The park is open on Monday, May 26, but the Meadowlands Environment Center and the Observatory are closed.  Have a great holiday.

Our next free guided walk will be Sunday, June 1, at 10 a.m., at DeKorte Park, followed by a free reception for the Flyway Gallery show, images from “The Nature of the Meadowlands.”

More on the gallery show here.

Full listing follows. Continue reading →

Dennis Cheeseman reports that he got these great birds on his lunch hour at DeKorte yesterday — both are seldom seen around here. (Thanks, Dennis!)

Don Smith just phoned to say that 23 Black Skimmers are on the mudflats by River Barge Park right now. Directions to RBP are in the right-hand column of this blog. Scroll down for lots of Black Skimmer shots.  Dennis Cheeseman supplied the photo.  (Thanks, Don and Dennis!)

Laura Frazer writes:

I recently took this photo of a Song Sparrow at sunset at DeKorte  along the Transco Trail.

(Thanks, Laura!)

Mickey Raine writes:

Tuesday was an amazing late day at River Barge Park–18 Black Skimmers!!!

To see the actual full resting posture was a tremendous treat. We read about the weight of the head causing them to lie flat on the belly with extended head‎ position, but to witness first hand was a joy (below, center). Notice the other one a little down from the main sleeper?

Lots of “good” birds and nice people on Tuesday’s Mill Creek Marsh walk.

Full list follows.

Continue reading →

We saw four species of butterflies at DeKorte on lunch break (ours and theirs) yesterday.

Our butterfly ID skills are a tad rusty but we think we saw a Silver-spotted Skipper, an Indigo Duskywing and a very bright skipper  (Zabulon?)– plus Cabbage Whites.  If you can help with the IDs, please….

Roy Woodford reports:

I haven’t seen one of these at DeKorte before … a mighty cooperative female Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Photographed in the Lyndhurst Nature Preserve near the back parking lot around 6 p.m. Tuesday.  I also had a female American Redstart, a few Yellow Warblers, one Yellow-rumped Warbler, and and a few Common Yellowthroats. (Thanks, Roy!)

Regina Geoghan writes:

I missed seeing the Snowy Owl and the Scarlet Tanagers (so far) but delighted to have my first sighting of Black Skimmers at River Barge Park on Tuesday.

(Thanks, Regina! Will post Black Skimmer photos by Mickey Raine tomorrow).