We didn't realize just how many species we saw on our two walks on Saturday morning until we collated all our sighting reports and ran them through eBird.org.

The total species (42) and range of species were impressive. Herb Houghton contributed the pics that accompany this report — including Caspian Tern (above), and Black-bellied Plover (With the list). (Thanks, Herb!)

Also wanted to thank Ken Emerson for filing the following report of a Merlin chasing a Belted Kingfisher around 10:15 a.m.: "At the north end of the park, a juvenile (probably) or female (possibly) Merlin pursued a kingfisher. Chattering in alarm, the kingfisher was driven or fled from some 25 feet up in the air to the water. Ignoring the hundreds of Semipalmated Sandpipers in the immediate vicinity, the Merlin stooped at the kingfisher 4-5 times, and each time the kingfisher narrowly escaped by skittering, half-swimming and half-flying, over the water's surface. The chase continued until both birds were out of sight, so I don't know how it ended."

Full list and Herb's pic of Black-bellied Plover follow.

Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, US-NJ
Aug 20, 2011 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments:     These were two group walks led by Kevin Karlson and Lloyd Spitalnik for the NJ Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon.
42 species

Canada Goose 
Gadwall 
Mallard 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Great Blue Heron 
Great Egret 
Snowy Egret 
Green Heron 
Black-crowned Night-Heron 
Osprey 
Peregrine Falcon 
Black-bellied Plover 
Semipalmated Plover 
Spotted Sandpiper 
Greater Yellowlegs 
Lesser Yellowlegs 
Semipalmated Sandpiper 
Least Sandpiper 
Pectoral Sandpiper 
Stilt Sandpiper       Seen in Shorebird Pool many times 
Short-billed Dowitcher 
Laughing Gull 
Ring-billed Gull 
Herring Gull 
Great Black-backed Gull 
Forster's Tern 
Mourning Dove 
Belted Kingfisher 
Bank Swallow 
Barn Swallow 
Marsh Wren 
American Robin 
Gray Catbird 
Northern Mockingbird 
European Starling 
Yellow Warbler 
Song Sparrow 
Northern Cardinal 
Common Grackle 
Baltimore Oriole 
American Goldfinch 
House Sparrow