We thought we’d look back at some of blog highlights from 2013, and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed.

Here’s November. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

November 1: Harrier Meadow Scouting Report — Trifecta

November 19: Preview, Today’s MCM Walk: Godwit

November 22: Rare Visitor: Sora in Our Office (That’s Right!)

November 25: Goshawk Reported on Disposal Road

November 26: Gray Ghost on Disposal Road

November 29: Teaser-palooza: Winners & Answers to All 9 Weeks

We thought we’d look back at some of blog highlights from 2013, and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed.

Here’s October. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

October 3: Mill Creek Marsh in Autumn

October 11: Great Meadowlands Story on wildnewjersey.tv

October 16: American Avocet at Clay Ave. Wetlands

October 18: Meadowlands Rainbow

October 21: For Peregrine Lovers

October 24: Our Latest Column: All About Harrier Meadow

October 28: Rare Bird: Prothonotary Warbler Banded Today

October 29: Disposal Road Report (photo by Fred Nisenholz above)

October 30: Latest (New) Disposal Road Sighting

October 31: Meadowlands Halloween Flotsam

Did a quick walk out the Transco Trail toward the turnpike today and was treated to a nice little duck show.

Saw several male Pintails, many Bufflehead, several No-shows (Northern Shovelers), a large raft of Canvasbacks, two Hoodies (above),  plus Mallards, Black Ducks, Gadwall, and an occasional Green-winged Teal.

That’s nine species right there.

No reason why they shouldn’t be around this weekend.

We are kicking off 2014 with a free guided walk at one of our favorite spots — Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus.

The two-hour walk, which begins at 10 a.m., is sponsored by the Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society.

Details follow.

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 10 a.m.
New Year’s Day Nature Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
What better way to ring in 2014 than with a brisk nature walk? This free two-hour guided walk of Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus begins at 10 a.m. We’ll look for wintering waterfowl – including the Eurasian Green-winged Teal –and other birds of interest. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-230-4983. Free.

We thought we’d look back at some of blog highlights from 2013, and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed.

Here’s September. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

September 3: Tagged Egret in Harrier Meadow

September 6: S. Bergenite Story on Meadowlands’ Comeback

Sepember 11: WTC Cove in DeKorte Park Rededicated

September 12: Sept. 11 Twin Beams of Light from DeKorte Park

September 12: Orange-crowned and Bobolink at Mill Creek

September 16: Meadowlands Lightning and More  (Michael Maddaloni photo above)

September 26: Cool New eBird Feature for Meadowlands

September 27: Mike Girone Disposal Road Raptor Report

Ground-roosting Barn Owl

Jim Wright, who keeps this blog for the Meadowlaqnds Commission, also writes a twice-monthly column for the South Bergenite. His latest is on the Christmas BNird Count in the Meadowlands:

In a column earlier this month, I previewed the annual Christmas Bird Count, now an international event.

The N.J. Meadowlands Commission participated in the Lower Hudson portion of the count on Sunday, Dec. 15  — our chance to do a one-day census of the birds on a handful of commission properties that are closed to the public for safety or security reasons.

Although our day began just before dawn — and featured slushy roads, freezing toes and slippery footing — it’s hard to imagine a more amazing day in the field.

Our team of five, captained by NJMC naturalist Mike Newhouse, saw more than 60 species, including such rarities as a rough-legged hawk, a Wilson’s snipe in the snow, two orange-crowned warblers, a barn owl and a snowy owl.

The snowy owl and the rough-legged hawk are infrequent winter visitors from Canada, and the barn owl is seldom seen any time of year. All three are as beautiful as they are rare.

To get great looks at these three raptors and all those other beautiful birds on a December day in the Meadowlands is a testament to just how important the region is to wildlife in a tri-state area that often seems to be running out of elbow room.

Sometimes photos tell the story best. Here goes.

Al Sanford got some nice shots of one of the Orange-crowned warblers that has been hanging out around Disposal Road and DeKorte Park’s Lyndhurst nature reserve of late. (Thanks, Al!)

We thought we’d look back at some of blog highlights from 2013, and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed.

Here’s August. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

August 12: First-Ever DeKorte Hackberry Emperor (TWKO*)

August 14: Don Torino’s Column on Losen Slote

August  15: Red-banded Hairstreak @ DeKorte  (Photo above by Steve Buckingham)

August 19: Kearny Marsh Report

August 23: Meet Billy the Bagworm

August 29: Yikes — Another Banded Peregrine

August 30: DeKorte: Hummingbird Bird, Hummingbird Moth

We thought we’d look back at some of blog highlights from 2013, and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed.

Here’s July. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

July 3: Roy Woodford: Mill Creek Point Flycatcher

July 9: More Hurricane Sandy Repairs: River Barge Park

July 17: So That’s Why It’s Called a Clear-winged Moth!

July 18: Meet Joey the Tobacco Hornworm

July 22: Ron Shields: BCN Heron-palooza @DeKorte

July 23: A Wet and Wild Moth Night

July 24: DeKorte Park FOY Gray Hairstreak  (Photo above by Regina Geoghan)

July 26: WTC Memorial Cove Repairs Done

July 26: Yesterday’s Birding By Boat: Full List &Pix

July 29: Thanks for Making Butterfly Day Such a Success!

Everyone at the N.J. Meadowlands Commission wishes you the warmest wishes for the holidays and a happy, healthy 2014.

The photo, above, is by Regina Geoghan and features a snowy scene from DeKorte Park. (Thanks, Regina!)