The Montclair Bird Club
Montclair Bird Club
Celebrating 100 Years of Birding
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MONTCLAIR BIRD CLUB
OUTINGS and TRIPS
The Montclair Bird Club conducts a full program of field excursions, including both trips with a designated leader and "meet-up" outings arranged to take advantage of seasonal happenings at local hotspots. All of our activities are open to all members, friends, and visitors. For further information, please make contact with the listed leader or write to Beni at MBCOutings@gmail.com.
All participants are required to read and abide by our
WEDNESDAY MORNING WALKS
Join Fred Pfeifer each Wednesday for a walk around Garret Mountain Reservation or another nearby park to enjoy the avian treasures of the season. Text or call Fred at 973 809-7674 to register and to find out the meeting location.
Saturday, April 15
(rain date Saturday, April 22)
Photography at Mill Creek Marsh
Join us for a Montclair Bird Club PHOTOGRAPHY field trip to Mill Creek Marsh. We’ll meet at
the entrance gate by Bob’s Discount Furniture, Secaucus, at 8 a.m. with cameras, tripods, scopes, and smartphones. We’ll take our time along the trail, keeping the sun over our shoulders and
concentrating on photographing birds, landscapes, butterflies, groundhogs, and any other slice
of nature we encounter. If you are new to photography or just prefer to watch photographers,
you are welcome to come along.
For more information, make contact with Sandy Sorkin at MontclairBirdClub100@gmail.com.
Directions to Mill Creek Marsh from the Montclair area:
On 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. The well sign-posted
entrance to the marsh is right by Bob’s Furniture.
1. Take NJ Route 3 East. Stay to the right, as you will want to get onto the Service Road immediately after the Meadowlands Parkway exit.
2. Follow NJ-3 E to State Rd 3 E Local in Secaucus (Service Road). Take the exit from NJ-3 E toward North Bergen/Kennedy Blvd/I-95. This exit comes up very quickly, immediately after the second overpass.
3. Take Harmon Meadow Blvd and Park Plaza Dr to your destination.
4. Once on Harmon Meadow Blvd, you will drive to a T-intersection by Sam’s Club. Turn left at the light and stay to the right. This will take you to the Mill Creek Marsh entrance next to Bob’s Discount Furniture.
Monday, April 24
(rain date day, April 25)
Paulinskill Wildlife Management Area (Hyper Humus)
Lafayette, New Jersey
Meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot at Warbasse Junction Rd., Lafayette, NJ.
Paulinskill Wildlife Management Area (Hyper Humus) consists of ponds, marshes, and wooded areas providing diverse habitats for plants, birds, and other animals. Once an extensive bog filled with endemic plants, the area was partially drained in the early nineteenth century to decrease mosquito populations. Peat mining created several ponds early in the last century; when mining ceased, the Scotts Company used part of the area to package peat moss brought in from elsewhere. The packaging facility was subsequently bought by Carson Construction, and the rest of the property was donated to the state, becoming Paulinskill Wildlife Management Area. The Paulinskill and Sussex Branch rail trails border the property.
Our route will be fairly flat, with occasional slight rises in elevation, but some spots might be wet if it has rained recently. We will start along the Paulinskill River rail trail and then walk into Hyper Humus proper, looking for waterfowl and other early migrants along with nesting bald eagles. There is always something different to see at this rich and diverse hotspot. Bring binoculars, a scope if you have one, water, and a snack. This trip will last about half the day.
NOTE: There is construction at the bridge on Warbasse Junction Rd. just north of the parking lot, making it impossible to reach from Route 94. If coming north on Route 15, turn left onto Sunset Inn Rd. (Quik Check and Exxon stations are at this corner), then take the first right onto Sunset Inn Limecrest/Garrison Rd. (Google Maps shows both names, but most know it as Garrison Rd.). At the “T,” make the right turn onto Warbasse Junction Rd.; the parking lot will be about half a mile ahead on the left. There is a bathroom there.
For more information or questions, contact the trip leader, Karyn, at kdc05@ptd.net.
Thursday, May 4
(rain date Friday, May 5)
Central Park, New York City
a birder's meetup
Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the northeast corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West, across the street from the B and C subway station entrances and from the Dakota apartment building.
In the midst of the steel and concrete of the city, Central Park is an oasis of trees and plants,
insects, and other food sources for birds migrating along the Atlantic coast. Over 210 bird species
have been seen here, and club member and NYC resident Ardith Bondi has offered to show us around the park and familiarize us with some of its bird-rich areas.
Expect a 3-hour walk. Bring binoculars, and wear a hat and shoes good for walking. You may need bug spray and sunscreen.
After birding, we will go to a nearby restaurant for a late breakfast/early lunch. If you are planning on joining us in the meal, please let Beni know at mbcoutings@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 13
WORLD SERIES OF BIRDING
The Big Sit at Mills Reservation
Any time between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm
Join the Montclair Broadwings, the official team of the Montclair Bird Club, as we compete in the Fortieth World Series of Birding on May 13.
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Become a team member by registering here by May 5. Then count bird species wherever you are on May 13, beginning at midnight EDT, and submit your list to eBird through our team trip list before 11:59 EDT.
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Make a donation to support the team at our webpage here.
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Stop by the Big Sit at Mills Reservation on May 13 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Directions to Mills Reservation
Saturday, May 13
(rain date May 14)
South Mountain Reservation
Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the main parking lot on Crest Drive (second on right; you'll see a wooden sign that says Brahmhall Terrace, entrance to Summit Field).
South Mountain 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 greater Newark, it can act as a tremendous migrant trap in the heat of spring migration. We will walk several trails in the reservation and hope to see good numbers of warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other northbound birds taking advantage of the feeding opportunities in the varied habitats here. Many of the trails are paved, but it is recommended that you wear sturdy hiking boots, as some trails can be a little rocky and uneven.
Directions from the Montclair area: From Exit 7 on I-280, take 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). Stay straight on Crest Drive; 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.
Saturday, May 27
rain or shine!
Cold Brook Farm, Tewksbury
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the address provided on registering. This trip will take place unless it is pouring rain.
Join us at Cold Brook Farm, the home of club members Deb and Jason DeSalvo. We will
explore the farm fields, wooded areas, river, and wetlands on and bordering their property to
discover the many different migratory and breeding bird species that refuel and nest on this restored property. Deb and Jason have been working hard to remove invasive plant species
and plant native species to improve the habitat for insects, birds, and other animals, so it is
a real treat to explore this bird-friendly habitat. Last year, we visited earlier in May and saw 39
species, including 4 swallows.
Bring binoculars, a snack, and something to drink. If it has rained recently, waterproof boots are
recommended.
Email mbcoutings@gmail.com if you want to attend. The address and driving directions will be sent to you once you register.
For more information about any of our trips and outings, email mbcoutings@gmail.com.
