) were perched on the eastern end of Kingsland at the same time, 5 NORTHERN HARRIERS (one gray ghost, one adult female, three immatures) were patrolling, 2 COOPER'S HAWK (immature male, immature female), an AMERICAN KESTREL was perched on a wire by the old ballfield, and a single WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
It was really neat watching the gray ghost "sparrow" the overgrown construction site. He would repeatedly flush the sparrows and fly the same route over and over again in an attempt to catch one off-guard…
Also heard about 4 EASTERN MEADOWLARKS nearby (acting like migrants) and a COMMON REDPOLL roadside along Valley Brook.
(Thanks, Mike!)
With all the attention paid to the Rough-legged Hawk, the Northern Harriers and the Red-shouldered Hawks, it's easy to forget the Meadowlands also has plenty of Red-tails these days.
Dennis Cheeseman took this shot earlier this week. (Thanks, Dennis!)
Did you know that in the 1950s, Secaucus’ population of a certain animal was 16 times larger than the human population? (It’s not good.)
What was the animal? Continue reading
With all the attention paid to the Rough-legged Hawk — along with all the Northern Harriers — on Disposal Road of late, a couple of falcons have gotten short shrift.
Greg Gard got these shots of a Peregrine (above) and an Am. Kestrel (below) last weekend. Greg says: "Am. Kestrel was on the Disposal Rd, near the AMVETS Carillon, and the P. Falcon was on one of the towers on the Saw Mill Creek trail." (Thanks, Greg!)
Micheal Addis got this shot of the light-morph Rough-leg in classic hover mode by Disposal Road on Tuesday. (Thanks, Micheal!)
Today on Disposal Road, birders Frank and Dave report seeing a Bald Eagle flying over the landfills around 12:20 p.m.
Several birders had the Red-shouldered Hawk (left) later in the afternoon on Disposal Road on the landfill across from the entrance to DeKorten Park.
Northern Harriers were seen throughout the day today along Disposal Road.
The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey has a webpage featuring 2010 status updates for rare wildlife, including such Meadowlands favorites as the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and Osprey.
Most summaries have a link to more info on each species, a nifty feature.
The foundation helps monitor and manage many endangered and threatened species in New Jersey in cooperation with the Endangered and Nongame Species Program. The link is here.
For the state DEP 2010 report on the Bald Eagle, click here.
For the state DEP 2010 report on the Peregrine Falcon, click here.
For the state DEP 2010 report on the Osprey, click here.
Strange light this morning at DeKorte. Snow forecast for tomorrow.
Paid a quick visit to (a partly snow-covered) Mill Creek Marsh to look for the Eurasian Green-winged Teal, with no luck.
But did have: a dozen American Green-Teal, Ruddies, Gadwall, a pair of Common Mergs, a female Hooded merg, Great Blue Heron, Great Black-backed Gull and Northern Harrier.
