The Meadowlands Blog

Harrier Walk: Species of the Day

   We got a rare view of this down-to-earth creature  on the path at Harrier Meadow during our (rainy) Walk of the Month this morning.
   An American Robin was wetting his whistle nearby.
   Three brave souls joined us for the 90-minute walk. They were rewarded with excellent views of dozens of worms  and 28 bird species, including: Ring-necked Duck, Northern Harrier, Eastern Phoebe, and Barn Swallow.

   Look for a full (wormless) report on Friday's walk on this blog early next week.

   More on Earthworms here.
  

HARRIER MEADOW IN WINTER

   We visited Harrier Meadow with NJMC naturalists last week and saw all sorts of neat stuff -- including a Muskrat lodge (above), pheasant tracks in the snow, a small-rodent tunnel, a carp skull embedded in ice and raccoon scat.

   Click "Continue reading..." to see the photos. If you would prefer not to see scat, do not click "Continue reading..."

TRAILS & GREENWAYS

   On its Web site, the Meadowlands Commission just posted an informative video on its many trails and greenways.
  Click here, then click on "NJMC video clip" to view.
  (Pictured here is Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus.)

LITTLE FERRY: Losen Slote Creek Park

 Losen Slote Creek Park is a great place for a hike, and during May and autumn, a good spot to catch warblers moving through.
   The 28-acre park seemed a bit overlooked  -- perhaps because it's off the beaten path. The first part of the park is woods, then meadows. 
   The trail is blazed with red-dotted markers, with Mehrhof Woods fenced off to the left and houses in the distance to your right.
   That's good to know in case you lose your way.    If you keep the houses on your left and the fence on your right, you'll find your way back.
   But bring a cellphone, just in case.
   The meadows portion is a bit overgrown and easy to get lost in, but filled with dragonflies and an occasional butterfly. If you wander around long enough, you'll come across the slow-moving Losen Slote ("slote" being Dutch for "creek."
   On a  recent visit, the bird of the day was an indigo bunting that zipped through the meadow portion.  Standing in the meadow, you feel as though you are in the wild --  despite being in heart of Bergen County.
   Click here  and here for more information.

  Click "Continue reading" for more images from Losen Slote Creek Park.