Bergen County Audubon Society and the NJSEA sponsored a terrific bird walk this morning at DeKorte Park -- or I should say several bird walks, since the turnout was so robust the group broke into two major subdivisions led by Don Torino and Chris Takacs.

It was great to be outdoors for a little while after fighting a bad cold for a week.

When I submitted my list to eBird, it turned out that two of the 27 species were deemed "rare" -- the Lapland Longspur and a Pied-billed Grebe that liked to play now-you-see-me, now-you-don't for much of the morning. 

How many times do you start a new year with two rare birds? Me, not often...

Here are some mediocre pix from this morning -- too busy looking for or at the birds.

Occasionally annoying Pied-billed Grebe.

Lapland Longspur is in there somewhere. No, really.

The Pied Piper of the Meadowlands.

American Kestrel on nearby Disposal Road.

My list follows. Others likely had mo' better birds.