Ramon Gomez reports seeing three grebes at Mehrhof Pond moments ago — one larger one that's likely a Horned Grebe, and two smaller ones that are likely Pied-billeds. (He did-not see the Red-throated Loon reported there earlier this week.)
You'll need a strong scope if you go. Mehrlof Pond is at the end of Mehrhof Road in Little Ferry. You'll need to look through a chain-link fence. (Thanks, Ramon!)
Our exploratory trip atop the Kingsland Landfill and along the seldom-seen low areas on the other side from Disposal Road yielded a solid 38 species including a Bald Eagle (seen by several) that was too dang far away to photograph.
We also saw the above Merlin, which Roy Woodford photographed on Disposal Road — likely still the best way to photograph raptors.
The full list follows, accompanied by an unusual panorama photographed by Greg Gard. As you'll see, we could have used another dozen birds or so… (Thanks, Roy and Greg, for the photos, and thanks to Ramon Gomez and Don Torino for the list!)
Besides keeping this blog and his other duties, the NJMC's Jim Wright writes a twice-monthly column for The South Bergenite. This week's column is about photographer Ron Shields.
One of the joys of writing the new coffee-table book 
“The Nature of the Meadowlands” was working with photographers the likes of Ron Shields of Kearny.
Ron took many of the book’s most memorable images – including an amazing sunrise and a couple of picture-perfect bald eagle shots.
“The attraction of the Meadowlands for me has always been the sense of urban wilderness and isolation one can find here,” says Ron, who is also the principal of Harrison High School.
“It’s fascinating to experience the many wonders this area offers while understanding it was once known as the ‘dumps.’ And all of this happens in the shadow of the greatest city in the world. “.
Ron’s two favorite places to photograph nature in the district are both open to the public — the Kearny Marsh and a back road called Disposal Road, connecting Lyndhurst and North Arlington.
In the warmer months, Ron paddles his kayak into the Kearny Marsh to photograph wildlife without disturbing it.
The rest of the column follows.