Sunday, March 29: Jersey City Birds, Beer and Brats - A Birder’s Meetup

Red breasted merganser. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Meet in Liberty State Park, parking lot 3 near the East Jetty on Morris Pesin Drive. 

This is a joint outing with the Sierra Club. We will meet at 2:00 the south end of Liberty State Park, in parking lot 3, near the East Jetty (C on the map), on Morris Pesin Drive. The best access is from Exit 14B of the NJ Turnpike Extension. See park map here. We will walk the paved Hudson River Walkway past Caven Point, about a mile each way. Expected birds include bufflehead, hooded and red-breasted mergansers, green-winged teal, American black duck, mallard, double-crested and perhaps great cormorants, brant, and early migrants. Scopes will be helpful. Restrooms are available at the park office. 

We will bird for about 2-1/2 hours, after which those who are interested can meet for an early dinner at Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden, featuring a wide selection of European and American beers, German sausages and American barbecue. 

For more information and to confirm attendance, please text or call Bill Beren at 862 283-8754. 

Saturday, April 11: Mill Creek Marsh Photography

Tree swallows. Photo by Ric Cohn.

With Sandy Sorkin and Ric Cohn

Meet at 8:00 am at the Mill Creek Marsh entrance.

Rain date: Sunday, April 12

Join us for a Montclair Bird Club photography trip to Mill Creek Marsh, in Secaucus. We’ll meet at the entrance gate (by Bob’s Furniture) at 8:00 am with cameras, tripods, scopes, binoculars, and smartphones.

We’ll take our time following the trail, keeping the sun over our shoulders concentrating on photographing birds, landscapes, groundhogs, and any other slice of nature we encounter while sharing tips, assisting each other with equipment, and reviewing shots. If you are new to photography or just prefer to watch photographers, you are welcome to come along.  There are no bathrooms at this site; however, we can use the bathroom at Bob’s, which opens at 10 am. Contact Sandy Sorkin on 973-698-7900 for further information. 

We will also schedule a Zoom session follow up to discuss images from the day. The purpose of the review will be to answer questions, discuss camera settings, and look at some images from our walk. We can also talk about workflow, picture storage, and processing software. We will wait for group input to schedule the Zoom session.

From the Montclair area,

1. Take NJ Route 3 East.

2. Follow NJ-3 E to State Rd 3 E Local in Secaucus (this is the service road). Take the exit from NJ-3 E toward N Bergen/Kennedy Blvd/I-95.

3. Immediately after the second overpass, take the exit, which comes up very quickly, for Harmon Meadow Blvd.  

4. Harmon Meadow Blvd takes you to a T-intersection by Sam’s Club. Turn left and stay to the right.

5. Look for Bob’s Discount Furniture Store ahead on the right. The well-marked entrance to Mill Creek Marsh is just to the right of Bob’s.

In your GPS, search for Mill Creek Marsh Trail, Secaucus, NJ 07094, or for Bob’s Discount Furniture and Mattress Store, 3 Mill Creek Dr, Secaucus, NJ 07094.