Meadowlands in New Jersey
with Lots of Birds
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Two of many Northern Shovelers (琵嘴鴨) seen in West Pool in Meadowlands Richard W. Dekorte Park of
Meadowlands Environmental Center in New Jersey on April 3, 2013 when we visited this location for birding.


The beautiful glass-enclosed Visitor's Center extends out into the marsh to offer a panoramic view, perfect for
viewing wildlife feeding and resting in the water below. Photos and information of beautiful Visitor Center and
facilities in Meadowlands Richard W. Dekorte Park of Meadowlands Environmental Center can be seen at the
following website:

http://www.njmeadowlands.gov/
Female northern shoveler in West Pool on April 3, 2013.

Many people are familiar with the Meadowlands Sports Complex along New Jersey Turnpike in New Jersey
near Rutherford in the Greater New York Metropolitan area. Who would have thought that just a few miles
south of this Meadowlands Sports Complex is a great birding location in the middle of total urbanization?
There are lots of birds here in a vast urban salt marsh, wetland and tidal mudflat with the New York City
skyline in the background. For views, where else do you have that kind of contrast? They are quite beautiful
and offer great opportunities for photographers, bird watchers, and nature-lovers to capture the true
natural beauty of the real Meadowlands.

It is the Meadowlands Richard W. Dekorte Park of Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst, New
Jersey. There are approximately 8,400 acres of open space, waterway, wetlands, salt marsh, several
large impoundments, tidal mudflat, and extensive hiking trails with a lot of birds in here, a major stopover
for huge number of migratory birds. More than 270 species of birds live in or visit this area. There are
several hiking trails ranging from 1/2 mile to 3 miles along the impoundments for bird watching. It is an
urban wilderness only a few miles from Manhattan, NY. It was recently named by Birder's World magazine
as one of "the premier urban wildlife spots in the country." It's amazing that we have such a wonderful
wetlands environment so close to the New York City.

Detailed Park and Trail Map can be seen at:

http://moodle.rst2.edu/meadowlands/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DeKortemap.pdf
On April 3, 2013, many of these waterfowl spent lots of time with their heads down in the water busily eating
something.

Address of Meadowlands Richard W. Dekorte Park in Meadowlands Environmental Center is:

2 Dekorte Park Plaza
(At southeast end of Valley Brook Avenue, from Junction of Valley Brook Avenue & Orient Way, go south
east for about 2 miles to reach the end and Dekorte Park Plaza.)
Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071
Phone: 201-460-8300
Websites: www.njmeadowlands.gov

Map: Click here to see Google Map showing location of Meadowlands Environmental Center
One of several mergansers seen in the West Pool on April 3, 2013.
More mergansers in the West Pool on April 3, 2013. Again, most of these waterfowl spent lots of time with
their heads down in the water busily eating something while they were peddling and were moving at a fast
pace on the water surface.
A bufflehead in the West Pool on April 3, 2013.
May be American Widgen in eclipse plumage in the West Pool on April 3, 2013.
An osprey with a big fish in its talons over the impoundments in Meadowlands Environmental Center in
Lyndhurst, New Jersey when I visited that area on September 4, 2006.
Another view of the osprey with the fish over the impoundments in Meadowlands Environmental Center in
Lyndhurst, New Jersey on September 4, 2006.
A view of the osprey before it got the fish on September 4, 2006.
Zoom in to see busy activities of many birds on the large Saw Mill Creek Mudflat in Meadowland Richard W.
Dekorte Park on September 4, 2006 (using my older camera in 2006 with very limited zoom capability.)
Some birds are standing on the mudflat whereas many birds are flying in the air.


Map: Click here for location of Saw Mill Creek Mudflat in the detail Park Map
A pair of swans in the West Pool on September 4, 2006.
Two of many terns in flight over the West Pool looking for fish in Meadowlands Richard W. Dekorte Park on
September 4, 2006.
A tern on rail in Meadowlands.
A tern in flight over the West Pool looking for fish. Many terns are plunge diving from mid air into the water to
catch fish on the West Pool and other impoundments on September 4, 2006 as shown in the following pictures.
This tern is hovering in mid air looking down at a fish and preparing to dive into the West Pool.
A plunge diving tern with extended wings.
The tern dived into the water with a splash.
After plunge diving, this tern just got out of the water with a small fish in its beak.
Another tern just got out of water with a fish in its beak.
Another tern just got of water, but probably missed the fish.
One of several pairs of mallard on the West Pool on October 30, 2007.
A pair of mallard in flight over the West Pool on October 30, 2007.
Many waterfowl on the West Pool on October 30, 2007.
Many moaning doves on a tree near the West Pool on October 30, 2007.
Yellow leg shore birds on the West Pool on October 30, 2007.
Zoom in on the New York Skyline from Meadowlands Richard W. Dekorte Park.
A map of this 110-acre park with open wetland, several large impoundments, salt marsh, waterways and
several hiking trails along the impoundments.
By examining these birds in the air more closely, we realized that the dark brown one in the middle might be an
immature bald eagle or a golden eagle. It probably was this eagle that was harassing and causing so much
turmoil such that many birds on the mudflat took off into the air for safety.
Zoom in on one of several egrets on the Saw Mill Creek Mudflat on September 4, 2006.
One of several pairs of northern pintails on West Pool on October 30, 2007.