Tag Archives: Disposal Road

Nelson’s Sparrow @Disposal Road

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Ron Shields saw this Sharp-tailed Sparrow in the gully along Disposal Road earlier today.

Ron writes: “This sparrow was found at the bend in Disposal Road where everyone usually photographs raptors. There’s been a ton of sparrows of all sorts feeding in the weeds in the drainage ditch (gully).

“This guy popped out of the vegetation for only a few seconds before returning to cover.”

Chris Takacs writes that the bird may be a Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, not a Saltmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow.

The Saltmarsh Sparrow of special concern in New Jersey during breeding season. More here.

(Thanks, Ron!)  (And Chris!)

We’ll let you know if/when we hear more.

Another view follows.

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Recent Pheasant Sightings

IMG_0927 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.

Northern Shrike Update 031810: The Bird that Wouldn’t Leave

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   Several birders saw the Northern Shrike on Disposal Road in the trees across from the NJMC Maintenance Shed. The bird has now been seen sporadically for 98 days(14 weeks). Photos were taken today.
   At some point we are going to make this dude pay rent.