Dennis Cheeseman writes:

A quick stop at the Barge at 7 a.m. and I was glad to see the swallows back. Spring is coming.

(Thanks, Dennis!)

Allan Sanford took these photos of Alice the Bald Eagle on Sunday, March 16, from the Transco Trail.  (Thanks, Allan!)

We know it is Alice because she has a transmitter (see photo below) and she is missing a wing feather.

Alice and Al are currently incubating eggs in Ridgefield Park. This is their fourth nesting season in Ridgefield Park. The previous three all produced two eaglets, for a total of six. All successfully fledged.

Until recently, Overpeck Creek was frozen, and we suspect that Al and Alice had to fly farther to forage. DeKorte Park is roughly seven miles from the nest, as the eagle flies.

Alice was also seen yesterday on a Bergen County Audubon walk near  Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry.

More about Alice here.

Allan Sanford reports:

I was excited to find these Wilson’s Snipes this week. They were in the Retention Pond on Disposal Road, and pics were taken through the fence.

(Thanks, Allan.  Photographers, please remember to park off the road and look out for traffic when parking on Disposal Road, and steer clear of construction areas.)

Chris Takacs reports that both he and Jill Homcy have seen an Osprey on the nest on Valley Brook Avenue. Please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright@njmeadowlands.gov with any Osprey sightings, particularly involving nesting. Photos are always a plus.

Also getting more reports of Tree Swallows and Greater Yellowlegs, to go with the Great Egret, BC Night Heron and many Killdeer and Red-winged Blackbirds. Spring must be here.

(Thanks, Chris and Jill!)

The Meadowlands Commission, the MEC (and Bergen County Audubon Society) sure have a lot on tap next month — from free walks to birding for beginners classes to an owl show to art classes to a free Earth Day concert.

Details follow. Continue reading →

Dave Rotondi wonders what kind of feather this is — found in Jersey City.

Any ideas?  (No need to ID the plastic bottle cap.)

Mike Girone passed along this Snowy Owl pix he took last weekend along Valley Brook Avenue.

(Thanks, Mike!)  Maybe it’s a farewell to winter shot.

Mike Brandao took this shot of an Eastern Coyote from Disposal Road last week.

(Thanks, Mike!)

The NJMC’s Eagle-eyed Snow Owl-spotter Drew McQuade saw this guy sitting on a bench enjoying the waterfowl along DeKorte Park’s Marsh Discovery Trail this afternoon. (Thanks, Drew!)

Allan Sanford took this pic of a Great Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron side by side in the Shorebird Pool in DeKorte Park earlier this week.

Spring arrives tomorrow. No, really!

(Thanks, Allan!)