Don's Jersey Birding: Winter at Mill Creek Marsh
Photos courtesy of Myke Malzone.
The 40 mph wind gusts ripped through the still dormant cordgrass and the sun shimmered off the ice that surrounded the remnants of an ancient cedar forest. We are in Mill Creek Marsh, one of the most beautiful nature preserves in the Meadowlands. Once slated for a 2,750 town house development, Mill Creek is a now hotspot for birding in every season, and despite the cold winter winds that morning we wouldn't have missed the chance to visit this wonderful place.
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) purchased this land in 1996 and began a wetlands enhancement project in 1998, which included the re-establishment of tidal flows, creation of open water impoundments, and native plantings to attract a diversity of aquatic life and birds. This project has worked amazingly well.
The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) purchased this land in 1996 and began a wetlands enhancement project in 1998, which included the re-establishment of tidal flows, creation of open water impoundments, and native plantings to attract a diversity of aquatic life and birds. This project has worked amazingly well.
Jim Wright, communications officer for the NJMC, joined us that morning for one of our two monthly Bergen County Audubon Society (BCAS) and NJMC bird walks, which is a joint partnership to help get more people out to enjoy the wonderful places, such as Mill Creek, that the Meadowlands has to offer. I asked Jim for his thoughts on Mill Creek. "I love Mill Creek for tons of reasons, beginning with the birding serendipity that goes with the territory," said Jim. "In the winter you get all sorts of waterfowl, including teal, and raptors galore, including bald eagles and marsh hawks."
One of the most fascinating views at Mill Creek are the Atlantic white cedar stumps that have remained in the marsh. Legend has it that they were removed many years ago because pirates used the white cedar forest to hide in.
"I love those old Atlantic cedar stumps in the tidal impoundments. They provide great perches for snowy egrets and yellow-legs in summer, and they are a reminder of the Meadowlands of old, when a third of the region was covered with white cedars," said Jim Wright.
Enduring the February cold was well worth it at Mill Creek that day. About a dozen beautiful green-winged teal and a Eurasian-green winged teal graced our binoculars, along with two northern harriers, one of which a gray ghost, also gadwall, great black-backed gulls and just to remind us just how great this urban wilderness is, an adult bald eagle decided to honor the elegant winter panorama of Mill Creek.
"I love those old Atlantic cedar stumps in the tidal impoundments. They provide great perches for snowy egrets and yellow-legs in summer, and they are a reminder of the Meadowlands of old, when a third of the region was covered with white cedars," said Jim Wright.
Enduring the February cold was well worth it at Mill Creek that day. About a dozen beautiful green-winged teal and a Eurasian-green winged teal graced our binoculars, along with two northern harriers, one of which a gray ghost, also gadwall, great black-backed gulls and just to remind us just how great this urban wilderness is, an adult bald eagle decided to honor the elegant winter panorama of Mill Creek.
Green-winged teal.
Soon egrets, herons, shorebirds and swallows will make their return to Mill Creek, but don't miss paying a winter visit to this wonderful wildlife oasis. Mill Creek holds a special place in my heart. The opportunities for birding and the year round beauty is some of the best the Meadowlands has to offer. I'm sure you will learn to love Mill Creek as much as we do. The next BCAS/NJMC walk at Mill Creek will be Sunday March 6th at 10:00 AM and, as always, is free to everyone. For more information on Mill Creek Marsh, directions, and to learn more about all the great places in the Meadowlands go to http://www.meadowblog.net/
Previous Birding Exclusives:
- Don's Jersey Birding: Every New Jersey Backyard is Critical Habitat
- Don's Jersey Birding: Finding the Right Birding Buddy, Part 2
- Don's Jersey Birding: Birding Binoculars: Keeping it simple
- Linda's For the Birds: The Strange Mating Ritual of the American Woodcock
- Linda's For the Birds: Chasing Crossbills
- Don's Jersey Birding: Finding the Right Birding Buddy
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 3/1/2011 7:00 AM 
Categories: Don's Jersey Birding
Tags: Mill Creek Marsh Meadowlands GreenWinged Teal northern harriers birding great blackbacked gulls
Categories: Don's Jersey Birding
Tags: Mill Creek Marsh Meadowlands GreenWinged Teal northern harriers birding great blackbacked gulls
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