Field Trips

Field Trips to local birding “Hot Spots” and beyond

Experienced birders from WCAS lead regular birding field trip to some of the region’s top birding hotspots in Central New Jersey, the Delaware Water Gap, Delaware Bay, the New Jersey shore, and eastern Pennsylvania. Field trips are free, open to the public, and most require no advance registration. Participants of all experience levels are welcome. If there are field trips you would like to see added to WCAS field trip offerings, please feel free to contact us.

For more field trip information, contact our Field Trip Chair, Brad Merritt, 609-921-8964. If the trip is co-sponsored, please note the registration request in the trip description. In case of inclement weather, please check this website or contact Brad for field trip cancellation updates by 10:00 p.m. the night before.

Check our Event Calendar below for details and contact information

• Edwin Forsythe NWR (Brigantine)  A field trip on Saturday, September 9, at 9:00 am led by Brad Merritt. We start our fall field trip season at the fascinating location of Brigantine, located off Rt. 9 in Oceanville. The Brig offers great viewing access to migrating shore birds, terns, raptors, waterfowl, herons and egrets. The occasional uncommon bird is always a possibility! For more info, call Brad Merritt 609-921-8964. Directions: Garden State Parkway south to exit 48, Rte. 9 south for approx. 5 miles. Look for Brig Forsythe NWR sign at light. Turn left onto Great Creek Road and meet in the Visitor Center parking area.
• Bird Banding at Featherbed Lane  A field trip on Sunday, September 17, at 8:00 am led by Mark Witmer and Hannah Suthers. Registration is required and limited to 12 persons. Contact Brad Merritt, 609-921-8964. To experience the excitement of seeing beautiful birds, such as Black-throated Blue or Magnolia Warblers, in the hand, join us for this unique field trip. This trip will expose you to the ongoing research conducted by Hannah Suthers and her volunteers during fall migration. For over 40 years, Hannah has been banding on this site during the nesting season through fall migration and has documented the progression of habitat from fields to forest. You’ll see the entire process of bird banding, learn about the data collected, and find out more about the common birds you see daily. As time permits, we will also explore the wooded habitat for other migrants. Directions: Registered participants will meet at Featherbed Lane. From Rt. 518 in Hopewell, head north on Greenwood Avenue. In approximately 1.5 miles, turn right onto Featherbed Lane, continue 0.5 miles to the banding area, and park along the right side.
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed | Family Botany  An event on Saturday, September 23 at 10:00-11:30 am. Meander through field and forest on the Watershed Reserve to discover our fascinating plant neighbors. Learn basic identification skills and browse through our favorite field guides. This is a great introduction to exploring the secret lives plants. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Register with SBMWA, call 609-737-7592. Co-sponsored with Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve.
• St. Michael’s Farm Preserve, Hopewell  A field trip on Saturday, September 23, at 8:00 am led by Juanita Hummel and Brad Merritt. Join us in exploring the St. Michael’s Farm Preserve for fall migrants such as sparrows, raptors and other passerines associated with open space. This is an excellent place and time for a fall nature walk. For more info, call Brad Merritt, 609-921-8964. Directions: From Rosedale Road, turn right on Carter Road and continue four miles to find parking lot on the right just before entering Hopewell Borough. From 206, go west on Route 518, continue six miles to Princeton Avenue in Hopewell Borough. Turn left onto Princeton Ave. and continue .5 mile east; the main parking lot is on the left.
• Friends for the Abbott Marshlands World Rivers Day on the Delaware River  A field event on Sunday, September 24, time TBA.  Discover the Delaware River, Delaware & Raritan Canal and Abbott Marshlands from the Light Rail with railroad historian, John Kilbride. This trip will highlight the value of our rivers through travel along the Delaware River rail. Pre-register with info@abbottmarshlands.org using subject line, “World Rivers Day.” Meet at the Bordentown RiverLINE light rail station. See www.abbottmarshlands.org for more details.  Co-sponsored with Friends for the Abbott Marshlands.
• Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve   A field trip on Saturday, September 30, at 8:00 am led by Brad Merritt. The Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve, 164 acres of grasslands and woodlands in Somerset Co., is home to sensitive species, including the Grasshopper Sparrow, Cooper’s Hawk, American Kestrel (NJ State threatened species), and Eastern Meadowlark (NJ State special concern species). With a variety of bird houses located throughout, we have opportunities to view American Kestrels, Wood Ducks, Bluebirds and Purple Martins. Directions: From 206 at Woods Tavern take 514 East (Amwell Road). From South Middlebush Road, turn onto Skillmans Lane. Entrance on west side of Skillmans Lane, between the two 90-degree curves.
• Birds of Mercer County Park Central  A field trip on Saturday, October 7, at 8:00 am led by Andrew Bobe and Brad Merritt. Mercer County Park Central is a 2,500-acre public park with fields, forests, and a 300-acre freshwater lake. We will walk for two to three hours along Lake Mercer. Bring binoculars and a field guide, and dress for the weather. Directions: Enter park from Hughes Drive or Old Trenton Road (Route 535). Meet at the boathouse parking lot. For more information, contact Brad Merritt at 609-921-8964.
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed | Watershed to Watershed Bike Tour   An event on Saturday, October 7, at 9:00 am – noon. Explore the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) by bike as part of the River Days celebration sponsored by the William Penn Foundation. We will bike the LHT to Lawrenceville and back and find the dividing line between the Delaware and Millstone River watersheds, enjoying a variety of natural habitats along the way. Meet at Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Registration required with SBMWA; call 609-737-7592 or pheaney@thewatershed.org. Lunch provided. Co-sponsored with Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve.
• Fiddler’s Creek Preserve at Baldpate Mountain  A field trip on Saturday, October 14, at 8:00 am led by Sharyn Magee and Tyler Christensen. Fiddler’s Creek Preserve is the old Hollystone Farm across Fiddler’s Creek Road from Baldpate Mountain. The main field and hedgerows support numerous species of sparrows during fall migration, making the reserve a hot spot. Directions: From Pennington, go west on Pennington- Titusville Rd and turn right on Bear Tavern Road (Route 579.) Take the first left onto Church Road; then turn right onto Fiddler’s Creek Road. Continue 1.3 miles to the main Baldpate Mountain Preserve parking lot on your right. We will meet here and walk across the road to the Fiddler’s Creek Preserve.
• Cold Brook Reserve  A field trip on Saturday, October 21, at 8:00 am led by Brad Merritt. Cold Brook Reserve, 180 acres of Hunterdon County parkland, is a great place to observe fall migrants, especially sparrows and other grassland birds. 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.
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed | Habitat Photo Challenge  An event on Saturday, October 21, at 10:00-11:30 am. Sharpen your observation skills and discover the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of habitats on this exciting photo challenge and game. Expand your habitat knowledge by changing perspective and point of view. Use our vintage Polaroid cameras and/or your own camera/phone in this unique program. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Registration required with SBMWA; call 609-737-7592 or pheaney@thewatershed.org. Co-sponsored with Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve.
• Mount Rose Preserve  A field trip on Saturday, October 28, at 8:00 am led by Juanita Hummel and Sharyn Magee. Mount Rose Preserve consists of 387 acres of meadows, shrub land, and forest. On this walk we will be looking for a variety of late fall migrants. With the diversity of habitat, this should be a naturalist’s treat. Directions: From Rosedale Road, turn right on Carter Road and continue approx. 3/4 mile. Entrance to preserve is on the left. Drive back to parking lot. For more information, contact Brad Merritt at 609-921-8964.
• Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed | Your Wildlife Neighbors  An event on Saturday, November 4, at 10:00-11:30 am. Explore techniques to invite desirable critters to your yard, as well as keeping others out of your garden. In the end, children will make a birdfeeder from recycled materials. Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. Registration required with SBMWA; call 609-737-7592 or pheaney@thewatershed.org. Co-sponsored with Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve.
• Abbott Marshlands: Marsh Clean-up  An event on Saturday, November 4, at 9:00 am. Bring gloves, boots, water to drink, wear long sleeves, long pants. Meet at Spring Lake–Roebling Park, Hamilton, NJ. See www.abbottmarshlands.org. Co-sponsored with AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Program, Friends Abbott Marshlands, Tulpehaking Nature Center.

Click on calendar entries below for field trip locations. Clicking on the field trip you wish to join will bring open up the trip’s details including a Google Map and GPS coordinates. You may also visit our birding “Hot Spots” page for a map of local hot spots.

More outings in 2017

Sat, Nov 11, 9AM | Shark River

Sat, Nov 18, 8AM | Assiscong Marsh

Sat, Dec 2, 10AM | D&R Canal, Bordentown

Sat, Dec 9, 9AM with SBMWA | Lou’s Walk

Sun, Dec 17 | Princeton CBC