Saturday, May 16: South Mountain Reservation, West Orange, NJ

Black and white warbler. Photo by Ric Cohn. 

Meet at 7:30AM in the main parking lot on Crest Drive (2nd on right; you'll see a wooden sign that says "Bramhall Terrace, entrance to Summit Field).

South Mountain Reservation is a 2,100-acre nature reserve in southern Essex county. Nestled between the first and second ridges of the Watchung Mountains and overlooking the urban sprawl of the greater Newark area, it can often serve as a tremendous migrant trap in the heat of spring migration. We will walk several trails throughout the reservation and hope to see good numbers of thrushes, warblers, sparrows and others taking advantage of the feeding opportunities in the reservation's varied habitats as they pass through our area. Many of the trails are paved, but it is recommended to wear sturdy hiking boots for some trails can be a little rocky and uneven. 

Usually, there are porto-san bathrooms at this location and at later stops throughout this walk. 

For more information, email mbcoutings@gmail.com.

Directions from Montclair area: From I-280, take exit 7, Pleasant Valley Way south for 3.5 miles, then turn left onto South Orange Avenue. Take this road for 1 mile and turn right onto Crest Drive, marked with a sign for the dog park (you will encounter Crest Drive just after you've reached the crest of the hill you've been ascending). Stay straight on Crest Drive and within a half mile there will be a very long parking lot on the right in an open space with a vista to your left. We will meet at the far end of this parking lot.

Sunday, June 7, 2026: Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve

Yellow warbler. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve

260 Skillmans Lane, Somerset, NJ (use this address for GPS)

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Trip is canceled if it rains.

In the heart of Franklin Township, the 164 acres of restored native grasses and other plants at Negri-Nepote Grassland Preserve attract a variety of breeding and migratory birds. eBird lists 115 species seen at the preserve in June. We hope to see the site’s specialty, the grasshopper sparrow, along with other nesting birds such as the eastern meadowlark, orchard oriole, common yellowthroat, yellow warbler, American kestrel, and blue grosbeak. A small wetland area can attract shorebirds and waterfowl. 

There is no restroom on site.  There is a bathroom at the QuickChek on the right immediately after you leave Route 287 at Exit 10 and one at the WaWa on the corner of Route 27 and Skillmans Lane. 

We will be walking on open, flat trails. Bring a sunhat and sunscreen, water, a snack, binoculars, and a scope if you have one.  Email mbcoutings@gmail.com for more information. 

Saturday, June 13, 2026: Halifax Road, Mahwah, NJ

Orchard oriole. Photo by Michael Yellin.

Meet at 8:00 am at Continental Soldiers Park, 550 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ.

Halifax Road is a birding hotspot in Bergen County. We will hike an easy, forested trail along the Ramapo River that loops around a lake. We might see wood ducks, snowy egrets and green herons, yellow-billed cuckoos, a variety of warblers and vireos, and flycatchers including great crested flycatchers, eastern kingbirds, and eastern wood-pewees. If time permits, we may also hike another easy trail that cuts through a meadow where we can possibly see indigo buntings, blue-gray gnatcatchers, eastern bluebirds, and orioles; there may be ticks here, so please come prepared to do battle.

Bring binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, a sun hat, water and a snack. There are restroom facilities at Continental Soldiers Park.

Call Michael Yellin at 908 380-2719 if you need more information.