Monday, November 23: Edison Boat Launch

Kumlien Iceland gull. Photo Rick Wright.

Led by Rick Wright.

Meet at 9:30 am in the boat launch parking lot, Meadow Road, Edison, NJ.

The Raritan River just above the Clancy Island landfill is one of the best sites in New Jersey for wintertime gulls. After eating their fill atop the gigantic garbage mound, the birds fly down to the river to bathe and loaf.

American herring and ring-billed gulls are the most abundant, but as cold weather sets in, lesser black-backed and Kumlien Iceland gulls arrive in variable numbers; glaucous and laughing gulls are much rarer but possible.

At this season, bald eagles, northern harriers, great cormorants, white-crowned sparrows, and all three merganser species are likely to be present as well.

The river is very narrow here, and it is usually easy to get good looks at most of the birds. We will be watching right from the paved parking area; it is also possible to follow a trail a short distance downstream. The outing will finish before noon, and some of us may want to stop for lunch at the appropriately named Skylark Diner in Edison, where there are restrooms. 

Dress for the weather and the wind, and bring a snack and hot drink. Good views of the birds can be had with binoculars or cameras, but if you have one, a spotting scope will be very useful.

To reach the boat launch, take the Garden State Parkway south to Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 south to Edison and take the jughandle to cross the highway onto Wooding Avenue. Bear right onto Old Post Road, which will become Meadow Road and eventually cross over the New Jersey Turnpike. The boat launch parking area is at the end of Meadow Road. The drive from Montclair is about 45 minutes each way. Directions are here.