So I managed to get out to DeKorte Park run by the NJ Meadowlands Commission today, taking advantage of the spectacular weather we’re having here this Labor Day weekend. Not a whole lot of birding action at the park — mostly great egrets — but enough to keep me busy and out of trouble, plus the park offers a lot more than just birds.
I grabbed a shot of the park entrance:
Park entrance
Among the birds I was able to photograph were a mute swan…
Mute swan
… a great egret …
Great egret
… an American black duck …
American black duck
… another great egret …
Another great egret
… a bunch of lesser yellowlegs …
Lesser yellowlegs
… did I mention great egrets? …
Great egrets
… even a “chatty” great egret …
… and a great egret hanging around with yellowlegs.
Great egret and yellowlegs
There were many very beautiful flowers all around the grounds…
… purple flowers …
Purple flowers
… a pink flower …
Pink flower
and the flowers were attracting butterflies, such as this monarch butterfly …
Monarch butterfly
… and this viceroy butterfly …
Viceroy butterfly
… and this red admiral butterfly …
Red admiral butterfly
… not to mention a snowberry clearwing moth.
Snowberry clearwing moth
But the predominant plants everywhere in the park are phragmites (reeds). They’re invasive and they have to be cut back a lot, but they are both attractive and lovely to listen to as they rustle in the breeze.
Phragmites