Jill Homcy writes:

“I stopped at Laurel Hill at lunchtime today. Saw the Horned Larks in the field and about  200 geese–among them there was one with an orange neck band with “Y4P6” on it.

Will post a pic as it becomes available. (Thanks, Jill!)

1:50 p.m. update:  A gentleman walking near the Transco Trail reports that he accidentally spooked the Snowy, and it took off toward the turnpike. May still be around but…

There’s a Snowy Owl on the ice on the Saw Mill Creek Tidal Impoundment.  Take the Transco Trail toward the NJ Turnpike. Spotting scope is best, but it can be seen through binoculars.

Needless to say, stay on the trail.

Laurel Hill — photo by Marco Van Brabant

As the attention of the world’s media descends upon East Rutherford on Super Bowl Sunday and the focus of it is on the touchdowns that are thrown and the football heroes that are made.

“I hope that at least for at least a brief moment that the incredible technology of the NFL cameras that from a few hundred yards away can spot a dropped ball or a fumble, a first down or a receiver pointing up into the heavens after a touch-down will for a brief second or two show the world the real New Jersey Meadowlands, the one that draws crowds not only on Sunday afternoons to a man-made facility but the Meadowlands that attracts people to the marshes and meadows to witness the wonders of the natural world every day of the year.

The real Meadowlands is where real Eagles, Falcons, Ravens, Seahawks and Cardinals thrive in an almost magical environment despite the traffic, weather conditions or the TV schedule.

The link is here.

The above raptor photographed on a gray winter’s day in Losen Slote Creek Park is a Red-shouldered Hawk.

Congrats to those who ID’d it correctly!

Had a report over the weekend of a Snowy Owl out on the ice on the Saw Mill Mudflats at DeKorte Park.  A Snowy (perhaps the same one) was seen flying over DeKorte late yesterday afternoon.

Did not see any Snowys on the ice at DeKorte today, but did see two distant Bald Eagles around noon at the back of  the Saw Mill Mudflats, above (we did say they were distant) — visible from the Transco Trail and from the start of the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve.

A photographer said he had seen four eagles just a bit earlier at that same location.

It’s obvious but bears repeating: Folks looking for the eagles or owl should stay on trail. Do not even think about venturing onto the ice. It is extremely dangerous.

Marco Van Brabant took this amazing “Turkey Tail” mushroom shot earlier this month at Losen Slote Creek Park in Lettle Ferry, site of this weekend’s Super Bird Sunday walk.

Losen Slote Creek Park has its own Facebook Page, by the way. You can view it here.

Two other of Marco’s Losen Slote pix follow.

Welcome to the last in a series of Tuesday Teaser’s devoted to Losen Slote Creek Park, the site of our fifth annual Super Bird Sunday Walk this weekend.

In recent weeks, we have offered various Losen Slote-based Teaser presented by the Bergen County Audubon Society.

Today’s Teaser is pictured above, in Losen Slote one cold winter’s day. What kind of hawk is it?

Chris Takacs writes:

Took this Tree Sparrow shot during the weekend snow along Disposal Road.

Thanks, Chris!

Ray Gilbert writes:

Adult male Merlin on Disposal rd. 01/22/14

(Thanks for the photo, and for not wasting words, Ray!)

Here are the upcoming events for the Meadowlands Commission and the Meadowlands Environment Center  through the upcoming weekend:

* Free open viewing nights at the DeKorte Park observatory tonight and Wednesday night.

* a free “Super Bird Sunday Walk.

Details follow. Continue reading →