A mild spring day with high clouds made for good birding conditions for the Medford Leas Birders at Assunpink, a New Jersey state Wildlife Management Area near Allentown. Assunpink has some big lakes that attract ducks, and fields and woods for other birds.

The waterbird migration was winding down at this date, but  birders still  found a good list of ducks on Assunpink Lake, Stone Tavern Lake, and the Imlaystown Millpond. A flock of at least 400 Ruddy Ducks and many Ring-necked Ducks were resting on the lake. A Tundra Swan and a second-year Bald Eagle were notable, and Belted Kingfishers put on a show for us.

Thanks to participants Barbara Trought and Fred Kahan, the group made a side trip to Roosevelt, a town with a fascinating history, as well as ties to Medford Leas. A special treat was a visit to the school’s famous murals painted by Ben Shahn.

Lunch at Woody’s Town Grill in Allentown was followed by a leisurely trip home on back roads.

Photos by Robert Koch and Laurie Larson