Fall
(September, October, November) 2007
Field TRIP
DIRECTIONS
MONTCLAIR HAWK LOOKOUT 51st. ANNIVERSERY OPEN HOUSE
Sunday September 16
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This is the 51st anniversary of the Montclair Hawk Lookout.
It remains the best place and the best time to see thousands of
broad-winged hawks migrate over the “Lookout”. The window for
Broad-winged hawk migration is between September 14 and
September 25. The high count was over 17,000 hawks on September
16, 1988 at the dedication of the lookout in memory of Andy
Bihune. Big fights are weather dependant. We can only hope for
a big flight during our annual open house on September 16. You
can’t see them if you’re not there….
Bring water, binoculars, visor and wear a smile on your
heart. We will have some loaner binoculars available.
Cost: Free
Directions: To reach the Montclair Hawk Watch from the Garden
State Parkway in Bloomfield, take exit 151 for Watchung Avenue
and head west on Watchung to its end at Upper Mountain Avenue in
Montclair, about 2.1 miles. Make a right turn and go north on
Upper Mountain 0.7 miles to Bradford Avenue. Make a left turn
and go up Bradford 0.1 miles to Edgecliff Road and make a right
turn. Go up Edgecliff 0.2 miles and park on the shoulder (to
avoid parking problems, please park well off the side of the
road). The lookout path is on the south side of the road.
BEGINNER HAWKWATCH AT CHIMNEY ROCK
Every Saturday and Sunday in September
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chimney Rock is the “Hawk Watch” located in Somerset County
Park Commission’s Washington Valley Park. The “Watch” is located
on the southern edge of the Watchung Ridge and is a good
location to witness southbound migrant hawks in the fall. Mid
September to early October is the best time to see the greatest
number and diversity of hawk species. NJAS and the Somerset
County Park Commission will have seasoned hawk watchers at the
“rock” to help find and identify southbound hawks.
Directions: The Chimney Rock hawk watch is located on the
First Watchung Ridge in Martinsville, New Jersey. Chimney Rock
is most easily accessible from Interstate 287. From the north
or south take 287 to the exit for Route 22 east.
Follow Route 22 east for approximately 1 mile. Turn right
onto the jug handle at Vosseler Avenue. Turn left onto Vosseler
Avenue and cross Route 22. Proceed uphill until you reach the
peak (about .6 miles). Look for Miller Lane on your left. Turn
left onto Miller Lane. Drive about .5 miles down Miller Lane to
the parking lot for the hawk watch. NOTE: Miller Lane is narrow
and mostly gravel, with a number of private residences along it.
Please drive slowly and yield to oncoming cars. The trail to
the watch begins at the far end of the parking lot.
Cost: free, no pre-registration. Just come, stay as long as
you can.
SCOTTS MOUNTAIN HAWK WATCH
Saturday, November 3
10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Located on the edge of Merrill Creek Reservoir, this site is
handicapped accessible and offers views of waterfowl and gulls
along with the larger late season hawks.
Cost: free, no pre-registration. Just come, stay as long as
you can.
Directions: To reach the Scott’s Mountain Hawk Watch: Take
I-78 west to Exit 3, the last exit in New Jersey. Go 1.1 miles
to the traffic light at Route 519 and turn right (north). Go
2.2 miles north on 519, crossing Route 57, and turn right onto
Fox Farm Road, at the small sign for Merrill Creek Reservoir.
Go 2.6 miles, bearing right at the fork after one mile, to the
entrance to the parking lot, on the right.
HUNTERDON WARBLERS (and other fall migrants)
Saturday, September 8
8:00 a.m... to mid-afternoon
Meet at Spruce Run.
Forested areas north of Spruce Run often attract southbound
warblers, along with rarities like Yellow-bellied Flycatcher,
Philadelphia Vireo, and even Connecticut Warbler. The reservoir
itself, usually drawn down in late summer, offers good looks at
many sandpiper species. With Michael Pollock
Cost: $15 members, $20 non-members
OLD MINE ROAD: WALPACK BEND meet at Millbrook Village see
below
Saturday, September 15
8:00a.m. to mid-afternoon
Join naturalist Dennis Briede to search for fall migrants in
the Walpack Bend area of the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area. This area is very good for warblers, thrushes,
vireos, bald eagle and other assorted passerines.
Cost: $15 members $20 nonmembers
Directions: Meet at Millbrook Village. Take route 80 to exit
12 (Hope-Blairstown). At end of ramp take route 521 north for
several miles to Blairstown. Turn left onto route 94 south. Go a
very short distance to the traffic light and turn right. Be
careful here. DO NOT FOLLOW ROUTE 521 WHICH MAKES A BACKSLANTING
RIGHT. Go up the hill and turn right at the top onto CR 602
(Millbrook Road). In a short distance bear left (which is still
CR 602-Millbrook Road). Follow this for a number of miles, up
and over the Kittatinny Ridge. When you have descended the
backside of the Ridge you will come to Millbrook Village, a
restored museum village. When the road Y's in the village, bear
right and turn right into the parking lot. There is a restroom
at the far end of the lot. (DeLorme, map 23, shows all routes
from route 80)
GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Saturday, October 6
8:00 a.m. to about noon.
The “Swamp” is always a destination worthy of a visit. This
time of year will produce a variety of migrants and the arrival
of some “wintering” birds. Led by Michael Newlon.
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers
Directions: Meet at the “Friends of Great Swamp National
Wildlife Refuge”: From Route 287, take exit 30A. Go east off
the exit ramp, passing a large corporate park on the left. You
are now on Maple Avenue. Proceed on Maple Avenue through
Basking Ridge. After passing the Lord Stirling Riding Stables,
turn left onto Lord Stirling Road. After passing the Somerset
County Environmental Education Center, the road turns to gravel,
crosses a bridge, and turns back to pavement, and the name
changes to White Bridge Road. Proceed on White Bridge Road to
the first left turn, onto Pleasant Plains Road. Proceed on
Pleasant Plains Road past the Great Swamp NWR headquarters to
the Friends office and parking lot, on the right.
SPARROWS AT WARREN GREEN ACRES
Saturday October 20
8:00 a.m. to about noon
Warren Green acres site is a magnet for migrant sparrows in
the fall and no one knows the site better than leader Mike
Newlon.
Cost: $10 members $15 nonmembers
Directions: From Route 78, take Exit 36, Warrenville.
Proceed south from the highway and make the first left onto
Mountain Avenue, at a light. Go about 1.1 miles to the unmarked
entrance, on the left.
BEGINNING BIRDING FIELD TRIPS: Great Swamp
We’ll start by observing the birds at the bird feeders
outside the bookstore window at the Hoffman Center and then
migrate to the Great Swamp. The “Swamp” is always a great
destination.
Saturday, October 27
Saturday, November 17
9:00 a.m. until noon
Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers
Directions: Meet at the Hoffman Center. Exit Route 287 at
30B, bear right after exiting, proceed through the light at 202
onto Childs Road, and bear right at the fork onto Hardscrabble
Road. We’re one mile ahead on the right; go up the long
driveway to the Hoffman Nature Center. Meet at the Hoffman
Parking Lot.
HOFFMAN PARK—SPARROWS AND MORE
Tuesday, October 9
9:00 a.m. to mid-afternoon
Join us at Hoffman Park for weekday birding.
This 353 acre park in Hunterdon County is comprised of
hardwood forest, grasslands, and 32 ponds of various sizes. In
the fall, migrant sparrows and other passerines flock to the
park on their way south. Join Michael Pollock for an
exploration of the park and the birds that are moving through.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers
Directions From the junction of Route 287 and Route 78:
proceed west on Route 78 to the Pattenburg exit (the third exit
after the Clinton exit). Use caution when exiting; this is a
tricky intersection. After exiting, proceed around the circle
at the exit and cross back over Route 78, following the signs
for Pattenburg. Immediately after crossing Route 78, turn left
at the light and proceed to the ruins of a church. Bear right
onto Baptist Church Road and proceed up the hill, under a
railroad bridge, to the park entrance on the left.
ISLAND BEACH
Thursday, November 8
9:00 a.m. to mid-afternoon
Meet at Island Beach (first bathhouse)
Join us for a weekday of birding at the Shore.
Migrating scoters, loons, gannets, raptors, and always the
possibility of a November rarity either on the water or the
shore. With Michael Pollock.
Directions: Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 82. Go
east on Route 37 for about 7 miles, cross Barnegat Bay, and exit
to the right, following the sign for Island Beach State Park.
Follow the road south to North Central Avenue, and continue to
south to the park entrance (about 2.7 miles from Route 37).
After paying the park entrance fee, proceed south about 3.5
miles to the first bathhouse, where we will meet. Facilities
available at several places.
| 
