BrandonBirds : Birding Near the Tidal Riverine Systems

The New Jersey Meadowlands, Jamaica Bay, Indian Pond and more!

Living near the Hackensack River has been a great experience. It has introduced me to a habitat type that I am not used to seeing in the Midwest - the Tidal Riverine System. I work about 100 yards from the Hackensack River and the Hackensack River Greenway (a protected and restored portion of the Hackensack River that runs along mostly Teaneck and Hackensack, NJ). The cyclical pattern of low and high tide always offers surprises as to what one might see. Not far from where I work there is also a backwater pond that fills with the rising tide, however, it always stays at a respectable level. Called Indian Pond, it is a great place for birding. It is where I really became passionate about nature and photography.

Between Indian Pond and the immediate surrounding river I have seen the following thus far (I've been keeping track from September 2011 to the present):

Residents: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Great Egret, Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Tree, Bank and Barn Swallows, Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, Tufted Titmouse, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Great Blue Heron

Non-Residents: Sora, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Phoebe, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Yellow-rumped, Northern Waterthrush and Palm Warblers, Bald Eagle, Hooded and Common Merganser, White-throated Sparrow, Black-crowned Night Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Double-crested and Great Cormorants, Merlin, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Black-billed Cuckoo, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Eastern Kingbird, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Green Heron, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo and Baltimore Oriole

I have also enjoyed having the New Jersey Meadowlands so close. I have frequented Richard W. DeKorte Park that is operated by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. A few weekends ago my wife and I went on a canoe tour of the Saw Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area. This area has reintroduced the natural tidal cycle/flow of the Hackensack River in the last half century. It is now a thriving area for many animal species. The story of the New Jersey Meadowlands is full of ecological disappointments, however, more recent efforts have brought it back to life. I will include a link to the history of this remarkable place.

There have been four major alterations of this area over the last few hundred years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_Meadowlands

Lastly, I would like to mention the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY. It is part of a park complex known as Gateway National Recreation Area, which is operated by the National Park Service. Birding is definitely the highlight of Jamaica Bay. There are several good trails around the bay area (which is tidal), two large ponds and some forested areas.

I visited Jamaica Bay in mid April (2012). I saw several new life birds. These included: Tricolored Heron, Glossy Ibis, Brant, American Oystercatcher and Brown Creeper. I saw 38 species in all. Below is a link to information about the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Bay_Wildlife_Refuge

Mute Swans are highly abundant in the Meadowlands area and throughout the Northeastern U.S. They are not endemic to North America, rather they are introduced from Europe. These four swans were at Richard W. DeKorte Park.

A pair of Mute Swans and a Snowy Egret checking each other out. Also at DeKorte Park.

This pair of Mute Swans is currently nesting at the Celery Farm in Allendale, NJ.

These three images of a Black-crowned Night Heron were taken at Van Buskirk Islands, Oradell, NJ

Black-crowned at Jamaica Bay.

Great Egret at Plumb Beach, one of the many parks in the Gateway National Recreation Area.

Great Egret at Overpeck County Park, an 811-acre park in Bergen County, NJ, with major sections in Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park and Teaneck, NJ, surrounding Overpeck Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River.

Great Egrets at Saw Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area. This is a sample of a small area that constitutes the New Jersey Meadowlands. Notice MetLife Stadium in the background of the above picture, home of the New York Jets and the 2012 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

Snowy Egrets at DeKorte Park. The second picture shows the Snowy with algae stuck to its foot. I got him shaking it off!

Double-crested Cormorant at Palisades Interstate Park, NJ Section.

Double-crested landing after a short flight over the water. Taken at Van Buskirk Islands.

More Double-crested Cormorants at Saddle River County Park, Bergen County, NJ.

Tree Swallow at DeKorte.

Red-winged Blackbird at DeKorte.

Brandt at Liberty State Park, NJ. There are excellent views of the Statue of Liberty and southern Manhattan from this place as well.

Glossy Ibis at Jamaica Bay. It is hard to get close to the birds because one must stay on the trail at times. I am getting super excited about purchasing my next lens (most likely in December - most likely the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM!)

Male Ruddy Duck at Jamaica Bay.

I caught two Fish Crows attempting to rob this Osprey of his recently caught prize. This was taken at Jamaica Bay. The pond that was near this tree had dozens of Mute Swans, a flock of several gull species (Great Black-backed, Herring and Ring-billed), Double-crested Cormorants and Ruddy Ducks.