Believe it or not, there's a moth caterpillar in this photo — disguising itself as a flower!
NJMC Botanist Kate Lepis found the caterpillar adorned with Goldenrod flowers at Skeetkill Creek Marsh earlier this month, and took the photo above.
The moth caterpillar is Synchlora aerata — a.k.a. a Wavy Lined Emerald Moth caterpillar.
More info on this caterpillar can be found here.
How cool is that!!
More of Kate's shots of the moth follow. (Thanks, Kate!)
Nellie Tsipoura of New Jersey Audubon writes:
As part of the Harbor Herons project, We are trying to locate nighttime roosts of egrets in the Meadowlands and other locales.
We are wondering if any folks who read this blog might know of potential roost sites or have seen large concentrations of egrets at dusk or dawn in the Meadowlands around this time of year.
You can e-mail Nellie at nellie.tsipoura [at] njaudubon.org. Thanks!
Can anyone help us ID this upside-side skipper we photographed on Wednesday at Jill's Butterfly Garden?
We also saw a Black Swallowtail, a bit worn Painted Lady and a Snowberry Clear-winged Moth.
Would love to hear/see what folks see at the Butterfly Garden this weekend.
A couple of folks showed up for Tuesday's walk, including a birder who had never been to Harrier Meadow, so we took them on a quick tour before the rains hit.
High winds kept the dicky birds hunkered down, but we did get serval raptors and herons.
Full list follows, thank to Denise Farrell of Bergen County Audubon Society!
Save the date: Our next guided walk is Sunday, Oct. 7, at the incredible Mill Creek Marsh, especially beautiful this time of the year.
The walk, sponsored by the Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society, begins at 10 a.m. at the trail's entrance, just off Park Plaza Drive. (Directions are on the left-hand side of this blog.)
For a list of birds we saw at Mill Creek during an October walk last year, click here.
For the full listing, click here.
Ron writes: The Kearny Marsh was on fire this weekend. Action included a splendid variety of ducks, herons and raptors that included flyovers by an adult Bald Eagle, Red-tailed hawks and several Am. Kestrels.
"A six-pack of pecs (Pectoral Sandpipers) put on quite a show as they allowed extremely close-up encounters.
"But the clear winner was a juvenile Peregrine Falcon that landed on a mudflat a few feet off the bow my kayak in an unsuccessful attempt to secure a pectoral sandpiper for dinner. Startling and exhilarating to say the least!
"The weekend closed with another beautiful sunset!"
More of Ron's pix, including that sunset and a Pied-billed Grebe, follow. (Thanks, Ron!)
To RSVP for the signing and talk, call 201-460-4637 or e-mail us at info@njmeadowlands.gov.
Roy Woodford took this shot last month in Mill Creek Marsh.
What is it?
Dale Jankowski photographed this white caterpillar last week crossing the road by Jill's Butterfly Garden. Any help on the ID? (We cropped the pic of bit.) (Thanks, Jill!)
The bird-banding portion of today's Harrier Meadow is cancelled. Heavy rains, lightning or thunder cancel the walk itself. Call Jim Wright at 201-469-7349 for last-minute word.