By all accounts yesterday’s Birding By Boat Trip with the BCAS was a great success, with many birds scene from the unique vantage point of our pontoon boats. Below are some photos from the trip by Jimmy Macaluso, including Caspians, Peregrines and the Bernsteins, three generations of birders!

Here’s the rest of Joe Koscielny’s awesome photos taken on Sunday at the BCAS nature walk at DeKorte Park. Thanks Joe!

Forster’s Terns

Forster’s Tern

Great Egret

Least Sandpiper

Dowitcher

There’s an interesting article in today’s Record about State agriculture officials using the invasive Asian beetles known as weevils to help battle another invasive species, the mile-a-minute vine that has overrun natural areas, killing native trees and shrubs. The story reports that weevils have been released to consume mile-a-minute in Meadowlands areas including Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry and Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus.

Thanks to Joe Koscielny of BCAS for sending these great photos from Sunday’s DeKorte Park walk, where 30 species of birds, butterflies and moths were sighted. We’ll have a second batch in a little bit. Don’t miss our next free walk: Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus from 10 am to noon.

Semipalmated Sandpipers

Greater Yellowlegs

Least Bittern

Immature Bald Eagle

Immature Bald Eagle and Red-Tailed Hawk

Marco Lips sent us these photos of some cute Marsh Wrens on the Marsh Discovery Trail last week in DeKorte. Enjoy!

We’re extremely fortunate to have the Bergen County Audubon Society as a partner here at the NJSEA. From their twice-monthly guided nature walks throughout the Meadowlands and their sponsorhip and hard work in making our annual Butterfly Day and other events such a success, the BCAS is an invaluable organization that truly makes a difference in helping birds and the environment to thrive.

Bergen Audubon relies on its dedicated volunteer staff and just posted about how to join. Check out more info on this incredibly worthwhile organization here

There’s a fungus called oak wilt making its way through neighboring states that is a serious problem for Red Oaks. It hasn’t hit us yet but NJ Forestry Officials are on the lookout. The Record ran a story yesterday.

Our own Angelo Urato snapped these photos of an Osprey at River Barge Park last week just prior to a pontoon boat ride. Great pics of this young lookout! If you haven’t taken a pontoon boat tour yet, now is your time! The two-hour guided tours go through mid-September. For info click here

The 40 people who came out to DeKorte Park for yesterday morning’s BCAS Nature Walk were treated to sightings of 30 birds, butterflies and moths! You don’t have to wait until the next walk on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Mill Creek Marsh to see for yourself. Come on down to DeKorte this week!

Here’s a species list from yesterday:

Immature bald eagle
> red tailed hawk
>  caspian tern
> forsters tern
> least bitterns
> dowitcher
> stilt sandpiper
> lesser yellow legs
> greater yellow legs
> semi-palmated sandpiper
> least sandpiper
> semi palmated plover
> mute swan
> double crested cormorant
> yellow warbler
> cedar waxwing
> song sparrow
> barn swallow
> laughing gull
> mallards ruddy duck
> red-winged blackbird
> mourning dove robin
> great egret
> snow egret
> black crowned night heron
> Snowberry Clearwing Moth

American Lady

Red Admiral

Silver-spotted Skipper

Zabulon Skipper

 

 

Great story in the New York Times yesterday about Snowy Egrets. The article paints a wonderful picture of the graceful predator hunting small fish and gives some history, including how the egret’s plight in the late 1800s was one of the inspirations for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.