Ron Sammond Sr. took this shot of Forster's Terns hanging out by the Shorebird Pool beach on the Transco Trail. (Thanks, Ron!)

A quick lunchtime walk in DeKorte Park produced great views of the young Tricolored Heron, which has started perching next to the Forster's Terns by the water-monitoring station halfway down the Transco Trail from the Administration Building.

Also reported today: the Least Bitterns, Osprey, Stilt Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpiper, yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers and more.

We will continue to post shots of many of these birds by several photographers throughout the day today, so stayed tuned.

Ron Shields took this shot of a Short-billed Dowitcher at DeKorte recently. These guys have gotten short shrift because of so many other awesome birds. (Thanks, Ron!)

Our next walk is Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the legendary Harrier Meadow in North Arlington.

The 70-acre site — usually off limits to the public — features ponds and tidal impoundments and shorebirds aplenty.  Lots of butterflies and dragonflies, too.

Full listing follows.

Continue reading →

The Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce the upcoming release "The Nature of the Meadowlands," to be published this October by Schiffer Books.

On Friday we will post more information about this 128-page coffee-table book — and how you can reserve copies at a special discounted price. Stay tuned!

Roy Woodford got this photo of an adult Least Bittern hanging out. (Thanks, Roy!)

Don Torino, who helps lead our twice-monthly Bergen County Audubon Society/Meadowlands Commission, also writes a column for the wildnewjersey.tv blog.

His latest is on the incredible return of the Osprey to the Meadowlands.

Don writes:

To most birders, the sight of an Osprey is no longer an event. It seems these raptors are a victim of their own success. They no longer bring a gasp from the crowds on our nature walks like they did just a few years back.

A quick look up with binoculars, and then the assembly begins to scan the meadows for other less-common migrants.

But not me. I still need to give them a much longer look at let all the new birders, especially the kids,  know everything about the Osprey.

It is the least I can do to pay my respects. They have been through too much; from DDT to water pollution and habitat destruction.

Here's a link.

Jessica Kirste passed along this shot of the young Tricolored Heron hanging out DeKorte. (Thanks, Jessica!)

Stephen Buckingham passed along this pic.  We had planned to include it the assortment of bird pix taken at DeKorte in the past few days, but then realized that it might make a cool Tuesday Teaser, especially since we needed one.

Do these two birds have something in common?  We just don't see it.

(Thanks, Steve!)

We have been inundated with lots of really cool shots of the Least Bitterns and the Tricolored Heron and assorted other birds from the past few days.

Thought we'd post some as time allows, beginning with two Ron Shields shots of young  Least Bitterns — love that head fuzz.

The bitterns, the Tricolored Heron, and four Stilt Sandpipers have been reported today.

I have also heard reports of at least one Bald Eagle. You just never know what you might see.