Because of all the storm related cleanups and other work, we have not been posting many of "nature shots." We will try to post more, moving forward.
Brandon Caswell sent us the photo above, commenting:
"I have been down to Disposal Road a few times since the unfortunate weather events. I got a picture of a Swamp Sparrow with a Mummichog. It was also witnessed by another guy birding. We laughed pretty hard at that sight!" (Thanks, Brandon!)
We had 27 species on our Tuesday guided walk at Laurel Hill County Park.
Highlight was the arrival of a pair of Common Ravens, who checked out the old nesting site on the cliff, drove off a pair of Red-tails, then settled on a branch and groomed each other for at least 15 minutes, affording great views.
After someone noted that one raven was larger than the other, a question arose: Which is larger, the male or the female?
The answer, according to Sibley, is the male. (On left, above.)
Full list follows. (Thanks, Denise and Ramon!)
Two "Nature of the Meadowlands" events are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1.
At 11 a.m. at Wild Birds Unlimited in Paramus, Jim Wright will give a short talk and slide show about this new coffee table book on the history and natural history of the Meadowlands and its amazing comeback.
He'll also sign copies of the book — on sale at Wild Birds Unlimited, at 189 Route 17 South in Paramus.
From 1 to 2 p.m., Jim and Governor Tom Kean (who wrote the book's foreword) will be signing copies at Bookends in Ridgewood — a rescheduling of the signing originally slated for Nov. 7, when we had that early snowstorm.
Bookends is located at 211 East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood.
More on the book here.
Our next cleanup is Friday, Nov. 23, at 10 a.m. at Harrier Meadow in North Arlington.
This beautiful 70-acre natural area (see photo above) took a wallop from Hurricane Sandy, and we are trying to return the site to a semblance of normal.
Work crews have cleaned up much of the Phragmites debris, called "wrack," and left it in huge piles for removal, but much of the site is still strewn with litter of all sorts — and that's where the Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon need your help.
Our next cleanup after Harrier Meadow is Sunday at 10 a.m. at Mill Creek Marsh.
More information and a larger view of Marco's photo follow.
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