Congratulations to the Meadowlands Marsh Hawks team, which took first place in the World Series of Birding Limited Geographic Area category for Bergen County! The team saw and heard 136 species during the 24 hour period from midnight May 6 to midnight May 7.

Check out a great article in yesterday’s Record here and accompanying video here

The team consisted of former Meadowlands Commission Naturalist Mike Newhouse, Chris Takacs,Mike Wolfe, and Zachary Batren.

Newhouse said :Overall, the best species of the day were found in the Meadowlands. We had red-throated loon, boat-tailed grackle, ring-necked duck, caspian tern, and saltmarsh sparrow.

Good morning everyone!

We bid you adieu for the week with some beautiful sunset shots taken recently by Ron Shields at DeKorte. Have a great weekend everyone!

Marco van Brabant sent in these photos of the Red-throated Loon taken yesterday morning at DeKorte. Marco reports that the loon was nowhere in sight Thursday evening. Has he taken off? If so, as Marco says, ‘Thanks for Stopping By!’

Earlier we posted some spectacular sunrise photos that Mickey Raine took on Wednesday. Here’s a look at some birds that were also out and about while most of us were still in bed, including a stunning Egret in flight and a Marsh Wren. Thanks again Mickey!

To the early risers go the spoils of gorgeous, stunning sunrise shots. Check out this sampling of pre-sunrise and sunrise photos from Mickey Raine taken on Wednesday. We’ll have photos of some of Mickey’s fellow early risers of the avian variety a little later.

The Bergen County Audubon Society is leading a walk and cleanup at Losen Slote Creek Park in Little Ferry on Sunday, May 7, letting you enjoy the park’s natural beauty while acting as a steward for the park’s upkeep!

Losen Slote is one of the last upland forests in the Meadowlands and a great spot for bird watching and enjoying nature at its best. The walk is from 8:30 to 10:30 am, followed by the cleanup. Please bring your own work gloves.

For more information contact Don Torino at greatauk4@gmail.com or 201-230-4983.

Chances are if you have wandered the trails and paths of the Meadowlands over the years, whether it was a birding trip or just enjoying the beauty of the parks, you’ve encountered a special person that stopped by to lend you a helping hand.

It may have been explaining the differences between Greater or Lesser Yellow-legs, pointing out a flying Peregrine overhead, locating a rare  species of wildlife or maybe just helping guide you in the right direction. In all likelihood that person was Chris Takacs, a volunteer caretaker of sorts, expert birder and a person with a deep a passion for the Meadowlands like no one else I know.

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Allan Sanford

Yesterday we asked if there were any birds you’d like to see highlighted here. We received a request from Lori for Wood Ducks. Here are some from the last few years. Thanks to Lori for reaching out!

Ron Shields photographed this Red-throated Loon at the back of the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve this morning. Hopefully he’s still around, so come on down!