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 April. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

Ap[ril 1: Photographers Showcase: Quincy Magoo

April 10: Meadowlands Snipe!

April 11: Amazing Baby Terrapin Pix

April 12: Ron Shields’ Latest: Pheasant, Raptors

April 17: Golden Plover Continues @ Harrier Meadow

April 23: Earth Day Cub Scout Volunteers

April 24: Mill Creek Marsh Glossy Ibis

April 26: Two Eaglets in Ridgefield Park Nest

April 28: Snapping Turtles in Love

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 March. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

March 1: Unusual Archival Newspaper Clipping

March 7: Monk Parakeets Doing Well

March 8: ‘N.J. Big Year’ Visit to the Meadowlands!

March 12: Ron Shields’ Latest: RB Merganser

March 19: Harbor Seal Pix  & Interview w/ Expert!

March 20: Bird Sightings: O’Sprey!

March 22: Kearny Marsh, Before and After Sandy

March 26: Roy Woodford’s Grebe w/Fish Photo Sequence

March 29: Pheasant on da Grass

Ray Gilbert had a Light-morph Rough-legged Hark on Disposal Road this morning. (Thanks, Ray! Looking forward to someone sending us some pictures!)

What’s more Chris Takacs had a Common Goldeneye at Mill Creek Marsh yesterday. (Thanks, Ray and Chris!)

Pix of Dark-morph Rough-leg from earlier this week are here.

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 February. (Thanks to all!)  Just click on the text to link to the post.

Feb. 3: American White Pelican, Kearny Marsh

Feb. 4: Transco Trail Repairs Are Progressing!

Feb. 5: Just Before Sunrise, Mill Creek Marsh

Feb. 10: DeKorte Park Photographer Snowcase

Feb. 11: Amazing Rare Bird Report from Chris Takacs

Feb. 12: Tuesday Teaser: Funky feet (above)

Feb. 18: A Bald Eagle for Presidents Day, by Ron Shields

Feb. 22: Huge Killdeer Eggs Found on Disposal Road

Fred Nisenholz took this shot of a Gray Ghost along Disposal Road on Wednesday. (Thanks, Fred!)

Gray Ghosts are being seen daily along Disposal Road — two were seen at once at one point. As many as five Northern Harriers have been seen along the road at one time, providing extended looks.

Another of Fred’s Gray Ghost photos follows. Continue reading →

We thought we’d look back at some of blog highlights from 2013, starting with January, and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to link to the post.

Jan. 9: O! Opossum!

Jan. 17: Horned Larks Still @ Laurel Hill

Jan. 26: Marco Van Brabant’s Spectacular Sunrise

Jan. 29: Redpolls, Red-shoulder @ Losen Slote

Jan. 30: Disposal Road Bald Eagle Is From Connecticut!

Don Torino, who leads so many of our Meadowlands Commission/Bergen County Audubon Society nature walks, also writes a weekly column for wildnewjersey.tv. His latest is on winter nature walks, and features Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry.

Here’s a sample:

As I walked out the door I already felt content just to be outdoors on such a day. Nature can do that for us. Taking in the natural world is sometimes all we need to rejuvenate our spirit.

Even as some days seem not meant for man or beast as the saying goes, to not  make ourselves a part of it is far worse that getting a little wet or having cold toes.

Of course, that does not mean I am immune to the cold winds of the Meadowlands, which seem to blow in my face from November through March.

Not too many years ago I used to wonder why anyone would ever want to retire to places like Florida and miss out on these magnificent New Jersey Winters? But now as I find it more difficult to warm my fingers and search for warmer winter boots I can certainly sympathize.

And yet to miss a day like today just for a few warmer moments for me would be to lose myself. Besides some of the worst winter weather days turn out to be some of the best birding days.

The link is here.

It’s always something….

Our five-member Meadowlands Commission crew had an incredible Christmas Bird Count on Sunday — with great views of a nearby ground-roosting Barn Owl, a Snowy Owl, a nearby  Wilson’s Snipe in the snow, and lots of ducks.

(Link to earlier post with Wilson’s Snipe pic is here.)

Thanks to Zach Batren for providing the full list, below. Continue reading →

The answers to yesterday’s Losen Slote Creek Park Tuesday Teaser-o-rama are Spicebush and its eponymous butterfly. More on Spicebush here.  More on the Spicebush Swallowtail here.