October 27, 2026
Monday Mystery Answered
On Monday I wrote… Yesterday morning, top Celery Farm Nature Preserve birder Julie McCall saw an unusual-looking hawk over the…
The bird in the photo is almost certainly a racing pigeon — think of a rock pigeon on steroids.
Racing pigeons have been seen at the CF on at least three other occasions over the years– by Marsh Warden Stiles Thomas, Ace Birder Rob Fanning, and Seymour Drakes (although Drakes was reportedly the only one to have his sighting notarized.)
Typically, they stop at Lake Appert for water (and to get their bearings or catch their breath).
A racing pigeon also hung out at DeKorte Park in the Meadowlands last fall.
Photo and link are here.
Answer to last week's Monday Morning Mystery: Dried Ironweed flowers.