Birding Highlights

The public parking area on the Middletown side of the Oceanic Bridge is a great place to look at winter waterfowl.  Light is best after noon.  In some winters a huge flock of Greater Scaup resides here, sometimes numbering 10,000+.  There are also numbers of American Black Duck, Bufflehead, and Red-breasted Merganser.  Occasionally, Canvasback and Redhead are mixed in.  Unusual birds seen here include Red-necked Grebe, Eurasian Wigeon, and Tufted Duck.  In winter, keep an eye out for Peregrine Falcons.
 

Directions

From the north:

• Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 117 and follow Rt. 36 for 13 miles to the entrance of Gateway NRA.
• Keep going south on Rt. 36.
• Turn right at Rt. 520 and cross the Sea Bright-Rumson Bridge.
• Stay on 520 to Bingham Ave. (Monmouth County Rt. 8-A).
• Take a right onto Bingham. Bingham will cross the Oceanic Bridge.
• Park in the lot on the right-hand side just over the bridge.

From the south:

• Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 105.
• Get on Rt. 36, and continue on Rt. 36 until you reach the above-mentioned intersection with Rt. 520.
• Turn left onto Rt. 520 and proceed as described above.