With strong winds out of the south today, the raptor action on Disposal Road really picked up.

We stopped to see what Ron Shields was photographing near the bend at the Carillon this afternoon, and promptly saw Peregrines dueling Harriers, a couple of Red-tails, an Osprey and a Common Raven (yes, a non-raptor, we know) — which was going after a Northern Harrier (photo at left).

Several Am. Kestrels were further down Disposal, toward the banding station.

Looks like it might be Disposal Road season again.

We promise to post any pix from this afternoon that Ron sends our way.

On Friday, Oct. 3, the  Meadowlands Commission planted 51 native shrubs in the Harrier Meadow Natural Area in North Arlington.

The plantings include black chokeberry, red twig dogwood, winterberry and arrowwood viburnum. Harrier Meadow is a 70-acre restricted natural area with three tidal impoundments.

It is open to the public only for guided nature walks conducted by the NJMC and Bergen County Audubon Society.

The next Harrier Meadow walk is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The plantings were paid for from donations collected by the NJMC’s World Series of Birding team, the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks. A big thank you to the Marsh Hawks — Mike Newhouse of the NJMC, Chris Takacs, and Mike Wolfe — and all the fine folks who donated to the Marsh Hawks’ efforts.

`We saw this very large moth at the start of our Mill Creek Marsh Walk yesterday — and likely misidentified as a Sphinx Moth.

Upon further review, going with Underwing Moth — not sure which but possibly a Mourning Underwing. (We had a similar one at the MEC last September; link is here.)

More on Underwings here.

We’ll post the full list of birds seen on Sunday’s Mill Creek Marsh walk tomorrow.

Seen hitching a ride with an Osprey at lunchtime on Friday along Disposal Road.

Ray Duffy reports:

Last night at Mill Creek Marsh during the tide coming in I had a Stilt Sandpiper, a pair of Long-billed Dowitchers and a Pectoral Sandpiper in the first impoundment.  I also flushed a coot out of spartina along the second impoundment on the cross-dyke.  (Thanks, Ray!)

Last Tuesday in this space, NJMC bird-bander Zach Batren asked, “Can you ID this bird?”

The answer is “Laughing Gull,” still being seen in these parts at low tide on the mudflats.

Congrats to Rob Fanning for getting the teaser right.