The annual Festivus pole is up in the lobby of the Meadowlands Commission’s administration building.

There is talk of camouflaging it with the ersatz evergreen boughs seen in the photo (right), so thought you’d like to see the pole in its natural state before it was too late.

The feats of strength are scheduled for this Sunday at 10 a.m., when we’ll see how many folks can brave the weather on our First-Sunday walk for December.

Airing of grievances has been scheduled for April 1 of next year. Sorry, but no early signups allowed.

More about the origins of Festivus here.

Mickey and Elaine Raine visited Mill Creek Marsh over the weekend and got a nice assortment of birds — including the wonderful Hoodies above and the excellent duckage and Downy below.

We saw this guy foraging along the road in lousy light in Harrier Meadow today. Never flew but had a kind of goofy gait.

What is it?

Because of winter-weather concerns, the contractors for the Mill Creek Marsh Trail renovation have decided not to begin work this year.

They will start on March 3, 2015. They anticipate completion by the end of May 2015.

Please spread the word!  Mill Creek Marsh trails are still open.

Mickey and Elaine report that as they were approaching the entrance to DeKorte Park’s Marsh Discovery Trail on Sunday afternoon, they encountered a flock of Cedar Wings gorging themselves on a crab apple tree. Here’s a sample of their photos. Pretty amazing!  (Thanks, Mickey and Elaine!)

To see what we might see this month in the Meadowlands, we thought we’d look back and check what was seen last year in December,  and showcase some of the great photography that folks have contributed.

Here’s December. (Thanks to all!) Just click on the text to see the post.

December 4: Nelson’s Sparrow@Mill Creek Marsh on Tuesday

December 5: Nifty Article on the Schuyler Copper Mine

December 11: Fog Fotos from Marco van Brabant  (above)

December 12: South Bergenite Column: Christmas Bird Count

December 13: Losen Slote in Snow Time

December 27: Welcome to DucKorte Park

December 30: Meadowlands Mystery Rock

December 31:  Peregrinating young Peregrine

The temperature was in the sixties on a lunchtime visit to Harrier Meadow, and what should appear but this Orange Sulphur?

Chris Takacs had a Painted Lady near the Carillon last month.

Anyone else see a butterfly recently? Let us know.

Joe Koscielny shared this Gadwall shot from Friday’s walk — we also had Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal and several other varieities of duck.

Jill Homcy passed along this American Coot shot from Friday afternoon. (Thanks, Joe and Jill!)

Jill Homcy reports:

I stopped at DeKorte briefly Sunday and took a walk all the way out on the Transco Trail checking for snowys, when this PEFA flew over, coming from the turnpike flying toward the Environmental Center.

I thought it was carrying prey originally, but when I got home I realized it was actually fitted with transmitters of some sort. The lighting was lousy so these are the best I could do picture-wise.

Jill says she has reported the sighting to the state. We’ll keep you posted.  (Thanks, Jill!)