We are getting reports of Black Skimmers, a threatened species in New Jersey, from all over the Meadowlands — Mill Creek Marsh, DeKorte, Clay Ave. Wetlands and near Chubb Ave. in Lyndhurst and on the Hackensack River upriver of River Barge Park.
We have been swamped of late — will catch up on other posts as soon as we can…
Jim Wright, who maintains this blog for the Meadowlands Commission, also writes a twice monthly nature column for The South Bergenite.
You can read his latest, about the NJMC's pontoon boat rides with Naturalist Gabrielle Bennett-Meany, can be found here.
Can't wait to get back to Laurel Hill County Park to see how the Common ravens are doing, and the nesting Ospreys, too. Good thing we're having a free guided walk there tomorrow (Tuesday morning) at 10 a.m.!
Full listing follows.
Following up on Ray Duffy's report of a Clapper Rail at Mill Creek Marsh, Angelo Marra got several photos of said rail — including one in flight. Don't see one of those every day!
Says Angelo: "The rail is located along the furthest part of of the trail in MCM. When you pass the back bridge along the turnpike the trail turns to the left is where the flight picture was taken. Stop and listen in that area,and you will hear this big mouth. (Thanks, Angelo!)
P.S. A Clapper Rail was reported as a heard bird yesterday at DeKorte.
Angelo Marra reports:
I saw five skimmers at MCM at noon yesterday. They always put on some show. (See photo above.)
Thanks, Angelo. We saw several at DeKorte today around noon as well but could not photograph them. They are around!
The Barn Swallow babies are hanging out on the Phragmites at DeKorte, along the Shorebird Pool.
Ron Shields writes:
The ripening mulberries have recently become an extremely big hit with many members of the Meadowlands avian community.
Just find a tree and let all the action come to you. (Thanks, Ron!)
Three more Mulberry Madness photos follow.
This Diamondback Terrapin paused to have its photo taken after crossing Disposal Road earlier this week (with the help of photographer Louis Balboa).
Yet another reason to drive slowly on Disposal Road! (Thanks, Louis!)
A follower of this blog writes:
Do woodchucks have longish tails and do they climb trees? I saw something that looked like a woodchuck in a tree on Chubb Ave. eating berries.
I didn't know they could climb trees. This young tree was slanting a bit and that may have helped it get up. When I stopped to get a better look it climbed down and ran away.
This blog follower clearly hasn't heard of the famous Meadowlands Treehog…
A link is here.
Just can't beat a rainbow shot. Ron Shields writes:
"Right spot! Right Time! Just another beautiful Meadowlands moment!"
Two more of Ron's sunset shots follow.
