Ron Shields reports:

Here are some images are from Friday morning’s paddle. I’ve never seen so many (least) bitterns in the marsh before!

The Green Heron is another great bonus.  (Thanks, Ron!) (Sorry  for oversized pix; software acting up.)
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Chris Takacs reports that at the Kearny Marsh on Friday , he saw:

Common Gallinule with 3 young, Least Bittern, 4 Wood Ducks and Peregrine. 2 Least Terns were in Kearny Marsh East, and 3000+ Semi-palmated Sandpipers and 24 Semi-palmated Plovers were in the mudflats across the tracks.

Above is a distant photo of a Gallinule with 2 of the 3 chicks in tow.  (Thanks, Chris!)

Greg Gard writes:

After a long break, I finally visited DeKorte Park last Tuesday evening. I was pleasantly surprised with the restoration done at the park! Well done!!!

Here is a quick video/time-lapse of the last hour of that day that I’ve managed to record. (Thanks, Greg!)

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park has an exciting month of programming in August.

Free public access is from 8:30 to 10:30 on Monday and Wednesday nights this month — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC’s Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.

For more information about summer Observatory programming, click here.

Jerry Golub writes:

An American Avocet was observed at Sawmill Creek Trail Friday 2 August from ~2:00 – 4:09 PM.

I first saw it It below the power lines and after heron survey went to other side of pool to get closer.

Please keep an eye out — and give Jim Wright a call at 201-469-7349 if it reappears.

A big thanks to the more than three dozen folks (including the shady characters abive) who participated in this morning’s First-Sunday-of-the-Month walk in DeKorte Park, brought to you by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society,

Bird highlights included a Bald Eagle, a Peregrine, and some arriving shorebirds. Butterfly highlights included a Mourning Cloak, a Summer Azure and a nice fresh Monarch.

Later this week, we will publish the full list of 11 species of butterflies and 31 species of birds that were seen.

Valley Brook Ave. near DeKorte Park is open again, but a few new bumps.

Marco writes:

I was on the Saw Mill Trail a few days ago, early in the morning at low tide. Lots of Herons on the mudflats down the trail, but this one (juvie Black-crowned) was right at the entrance on the left of the trail entrance by the carillon, well, until he spotted me…

Ron Shields writes:

I’ve attached some images from recent forays into the Kearny Marsh.  It’s been great! It seems that life has returned to  a new “normal” since Sandy as the topography of the area has completely changed.

For the better, there now exists a plethora of new nooks and crannies that hold all sorts of surprises. For the worse, whole sections of phragmites have been dislodged and pushed into the Gunnell Oval.

It is still difficult albeit not impossible to launch from behind the ballfields.

Thanks, Ron!

Kevin Karlson (center, white shirt), leading a morning bird walk at DeKorte Park last August.

Our awesome August lineup kicks off this Sunday (Aug. 4) with a free bird and butterfly walk, followed by Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day on Saturday, Aug. 10 (also free) ; a canoe trip that same day;  Harrier Meadow walk on Tuesday, Aug. 20 (also free), and a new birding by boat cruise on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Full listings follow. Continue reading →