The South Bergenite has a comprehensive story about the history of muskrat hunting in the Meadowlands this week, featuring a lot of quotes from former NJMC naturalist Don Smith.  The link is here.

It was hanging out with a Canada Goose at lunchtime, with head tucked in.  Go figure.  Also many Greater Yellowlegs, assorted Canadas and a Killdeer.

We had a beautiful day for our Losen Slote Creek Park walk on Tuesday — and saw 28 species in all.

Full list follows.

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Jim Wright will present a free talk and slideshow about “The Nature of the Meadowlands,” the book he did for the N.J. Meadowlands Commission, tonight (Oct. 17) at 7 at the Westfield Memorial Library, 550 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ.

For more information, call  (908) 789-4090 or click here.

Ron Shields writes:

“With Halloween fast approaching, I send warning to beware the WereFalcon as photographed late one recent\ evening against the backdrop of a half moon,  hauntingly seeking an unsuspecting victim.

Who knows what the full moon will bring!!! (Thanks, Ron!)

Dennis Cheeseman reported an American Avocet at Clay Ave. Wetlands in Lyndhurst this afternoon. Chris Takacs says the bird was still present as of 3:30.  (Thanks, Dennis and Chris!)

Dennis Cheeseman got this shot earlier this week — great view of its eponymous feature. (Thanks, Dennis!)

This is a Lincoln’s Sparrow, banded at NJMC’s banding station. Dennis Cheeseman added the hat, even though this sparrow was not named for our 16th president — James Jay Audubon named it for Thomas Lincoln, who was Audubon’s traveling companion on a trip to Labrador in 1833 and who reportedly collected the first specimen.

Congrats to all who ID’d it correctly. And a tip of the hat to Dennis Cheeseman.

Roy Woodford writes:

He was not very happy to see me.  He took a few swipes at the camera while I took the shots.  At least I got a good pose out of it.

Roy’s snake shot follows (scroll down a little).  We posted this way so that folks who hate snakes don’t have to see it. (Thanks, Roy!)
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More than a dozen folks participated in this morning’s Third Tuesday of the Month walk at Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry, sponsored by the Meadowlands Commission and the fine folks at Bergen County Audubon Society.

Highlights included an (accidentally flushed) American Woodcock, three Sharpies (who sure made a lot of dickie birds go to ground), and some Eastern Towhees.

Saw a lot of Yellow-rumps, and then a lot of White-throats — sort of a changing of the guard.

Will post the full list later this week. (Thanks to all who shared this wonderful, slightly challenging  autumn walk.)