Steve Buckingham photographed this Red-banded Hairstreak at Jill’s Garden on Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day. Steve writes:

“Attached is a shot of the Red-banded Hairstreak from Saturday.  It really shows up nicely against the Black-eyed Susans.”

(Thanks, Steve!)

The butterfly is on the North Jersey Butterfly Club’s checklist for DeKorte Park, but this is the first one we’ve seen. Very cool.

Mike Girone reports:

Spent late Saturday (8-10) afternoon at DeKorte and adjacent roadways. Spotted a Cooper’s Hawk flying west and fairly low over Disposal Road. It eyed up a group of Killdeer (who were very much aware of the hawk), but kept going. Not long after, up to 3 Red-tailed Hawks were soaring together near the Carillon.

An Osprey was seen over DeKorte getting buzzed by swallows. Great & Snowy Egrets, along with Forster’s Terns, were patrolling the Shorebird Pool, and an unidentified flycatcher was working Transco Trail near the Turnpike.

A check on Valley Brook Ave. yielded 2 Common Raven fly-overs (at low altitude), and a pair of Osprey (both dining on fish) on the light poles at the old ball field. One of the Osprey switched light poles, and ousted an American Kestrel from its perch. Continue reading →

The Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society are sponsoring a second birding-by-boat excursion this summer on the Hackensack River.

The two-hour event starts at 10 a.m. and leaves from River Barge Park at 10 a.m. Details follow. Continue reading →