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The Medford Leas Birders scouted a route along the entire Burlington County New Jersey side of the Delaware River, from Bordentown to Palmyra and a bit beyond. We didn’t have many ducks, but visited some interesting places. Miriam found a Cackling goose among the Canadas at Riverside, and Robert got a good photograph of it. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was trying to hide among a large number of Ring-billed Gulls in Delanco.
The trip went more quickly than expected. Partly, that was due to the shortage of birds. Also, the landfills in Tullytown which formerly attracted winter gulls are now closed, and most of the gulls have gone elsewhere, to the relief of the residents of Florence. Finally, several places are no longer accessible. A trailhead at Hawk Island was padlocked, for example. We found Fish House Cove (Camden Cty), which many years ago was a winter duck location, but it is overgrown by phragmites now.
It was an interesting day, and we gained some useful information for future trip planning.
List:
34 Species
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Cardinal
Sites:
1 Bordentown “beach”
2 Crystal Lake Park
3 Roebling and Florence
4 Burlington City waterfront
5 Beverly
6 Delanco and Hawk Island
7 Amico Island and Riverside Park
8 Taylors Lane
9 Riverton to Palmyra
10 Fish House Cove
Notes on the route
The NJ Transit light rail River Line is encountered at a number of the locations; it serves the same area we are traveling, from northern Burlington to Camden county. In fact, much of the tour could be done via the River line, a true rarity in NJ birding. Here’s a map.
Since we started at Bordentown and followed the river south, the maps read from right to left, and the descriptions follow the maps. A red asterisk marks the locations to stop and look.
Bordentown “beach:” For gulls, arrive at low tide. We arrived at high tide.
Crystal Lake Park, between Bordentown and Roebling: There is no left turn to the park entrance from Rt 130 southbound; make a U-turn at next light. The large park has varied habitats, with well kept trails (some hilly). Should be re-visited during migration and nesting seasons.
Roebling and Florence: Roebling’s new waterfront park gives an excellent view of the river from high bluffs, as well as paved paths along the river. There are some uncut meadows that have sparrows but otherwise the attraction here is gulls.
South along the river road, the boat launch at Florence no longer is a gull-watching hotspot, and much of the open space south of the town is becoming Amazon warehouses. The turnpike bridge used to have Peregrine but has become unreliable.
Burlington City waterfront: Burlington Island (no access), across from the waterfront park, provides a sheltered stretch of water that may have Buffleheads, Mergansers, and other ducks. The waterfront itself has a permanent flock of hungry Ring-billed Gulls.
Beverly: South of Burlington, in Beverly, residential development makes it impossible to see the river. The West Ave. nature trails may provide a migrant watching opportunity in spring or fall.
Delanco and Hawk Island: Delaware Av., along the river, gives a good view of the open Delaware and may have gulls and ducks. Hawk Island, the north side of the mouth of Rancocas Creek, apparently used to be a public area, but the trailhead now is padlocked and overgrown.
Amico Island and Riverside Park: The mouth of the Rancocas Creek is visible from American Legion Dr., in Riverside. Amico offers a variety of habitats and can be hiked year-round.
Taylors Lane: The area is overgrown and does not offer river views unless you make a long hike to the south end. An online map shows an access from Inman St, but it is now gated. South of Taylors, a former river access at Randolph Av is now gated and overgrown.
Riverton to Palmyra: The waterfront along Bank Av in Riverton is a good place to scan for winter waterfowl. Palmyra Cove nature center also has a view from the base of the Tacony-Palmyra bridge; but the center itself is still closed due to the pandemic. Heavy equipment is poised to start building another Amazon-type warehouse on the site of the old flea market, so there may be impacts on Palmyra as an all-season birding location.
Fish House Cove in Pennsauken is adjacent to a park at Tippins Pond, where you can park. The pond is pleasant, but the boardwalk to the Cove is in poor repair and surrounded with phragmites and graffiti. You can see the homes and work of busy beavers.
Petty’s Island is presently open only to scheduled group tours, according to its web site.
Photos by Robert Koch; text & maps by Laurie Larson
