Nature Done Wright

Bergen County Audubon Society and the NJSEA sponsored a terrific bird walk this morning at DeKorte Park — or I should say several bird walks, since the turnout was so robust the group broke into two major subdivisions led by Don Torino and Chris Takacs.

It was great to be outdoors for a little while after fighting a bad cold for a week.

When I submitted my list to eBird, it turned out that two of the 27 species were deemed "rare" — the Lapland Longspur and a Pied-billed Grebe that liked to play now-you-see-me, now-you-don't for much of the morning. 

How many times do you start a new year with two rare birds? Me, not often…

Here are some mediocre pix from this morning — too busy looking for or at the birds.

Occasionally annoying Pied-billed Grebe.

Lapland Longspur is in there somewhere. No, really.

The Pied Piper of the Meadowlands.

American Kestrel on nearby Disposal Road.

My list follows. Others likely had mo' better birds.

Richard W. DeKorte Park, Bergen, New Jersey, US
Jan 1, 2017 10:00 AM – 11:40 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments:     BCAS New Year's Day walk
27 species

Canada Goose  X
Gadwall  X
American Black Duck  X
Mallard  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Canvasback  X
Bufflehead  X
Ruddy Duck  X
Pied-billed Grebe  1     At the start of MDT — seen by dozens
Great Blue Heron  X
Northern Harrier  X
Red-tailed Hawk  X
Ring-billed Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Mourning Dove  X
Belted Kingfisher  X
American Kestrel  X     On Disposal Road
Blue Jay  X
Black-capped Chickadee  X
Tufted Titmouse  X
Northern Mockingbird  X
Lapland Longspur  1     Continuing
Dark-eyed Junco  X
Song Sparrow  X
Northern Cardinal  X
House Sparrow  X