HACKENSACK WATERSHED FIELD NOTES
By
Hugh M. Carola
Lest you think that this column is all "for the birds," this season's most remarkable sighting was of a possible Atlantic or Short-nosed Sturgeon which was observed in the Hackensack River off Mill Creek Point in Secaucus on July 10. Our observer - who is a lifelong fisherman - reported that the fish had a long snout and appeared to be between 4 and 5 feet long! While sturgeons are quite rare, there is no reason why there wouldn't be some to be found in our favorite river, especially with the amount of forage species and good fish habitat that the Hackensack offers.
Here's the rest of the list: American avocet - This rare visitor to northern New Jersey was seen by many observers while it fed in the Kingsland Impoundment at DeKorte Park on July 13. Barn owl - We have received reports of a family group nesting under the Route 46 bridge over the Hackensack River between Little Ferry and Ridgefield Park. Bay-breasted warbler - A single male observed at Schmidt's Woods on May 22. Black-capped chickadee - a pair successfully nested in a willow snag that had taken root on a sandbar along the Hackensack River in River Edge. Blue-winged teal - A male of this now-rare species was observed in Mill Creek Marsh on April 28. Canada warbler - One male bird noted at Schmidt's Woods on May 25. Cedar waxwing - A pair seen at Mill Creek Point Park on May 26; One observed at Laurel Hill on May 27; Parents with three fledglings seen in trees along Moore Street in Hackensack across from the Johnson Public Library. Clapper rail - four of these usually secretive marsh birds were seen swimming across the Sawmill Creek in Lyndhurst on July 15. Diamondback terrapin - Large numbers of this strikingly-patterned estuarine turtle have been observed all summer long throughout the Meadowlands and along the lower Hackensack River. Eastern kingbird - Two individuals reported at Laurel Hill on May 27. Forster's tern - Family groups of this gregarious species were observed in Newark Bay and in the Sawmill Creek WMA on July 15. Killdeer - A flock of 13 individuals was seen flying over Laurel Hill Park on July 6. Least sandpiper - Large flocks were seen throughout the month of May including flocks of between 300 and 1000+ at DeKorte Park on May 13 and at Mill Creek Marsh on May 24. Least tern - Two individuals of this Endangered Species were observed in the Sawmill Creek WMA on July 7. Northern waterthrush - A pair noted on May 12 at Schmidt's Woods. Northern raven - See Page 11 for the full story. Osprey - See Page 11 for the full story. Peregrine falcon - Two birds have been observed from June through mid-July around the Route 3 bridges over the Hackensack River, while a pair of nonbreeding adults seems to have taken up residence atop PSE&G's Kearny Generating Station. Pied-billed grebe - a female with between 8 and 10 young was observed swimming in Sawmill Creek on July 8. To find this Threatened Species breeding in the Meadowlands is great news! Semipalmated plover (This issue's features species - check out Page 10) - Up to 16 seen at Mill Creek Point on May 24. Spotted Sandpiper - We received many reports of this bird which is one of the few shorebird species that nests in our area. White-crowned sparrow - Several seen at Laurel Hill Park between May and July. Wilson's warbler - One male observed at Mill Creek Marsh Trail on May 24. Wood Thrush - Good numbers listed in May throughout our watershed from Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine to Schmidt's Woods in Secaucus. Yellow-crowned night heron - Both Secaucus nesting colonies (at Schmidt's Woods Park and Harmon Cove) have produced young even though strong thunderstorms knocked down at least one nest in late June. 
Many thanks to our observers for making this edition of Field Notes a reality: Joe Augeri, Gabrielle Bennett-Meaney, Brett Bragin, Diana Brin, Ray Duffy, Gene Dunton, Diane Saccoccia, Captain Bill Sheehan, Kyle Spendiff, Nick Vos-Wein, Ken Witkowski. The rest of you? Call it in! |
Believe it or not, fall began sometime during the second
week of July and we've been in it since then. I know it's been hot and steamy
and there isn't a turning leaf in sight but if you're a shorebird, it's fall
alright. Already decent-sized flocks of Short-billed dowitchers, Greater and
Lesser yellowlegs and Least sandpipers are moving south and spending time
feeding along the Hackensack River and in the marshes of the Meadowlands.