The view of the twin beams of light in Lower Manhattan, seen from the World Trade Center Memorial Cove, DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst, N.J., Sept. 11, 2012.
Tag Archives: DeKorte Park
Carp Spawning at DeKorte
If you're wondering what all that splashing is about in the Shorebird Pool at DeKorte, wonder no more. It's carp, by the dozen, spawning.
More on Cyprinus carpio here — more than you probably want to know.
Recent Pheasant Sightings
Dave Rotondi reports:
"Took a walk on Disposal Road Saturday morning. About 100 yards in from the Valley Brook Avenue entrance [and DeKorte Park entrance] I flushed a male Ring-necked Pheasant.
"It ran into the phrag far quicker than I could snap a picture though. I've always heard them, but this was my first visual." (Thanks, Dave!)
We have had similar sightings this month as well. The photo ar right is from last March, when we did a longer post about Ring-necked Pheasants in the Meadowlands — one of the few places they exist in the wild in New Jersey.
Link to that post is here.
New, Improved DeKorte Duck Map
Thanks to the Meadowlands Commission's art director, Mimi Sabatino, the crude DeKorte Duck Map we put together last month has been superseded by a spiffy new improved version.
To help novice birders identify the various species, we have included photos the "Ducky Dozen" — the most-likely-to-be-seen ducks, and what tidal impoundments you are most likely to see them. As we note on the map, "Your duckage may differ."
Download the map here: Download NJMC Winter Duck Map LR.
DeKorte Park Cross-Country Skiing
With all the recent snow, keep in mind that you can go cross-country skiing on the trails at DeKorte Park — especially the Transco Trail — and in the Carillon area and beyond on Disposal Road.
We advise waiting till Tuesday to avoid getting in the way of snow removal at DeKorte.
If you are interested in receiving e-mail alerts about cross-country skiing at DeKorte, e-mail Jim Wright here. (Above photo is from a Feb. 2010 snowstorm.)
Bird Fest 2010: The Full List, Plus Rare Banding Photo
The Meadowlands Festival of Birding had a perfect alignment of the stars this weekend — great birds and great birders (and, on Saturday, great weather).
All of this combined for some great sightings, including Whimbrel, Clapper Rail, Sora Rail, Golden Plover and more.
(The Golden Plover pictured here was photographed at Mill Creek Marsh on Saturday by Kevin Bolton, using a digiscope. Thanks, Kevin!)
The full list of 107 species follows (click below if necessary), along with a rare banding photo. Please e-mail us if we missed any confirmed birds, and we will update.
DeKorte: Mourning Cloak Butterfly
Just saw our first of the year Mourning Cloak in the DeKorte's Lyndhurst Nature Reserve. This cloak looks like something out of the Salvation Army store, but still nice to see.
By the way, according to the North American Butterfly Association Checklist for DeKorte, this butterfly is due to appear around… mid-April.
Checklist is here.
More on Mourning Cloaks here.
By the way, have you heard that a new free Butterflies of DeKorte Park pamphlet is in the works? We hope to have it ready later this spring.
2 Bald Eagles at DeKorte
We took a late lunch today, and so did these two adult Bald Eagles. They opted for fish, and chose to dine in the Saw Mill Creek Tidal Impoundment, along the Transco Trail not far from the (currently closed) entrance to the Marsh Discovery Trail.
The eagles were seen around 1 p.m., and again at 1:15 in the same area. The gulls on the left were not happy and harassed one of the eagles, below.
We'll try to post another pic of two later.
Northern Shrike Update 031810: The Bird that Wouldn’t Leave
History Project: The Richard W. DeKorte Legacy
We recently interviewed Paulette Ramsey, who talks about her late husband, Richard W. DeKorte, and his foresight and contributions to the Meadowlands.
As a state assemblyman in the late 1960s, DeKorte was instrumental in crafting the legislation that created the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. DeKorte Park is named in his honor.
DeKorte also laid out the foundation for the region’s environmental restoration and economic development over the past four decades.
He also laid out the foundation for the region’s environmental restoration and economic development over the past four decades.
In the interviews, Mrs. Ramsey talks about her late husband’s foresight and contributions to the Meadowlands, as well as NJMC’s collaboration with Ramapo College and the district today.
A plaque (above) in the lobby of the NJMC Administration Building at DeKorte Park honors his memory.