To help migrating birds (and non-migratory birders), the Meadowlands Commission has lowered the Shorebird Pool at DeKorte Park for the following week.
When water levels were lowered earlier this spring, we drew Soras, Virginia Rail, Common Moorhens, a Red-necked Phalarope and more.
The extended mud flats might bring some more nifty birds, so be on the look out — and report (and photograph) any good sightings to Jim Wright here.
Thomas Yezerski's acclaimed new children's book 'Meadowlands' is now on sale in the Environment Center at DeKorte Park for a great price — $14.95.
Tom will be here on Tuesday, May 24, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m. to talk about the book, show some of its amaziing illustrations, and autograph copies.
The book is now available at the Environment Center's Tidelands Gift Shop.
More on Tom and the book here.
Dave Rotondi writes:
"The Jersey City Peregrines have hatched (4 according to the website, I can only see 3 on the cam)."
The link is here. (Thanks, Dave!)
Our next free walk is Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Dekorte Park, with (we hope), a lowered Shorebird Poll.
Full details follow.
This is a Prairie Warbler.
Ray Duffy reports:
"I had a Blue-winged Warbler in Schmidt's Woods at around 9 a.m., which is a county and town first for me."
That warbler is on the NJMC "Birds of the Meadowlands" checklist, but listed as uncommon. (Thanks, Ray!)
Ron Shields writes:
"As you can see, the new nest boxes are already occupied.
"Thanks to all on behalf of the Kearny Marsh."
Scroll down for earlier post on the new Tree Swallow boxes at Kearny Marsh.
NJMC naturalists installed the nesting boxes last Thursday, and occupancy began soon after.
It's prime time for warblers. Who's this, photographed last month at the bird banding station by Harrier Meadow in North Arlington?
Mike Britt reports:
DeKorte this morning had 100+ Yellowlegs (mix of Greater and Lesser), 1000+ peep which was a fairly even mix of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.
Also around were Wilson's Snipe, Green-winged Teal (pair), Blue-winged Teal (pair), Northern Pintail (drake) Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Harrier (hunting 1-E), plenty of Savannah Sparrows, 5 adult White-crowned Sparrows, Northern Parula, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Brown Thrasher, etc.
Sandy McNicol adds:
DeKorte in the afternoon, we had in addition Common Moorhen, Forester's Tern, Osprey and Gadwall pair.
(Thanks, Mike and Sandy!)
Julie McCall reports:
Some notes on Sunday. Denise Farrell and I hit DeKorte early before heading up to Ridgefield for the Mother's Day walk. Highlights included at least 10 Bank Swallows congregating on Disposal Road, 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and a Warbling Vireo making a bit of a racket.
Warblers included Northern Parula, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Common Yellowthroat, and a probable, heard-only, Blackpoll. A Northern Waterthrush was photographed by another birder, but we didn't manage to track it down.
After the Ridgefield walk, we dropped by DeKorte again to see if we could dig up any Cliff Swallows. No luck with that, but we did get an immature Bald Eagle, making it well worth the second trip.
Full list follows.