Sunday, December 7: Bayonne Birding

Long-tailed duck. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Meet at 8:30 am in the parking area at Otaiko Hibachi and Sushi Lounge, 125 Lefante Way, Bayonne, NJ.

Leader: Evan Cutler

Canceled in the event of rain

If you've never birded in Bayonne before, you're in for a real treat, because you never know what surprises you might find there during the winter months. We'll start at Lefante Walkway, a public path that takes us through the Bayonne Golf Course. We'll then circle back to explore the Ocean Terminal Peninsula and, time permitting, some other nearby hotspots. In years past, this area has been good in December for waterfowl and shorebirds, and yes, even the occasional Short-eared or Snowy Owl. 

It can be very windy and cold, so dress in layers. Bring water, something warm to drink, a snack, binoculars, and a spotting scope, if you have one. There are bathrooms in the Dunkin Donuts at the meeting point. We will be finished by 11:00 am.

Saturday, December 20: Manasquan Inlet

White-winged scoter by Beni Fishbein.

A birder's meetup

Meet at 8:30 am at the end of Broadway in Point Pleasant Beach; driving directions are here. 

With the beginning of winter, the birding on New Jersey’s North Shore is at its very best. Depending on winds and weather, we can hope to see hundreds or thousands of northern gannets, all three scoters, common eiders, both loon species, horned grebes, great cormorants, purple sandpipers, and perhaps a razorbill or two. Dress for what is likely to be cold weather— it will feel even colder, as we expect to spend much of the morning standing on the southern jetty guarding the inlet. If time allows, we’ll explore other nearby areas for more wintering species.

Bring binoculars, a snack and something warm to drink. If you have one, a spotting scope can be very useful here.  We will finished by 11:30 am. Should the weather be threatening, please check the Montclair Bird Club website the evening before for confirmation or cancellation. For more information, write MBCoutings@gmail.com.

There are no bathrooms at this location, but there is a Dunkin Donuts with restrooms just over the bridge on Route 35. 

Driving directions: Take the Garden State Parkway south to Exit 98.  Get on Route 34 South, which turns into Route 35 South. Just over the bridge, make a U-turn to continue on Route 35 north to Broadway. Turn right (sign says “To beach”). Park at the end of Broadway across from 24-2 Broadway. For GPS, use the address 24-2 Broadway, Point Pleasant Beach.  

Saturday, January 10: Liberty State Park

Red breasted mergansers. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

8:00 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Meet at parking lot 4 off Morris Pesin Drive by its intersection with Freedom Way.  

Located along the Hudson River in Jersey City, Liberty State Park is a premier site for finding winter birds.  Over the years, eBirders have documented 135 species there in January.  Commonly seen are: brant, gadwall, ruddy duck, bufflehead, red-breasted mergansers, horned lark, fox and savannah sparrows. Other possibilities include grebes, loons, both scaup as well as white-winged gulls such as Iceland and glaucous, and American tree sparrow. If it’s an irruption year, we might even see snowy owl and snow buntings. We can walk the Hudson River walkway to search the river for waterfowl, explore the woods around the nature center, and do the long, but often rewarding, walk to Caven Point, where many good rarities have been found.

Bring binoculars, a snack, something to drink and a scope, if you have one. Dress warmly; it is cold along the river. We will walk mostly along paved pathways that are completely flat, but if we go to Caven Point we may walk through mud or snow at some point.

 We will meet at the south end of the park see Park Map here in parking lot 4 near the East Jetty (E on the map) on Morris Pesin Drive   Best access is via the NJ Turnpike Extension, exit 14B.  Restrooms are available in the park office near our meeting place.