Next Tuesday is our next birding event with the Bergen County Audubon Society — our third annual Birding By Boat cruise on the Hackensack River and its marshes. We hope to see Ospreys, shorebirds, waders and more.

The two-hour cruise is on Tuesday, July 17, at 10 a.m. Suggested donation is (the bargain price of) $15.  Reserve your seat now!

For a list of birds we saw on last July's trip, click here.

Note: You can also sign up for a Birding by Boat cruise scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 28, at 10 a.m.

Full info follows.

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Chris Takacs writes:

"Took photos of a young(?) fox across the road in Secaucus Sunday early morning." (Thanks, Chris!)

We have tallies through June for the folks involved in the Meadowlands Big Year competition.

Although there has been a change atiop the laederboard, we have to say the birding must have been a tad slow in June.

Congrats to all for competing. We hope you are having fun close to home, and we hope you start seeing new species again real soon.

If you're name's not on the list, please e-mail Jim Wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov. It's not too late to participate!

The leader board as of June 30 follows below (just to heighten the suspense).  Also posting the standings as of May 31 below…

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Ron Shields writes:

At high noon on the hottest day of the year, what would be a more suitable visitor to Disposal Road than a vulture. 

In this case, it's a turkey vulture cruising low and slow over the arid and hot landfill. 

Recent raptor sightings have included both the male and female
Northern Harrier, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon and Kestrel (Kearny Marsh).

Had 13 species of butterflies in very good numbers (including Common Buckeye, above), plus a
Clear-winged Moth (right), in Jill's Garden at DeKorte Park this afternoon.

We are seeing a lot more species, and in better numbers than we have at this time in the past few years.

Full list follows.

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The figures are almost in for the Meadowlands Big Year participants as of June 30.

Will publish on Monday all the counts we have.

NJ Transit work on Valley Brook Avenue RR crossing at DeKorte Park has been completed. The detour is over. Valley Brook Ave. is now open again in both directions. Ignore any old DETOUR signs.

Thanks for your patience during the two weeks of construction. 

The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society have so many awesome events scheduled for this summer and early fall that we have neglected to trumpet our Fourth Annual Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day on Saturday, Aug. 11.

We thought you might want to save the date.

The all-day event is free, and it features ace nature photographer Kevin Karlson leading morning walks, talking about shore bird identification, and offering a free seminar on bird photography — featuring another top bird photographer, Lloyd Spitalnik.

Details follow.

In the meantime, to recap the dates for our other big upcoming events:

Tuesday, July 17, 10 a.m.–noon: Birding by Boat, River Barge Park in Carlstadt

Sunday, July 22, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.: DeKorte Butterfly Day

Wednesday, July 25,8:30 – 11:30 p.m.: Moth Night at DeKorte:

Saturday, Aug. 11, 8:15a.m. 3:45 p.m.: Kevin Karlson Shorebird Day at DeKorte.

Tuesday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m.–noon: Birding by Boat, River Barge Park in Carlstadt.

Thursday, Sept. 13: 7 – 9 p.m.: Special Free Screening and Talk: "The Lost Bird Project."

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Ron Shields photographed this Indigo Bunting on Disposal Road Sunday evening.  Two more pix follow. (Thanks, Ron!)

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    Happy Independence Day from the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission!