The Meadowlands Blog

Welcome to Our Nature Blog

This blog is brought to you by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. Directions to most NJMC sites are in the left-hand column of this blog.

Camo Boy

    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 arund 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

Bird Reports 110809

  Ray Duffy sez: "I got my first fall Fox Sparrows in Schmidt’s today (Saturday). There were 2 that I saw and I think a third calling."

  Julie McCall reports: "There was a very cooperative brant (presumably the same bird from the earlier post?) there again today (Saturday), keeping company with a pair of Canada Geese. Closest look I've gotten of one. They're quite pretty birds."

Cabbage White, End of Season

    These guys are typically gone by now, but one was straggling around DeKorte late last week. He clearly has seen better days. (It's a "he" because of the solitary spot on each wing.)

    More on Cabbage Whites here.

Bird Report 110709

   A quick walk around DeKorte at Lunch on Friday found one lone Great Egret (above), lots of yellowlegs, several skittish Green-winged Teal (including the one below). 20+ Buffleheads, 20+ Ruddies, 8 Gadwalls, 4 Black Ducks, a few Mallards and two DC Cormorants.

Mudflat Sunset 110609

 

Flyway Gallery: November

      The Meadowlands Commission is hosting its annual Staff Art Exhibit from Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Flyway Gallery in the Meadowlands Environment Center. 

   The exhibit – which is open daily to the public for free – features nature photography and watercolors by Commission employees.

     This year’s show includes interesting multi-media works of Meadowlands landmarks by landscape architect Lisa Cameron, who also exhibited with the Highland Park Artists’ Collective this past May. Her work "WMCA" is pictured above.

    The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

     It is one of several free attractions at the Meadowlands Environment Center, which is located in DeKorte Park, a 110-acre oasis with walking trails and water views, all framed by the New York City skyline.

   Click "Continue reading ..." for more information.

Brant at DeKorte

    Ron Shields photographed this Brant at DeKorte on Thursday. (Thanks, Ron!)

   NJMC naturalists also saw several Brants on Thursday on the Hackensack River, in addition to three Bald Eagles, a Bonaparte's Gull, and a Goshawk.

Caveat Paddler: It's Hunting Season

 
  We kayaked the Kearny Freshwater Marsh last Friday, and as we pulled our boats from the water, we saw a hunter launch his camouflaged boat at Gunnell Oval and head into the marsh.

  We also saw a newly refurbished hunting blind in the marsh itself (left).

   The point is: Although we wore bright-orange vests, we are thinking this is not a great time of year to be kayaking in the marshes.

    If you still plan on kayaking or canoeing, at least wear bright outerwear.  To be continued....

Bird Banding Report: October Totals

  NJMC Naturalist Michael Newhouse reports that October was a banner month for bird-banding at the former Erie Landfill in North Arlington.

 All told, Mike and his wonderful team of volunteers banded 46 species, and more than 2,300 birds. 

   We will post the fall banding totals soon.

   Can you guess what species this is? It takes a sharp eye.

   Click "continue reading..." to see the answer and the full October list.

   Click here for other blog posts on the NJMC bird-banding project.

Bald Eagles: Bird Report 110409

  Chris Takacs reports: "Today I had to pull off Belleville Turnpike in Kearny around 10:45 for a 10 minute display by 2 adult Bald Eagles. They flew together along the NJ Turnpike, then right over my head. Then a 'chase' began as one Eagle flew after the other in the bright blue sky we had today.

    "They flew for about 10 minutes over the 1-E landfill, flapping and climbing, then diving and climbing up again. After a climb together they hooked talons and tumbled together in the sky for 2-3 seconds. They separated, regained some altitude and flew about separately for a few minutes before I returned to the car and continued my drive to Jersey City.

    "It amazed me that 100+ cars drove by on the NJ Tpk. and the Belleville Tpk., nobody saw this magnificent display. I'm sure glad I did. Right place, right time!"

 

North Arlington: Meadowlands Slide Show Thursday

    Jim Wright, who runs this blog for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, will be speaking about the Meadowlands, Past, Present and Future  tomorrow night (Thursday, Nov. 5) at the North Arlinton Library

    The free talk will feature some nifty nature photography taken in North Arlington -- like the rare Black-necked Stilt pictured here.

   The talk, which begins at 6:30 p.m., runs about 40 minutes, so you will have plenty of time to see Game Seven of the World Series, if the yankees don't win in six games. The talk is open to the public.  We hope you can attend.

    Contact Jim here if you would like more information.

Last Sunday's Walk

    Don Torino of the Bergen County Audubon Society reports:

   "We had a good nature walk Sunday morning morning, The weather was overcast and windy but we had some good birds -- including two Northern Harriers, 30+ Cedar Waxwings, and at least six duck species-- plus about 20 people. A special thanks to Dave Hall and Beth Goldberg of the BCAS for helping out."

    Click "Continue reading..." for the full list.

Bird Report 110309

   Mike Britt reports: The Meadowlands was generally devoid of migrants Monday...I observed a GREAT EGRET, 12 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 300 NORTHERN SHOVELER, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, 4 HORNED LARK, MERLIN, PEREGRINE, COOPER'S HAWK (Imm), HARRIER (Imm), and a handful of RED-TAILED HAWKS.

Notes: The Harrier and Merlin were hunting over the Erie & Kingsland landfills. The Horned Larks were on the defunct Encap site. The Coop has been hanging around the Kingsland for about a week or so...I've seen it from the train.

Tuesday Teaser 110309

     This guy is one beautiful (albeit scruffy) bird. Who is he?

    Click here for more Tuesday Teasers.

     Click "Continue reading ..." to learn who he is and more about him, and to see how he got his name.

Tuesday Teaser 110309

 

    A change of pace for the Tuesday Teaser this week.

   What kind of tree is this?

    More Tuesday Teasers here.

    Click "Continue reading..." for the answer to the Teaser, and more info.