I am tardy in posting these pix by Ron Shields — taken the weekend before last.
Ron writes: "Here are some weekend images from a variety of locations in the Meadowlands.
"The sites include Mill Creek Marsh, DeKorte Park and Clay Avenue.
"Some shots were taken early in the day as is evidenced by the light in the photos."
Above, a yellowlegs with a large meal; at left a White-crowned Sparrow.
Photos of banded Peregrine Falcon, a young Bald Eagle and a Snowy Egret follow.
Bring gloves and a trash bag — We may do an impromptu clean-up as well. Lots of good birds moving through, and the foliage should be great.
Directions to Losen Slote are on the left-hand column of this blog.
More info follows.
Dennis Cheeseman writes: "A Northern Parula (above) enjoying a late season caterpillar, plus a nice Monarch (below). (Thanks, Dennis!)
NJMC staffer Jim Wright, who keeps this blog, also writes a column every other Thursday for The South Bergenite. His latest, about an extended Meadowlands by a rare American Avocet, is posted here.
Let me tell you about a rare bird that has been hanging out in North Arlington for more than five weeks.
It is an American avocet, a beautiful shorebird with a thin, upturned bill, and it has found a home in a 70-acre New Jersey Meadowlands Commission natural area called Harrier Meadow.
NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse and Lyndhurst birder Chris Takacs found the bird the Monday morning after Hurricane Irene ripped through area. The storm probably sent the 18-inch-high bird off-course.
“The American avocet is usually found south here, and Delaware and beyond,” says Newhouse. “Texas is a great spot to see them.”
The rest of the column follows.
This week's "Focus on the Meadowlands" on wildnewjersey.tv's blog features photos of a Black-billed Cuckoo, a Green Heron and the Hackensack River at dusk.
The link is here.
NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse banded this beauty last Tuesday. It's a Bay-breasted Warbler. (We said it was terribly tough.)
Congrats to Pat for getting the right answer… Did the hint in the Comments section help?
More on Bay-breasted Warblers here.
This guy was flying over Teal Pool and that portion of the Transco Trail this afternoon just past 1 p.m. — shot through our open car window.
Jim Wright, who runs this blog for the N.J. Meadowlands Commission, will give a free talk and slide show entitled "The Birds of the Meadowlands" Wednesday night (Oct. 12) at the regular meeting of the Montclair Bird Club.
He'll also show photos of River Barge Park, the NJMC's awesome new 5.5-acre park on the Hackensack River in Carlstadt.
The talk is open to the public. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Union Congregational Church, Upper Montclair, and the talk should begin at 8. E-mail Jim using the link in the left-hand column of this blog.
NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse banded this beauty last Tuesday at Harrier Meadow and devilishly suggested it for the next Tuesday Teaser.
He also suggested we include a big hint, which follows. If you get this one, you are pretty danged awesome. Answer tomorrow.