Author Archives: Jim Wright

Butterflies Appearing @DeKorte Again

We saw four species of butterflies at DeKorte on lunch break (ours and theirs) yesterday.

Our butterfly ID skills are a tad rusty but we think we saw a Silver-spotted Skipper, an Indigo Duskywing and a very bright skipper  (Zabulon?)– plus Cabbage Whites.  If you can help with the IDs, please….

Female Black-throated Blue

roy warbler 0514

Roy Woodford reports:

I haven’t seen one of these at DeKorte before … a mighty cooperative female Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Photographed in the Lyndhurst Nature Preserve near the back parking lot around 6 p.m. Tuesday.  I also had a female American Redstart, a few Yellow Warblers, one Yellow-rumped Warbler, and and a few Common Yellowthroats. (Thanks, Roy!)

Black Skimmers @ River Barge Park

May 20_BlackSkimmers-RBParkSM_ReginaGeoghan_6036Regina Geoghan writes:

I missed seeing the Snowy Owl and the Scarlet Tanagers (so far) but delighted to have my first sighting of Black Skimmers at River Barge Park on Tuesday.

(Thanks, Regina! Will post Black Skimmer photos by Mickey Raine tomorrow).

Nifty Mill Creek Marsh Walk Yesterday

1-DSCN9248We finally had wonderful weather for one of Mill Creek Marsh walk, and the birds did not disappoint. Highlights included a couple of Dunlin, a Semipalmated Plover and other shorebirds.

We also had a Mudhog, Painted Lady and lots of spawning carp, who really ought to get a room. (Click thumbnail to see pix.)

The walk was sponsored by the Bergen County Audubon Society and the N.J. Meadowlands Commission.

Will post a full list tomorrow.

What’s in a Name: Schuyler Avenue

This revived  weekly feature is brought to you courtesy of the Meadowlands Commission’s Parks Department to give you some historical background on how local places, landmarks, and geographical features  got their name.

Map Robert Erskine -1776

Map Robert Erskine -1776

Schuyler Avenue, North Arlington  

In the entire history of the Hackensack Meadowlands no one ever said, “Thar’s gold in them thar hills!”

But in the early 1700’s someone said, “There’s copper in those hills.”

That “someone” was Arent Schuyler born in Albany, New York in 1662.

His is the story of the discovery of copper in the Meadowlands.

Arent was the first of the Schuylers who gave their name to one of this area’s oldest roads: Schuyler Avenue.

Click “Continue reading…” for more information and archival images, Continue reading