Marco Lips offered up this Teaser. What is it, and where? (We don't know about you, but we found the photo a bit draining…)
(Thanks, Marco!)
Not Just Another Pretty Face: Part II
Taken at River Barge Park with a 200mm lens.
The park opens on Saturday, May 19.
Save the date! We will post more about River Barge Park Day soon.
In the meantime, here's a link to "Not Just Another Pretty Face, Part 1, photographed by Dennis Chesseman. Link is here.
Sorry to say, Dennis' critter makes this Turkey Vulture look handsome.
Sunday’s Walk: The Full List
As promised, here's the full list of birds from Sunday's walk. Highlights included Forster's Tern, Osprey, Marsh Wren (heard) and three species of swallows. (Thanks to Denise Farrell for her help with the list.)
Earth Day at DeKorte
Thanks to all who braved the weather today for a variety of events — bird walk, a couple of talks and a bird-watching for beginners class on optics, courtesy of Bergen County Audubon Society..
A few folks on the morning walk were quoted in a nice Earth Day roundup in The Record. The link is here.
We had 32 species on the walk, including a Marsh Wren, three swallow species and Forster's Terns. Full list tomorrow.
Happy Earth Day!
We have plenty of nifty events planned for today, rain or shine, at DeKorte Park's Environment Center, including:
10 a.m. "Rebounding Raptors of the Meadowlands": Slide show and talk by the NJMC's Jim Wright.
10 a.m. Nature walk as long as the rains stay away.
11 a.m." Butterflies of DeKorte Park," or "Rebounding Raptors" plus a funny short film.
12:20: "Meadowlands": Slide show, talk and bok signing by acclaimed children's author/illustrator Tom Yezerski.
1 p.m. "Birding for Beginners": Slide show and talk on optics. Bergen County Audubon Society.
1:45 p.m. "Rebounding Raptors" or "Exploring DeKorte Park" slide show and talk.
Bring a lunch and stay as long as you like. (Above photo by Ron Shields!)
Yikes: Pied-Billed Grebe at DeKorte Today
Roy Woodford went looking for the Horned Grebe today and found a Pied-billed Grebe instead.
Writes Roy: "I did run into this little fella around the Ruddy Duck hut. It must be my lucky Grebe weekend.
"These are full frame, no crop @800mm … he was that close." (Thanks, Roy!)
Horned Grebe Pix + Snowy Egret
Roy Woodford took this Horned Grebe shot yesterday at DeKorte, along with a nifty Snowy Egret shot.
Another Horned Grebe shot and the Snowy Egret shot follow. (Thanks, Roy! And thanks to all who submitted grebe pix!)
Glossy Ibis at Mill Creek
Liberty Valance writes:
"Last night while Jeanie and I were walking around MCM about 6:30 we spotted this unusual bird in the area by the turnpike bridge …my first thought was…is this the Little Blue Heron???
BUT the bill was longer and curved…then I realized that it might be an IBIS…we were so excited and I did have the camera….so we took as many photos as we could.
The Glossy Ibis was busy having it's evening meal and wasn't bothered by us. It did move to the other side on the pond though…it is really interesting to watch…it puts it's head completely under water to get at the things it's eating!
(Thanks, Liberty and Jeanie, and thanks to Mickey Raine for editing the pix!)
Horned Grebe at DeKorte!
NJMC Naturalist Mike Newhouse reports a Horned Grebe at DeKorte Park, near the beginning of the Marsh Discovery Trail. Full breeding plumage. We hope someone can take a photo — pic above is by Ron Shields, from last year).
And we hope the bird stays till Sunday and our Earth Day walks!
Don’t Forget Earth Day at DeKorte Park
We have a great free, family-friendly lineup at DeKorte Park this Sunday:
10 – 10:25 a.m. "Rebounding Raptors of the Meadowlands," slide show and talk by Jim Wright, who keeps this blog. Meadowlands Environment Center.
10:30 – noon. Bird walk along the Marsh Discovery Trail and Transco Trail, looking for Ospreys, other raptors and other birds. Starts inside the Meadowlands Environment Center.
12:20 – 12:50 p.m. "Meadowlands, a Wetlands Survival Story," slide show, talk and book signing with the acclaimed children's author Tom Yezerski. Meadowlands Environment Center.
1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. "Birding for Beginners," slide show and talk on birding optics. Meadowlands Environment Center.
1:30 – 3 p.m.: 10:30 -noon. Bird walk along the Marsh Discovery Trail, looking for Ospreys and other birds. Starts inside the Meadowlands Environment Center.
In case of rain, we'll go to Plan B.