Author Archives: NJMC

Bald Eagles: Bird Report 110409

  Chris Takacs reports: "Today I had to pull off Belleville Turnpike in Kearny around 10:45 for a 10 minute display by 2 adult Bald Eagles. They flew together along the NJ Turnpike, then right over my head. Then a 'chase' began as one Eagle flew after the other in the bright blue sky we had today.

    "They flew for about 10 minutes over the 1-E landfill, flapping and climbing, then diving and climbing up again. After a climb together they hooked talons and tumbled together in the sky for 2-3 seconds. They separated, regained some altitude and flew about separately for a few minutes before I returned to the car and continued my drive to Jersey City.

    "It amazed me that 100+ cars drove by on the NJ Tpk. and the Belleville Tpk., nobody saw this magnificent display. I'm sure glad I did. Right place, right time!"

 

North Arlington: Meadowlands Slide Show Thursday

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    Jim Wright, who runs this blog for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, will be speaking about the Meadowlands, Past, Present and Future  tomorrow night (Thursday, Nov. 5) at the North Arlinton Library

    The free talk will feature some nifty nature photography taken in North Arlington — like the rare Black-necked Stilt pictured here.

   The talk, which begins at 6:30 p.m., runs about 40 minutes, so you will have plenty of time to see Game Seven of the World Series, if the yankees don't win in six games. The talk is open to the public.  We hope you can attend.

    Contact Jim here if you would like more information.

Last Sunday’s Walk

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    Don Torino of the Bergen County Audubon Society reports:

   "We had a good nature walk Sunday morning morning, The weather was overcast and windy but we had some good birds — including two Northern Harriers, 30+ Cedar Waxwings, and at least six duck species– plus about 20 people. A special thanks to Dave Hall and Beth Goldberg of the BCAS for helping out."

    Click "Continue reading…" for the full list.

Continue reading →

Bird Report 110309

   Mike Britt reports: The Meadowlands was generally devoid of migrants Monday…I observed a GREAT EGRET, 12 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 300 NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, 4 HORNED LARK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE, COOPER'S HAWK (Imm), HARRIER (Imm), and a handful of RED-TAILED HAWKS.

Notes: The Harrier and Merlin were hunting over the Erie & Kingsland landfills. The Horned Larks were on the defunct Encap site. The Coop has been hanging around the Kingsland for about a week or so…I've seen it from the train.

Observatory: November

IMG_5837    The William D. McDowell Observatory in  DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight with free public programs at 8 and 9 p.m.

   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.

    Pictured at left is the observatory's state-of-the-art telescope with 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 November schedule, click here.

  


Don’t Forget Sunday’s Birding Walk

IMG_0278-1 Just a  reminder to set your clocks back an hour Saturday night — especially  if you're planning to go on the First Sunday walk  at DeKorte 10 a.m. this weekend.  We are still getting yellowlegs and assorted egrets, and some ducks are arriving as well.

   Here's the listing:

Sunday, November 1, 10 a.m.

First-Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk with Bergen County Audubon Society
   This free two-hour nature walk starts outside the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst,  and runs from 10 a.m. We’ll walk around the 110-acre park, looking for straggling shorebirds, newly arrived waterfowls and other birds.  To rsvp, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.