`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.
We had a wonderful autumn walk at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus this morning. Highlights included Bald Eagle, Peregrine, Osprey and Northern Harrier.
Full list tomorrow.
NJMC staffer Irma Lepe-Lee called to report a big bird sitting in the middle of Valley Brook Avenue. It refused to fly — even as cars whizzed by.
Just as we arrived, the bird finally flew and landed on a telephone pole.
As you can see, the bird turned out to be a Red-tailed Hawk.
Best to be on the look out and drive prudently if you are going to DeKorte anytime soon. (Thanks, Irma!)
Our next walk with the Bergen County Audubon Society is Sunday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. at the incomparable Mill Creek Marsh.
Details follow. Continue reading
The NJMC’s Mike Newhouse and his awesome team of bird-banders banded an American Woodcock this morning.
This is one funky bird, and seldom seen up-close in broad daylight. (Just ask anyone who has been on one of the March woodcock walks we do with Bergen County Audubon Society.)
It had been seen hanging out on the top of a former landfill for a few days. Glad it finally decided to opt for the aluminum band.
The commission encourages all birds in the region to stop by the banding station to get a permanent ID, good in any state as well as internationally.
More on the American Woodcock here.
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that there is nothing better than a beautiful fast-moving office spider. This guy was photographed in a Meadowlands office building
Can anyone I.D. this guy? We’d like to think he was just visiting.
Ron Shields took his trusty cameras to Mill Creek Marsh last week and took some pix — perhaps a preview of what we might see on this Sunday’s free walk?
More on the walk here.
