Ron Shields writes:

Last week, I made my first venture of the year  into the Kearny Marsh by kayak and found numerous Great Blue Herons and plenty of coots throughout the impoundment.  

A substantial raft of Ruddy Ducks was still around along with northern shovelers and a sprinkling of Green-winged Teal.The big surprise was an American Bittern which was flushed from the phragmites in back of Gunnell Oval and a half-dozen snipe that  exploded off a mud flat right in front of me.

The Kearny Marsh also yielded a hunting Northern Harrier and a lone osprey. By the way, the wood duck boxes look great! [Ron is referring to new Wood Duck boxes that the Meadowlands Commission put up in the marsh. One is shown below.]  (Thanks, Ron!)