Montclair Hawk Watch - 50th Season

The Montclair Hawk Watch is open from September through November. Right now is the prime migration season. 10,000 to 40,000 Broad-winged Hawks will pass over the Montclair Hawk Lookout between September 14 and 28. On Sunday, September 17, there is an Open House from 10am to 5pm. On other days, the Hawk Watch is staffed by members of the New Jersey Audubon Society. The society members are there to answer questions and help visitors spot migrating birds. This year marks the 50th consecutive season of Hawk Watches in Montclair.

The day we went was a bit hazy, so the views of New York City were not all that clear. It was, however, fairly easy to spot the bald eagles and hawks that flew overhead. There were about 20 visitors at that time, and most had brought either binoculars or telescopes with them.

The access to the Hawk Watch is a short climb up some steep, well maintained steps. One thing that really struck me was a Pine tree laden with pine cones. I have not seen so many pine cones on one tree in a long while. For directions to the Hawk Watch, go here.

Sandy Hook in September

Saturday was a beautiful day and we spent the morning walking along the new Multi-Use Pathway (MUP) at Sandy Hook. The pathway is a fairly level five mile long paved trail intended for foot traffic, bicyclists and in-line skaters. It winds through maritime forests passing dunes, salt marshes, ocean beaches, bay front areas and historic sites.

There was quite a bit of activity at Sandy Hook Saturday morning, especially at the northern tip of the peninsula. The parking area at Gunnison Beach was full at 11am, probably do to the naturists. Many people parked in the more southern lots and walked or rode on the MUP to Gunnison Beach.

On the MUP, we passed many walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and one lone in-line skater. The pathway is perfect for all of these activites. We parked at Lot E and easily found the pathway. We then headed north through the Holly Forest. The holly trees are filled with berries yet to ripen. It will be interesting to go back later in the season to see the colors of the berries. The bayberry bushes were also loaded with berries. There are many wildflowers along the way that add interest to the scenery. Of particular note are the cactuses that grow among the holly trees. I don’t usually think of New Jersey as a place to find cactus growing wild.

There is no fee to park at Sandy Hook from Labor Day to Memorial Day. The MUP is a very level easy walk or ride appropriate for most any age or level of fitness.

Fungus Fest 2006

The New Jersey Mycological Association is hosting a Fungus Fest at Frelinghuysen Arboretum on October 8. Activites include Mushroom Identification, guided mushroom walks, indoor mushroom garden, mushroom cooking demonstrations, and a lecture on the medicinal uses of mushrooms.

There are a number of Fungus Forays scheduled for upcoming weekends. Venues include Washington's Crossing State Park, Cheesequake State Park, and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. Start times and directions can be found on the associations website.

The Montclair Hawk Watch is Open

The New Jersey Audubon Society will be holding an Open House at the Montclair Hawk Lookout on Sunday, September 17 from 10am to 5pm. If you can’t make it to the Open House, the Lookout is open to the public from September through November each year. The height of the migration of Broad-winged Hawks is usually between September 14 and September 25. October is the month to see the greatest number of hawk species.

The following directions are from their website: To reach the Montclair Hawk Watch from the Garden State Parkway in Bloomfield, take exit 151 for Watchung Avenue and head west on Watchung to its end at Upper Mountain Avenue in Montclair, about 2.1 miles. Make a right turn and go north on Upper Mountain 0.7 miles to Bradford Avenue. Make a left turn and go up Bradford 0.1 miles to Edgecliff Road and make a right turn. Go up Edgecliff 0.2 miles and park on the shoulder (to avoid parking problems, please park well off the side of the road). The lookout path is on the south side of the road. MAP