Kristen Nicholas sent along a bunch of dandy pix from Laurel Hill and environs from earlier this year, including a pair of Ospreys at the beginning of the reproduction cycle, and these Northern Harriers above. (Thanks, Kristen!)

This is a Least (but not last) Flycatcher. Hint: That is a clue to next Tuesday’s Teaser.

Congrats to all who got the ID right.

Here are the tallies as of Oct. 31 in the Meadowlands Big Year contest for 2013.

We have one really tight competition, and a record already — Mike Newhouse has eclipsed last year’s winner, Chris Takacs, by one bird as of 10/31.

Congrats to all for competing. Most of the tallies are up from last year at this time.

We hope you are having fun near to home, and seeing lots of great birds.

Keep in mind that some birders are in the Meadowlands all the time, and others get here occasionally, so their birdage may differ drastically.

If your name’s not on the list and you’d like to compete, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov.

Here is the leader board as of  Oct. 31:
1. Mike Newhouse 212 (NJMC, setting a target number for competitors.)
2. Chris Takacs: 205, (2012 reigning champion, ineligible for prizes
in 2013 as a result, lives in district)
3. Ray Duffy, 178 (in district)
4. Jackie DeMarco, 162 (out of district)
5. Mike Wolfe, 161 species (out of district)
5. Dennis Cheeseman, 161 (out of district)
7. Jim Wright,  155  (NJMC staff, along for the ride)
8. Zach Batren, 152 (out of district)
9. Mike Turso 138 (out of district)
10. Rob Fanning 134  (out of district)
11. Oliver Stringham, 130  (in district)
12. Julie McCall, 127 (in district).
12.  Roy Woodford 127 (out of district)

Link to Big Year totals last year at the end of October is here.

DeKorte Park is open on Election Day (today, Nov. 5) from 8 a.m. to dusk but the Meadowlands Environment Center (art gallery, gift shop, restrooms) is closed.

River Barge Park is open.

No one ever said bird IDs were easy.  This guy was photographed at the NJMC’s bird-banding station in late September. Who is he?

This is part of this blog’s nine-week Teaser-palooza competition, open to all.  More on the Teaser-palooza can be found here.

 
Dennis Cheeseman sent this in last week after seeing the post about the National Flight League’s Raven-Falcon match-up at Laurel Hill.

He’s calling this pic a Jets and Eagles match-up along Disposal Road… No worries — the plane was far, far, far away.  (Thanks, Dennis!)

DeKorte Park is open on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5) from 8 a.m. to dusk but the Meadowlands Environment Center (art gallery, gift shop, restrooms) is closed.

River Barge Park is open.

We will post the 2013 Big Year totals as of 10/31 on Wednesday, with some really exciting news, and one tight competition.

It has been a terrific competition, thanks to everyone who has participated.

Stay tuned!

Each Monday, we post the upcoming events for the Meadowlands Commission and the Meadowlands Environment Center  through the upcoming weekend.

This week’s main event is a program on New Jersey swine on Thursday in the MEC at 1 p.m.
Details follow. Continue reading →

This Sunday at 10 a.m. is a free guided walk in Harrier Meadow, normally closed to the public.

You’ll also be able to see the new native plant plantings provided by a grant from Bergen County Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society.

(We have been seeing lots of “good birds” in Harrier Meadow this week. See next post below for more.)

Full listing for Sunday’s Harrier Meadow walk follows. Continue reading →