Happy New Year to all!

Came across this video of DeKorte Park, very soothing, with some nice shots of the flowers in the Jill Anne Ziemkiewicz Memorial Butterfly Garden.  We figure it is at least a year and a half old…

Somthing to look forward to next year!

Next time you visit DeKorte Park, you might be surprised how far along the work has progressed on the solar canopy in the parking lot by the observatory.

This shot was taken just a few days ago, and the panels themselves are now being installed.

The year 2011 marked the dedication of a new riverside park in Carlstadt, lots of great nature sightings, and the continued partnership with Bergen County Audubon Society.

We thought we'd celebrate by looking back at 2011, month by month.

Here are some highlights from December:

Dec. 7: Don Torino on Losen Slote Creek Park

Dec. 13: Sunset Park

Dec. 20: DeKorte Park Is Hive of Construction

Dec. 22: Ice Crystals Up-Close

Dec. 23: Marsh Discovery Trail Work Nearing Completion

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission is working out the details for a Meadowlands Big Year competition, starting Jan. 1, so get you binoculars and spotting scopes ready.

Standard Big Year rules apply — all species must be seen with in the 30.4-square-mile district, which encompasses parts of 14 towns in Bergen and Hudson counties — with an exciting wrinkle.

Details will be posted on the blog as they become available.

Dan Poalillo reports on Jersey Birds:

"Wednesday morning I got good looks at a first or second-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL at DeKorte Park in Bergen County while standing at the corner of the Transco trail near the Turnpike. 

"The bird flew in from the east (over the Turnpike) in the company of three Herring Gulls.  I could easily see its bicolored bill, cream-colored plumage and lack of black on the tail or wings as it flew just 20 feet over my head and continued east. 

"When it reached the landfill across the impoundment it parted company with the Herring Gulls and headed slowly north towards suburbia.  I lost sight of it as it approached the old transfer station.

I would assume this bird is hanging out in the area and may be (one
of) the same bird(s) reported by others early in the season.  Also present were approximately 60 Canvasback."

(Thanks, Dan!)  Would sure love for someone to get a photo!

More on Glaucous Gulls here.

The year 2011 marked the dedication of a new riverside park in Carlstadt, lots of great nature sightings, and the continued partnership with Bergen County Audubon Society.

We thought we'd celebrate by looking back at 2011, month by month.

Here are some highlights from November:

Nov.1: License Plates that help the Meadowlands

Nov. 7: Bald Eagle W/Transmitter

Nov. 10: All about Mill Creek Marsh

Nov. 21: Skeetkill Creek Marsh Cleanup

Nov. 27: Long-tailed Duck at DeKorte (above)

Nov. 30: Nifty Eurasian Green-winged Teal Pix

Our latest "Focus on the Meadowlands" post on wildnewjersey.tv features photos from the Christmas Bird Count: a Muskrat hut, a long trek up a closed landfill, and one of those persistent Yellowlegs at DeKorte Park.

The link is here.

Yep — it's a Brown-headed Cowbird, our favorite parasite next to the Eiffel Tower. Congrats to all who answered correctly!

The year 2011 marked the dedication of a new riverside park in Carlstadt, lots of great nature sightings, and the continued partnership with Bergen County Audubon Society. 

We thought we'd celebrate by looking back at 2011, month by month.

Here are some highlights from October:

October 3: October Eagles

October 7: Banded Northern Harrier — Amazing Looks

October 10: Warbler Show, Disposal Road

October 14: About that American Avocet

October 24: Ron Shields' Latest Disposal Road Shots

October 27: Storm Over the Meadowlands

October 31: Bird-banding Goes Elementary