Ron Shields writes:
Here’s what’s causing all the fuss among the Eastern Kingbirds at the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve.
(Thanks, Ron!)
What You Might See in July
To see what we might see in the Meadowlands next month, we thought we’d give you some highlights from July 2012 (click on the text to link to the post):
July 3: Sphinx Moths and Butterflies Galore
July 12: Marsh Wren & More
July 16: Dennis the Menace
July 23: Butterfly Day: The Full List
July 26: First Ever Moth Night
July 27: More on the DeKorte Tagged Egret
July 27: More Meadowlands Moth Night
DeKorte Park’s Teal Pool “Loop Trail” Is Open Again!
The Meadowlands Commission is pleased to announce that 1.25-mile loop trail from the administration building to the Saw Mill Creek Trail to the Carillon on Disposal Road and back to the administration building is now officially open again. The Lyndhurst Nature Reserve is also open again, and the Kingsland Overlook trail has been redone as well.
Map follows. (Lyndhurst Nature Reserve is in green. Loop goes from green line to red line (Saw Mill Creek Trail) to yellow line (Transco Trail). Continue reading
Pizza Land Today
“The Sopranos” have been part of Meadowlands lore since the opening credits of the first episode. Here’s how this North Arlington Pizzeria looked this afternoon, on the day of James Gandolfini’s funeral, with several candles in the window under a photo of the actor.
The fourth episode of Season One was entitled “The Meadowlands.”
Owners still have not decided how to spell their restaurant, as one word or two.
Our Latest South Bergenite Column: Black Skimmers
Jim Wright, who maintains this blog for the Meadowlands Commission, also writes a column for the South Bergenite on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. His latest is on this year’s bumper crop of Black Skimmers.
Now is the time of year to see an amazing bird called the black skimmer in the Meadowlands, and this is a year when they seem to be incredibly plentiful.
Considering that these large black-and-white shorebirds are an endangered species in New Jersey, the frequent sightings being reported across the Meadowlands are all the more impressive.
Last week alone, these birds were seen fishing in DeKorte Park and the Clay Avenue Wetlands in Lyndhurst, in Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus, and along the Hackensack River from Carlstadt to Kearny.
But these guys, with their bright red and black bills, don’t fish like most other avian anglers. Herons and egrets, for example, wade in the water and grab fish with their pointy bills. Belted kingfishers hover, then crash into the water to seize their prey. Ospreys hover as well, then dive into the water and grab the fish with their talons.
Black skimmers, on the other hand, live up to their name. They skim. Continue reading
Roy Woodford’s Latest
Attached are a few shots from this week.
I found a pair of Eastern Kingbirds (one is pictured above) in the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve. They were very active and didn’t mind my presence at all. I only got a few shots though … they don’t sit still for long.
The almost ubiquitous Killfawn of Disposal Road was found near the puddles behind the abandoned trailer. If you stay in your car, they’ll basically walk right up for a close up (I had to remove the teleconverter).
The Indigo Bunting was found near the retention pond on Disposal Road.
Pix of Killfawn and bunting follow. (Thanks, Roy!) Continue reading
Mosquito Larvicide Being Applied in Hudson Co. on Friday
Passing along, for whatever it’s worth:
Please be advised, Hudson County Mosquito Control will be applying mosquito control larvicides by helicopter flying at low altitude over areas of Hudson County on Friday 6/28/13.
Areas will include water areas of the Kearny Marsh near the Keegan Landfill , Mill Creek , Laurel Hill, 1-A Landfill, The front area of 1-E Landfill, Etc.
In the event of inclement weather or other flight restrictions the flight will be rescheduled for the next available date.
Tuesday Teaser Answered
This was one tough Tuesday Teaser! We had three different IDs — and we are going with young Starling, Clarisse… Congrats to Mike Turso for the right ID.
Lyndhurst Nature Reserve and Trail Reopening Today!
As many of you know, DeKorte Park and its trails have taken a beating from recent hurricanes. That’s why the Meadowlands Commission is delighted to announce that the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve is officially reopening today, along with the trail from administration building out to the Saw Mill Creek Trail.
What’s more, the 1.25-mile loop trail from the administration building to the Saw Mill Creek Trail to The Carillon and back to the administration building (via the Transco Trail) should be opening soon as well.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience. The great news is these trails — and the Lyndhurst Nature Reserve — will be more beautiful than before. Still left to to do: To seed some of the barren areas adjacent to the trail. We’ll be seeding with an annual rye for now since we’ve missed the window for seeding with a more expensive meadow mix. We’ll seed the meadow in the fall.
(A big thank you to the NJMC’s Joanne DiLorenzo for her work on this project.)
The shot above is the trail now. We will have our first official walk on this trail with Bergen County Audubon Society on Sunday, July 7.
The photo below, by Marco Van Brabant, is the trail just past Lyndhurst Nature Reserve during Superstorm Sandy. (Thanks, Marco, but not recommended!)
Regina Geoghan’s DeKorte Shots
Regina Geoghan reminds us that DeKorte Park’s gardens and patches of day lilies are going full tilt these days. Just check out Regina’s photo (above) and another that follows.