Took this shot last month — liked the way the Grasshopper blended in.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Teal, There Was You
We found this bashful guy in the Shorebird Pool at DeKorte Park last week. He hung around long enough for us to take a few decent shots.
A Salute To America’s Veterans
Today we honor America's veterans.
This photo was taken earlier this week at the AMVETS Carillon on Disposal Road in North Arlington.
The carillon, which celebrated its second anniversary last month, chimes four times an hour on the quarter hour.
Earlier Meadowlands Blog posts featuring the Carillon are here.
Background on Veterans Day is here.
New Feature: Directions to NJMC Sites
Getting to many of the New Jersey Meadowlands locations can be tough — but we are trying to simplify the task.
At the upper left-hand corner of this blog, we are posting links via Google Maps that enable you to type in your address and get directions to DeKorte Park in Secaucus and elsewhere.
Note: With most of these Internet mapping sites, Google maps may not list the best option as the first option. Try alternate suggestions, and look at the map to get a better sense of where you need to go.
Don’t forget: Mill Creek Marsh Bird Walk Next Tuesday
We have several nifty upcoming walks throughout the Meadowlands, beginning next Tuesday at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus.
Click "Continue reading…" for more info and directions to this unusual jewel, plus other upcoming walks.
Bird Report 111009
A walk around DeKorte early Monday afternoon found a raft of Ruddies, several Bufflehead and about a dozen Pintails — mostly on the far side of the Marsh Discovery Trail.
Still a dozen+ yellowlegs on the edges of a little island beyond the Visitor Center.
Also saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings on the Kingsland Overlook Trail.
Did not see the Brant at the start of the Saw Mill Creek Trail (near the carillon) but will check again today.
Tuesday Teaser 111009
The feathers on this little guy's head should be a tip-off.
Click here for more Tuesday Teasers.
Click "Continue reading …" for the answer and more information about this bird.
Bird Banding: The Totals for the Fall Season
In September and October, NJMC Naturalist Michael Newhouse and his dedicated band of bird-banders banded 46 species and nearly 3,000 birds in all.
Bird most likely to be banded — the Savannah Sparrow, with more than 700 banded. It is a threatened species in New Jersey. (Pictured at right, a confusing Black-throated Blue Warbler, one of the 46 species.)
For a look at the variety of birds that use the former landfills in the Meadowlands each fall, check out the full list of banded birds.
Click "Continue reading…" for the full list.
Click here for all Meadowlands Blog posts on bird banding.
Bird Reports 110809 Part II
Neil Maruca sez: "Meadowlands was birdy, but not a lot of rarities. Highlights:
Mehrhof Pond– 520 Ruddy Ducks, 11 Ring Necks, 8 Lesser Scaup, 6 Hooded
Mergs
Valley Brook Rd– Red Shouldered Hawk
DeKorte– Dowitcher sp. (probably Long Billed), 30 Greater Yellowlegs, 120
Shovelers
Kearny East-100+ Pintails, Great Cormorant