Due to construction work, DeKorte Park will be closed on Friday, March 29.
The park remains closed on weekends because of on-going construction and trail repairs. We appreciate your patience.
On Tuesday morning, NJMC staffer Angelo Urato was working at River Barge Park. Around 8:30 a.m., he noticed something large on the rowing dock. He got out his binoculars and saw that it was a Harbor Seal. (Thanks, Angelo!)
The seal stayed until just before noon, when it swam off — possibly because a large truck pulled into the park. It has not been seen since, and the river has gotten much choppier.
We took a photo of the seal and e-mailed it to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine so we could get their input. Here’s what Robert Schoelkopf, the center’s founding director, had to say.
NJMC: The Meadowlands Commission currently has what looks to be a Harbor Seal on one of our docks at River Barge Park in Carlstadt, and we just sent e-mailed you a photo. What can you tell us about it?
It’s a male Harbor Seal, and it looks to be in good shape.
What’s it’s doing here?
Resting.
It just swam up the river?
Seals are all over New Jersey now. We’ve had a mild winter now, so they’re in pretty good shape. Of the dozen or two seal sightings we’ve had this year, we only have four of them in house [being treated] right now.
More photos (including a zoom), the rest of the interview, and a link to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center follow.
Ron Shields writes:
Here's some recent shots from the Detention Pond/Disposal Road area.
The Red-breasted Merganser (above)was at the Detention Pond on Sunday morning.
The highlight of the weekend for me was a Peregrine Falcon chasing a Canada Goose from the top of the landfill onto the mudflats!
Pix of Am. Kestrel (pretending to be a N. Shrike), (banded) Bald Eagle and Red-tail follow. (Thanks, Ron!)
Can you ID this crane, seen off Valley Brook Avenue earlier this month?
(We said it was the bottom of the barrel.)