Monthly Archives: December 2011

Tuesday Teaser 120611

Another fairly easy Teaser — photographed this fall at the Meadowlands Commission's bird banding station.

Weekend Bird Reports

Doug Morel supplied the Horned Grebe pic above — several birders saw the bird Saturday in the Saw Mill Creek tidal impoundment at DeKorte. (Thanks, Doug!)

Julie McCall reports:

"At DeKorte Sunday afternoon had 2 late birds: A Palm Warbler in the vegetation btwn the Transco Trail and Disposal Road, and a ridiculously late Phoebe near the MEC building, gleaning insects off the side of the building.

"An immature Snow Goose continues with the Canadas feeding on top of the landfill, and they were hanging out in the Teal Pool for a little while as well.

"I stuck around till sunset, and later found that there was a female Canvasback swimming with the Ruddy Ducks. Did anyone get it during the walk?

"I walked around with Rob Fanning and Lisa Ann Malandrino for a little while after the walk, and we looked for the Glaucous Gull reported by John Workman the day before. No luck with the Glaucous (the tide had come in…) but Rob found an immature Iceland Gull out near the turnpike. After a flew minutes, it flew off.

"An odd surprise was an immature Red-tail with bells. No sign of a falconer anywhere. [Note: One had been seen earlier.]"

(Thanks, Julie, Rob, and John!)

This Month’s Observatory Schedule

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight.

Free public access is from 7 to 10 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights this month — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For more information about free public viewing nights and to check out the observatory's website, click here.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.

A Nifty Sunday Walk Yesterday

A big Thank You to the more than 30 folks who partcipated in our First-Sunday walk at DeKorte Park, sponosred by the Meadowlands Commission and Bergen Audubon Society.

Highlights included Am. Kestrel, No. Harrier and a great variety of ducks.

Fill list later this week.

Don’t Forget: Free Guided DeKorte Walk on Sunday!

We're planning a duck-raptor doubleheader this Sunday — a slide show and on local ducks and raptors indoors, and then a guided walk to see ducks and raptors. (Maybe the Long-tailed Duck will make a special appearance.)