"The Nature of the Meadowlands" has its own Facebook Page, filled with photos and a listing of all the times and places that the NJMC's Jim Wright will be talking about the book.

We are putting the info there so that this blog doesn't get cluttered.

So please check us out and "like" us! And spread the word!

The link is here. (Thanks!)

Wanted to up date everyone on the ID of this above Sharp-tailed Sparrow, photographed along Disposal Road on Saturday.

Ron writes: "This sparrow was found at the bend in Disposal Road where everyone usually photographs raptors.

"There's been a ton of sparrows of all sorts feeding in the weeds in the drainage ditch (gully).

 "This guy popped out of the vegetation for only a few seconds before returning to cover."

 Chris Takacs writes that the bird may be a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, not a Saltmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow.

We have since gotten further confirmation for another sparrow expert — Nelson's Sharp-tailed it is.

(Thanks, all!) 

An NJMC staffer or two have been kayaking on the Hackensack River near River Barge Park in Carlstadt the past two days, and wouldn't you know — the one day we did not bring a camera — we had an immature Bald Eagle perched and eating a fish for nearly 90 minutes near the water's edge.

The bird was along the river north of the park on the western bank of the river, a tree or two away from the Red-tailed Hawk's nest of last spring.

At one point, an adult Bald Eagle joined the youngster.

We looked for a radio transmitter on its back and, sure enough, it had one.

The only transmitter eagle we know is Alice, named for the photographer who got the first shot of her. (A post on this is here).

Alice was nice enough to fly directly over head a few times, more beautiful than ever, before flying southward with Junior.  We would have kicked ourself for not having a camera but we were sitting in a kayak at the time.

We also had a Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, assorted gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, White-throats and Pine Siskins.

Greg Grad writes: "I'm sending you a little teaser of what can be seen on the Disposal Road lately.

"Large number of American Goldfinches at DeKorte were unfortunately noticed by local Cooper's Hawks (above).

"These hawks can be seen hunting for them daily, allowing really close looks of their skillful aerobatics.

"Also, we saw a Gray Ghost (below) multiple times on Monday. At one point he was flying away with prey, possible American Goldfinch as well."

(Thanks, Greg!)

These little blue berries aren't blueberries! 

What are they, and why are they the enemy?

Dennis Cheeseman photographed this young Peregrine Falcon near MetLife Stadium last week.

The bird was not banded, Dennis reports, so it could not be the same one photographed this summer near MetLife Stadium. That one was banded, and was hatched on the MetLife Building in Manhttan. Earlier post is here.

Saw this Merlin on a telephone pole on Disposal Road on Thursday — near where our Wednesday event on the former Kingsland Landfill will meet up.

We waited 10 minutes in hopes it would fly and we'd get a flight shot or two, but no luck…

We are sorry to announce that the visit to the top of the Kingsland Landfill next Wednesday afternoon is now fully booked. 

If you wish to be placed on the waiting list, e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov

The full post on this first-ever event is here.

Note: If the event goes well, we hope to have more of these down the road or, in this case, up the road.