We had a great walk at Losen Slote Park on Little Ferry this morning, with 25 people and nearly three dozen species, including nine warbler species (including a Blackburnian.)

We will print the full list and a photo of a surprise guest later this week.

Julie McCall reports:

In addition to the surprise of a male Eastern Bluebird  Saturday morning, some other highlights at DeKorte today included Indigo Bunting (male and female all morning near the entrance to the park), a gorgeous male Blackburnian Warbler, a Brown Thrasher, and some flyover Common Loons early in the morning.

Double-crested Cormorants put on a good show with a swimming group of 50+ in the West Pool near the Marsh Discovery Trail, before breaking up into smaller groups throughout the park.

No luck with signs of a kite or a phalarope, but there were plenty of good birds to go around: 65+ species. (Thanks, Julie!)

With all the reports of amazing birds at DeKorte late last week, we are only now catching up on this shot by Ron Shields, taken Friday at noon on the Kingsland Overlook. (Thanks, Ron!)

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight with free public access from 8:30 to 10 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For more information about free public viewing nights and to check out the observatory's new website, click here.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.