Saturday, August 29, 2026: Walker Avenue Wetlands, Wayne, New Jersey

Least Sandpiper. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Walker Avenue Wetlands, Wayne, New Jersey. Saturday, August 29, 2026 8 am.

Meet at Vincent Street, Wayne, NJ.

Trip cancels in event of inclement weather

If it has recently rained heavily, trip will move to DeKorte as Walker becomes impassable.

Write to mbcoutings@gmail.com for further information.

Walker Avenue Wetlands is a marsh habitat bordering the Pompton River in Passaic County. It is a great place to see herons and egrets, ducks, swallows, and sandpipers. In years past, a number of rarities have been found at Walker in August so we will keep our fingers crossed that we will find some on this half-day trip.  

Wear waterproof shoes or boots. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, bug spray, and sunscreen. Be sure to wear a hat and carry water. There are no bathrooms at this location. 

To reach our meeting site from the Montclair area, take Route 23 north and exit at the Newark Pompton Turnpike. Make a left onto Ryerson Avenue, a right onto Walker Avenue, and a left onto Vincent Street. Park along Vincent Street. 

Monday, September 14 at 6:30 pm: Montclair Chimney Swift Watch with Evan Cutler

Chimney Swifts. Photo by Ric Cohn.

Rain date: Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 pm

Meet at 6:30 pm on Norwood Avenue between Lorraine Avenue and Bellevue Avenue, next to the parking lot of the Bellevue Avenue branch of the Montclair Public Library.

For decades, Buzz Aldrin Middle School in Montclair has played host to one of the most

fascinating birding spectacles in all of New Jersey. Each evening, flocks of chimney swifts fill the sky, feeding on flying insects, until suddenly, one by one they enter the school’s chimney, where they will roost until the next morning. This is a terrific opportunity to watch this phenomenon up close. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and a snack or beverage. We’ll be out until about 7:30 pm – which is usually the time the final swift enters the chimney. 

Write to mbcoutings@gmail.com for further information.

Saturday, September 19: A Piece of the Great Piece

Wood duck. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Meet at 8:00 am at Centennial Park on Pine Brook Road, Lincoln Park, New Jersey.

Although it is in many ways a typical suburban town, much of Lincoln Park is wetland that cannot be developed. Thus, a large portion of the town’s square mileage is green space, offering many excellent birding opportunities. The town is home to Great Piece Meadows, a remnant wetland of Glacial Lake Passaic, which attracts numerous migrants. Centennial Park, a small “pocket” park at the edge of Great Piece Meadows, probably has more bird species per square foot (including Morris County’s first Ash-throated Flycatcher) than any other location in the area.

Another section of Great Piece is known as Two Bridges, at the confluence of the Passaic and Pompton Rivers. We hope to see a variety of migrating songbirds and raptors as well as resident and lingering breeding birds such as the wood duck, great crested flycatcher, yellow-throated vireo, wood thrush, and rose-breasted grosbeak.

Please bring binoculars, a sunhat, insect repellant, water and a snack. There is a port-o-john in Centennial Park. If you plan on joining us, contact Ivan Kossak at ivankossak@gmail.com to RSVP or to get more information.