Roy Woodford got this photo of an adult Least Bittern hanging out. (Thanks, Roy!)

Don Torino, who helps lead our twice-monthly Bergen County Audubon Society/Meadowlands Commission, also writes a column for the wildnewjersey.tv blog.

His latest is on the incredible return of the Osprey to the Meadowlands.

Don writes:

To most birders, the sight of an Osprey is no longer an event. It seems these raptors are a victim of their own success. They no longer bring a gasp from the crowds on our nature walks like they did just a few years back.

A quick look up with binoculars, and then the assembly begins to scan the meadows for other less-common migrants.

But not me. I still need to give them a much longer look at let all the new birders, especially the kids,  know everything about the Osprey.

It is the least I can do to pay my respects. They have been through too much; from DDT to water pollution and habitat destruction.

Here's a link.

Jessica Kirste passed along this shot of the young Tricolored Heron hanging out DeKorte. (Thanks, Jessica!)

Stephen Buckingham passed along this pic.  We had planned to include it the assortment of bird pix taken at DeKorte in the past few days, but then realized that it might make a cool Tuesday Teaser, especially since we needed one.

Do these two birds have something in common?  We just don't see it.

(Thanks, Steve!)

We have been inundated with lots of really cool shots of the Least Bitterns and the Tricolored Heron and assorted other birds from the past few days.

Thought we'd post some as time allows, beginning with two Ron Shields shots of young  Least Bitterns — love that head fuzz.

The bitterns, the Tricolored Heron, and four Stilt Sandpipers have been reported today.

I have also heard reports of at least one Bald Eagle. You just never know what you might see.

Saturday was our fourth annual Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day, highlighted by the young Tricolored Heron, several Least Bitterns, a Peregrine Falcon and — at day's end — an American White Pelican. (Full list is below.)

Erinn Connor of The Record wrote a nifty story for Sunday's editions. The link is here.

We want to thank Kevin Karlson and his fellow professional nature photographer Lloyd Spitalnik for joining us for a great day of walks, talks, slide shows and workshops.

We also want to thank the folks who helped us on the walks, including Denise Farrell, Don Torino, Rob Fanning, and Peggy O'Neill, plus everyone who participated in the nifty annual event.

Finally, we want to thank NJMC naturalsit Mike Newhouse for lowering the water levels in the Shorebird Pool, a key factor in attracting so many awesome birds. Adjusting water levels is an art, and a lot of hard work. (Thanks, Mike!)

The full list of birds follows.

Continue reading →

Chris Takacs reports:

"I saw the American White Pelican this morning at Kearny Marsh East on the north side of the Belleville Turnpike, (Route 7).

"I saw the bird 3 separate occasions until it took to the air at 9 a.m. flying off toward Jersey City. Tricolored Heron was also seen at Kearny East"

[Note: Could be a different Tricolored, since we still are seeing one at DeKorte.]

(Thanks for the report and above photo, Chris!)

We saw two young Least Bitterns and the young Tricolored along the Marsh Discovery Trail on our lunch hour today.

Chris Takacs reports that a total of four young Least Bitterns and two adults have been seen since Friday — or six total. (Chris also took the shot above; thanks, Chris!)

The Tricolored Heron was seen working the shoreline along the East Pool of the Shorebird Pool.

We hope to post the full bird list from Saturday's Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day on Tuesday.

Please let us know of any good sightings — jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov

In all the hoopla surrounding Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day and the great birds we have been getting in the Shorebird Pool, we neglected to post this great shot of a Laughing Gull at DeKorte, taken earlier this month by Stephen Buckingham.

We don't get many of these each summer, so this was a particularly welcome shot.  (Thanks, Steve!)

More of Steve's Laughing Gull pics are here.