Jim Wright, who keeps this blog for the Meadowlands Commission, also write a column for The South Bergenite on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Here is his latest:
   Late next week, just after the stroke of midnight, four intrepid birdwatchers will begin a 24-hour-long quest to see how many species of birds they can see or hear in Bergen County.
   The quartet – Mike Newhouse of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (above), Chris Takacs of Lyndhurst, Mike Britt of Bayonne and Vince Koczurik of Easton, Pa. – are the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks, one of roughly 50 teams competing in the 28th annual World Series of Birding.  I will be going along for the ride — as designated driver and photographer.
    For birders, this is prime time.
More follows below.

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Ron Shields reports:

"As expected, the water level was extremely high this past weekend.  As a result, numerous Common Moorhen calls were audible but visual contact was difficult as they remained well back in the reeds. 

"Marsh Wrens abounded and were heard throughout the entire area.  Several American Coots were still around as well. 

"The highlight of my trip was a Least Bittern that was flushed from the phragmites near the Route 7 bridge and disappeared just as quick.  A Green Heron (above) was much more cooperative! 

What little mudflat existed held a variety of shorebirds.

We checked out most of the Shorebird Pool between 7 and 8 a.m. today, including the back of the Transco Trail, for the Tricolored Heron, with no luck. Please e-mail us here if you see it.

We are posting a few more of Ron Shields' pix from last night, in case it was a one-day wonder.  Two more follow "on the jump."

The last time we had one here was an immature Tricolored in July 2008. It was one of our first posts on this blog. Original posts are here and here.

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NJMC Naturalist Gabrielle Bennett-Meany says: "I know it as purple dead nettle, Lamium purpureum."

Link is here.

Frank Bobowski found a Tricolored Heron in DeKorte's Shorebird Pool before 6 p.m. today (Tuesday).

We will post on this blog tomorrow (Wednesday) as early as we can if it is still present, and help birders look for the bird if we can.

(Thanks, Frank, for finding the bird, and thanks, Ron, for photographing it!)

Above is one of our better shots of the Blackburnian Warbler seen on our walk and cleanup at Losen Slote Park in Little Ferry on Sunday. The bird could quite possibly be in the photo. If you stare long enough, you might be able to hear it. Or not.

We did get better views of lots of birds — including Black-and-white warblers, a Baltimore Oriole, an Ovenbird and more. We also picked up several trashbags' of litter and enjoyed an outstanding May morning.

Full list follows.

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You can see this native plant all over DeKorte each spring. What is it?

Answer tomorrow.

Greg Miller got this Sora shot on Saturday at the Shorebird Pool. (Thanks, Greg!)