This morning was the dedication of the Pirie-Mayhood Tower, with a turnout of more than 30 members of the Celery Farm family.

The tower is named for Rob Pirie, who supervised the construction of the original platform 30 years ago, and for Charlie Mayhood, a long-time friend of the Celery Farm.

Along with the Warden’s Watch -- which Rob built in 1999 -- the platform has been one of the main gathering and birding spots in the Celery Farm.

The Celery Farm itself have helped give us all an incredible appreciation of nature.

These two platforms have helped give us a wonderful sense of community as well.

The dedication was preceded by a packed Hour on the Tower that featured 40 species of birds and a Red Fox, and followed by a gathering at the historic John Fell House.

A huge thank you to the Mayhood clan, Betty Aiken, and Rob and his mom, Barbara, for making the event special -- and a big thanks to all who participated in this memorable morning. More pix follow. (Click thumbnail to enlarge.)

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Jerilyn Grace passed along this cool Nj.com article about a rescued and released Bald Eagle. It had been hit by a truck several months ago in Upper Greenwood Lake and taken to The Raptor Trust in Millington via Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital.

After rehabbing at TRT, it was released at a Rockaway reservoir last week.

The link is here, with video. (Thanks, Jeri, Franklin Lakes Animal Hospital and especially The Raptor Trust.)

Folks at Stateline Lookout saw lots of great raptors today, and they all saw this thing head up the Hudson and then back down again...

It is an E-2C Hawkeye,  "the U.S. Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical airborne warning and control system platform."

More about it here.

Lighting was pretty good near dusk, and this Great Egret showed up...

Also had a few peeps, a cuppla Killdeer, a Northern Harrier (thanks, Julie!), mucho Wood Ducks and a few flycatchers.

My column in The Record and Herald News today is about the Wallkill River NWR as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this Saturday.

It was one of the first places I went birding -- up at the Liberty Loop. So glad the land has been preserved.

The link is here.