See any critters in the photo, taken near the Green Way entrance to the CF near Phair's Pond?

Clue: Don't settle for the obvious.

 

With the help of Marsh Warden Mike Limatola, I got some amazing looks at the all-white Gray Catbird along the path at Phair's Pond at lunchtime today.

(As you can see, I did not get amazing pix.)

Watched as it ate all kinds of berries -- and a caterpillar.

From the research I have done, this is a very rare bird.  Mike and I are hoping it hangs around for Saturday's free walk! 

Pic of gray Gray Catbird (also photographed today) follows for comparison purposes.  Could the all-white catbird pose like that for me?  No way!

Marsh Warden Mike Limatola and I are doing our first-Saturday-of-the-month on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 8 a.m.

We will be sure to look for the all-white catbird!

All participants will receive a brand-new, second-edition, full-color Celery Farm brochure, and we'll have 2014 Celery Farm calendars for sale as well!

We'll have a spotting scope or two, but bring binoculars if you have them.

Note: We suggest wearing long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes to reduce the chances of ticks.

The 90-minute walk, open to nature lovers of all ages and abilities, are designed to acquaint more people with the 107-acre Celery Farm.

The walks begin at the end of Green Way (a right turn off of northbound Franklin Turnpike, just before Crescent Avenue).  (Directions are in the left-hand column.)

The walks are sponsored by the Fyke Nature Association, which helps maintain the Celery Farm, and the Concerned Citizens of Allendale, which saved the Fell House and its 2.8-acre property from becoming a townhouse development.

E-mail Jim Wright here to rsvp or get more info. Check this blog, celeryfarm.net, for updates, last-minute weather advisories for the walk, and directions to the Celery Farm, Green Way and the Fell House.

We hope to see you on Saturday. Listing follows.

Allendale Bar & Grill now has a John Fell burger on the menu.

It was  a  delicious reminder of Bergen County's most famous patriot, who once also owned the Celery Farm's land (called Fell's Meadows back then).

One quibble -- maybe the John Fell Burger should have been a hero. : - )

Thanks, AB&G!

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Ron Filmeno writes:

Here are a couple of shots of the white catbird that I got Thursday, near Phairs Pond and the Greenway entrance, plus a couple of shots of a praying mantis with a captured dragonfly, also by the Greenway entrance, last week. (Thanks, Ron. One more pix of each follows.)