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.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026: Montclair Hawkwatch Lunch Stop

Photo by Wayne Quinto.

12 to 2 pm.

It is the 70^th year of the Montclair Hawk Watch. In our very own backyard, the Montclair Hawk Watch (click for article) is our country's 2nd oldest continuous hawk watch and New Jersey Audubon’s smallest sanctuary.

Bring your lunch and join us on the platform on Edgecliff Road in Upper Montclair. It’s a great location to learn the basic techniques of raptor flight identification.  We’ll have an experienced hawk watcher or two on the platform to help you understand what you are seeing and looking for.  All levels and ages are welcome.  Bring sunscreen, a hat, binoculars (if you have them), your lunch and something to drink. Word of warning: the walk uphill to the top of the hawk lookout platform is 103 steps and there is no bathroom at this location.   

Contact us at mbcoutings@gmail.com for further information.   

Directions & Parking

Here is a link to the hawkwatch location. For GPS purposes, use 34 Edgecliff Road, Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043.  This is the address of the Hawk Lookout’s street level next door neighbor.  The trail head is next to this house.

Please note that parking is only permitted on one side of Edgecliff Road (the same side as the house at 34 Edgecliff Road).  There is also additional parking further up the road on the opposite side by the south entrance to Mills Reservation.