The Meadowlands Commission is doing its best to keep DeKorte Park’s Trails and Disposal Road open to the public despite the snowy conditions, but we are concerned about your safety.

In DeKorte Park:

Use common sense. Do not go out on the ice — these are tidal mudflats,  never safe for humans.

Do not go up on the embankment (berm) on the Transco Trail for a “better” look. It is snow-covered and potentially slippery. Stay on the trail at all times.

Do not climb over gates or barriers to trespass on closed trails.  Do not harrass the owls.

Note: If trail conditions become slippery, the Commission may need to close the trails.

On Disposal Road:

Do not park on any curve.

Pull your vehicle to the side of the road as much as possible.

Look out for vehicles whenever you are near or in the roadway.

If you see folks breaking the rules, please ask them to stop. We appreciate your cooperation.

Muhammad Faizan writes:

Attached are some shots from one of last week’s Snowy Owl shows. One of the snowy owl came really close to the wooden dock after the sun set.

(Thanks, Faizan!)

More of Faizan’s Snowy Owl pix can be seen here.

Note: We saw only one Snowy (on a railing)  today (Friday), but it was still fairly windy.  The Transco Trail and other trails are covered with crusty snow that makes walking difficult.

 Mickey Raine sent us this photo of a sunset  this week:

The sunset was spectacular, and when narrowing in a bit more through the view finder, focusing only on the intense flaming sky, the resulting effect was perfect, especially with the phragmites swaying in the breeze as the foreground.  The deep colors remained for only a few minutes, then the sun had disappeared across the hill.

(Thanks, Mickey!)

Steve Buckingham reports:

While others were marveling at the Snowy Owls at DeKorte on Saturday, I went over to Laurel Hill Park to check on the Lapland Longspur reported by Chris Takacs earlier in the week, and was not disappointed.

There were actually 2  Longspurs, a mature male and a female/immature male, hanging out with about 50 Horned Larks.

I was watching them forage and periodically take flight and fly circles around the field and then land in different spots.  After about 45 minutes, they all took flight heading south away from the field and out of sight.

Turns out what spooked the birds was a bright male Kestrel.  He apparently was less interested in the imported arctic tundra bird special than the locavore rodent special on Saturday’s lunch menu.

(Thanks, Steve!)

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