We were driving down Disposal Road on Friday afternoon, minding our own business, when in the distance we saw a Peregrine Falcon flying over the old Kingsland Landfill.

As you may know, that's a big hangout for American Kestrels these days.

Apparently big falcons and little falcons do not get along, because the kestrel zoomed after the peregrine repeatedly until the larger bird flew off.

At least twice, the Peregrine flew upside-down in some sort of "Top Gun" maneuver.

We thought it was a great early preview of what we kind of raptor action might see on Disposal Road this fall and winter.

Our last Birding-by-Boat cruise of 2012 with the Bergen County Audubon Society is Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 10 a.m. We hope to see Ospreys, shorebirds, waders and plenty more.

Suggested donation is (the bargain price of) $15.  Reserve your seat now; seating is extremely limited at this point!

Full info follows.

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Dennis Cheeseman photographed the Tricolored Heron Tuesday morning along the Transco Trail, sitting on the railing near where the Forster's Terns hang out.

By our count, the Tricolored has been here 12 days in a row now.

The heron  was young when he got here; he has been here so long that he is now old enough to drive.

Scroll down for ploenty more Tricolored Heron shots and other birds hanging out at DeKorte these days.  (Thanks, Dennis!)

Who the heck is this guy, acting like a flycatcher and perching by the entrance to the Marsh Discovery Trail?

Regina Geoghan writes: "Lots of butterflies early Sunday morning.  Finally got the Common Buckeye (above)  – been hoping to see him the past few days." (Thanks, Regina)

Regina's Painted Lady photo is below.  Plenty more butterflies and a Hunmmingbird Clear-winged Moth in the Butterfly Garden on Monday.

Mike Maddaloni, who specializes in Meadowlands sunset photos, writes:

I don't know if you caught the sky last night, but it was SPECTACULAR. I was running from lot to lot trying to get the best vantage point of it.

The sky was a deep red with a velvet effect, haven't seen it like this for years.

Usually I don't like to get the power lines in the shot but the sky changed in mere seconds by the time I got further out. 

Thanks, Mike! We will post more of his scintillating sunset shots next week.

Mike Girone writes:

Ron Shields and I were out and about in the Meadowlands Friday afternoon & early evening. Kearny & Mill Creek Marshes were both quiet.

Disposal Road saved the day, delivering some awesome late-day action (in addition to the possible immature Little Blue Heron in the retention pond earlier in the afternoon).

More info and pix follow. (We’ll post another Peregrine/Kestrel encounter tomorrow.)

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Ron Shields took these amazing shots of a Least Bittern feeding one of its young in the Shorebird Pool at DeKorte Park last week. (Thanks, Ron!)

Our next walk is tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10 a.m. in the legendary Harrier Meadow in North Arlington.

The 70-acre site — usually off limits to the public — features ponds and tidal impoundments and shorebirds aplenty. Lots of butterflies and dragonflies, too. A young Little Blue Heron and a Pied-billed Grebe were seen there last week, but if things are slow we may head over to DeKorte Park and check the Marsh Discovery Trail for neat stuff.

Full listing follows.

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John Beetham reported on JerseyBirds that yesterday morning he "saw two of the immature Least Bitterns in their usual spot at the start of the Marsh Discovery Trail. Neither of them was very easy to see.

"The Tricolored Heron was also present, working a shallow area at the far end of the East Shorebird Pool.

"The water levels are high, but there are still about 500 Semipalmated Sandpipers and a good number of yellowlegs in the shorebird pools." 

(Thanks, John!)