Carole Hughes led an NJ Audubon trip to Losen Slote Creek Park and other spots in the Meadowlands on Saturday and posted this on JerseyBirds:

"Highlight bird was a single male White-winged Crossbill feeding on the sweet gums, a life bird for many of the participants.  The bird cooperated enough for some quick looks in the scope.  The bird was with a small flock of Black-capped Chickadees and a single American Goldfinch.

"We also had multiple Fox Sparrows in the meadow area along with both an adult and an immature Bald Eagle.

"Other birds at either Mehrhof Pond or the edge of the Hackensack River included Great Cormorants, Common Mergansers, Lesser Scaup, a single Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall and Northern Shovelers.

"Mill Creek Marsh was still frozen in the impoundments but we had 20+ Green-winged Teal in the open water.  A Northern Harrier was actively hunting."  (Thanks, Carole!)

Today's Photographers Showcase fatures Dennis Cheeseman. He is a contributor to the blog and to the "The Nature of the Meadowlands" book. Dennis writes:

Whether it is a landscape shot or trying to get a close-up macro, I love nature photography. I work in the Carlstadt area, so come lunch time you can see me wandering around one of the parks getting in my exercise. 

My camera is always with me so as I walk, I love to hunt for the next great shot.  Things change from season to season, birds migrate, flowers bloom and die.  There is always something different, even though you may be in the same spot.   You may see me hiding in the trees trying to get a bird shot or lying on the ground shooting a bug or flower.

My passion for birding started five or six years ago.   During my frequent walks, I began to notice the different varieties of birds that visit the Meadowlands.  I found it amazing what I saw when I really start looking.  From there, my hobby has grown.

Two more pix, a link to Dennis' galleries, and more of Dennis' comments follow. (Thanks, Dennis!)

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Much of DeKorte Park has been closed because work crews have been working six days a week to repair the massive damage to the Transco Trail.

We are hoping all repairs to that portion of the park are done by early summer. Thank you for your patience!

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight.

Free public access is from 7 to 10 on Monday and Wednesday nights  this month — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For more information about free public viewing nights and to check out the observatory's website, click here.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.