HACKENSACK WATERSHED FIELD NOTES By Hugh M. CarolaUsually the "Winter Issue" of a column like this is full of reports concerning large flocks of seed-eating birds at feeders, groups of ducks huddled around that last bit of unfrozen water and the like but as we all know, much of this winter has been very unusual. Among the strangest reports we received were of bees active at Tenafly Nature Center, a Clouded Sulfur butterfly reported on a blooming flower (!) January 6 from Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst and a large Eastern painted turtle sunning itself at Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry the same day.
Before we get to the list, allow me to share a pair of narratives sent in by two of our observers. I'm including them to illustrate that what you can see when you're in the right place at the right time. The first is from Gene Dunton:
On Nov 28, a first-year female Cooper's Hawk dined on a Mourning Dove just 50 feet from my picture window in a tall snag at the edge of my property. While walking by the window I chanced to see the bird with her already-dead prey. Because the day was gloomy and no lights were on in my living room, the bird couldn't see me. I set up my spotting scope in the middle of the room and pulled up a stool for a rare treat. The hawk had already plucked the carcass by the time I sat down but for about 45 minutes she refused to eat. She just kept turning in a circle, perhaps checking the safety of the "dinner table." Finally she began to eat, facing the picture window and periodically looking up in my direction. With maximum focus, I was able to look her right in the eye. After two hours, the carcass was reduced to just bones with a few small scraps of meat, sort of what a Thanksgiving turkey looks like after everyone has left the table. This hawk ate like a whole crowd of dinner guests! By then I was fatigued from watching. I looked away for a bit and unfortunately missed her departure. When I went outside all I found were some feathers and a few bones under the tree.
I came across a 2nd year Bald Eagle at Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry, NJ today, January 16. I saw him perched up in a tree across the pond from the new park they put in on the same side of the pond as the water treatment plant. The bird was HUGE and he had a lot of white on his underside when he flew. I didn't see any white on the head, so I'm sure it wasn't an osprey. I also noticed a white patch on the back of him. When he took off out of the tree, there was a diving duck on the water and it immediately dove when the eagle swooped down out of the tree. I thought it strange that we didn't notice any Green-winged Teals on the pond, but I'm guessing maybe they had spotted the eagle earlier and left.
And now… American Black Duck - Decent numbers of this duck were reported from Richard W. DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst from late November through January. American Coot - Common along the Jersey Shore during winter, so far the only place we've heard of them in our area is at Secaucus Duck Pond on Christmas. American Goldfinch - We finally received a report of New Jersey's State Bird from DeKorte on 1/13. Bald Eagle - In addition to Ray’s report, Bald Eagles finally arrived in our watershed in early February. A pair of adults at Woodcliff Lake, a group of four at Oradell Reservoir and a group of five immatures was sighted in Hackensack as of 2/11. Belted Kingfisher - The mild winter allowed numerous birds to remain in our area from Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus north to River Edge between November and Jananuary.
Black-crowned Night Heron - As many as fifteen observed roosting at a small pond adjacent to Laurel Hill 11/29 through 1/12. Bufflehead - Reports of up to ten individuals came to us from DeKorte on 1/6 and 1/13. Canvasback - Fifty were seen in a cove near Meadowlands Hospital in Secaucus on 12/15 and again on 1/6. The usual group of 40-50 ducks is also in winter residence at DeKorte. Common Grackle - Almost always gone from our region by Thanksgiving, unusually large flocks (1000+) of this bird were observed at Overpeck Park in Leonia and several neighborhood locations in Ridgefield during December. Common Merganser - One of our largest ducks, small flocks were seen at DeKorte and Mehrhof throughout the season. Cooper's Hawk - See above - AND - a large female Cooper's was seen annoying a much-larger Red-tailed Hawk at Harrier Meadow in North Arlington on 1/23. Double-crested Cormorant - A late lingering bird was seen at the Secaucus Duck Pond on Christmas Eve. Gadwall - Also unusual for winter, we received reports of individuals from DeKorte on 1/6 and Mehrhof on 1/13. Great Blue Heron - Lots of these were seen throughout the area including several at Mehrhof from November through January and individual birds at Brett Park in Teaneck on 11/17 and at Teaneck Creek on 1/3. Greater Yellowlegs - Our latest-lingering shorebird did not disappoint us; our last report was of a dozen birds at Mill Creek on 11/28. Green-winged Teal - Good numbers of this small, wary waterfowl were noted throughout the season at DeKorte, Mehrhof and Mill Creek. Hooded Merganser - One of our most beautiful ducks, they have also been seen at the same three locations this season. Lesser Scaup - A flock of up to 20 of these diving ducks was observed at Mehrhof from 1/6 until the pond froze in February. Mallard/American Black Duck hybrid - One male noted at DeKorte on 1/6. Often mistaken for Mallards in eclipse plumage, the presence of hybrids is a concern of many ornithologists who are worried that Black Ducks are in danger of being bred out of existence. Marsh Wren - A single lingering bird was reported at Mill Creek Marsh on 11/28. Northern Harrier - One was seen flying over Crystal Lake Park in Englewood, NJ on 11/28. Northern Pintail - One of the best places in northern NJ to observe these waterfowl, DeKorte has hosted up to two dozen since 12/15. Northern Shoveler - Good numbers of these strikingly-patterned ducks have been seen throughout the lower river including upwards of 12 at Mehrhof Pond on 11/18, a pair at the Duck Pond on 11/25 and a flock of 20 at DeKorte on 1/13. Peregrine Falcon - One bird observed hunting over the parking lot of the Mill Creek Mall on 12/24. Red-breasted Merganser - Rare for our area, an individual was reported at DeKorte on 1/13. Red-tailed Hawk - Still LOTS of these magnificent raptors all throughout our region; look for them perched in trees along highways. During a late-season paddle, two colleagues noted a pair of them along the Hackensack River between River Edge and Teaneck on 11/27. Red-winged Blackbird - Also unusual in our region during winter, a small flock was observed at DeKorte on 1/13. Ring-necked Pheasant - A single cock was seen at DeKorte on 11/24. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Small flocks of this tiny bird were noted at Flat Rock Brook Nature Center in Englewood on 11/18, at DeKorte on 11/24 and again on 1/13. Ruddy Duck - Over 1,000 were reported on Mehrhof on 11/24 and throughout the season; also good numbers (20-85 birds) at DeKorte during the same time. Snow Bunting - A flock of eighteen birds was observed on the closed Erie Landfill in Lyndhurst on 1/23. This species, which nests on the arctic tundra, is a rare visitor to our area.
Wild Turkey - A single hen was reported at Schmidt's Woods in Secaucus (that's right, Secaucus) on November 20. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Lingering individuals were seen at DeKorte on 11/24. Kudos to all our observers: Joe Augeri, Ray Duffy, Eugene & Rosemary Dunton, Lenny Maiorano, Lynn Presby, Karen Riede, George Reskakis, Bernie Sobolewski, Kyle Spendiff, George Stauble, Nick Vos-Wein and Kate Wade. We might not report everything, but your help is always appreciated. |
Ray Duffy gets a tip of the hat for reporting the region's
first Bald Eagle of the season. Here's where and how he did it:
Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch and White-throated Sparrow - Extremely low numbers of
these usually-common feeder birds were reported due to the mild weather, but
they’re here now so be sure to keep your feeders stocked!
Snow Goose (Common AND Blue-Phase) - A pair of
immatures (one of each plumage) has been keeping company with a large flock of
Canada Geese in the vicinity of DeKorte and was seen at Harrier Meadow on 1/23.