Here some recent images from DeKorte Park. They include one of several kestrels, a pair of inquisitive ravens and some gadwall ducklings (above).
Now, take a close look at the red-tailed hawk (below).Notice anything familiar? It's the falconer's hawk from the fall with jesses (visible) and bells (not visible). You can still hear the jingling as the raptor takes flight.
Pix of kestrel and ravens follow.
One of the neat things we saw on Moth Night at DeKorte Park last week, in conjunction with National Moth Week, was a Cicada molting.
The whole sequence follows.
It's August, and we are asking for Meadowlands Big Year participants to e-mail us their totals so far (if they have not done so already; please include the words "Meadowlands Big Year" in the e-mail).
There's five months left, so feel free to jump in and join the fun. It costs nothing to participate, and we are offering some nifty prizes.
If you are competing off the radar, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov so we know you are out there.
Much appreciated, and good luck to all. Thanks to those who have updated their numbers already!
Competition details are here.
Now is a great time to see Marsh Mallows in the Meadowlands.
These are just off Disposal Road in Lyndhurst/North Arlington. (Thanks, Marcia!)
All about Marsh Mallows and marshmallows here.
To anticipate what we might see in the Meadowlands this month, we thought we'd look back to see what was seen last year at this time.
Here are some August 2011 highlights:
August 5: Osprey Report
August 15: DeKorte Park's Disabled-friendly Trails
August 18: A Thatched Roof From Phrags
August 22: Kevin Karlson Day: The Full List
August 22: Stilt Sandpipers
August 29: American Avocet, Harrier Meadow
The William D. McDowell Observatory 
in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight (Wednesday, Aug. 1).
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 more information about free public viewing nights and to check out the observatory's website, click here.
For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.
Here's your chance to attend a free September screening of the acclaimed new documentary film, "The Lost Bird Project,"about the stories of five birds driven to extinction in modern times and sculptor Todd McGrain’s project to memorialize them.
The event is on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
The Meadowlands Commission, Bergen County Audubon Society, Ramapo College and the New Jersey chapter of The Nature Conservancy are proud to sponsor this special screening, along with a question-and-answer session afterward.
More information follows.
Our next walk with the Bergen County Audubon Society is Sunday at 10 a.m. in DeKorte Park. We'll be looking for birds, butterflies, you name it!
Details follow.
The NJMC's Jim Wright, who keeps this blog, is giving 
a free talk and slide show on a brief history of birds in the Meadowlands tomorrow (Tuesday, July 31), at 2 p.m. in the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park.
Topics will include Meadowlands birds that have gone extinct and made remarkable comebacks.
Roy Woodford writes:
Mill Creek seems to be the place to be these days. At low tide, there are Sandpipers by the thousands … lots of Yellowlegs and a few Dowitchers if you look closely enough. There are a lot of recently fledged Mockingbirds and Cedar Waxwings as well. I also came across at least a dozen Snowy Egrets and one terribly cooperative Yellow-crowned NIght Heron. He didn't seem to mind me watching him eat his crab lunch.
Ray Duffy Reports:
I had a Caspian Tern flyover with a fish in its mouth on Sunday at Mill Creek Point. I've had some least sandpipers perching/feeding in the flooded lawns at high tide at the point and had three semipalmated plovers on one of the softball fields.
Carole Hughes reports:
Led a NJ Audubon All Things Birds trip on Sundayday around the De Korte Environmental Center. We got lucky with the weather. It was overcast enough to keep it from being blazingly hot… but we had no rain!
Highlights from the trip were:
Northern Waterthrush – great look on the boardwalk Caspian Tern – close flyover
1 Common Gallinule – in pond along rail road tracks Marsh Wren – many singing and 1 that sat up for group, 1 carrying what looked like more nesting material
3 American Kestrels
Black-crowned Night Heron
1 Ruddy Duck
Willow Flycatcher – singing from along Valley Brook Yellow Warblers – very active in multiple locations
2 Least Sandpipers – had a good side-by-side comparison with a semi-palmated sandpiper to show the group Spotted Sandpipers - seemed like they were everywhere!
Semi-Palmated Sandpipers – predominant shorebird on the mud flats
Western Sandpiper – a few scattered through the Semi-palmateds
Indigo Bunting – multiple singing males
Ring-necked Pheasant