Just got late word of a Snow Bunting seen on Disposal Road by DeKorte Park on Friday (right after we left, of course!). Ron Shields passed along this photo. (Thanks, Ron!)
A Snow Bunting was seen near the Celery Farm in Allendale (north of Paramus on Route 17) this weekend. These guys are usually seen in flocks, but you never know,
Julie McCall reports: "Today turned out to be a good birding day at DeKorte Park and adjacent Disposal Road. The snowstorm and its results cancelled a prior engagement I had and freed me up to go to a program at the NJ Meadowlands Environmental Center, in which a naturalist from the Catskills came to do a family-oriented talk on raptors and reptiles.
(I got up close and personal looks at a Red-tailed Hawk, a Turkey Vulture, a Peregrine Falcon, a Harris Hawk, and a Eurasian Eagle Owl, as well as a corn snake and a young alligator.)
I birded on my way in and on my way out, and the results were pleasing, including the Northern Shrike and a Bald Eagle.
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Don Torino reports: "Spent a great morning at Mill Creek Marsh. It looked just beautiful with the snow blanketing the marsh.
"The Snow is deep so the going was tough. The trail is best done with x-country skis or snowshoes — at least until the snow level goes down. some nice birds, too:
Amazing photos of great blue herons, butterflies, ospreys and other wildlife by photographer Douglas Goodell are featured at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Flyway Gallery through March.
The free exhibit, “Portraits of Nature,” runs through Friday, March 26.
A Ridgewood resident, Goodell is the co-author of “Jungle of the Maya” (a coffee-table book about the Central American rainforest) and “Duck Enough to Fly” (a photography-driven children's book).
Goodell also was a major contributor to “In the Presence of Nature” (a coffee-table book about a nearby natural area). He is currently working on a book about photography in Costa Rica.
Marco Lips reports: "Off from work [on Friday], so that means another visit 
to DeKorte.
"It was absolutely wonderful to have the snow blowing in my face — a great day to be outdoors.
"The Harrier came closer and closer until it suddenly spotted me. It was interesting to see how it immediately changed course and increased its speed." (Thanks, Marco!)
The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming next Monday night with free public programs at 8 and 9 p.m. — weather permitting, of course.
Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.
Each evening two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.
The observatory's state-of-the-art telescope has a 20-inch mirror, housed beneath a retractable dome.
The telescope, one of the largest in the area, is equipped with cameras to record the stars and planets. Special filters block light pollution.
For detailed information and the complete March schedule, click here.
DeKorte Park is open, and some of the trails look pretty good for cross-
Birding was quite good after lunch along the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve and the Saw Mill Trail heading out toward the Turnpike.
Ducks are still big — many Canvasback, Ruddy, Bufflehead, Northern Pintail, occasional Shoveler and Gadwall. Got a glimpse of that lone female Goldeneye way out along the trail as she swam away.
Ducks were fairly cooperative especially a male Northern Pintail who flew by (below).
Did not see any Bald Eagles but did have a harrier hunting over the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve.
Greg Gard passed along these photos of the male Mandarin Duck at James J. Braddock Park in North Bergen. He took the photos earlier this week. (Thanks, Greg!)
Mandarin Ducks are native to Asia and non-native here – this guy is likely either a released bird or an escapee.
Sorry for the delay in posting this, but we had a few technical issues and other glitches. Don Torino of the Bergen County Audubon Society reports:
"Our Super Bird Sunday walk had nearly three dozen participants — and several 'good' birds — including Hoodies, Bufflehead, Canvasbacks, Northern Harrier and Cooper's Hawk, to name a few.
The gift bags included free two-hour eco-cruises on the Hackensack River later this year, limited-edition Peter Max Meadowlands posters and other goodies.
