Thanks to everyone who came out to yesterday’s great Birding for Beginners program and to the Bergen County Audubon Society for their superb job in running the event. We had 85 people attend the program, which began with a talk on basic birding techniques, identification and optics. Participants then broke into groups for a walk around DeKorte Park, where eagles and Red-tailed hawks were among the birds seen.

In addition to the pics below, check out page L-2 in today’s Record for a photo that their photographer took at the event.

The BCAS will be back at DeKorte Park next week for two free programs: A guided nature walk of the park on Tuesday, April 19, from 10 am to noon; and an Earth Day Celebration on Friday, April 22, that includes a talk on raptors followed by a walk in the park. The Earth Day event runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. For more information email greatauk4@gmail.com or call 201-230-4983.

Bald Eagle

Double Crested Cormorant

Red-tailed Hawk

Mickey Raine got these fantastic shots of a Snowy Egret on the hunt at Mill Creek Marsh on Saturday at dusk. Also included are his photos of the Meadowlands radio towers. Enjoy!

Thanks to Chris Takacs for the catchy headline. Why O Canada! for this feasting Peregrine Falcon? Chris explains:

Friday morning, 4/8, Andrew Marden and I found a Peregrine Falcon at River Barge Park. She was giving the Ospreys some trouble, chasing one of them around. She found a pigeon for breakfast and took it to the Kayak dock. She had a band that looked unfamiliar to me, so I reported it to banding lab. Mike Girone, our local Peregrine enthusiast, shared this photo to some places and came back with some banding information.

“Morgan” is her name and she was banded on May 26, 2015 at 23 days old and 820 grams or 1.8 lbs. She was banded in Toronto, Canada! The nest is located at 150 & 250 Ferrand Drive, near Don Mills and Eglinton in Toronto and hosted by Amexon Property Management Inc.

A website http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/c/sightings/toronto-don-mills-and-eglinton/page/3/ has provided a bunch more information on this bird.