Saturday, June 27: High Point State Park

Red breasted nuthatch. Photo by Peter Roy.

Meet @8:00 AM at the High Point SP Picnic Area off Scenic Drive, Montague, NJ.  

There is a $10 park entry fee for cars.

You may find additional parking up the road at the Interpretive Center parking area by Lake Marcia.

Rain date: Sunday, June 28.

High Point State Park is a 16,000+ acre state park in Wantage & Montague Townships in New Jersey. The park occupies a large area of the Kittatinny Mountains, and the High Point Monument at 1,803 feet in elevation, is the highest point in the state. The park’s sprawling forests and wetlands along with its higher elevation create an environment where species with a more northern affinity breed.

We will begin by circumnavigating the Dryden Kuser Swamp on a 2-mile trail. This is the highest elevation Atlantic white-cedar swamp in the world, and the thick rhododendron and coniferous trees in this wetland make it an ideal habitat for breeding yellow-bellied sapsucker, red-breasted nuthatch, veery, hermit thrush, northern waterthrush and Blackburnian warbler. Historically, ruffed grouse have also been found there. Once we have completed this loop, we will drive between a series of stops on Ridge and Sawmill Roads in the park, parking on the roadside and birding small sections of road including the Group Campsite (where a golden-winged warbler has been singing this breeding season), Shimers Brook (a breeding area for Canada warbler and potentially Nashville warbler), and Sawmill Pond, which should have a wide diversity of breeding birds including, hopefully, cerulean warbler.

Bring binoculars, water, bug spray, sunscreen, and a snack. Wear sturdy shoes. Bathrooms will be available at various stops in the park.

Feel free to reach out to Peter Roy at 201-273-1059 with any questions, including for carpooling.