Here's a sampling of Ron Shields' latest pix — a Savannah Sparrow and a Black-crowned Night Heron.

(Thanks, Ron!)

Spectrum for Living also donates some "ordinary" Tree Swallow nesting boxes each year. We love the little perches outside the opening, and so do the Tree Swallows.

Here are several more nifty Tree Swallow nesting boxes, the first of which we posted about yesterday.

The boxes were part of the annual delivery of Tree Swallow boxes from Spectrum For Living, an adult community for the disabled.  Spectrum has 6 centers,  and each center presents a next box for the contest.

(Thank you, Spectrum for Living!)

More nest box pix follow, including the "Cold Beer" sign on yesterday's box.

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The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society are pleased to announce a brand-new butterfly competition to see how many species you (or you and your family) can identify in the Meadowlands this year.

Best way to start is to pick up a free DeKorte Park  Butterfly Guide at the Meadowlands Environment Center and check off the butterflies as you see them.

Surprisingly, we have already seen many butterfly species in the Meadowlands already this week. They like warm sunny weather, so there you go.

The individual and family that have found the most species by Oct. 31 will be declared the winners.

Their prize will be their choice of one of several beautiful butterfly-related prize from our Tideland Treasures Gift Shop.

Don't hesitate to photograph the butterflies you see. You never know — we see a new-for-the-Meadowlands species or two each year to add to our list.

Biggest rule of the competition: Have fun!

E-mail Jim wright at jim.wright (at) njmeadowlands.gov if you have questions/suggestions.

Chris Takacs had a trifecta in the Meadowlands this week — a rare-for-here-this-time of-year Vesper Sparrow (endangered in N.J. when breeding), a large Snapping Turtle and a Milk Snake. (Thanks, Chris!)

More on Vesper Sparrows here.

Photos of Milk Snake follow.

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Marie Longo got this shot of two fledgling birders on last Sunday's Birding for Beginners walk. (Thanks, Marie!)

Our next class, brought to you by the Bergen County Audubon Society and the Meadowlands Commission, is Sunday at 1 p.m.  The topic is optics, and the brief talk will be followed by a 90-minute walk. If it rains, we'll go to Plan B for the walk.

Regina Geoghan writes:

"Had to share – so excited that I finally got the opportunity to get a shot of one of these beauties. 

"Couldn't believe that he stayed close enough for long enough to get the shot in nice light. 

"Mill Creek a little after 4 on Tuesday as the tide was starting to come in.

(Thansk, Regina!)

We had a great walk in Harrier Meadow on Tuesday, kicked off with a bird-banding demonstration by the Meadowlands Commission's Mike Newhouse. (Great to see so many new faces and familiar faces!)

Walk highlights included a Blue-winged Teal, a Spotted Sandpiper and lots of raptors.

Full list follows. (Thanks, Denise, for help with the list, and thanks to Marie Longo for the photo!)

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Yesterday we asked you to test your observation skills by counting the number of charismatic juncos you could see in the above photo.

The answer is four, nicely numbered for all to see.

Congrats to Jim Kuehlke for posting the right answer (and Mike G. for hedging his bet), and thanks again to Mickey Raine for supplying the teaser!

This amazing swallow box arrived Tuesday — it's really too nice to put outdoors. Think of it as the Faberge egg of nest boxes.

We'll post more pix, with more info, later.