For the 2026 Lumberton Census, the weather was actually very nice. Cold to be sure (13° when we started) but, dressed for it and with virtually no wind, it was a nice walk through the trails and around the perimeter path. The best birding in terms of numbers was on the Rancocas Creek. It was frozen over in the morning with a few spots of open water. Canada Geese were there in large numbers up and down the creek (800-1,000 estimated). Ten Black Ducks were visible on the shoreline just downstream from the end of the Rancocas Trail. Only 13 Ring-billed Gulls were walking on the ice in the morning; I went back around 1 PM at low tide and the Ring-bills were there in numbers up and down the creek, conservative estimate of 100+. Most of the morning’s geese had headed to other places. The only ducks I saw were more Black Ducks and Mallards, downstream from the end of the trail. I could easily pick out the Mallard Drakes from a great distance but I could not really distinguish between the female Mallards and the Black Ducks without a scope. In total there were probably over 100 Mallards and Black Ducks combined. We saw no other duck species.

The land birds were sparse in the woods and more abundant along the perimeter path. We did not even see a Downy Woodpecker in the morning but I did get one as I was coming back from my afternoon walk. There were two adult Bald Eagles (Holly had 2 adults and an immature yesterday down by the lake) and three Turkey Vultures. American Robins were in clusters in trees and on the ground — an estimate of 250+ is reasonable. A nice flock of Grackles flew into trees on the other side of Creek Road by the Wood Shop. 

– Robert Koch