Birding Hot Spots & Map

Deer management in winter

(1) From Pennington at Rt 31 Circle:

Check for Deer Management closing dates in winter

Use Sewell Avenue entrance to Roebling Park section of the Abbott Marshlands and park by Spring Lake. Be mindful that this natural area is located in an urban setting. Use caution when visiting. Don’t leave your camera or valuables lying about. Report any suspicious behavior to the Hamilton (609-581-4000) or Bordentown Township (609- 298-2800) Police. In an emergency, call 911.

GPS Coordinates: N40 11.714 W74 43.923  

Directions: From Princeton take Alexander Street toward Route 1. At the bend before the canal turn right on West Drive. Go a short distance on West Drive and park near the entrance to Rogers Wildlife Refuge.

GPS:
40°19’38.5″N 74°39’33.6″W
40.327353, -74.659342

Watershed Institute (formerly Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association)
31 Titus Mill Rd, Pennington, NJ 08534

GPS:
40°21’06.3″N 74°46’21.3″W
40.351751, -74.772571

GPS:
40°18’49.5″N 74°51’46.6″W
40.3137529, -74.86295740000003

Assunpink Wildlife Management Area Boat Launch parking lot
Intersection of Imlaystown-Hightstown Rd & Clarksburg-Robbinsville Rd, Millstone, NJ 08535, USA
Directions: East on I-195 to exit 11, Imlaystown. North on Imlaystown Road 2.6 miles to parking area at Lake Assunpink.

GPS:
40°12’54.9″N 74°31’00.7″W
40.215254, -74.516866

GPS:
39°14’02.9″N 75°01’34.5″W
39.234133, -75.026264

GPS:
40°20’23.8″N 75°10’16.2″W
40.339942, -75.171179

Mount Rose Preserve, Carter Rd., Hopewell Township, NJ 08540, USA
Parking on west side of Carter Rd.

GPS:
40°21’41.4″N 74°44’15.4″W
40.361489, -74.737621

Directions: Take I-287 to I-80. Go east to exit 56A (Squirrelwood Road). Go to the stop sign and turn right on Rifle Camp Road. Go up the hill about 0.5 miles to Mountain Ave., which comes in from the left. Turn left on Mountain Ave. (look for army tank and reservoir on the left) and go 0.3 miles to the entrance to Garret Mountain Reservation. Go right up the hill for a short distance to a large parking area. The distance from Somerville on I-287 and I-80 to exit 56A is 40 miles.

GPS:
40°54’08.5″N 74°10’54.5″W
40.902367, -74.181791

GPS:
40°37’54.9″N 74°50’57.5″W
40.631908, -74.849302

GPS:
40°25’20.8″N 74°48’09.2″W
40.422448, -74.802563

Other Sourland Mountain parks:
Sourland Mountain Preserve, a nearby 364 acre Hunterdon County Park at 233 Rileyville Road, Ringoes, NJ 08551
Sourland Mountain Preserve, a 4,000 acre Somerset County Park at 421 East Mountain Road, Hillsborough, NJ   08844

GPS:
40°18’21.8″N 74°44’52.3″W
40.306041, -74.747863

GPS:
40°20’33.4″N 74°37’46.2″W
40.342609, -74.629514

Route 1 Southbound lane to Princeton. After Scudders Mill Rd. overpass, turn right onto Mapleton Rd. Left into Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park parking lot. The impoundment will be on your left.

GPS:
40°19’49.1″N 74°42’45.6″W
40.330310, -74.712657

Brushy fields are great for Spring Woodcock displays. Good Fall Sparrow spot.

GPS:
40°19’31.9″N 74°45’10.1″W
40.325543, -74.752796

40.326865, -74.768159

Known for rarities. Ponds, marshes, and wetlands.
Corporate Blvd, Robbinsville, NJ 08691, USA
I-195 take Exit 7 South on Rt. 526 towards Allentown. Left onto Corporate Boulevard.

FYI: Google Maps puts Mercer Corporate Park on Valsing Way. That is not the one you want. Search for “Corporate Boulevard.”

GPS:
40°11’14.3″N 74°35’22.9″W
40.187313, -74.589688

GPS:
40°12’22.5″N 74°32’11.9″W
40.206254, -74.536646

WCAS usually parks in the Fiddler’s Creek parking lot for Baldpate across the street but the Preserve has a small lot of its own which can be muddy and rutted.

Directions: From I-78 east, take exit 24, Oldwick, and proceed north on Route 523 towards Oldwick. Continue straight on Route 517 when Route 523 turns to the right. After passing through the center of Oldwick, the park entrance will be on the left. A gravel parking lot is located on the right side of the driveway. For more information, contact Brad Merritt (609) 921-8964.

http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/parks/ParkAreas/ColdBrook/info.htm

GPS: 40.677096, -74.749575

Directions: Take Route 31 north to the Flemington Circle and then continue north 4 miles and make a right onto Rt. 612, Bartles Corner Rd. Proceed east on Rt. 612 for about .75 miles to just after traffic light. Make an immediate left onto River Road—possibly one way entrance only requiring a u-turn after you cross railroad tracks and South Branch Raritan River. Head north on River Rd. for about 0.2 miles until you see the gravel lot on the right. Limited parking along the road.

GPS: 40.541286, -74.849706

Meeting place is Parking Lot B.
South Beach – Area B, Highlands, NJ 07732
https://goo.gl/maps/NJ2ENmJNSJ32
GPS: 40.406936,-73.978181

Detailed Sandy Hook birding map here

Alexauken Wildlife Management Area has a very healthy forest with excellent understory. Louisiana Water Thrush, Wood Thrush, Veery, Scarlet Tanager and Pileated Woodpecker breed here. Its accessible from both the Alexauken WMA entrance on Rocktown Lambertville Rd. or the smaller parking lot on Gulick Rd.

WCAS usually meets at Parking Lot B. Sandy Hook is a prime spot to learn more about shore birds, with opportunities to see raptors, marsh birds, and migrating songbirds along the Jersey shore

Park at the Dry Run Creek trail lot across the street on south side of Rt. 518. Pretty trail through diabase boulders trail that wraps around Swan Creek Reservoir. Mature forest with spicebush thickets and wildflowers. Bears have been reported here.

https://njtrails.org/trail/rockhopper-trail/

676 Brunswick Ave, Lambertville, NJ 08530, USA