{"id":16456,"date":"2025-04-19T15:32:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-19T19:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/?p=16456"},"modified":"2025-04-20T09:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-20T13:44:11","slug":"belleplain-state-forest-and-delaware-bayshore-april-16-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/belleplain-state-forest-and-delaware-bayshore-april-16-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Belleplain State Forest and Delaware Bayshore — April 16, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Belleplain State Forest and Delaware Bayshore — April 16, 2025<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Forster's Tern<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The ML Birders headed out to Belleplain State Forest on a gray and blustery day hoping to see some early arriving warblers.\u00a0 The birding gods were conspiring against with very breezy and cool conditions.\u00a0 We started at the forest headquarters that is normally good for a few warblers, Bluebirds and other song birds.\u00a0 We picked up a Tufted Titmouse and two Brown-headed Cowbirds.\u00a0 Bummer!\u00a0 We checked out the camp ground area (another Titmouse!) and then over to the bridge and other locations, finding little more than a lone Red-tail Hawk soaring overhead.<\/p>

Relocating to the Bayshore, we found our first warbler!\u00a0 The road into Jake\u2019s landing goes through a pine section before it enters the marsh.\u00a0 Here we\u00a0 found a Yellow-throated Warbler as we ate lunch by a small historic cemetery.\u00a0 Out on the marsh we did start to see birds:\u00a0 Great Egrets, Osprey, Cormorants, two Bald Eagles (soaring), Laughing Gulls and a larger Tern (probably a Caspian).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The best part of our day came after lunch when we left Jake\u2019s Landing and headed to the East Point Lighthouse.\u00a0 The bay was a maelstrom of whitecaps and waves crashing on the shore from the strong NW winds.\u00a0 Nothing to see here.\u00a0 However, we took a dirt road that used to connect over to Matt\u2019s Landing by a dike.\u00a0 The sun was shining and the area was pretty well protected from the wind.\u00a0 We saw Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets, Black Duck and Forster\u2019s Terns on our way to the dike.\u00a0 From the vantage of the dike there were great looks at shorebirds (Dunlin, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers),\u00a0 all three expected\u00a0 gulls (Great Black-backed,\u00a0 Herring and Ring-billed) and Black Skimmers.<\/p>

In summary, it was a hit and miss birding day but still an enjoyable outing with our avian friends.\u00a0 We totaled 31 species.<\/p>

Participants:\u00a0 Dino Fiabane, Holly Hoffman, Robert Koch<\/p>

Photos by RK<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tList:
\n1 Ring-billed Gull
\n2 Cackling Goose
\n3 Mallard
\n4 American Black Duck
\n5 Wild Turkey
\n6 Dunlin
\n7 Lesser Yellowlegs
\n8 Greater Yellowlegs
\n9 Laughing Gull
\n10 Herring Gull
\n11 Great Black-backed Gull
\n12 Caspian Tern
\n13 Forster’s Tern
\n14 Black Skimmer
\n15 Double-crested Cormorant
\n16 Great Egret
\n17 Snowy Egret
\n18 Black Vulture
\n19 Turkey Vulture
\n20 Osprey
\n21 Bald Eagle
\n22 Red-tailed Hawk
\n23 Belted Kingfisher
\n24 Blue Jay
\n25 American Crow
\n26 Carolina Chickadee
\n27 Tufted Titmouse
\n28 Brown-headed Cowbird
\n29 Common Grackle
\n30 Pine Warbler
\n31 Yellow-throated Warbler
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DIRECTIONS.\u00a0 Belleplain State Forest and Delaware Bayshore, Cumberland County, New Jersey<\/strong><\/p>

From Millville take Rt 55 South <\/u>until it ends<\/b> and becomes Rt 47.<\/u> \u00a0When it splits, \u00a0take Rt 347<\/u>. \u00a0\u272a<\/i>Wawa available here, on right. This is a good place for a trip meeting for a large group. When you leave the Wawa, cross 47 at light, and turn right on 347<\/em>.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Continue on Rt 347 to County RD \u00a0550<\/u> and turn LEFT. Continue on CR 550 and watch for RIGHT turn on Woodbine Rd<\/u>. After a few miles look for park Headquarters, a RIGHT turn on Henkensifkin Rd.<\/u> \u00a0(If you miss CR 550, look for Alternate Route on Hands Mill Rd just past the pond on left. Rejoin CR 550 and proceed as above to Headquarters.)<\/p>

GPS:\u00a0 39.248540, -74.842798\u00a0 1 Henkinsifkin Road, Woodbine, NJ 08270<\/p>

  1. Birding in Belleplain State park: <\/strong>Park at the Park HQ parking lot. Maps and restrooms available. Bird the parking lot for warblers, vireos, hummingbird feeder, bluebirds.<\/li><\/ol>

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Take Franks Rd <\/u>\u00a0RIGHT from HQ and then first RIGHT on Meisle Rd<\/u> to Campground. Check the lake and picnic area; Yellow-throated Warbler, migrants, kingfisher, spotted sandpiper. Return to Franks Rd. then turn RIGHT on Sunset Rd.<\/u>\u00a0\u00a0 Park at the intersection of New Bridge Rd and walk a short distance to the bridge where may be Louisiana waterthrush, Prothonotary Hooded and other warblers. From the bridge you can make a loop around the varied habitats on New Bridge Road <\/u>and Strattons Causeway.<\/u> \u00a0Listen for Summer Tanager. Where you return to Sunset Rd. there is a white cedar swamp (to the right) that may have Acadian Flycatcher.<\/p>

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From the swamp, turn around and go back east on Sunset Rd. Here you can choose whether to (a) take Narrows Rd.<\/u>, (unpaved) which may have Prothonotary at the wetlands at the north end of the lake, and may have Eagles on East Creek Pond. If you do this, you will take Rt 347 <\/u>(which becomes Rt 47 <\/u>soon) to the right turn on Jakes Landing Rd. <\/u><\/p>

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Or, (b) you can return along Sunset Rd <\/u>and check farmlands along Fremont<\/u> and Sumner<\/u> Aves,. in Woodbine; these may offer a variety of species\u00a0 \u272aIf you do this, when finished you will take Tyler Rd.,<\/u> not County 557, to Rt. 47<\/u> — there is a traffic light at Rt 47 and Tyler, which makes for an easier turn. <\/em>Turn RIGHT on 47 then LEFT on Jakes Landing Rd.<\/p>

    1. Birding Jakes Landing Road GPS: <\/strong>39.188488, -74.853649<\/li><\/ol>

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cover the entire road, pine woods (Yellow-throated warbler) \u00a0to saltmarsh (Sparrows, rails,\u00a0 terns, shorebirds, sparrows, wrens). Look for raptors perched on snags or over the marsh.<\/p>

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From Jakes Landing to East Point:\u00a0 Turn left when you return to Rt 47<\/u> and take it west. \u272aWhere it forks, take the left turn on old Rt 47, not the right\/straight on Rt 347.<\/em><\/p>

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Continue to Glades Rd.<\/u>, 39.218102, -74.959161\u00a0 Turn LEFT on Glades Rd.<\/u><\/p>

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If desired, you can explore Moore\u2019s Beach Road <\/u>and\/or Thompson\u2019s Beach Road.<\/u> Both have been heavily affected by water level rise and salt intrusion, but used to be productive birding locations and may offer migrants. I do not know the present condition of either one.<\/p>

      Moore\u2019s beach is accessed from Rt 47,\u00a0 and Thompson\u2019s Beach from Glades Rd. If you do check Thompson\u2019s Beach, return to Glades Road.<\/p>

      \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you reach the town of Heislerville, follow signs for East Point Lighthouse. <\/u><\/p>

      1. East Point Lighthouse: <\/strong>GPS:\u00a0 39.194226, -75.025901<\/li><\/ol>

        \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Birding:\u00a0 check the saltmarsh and waterfront, gulls, terns, shorebirds, swallows, Osprey.\u00a0 There is a chemical toilet here, at least seasonally.<\/em><\/p>

        \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From East Point to Matts Landing mudflats:\u00a0\u00a0 Return to Heislerville the way you came, and turn LEFT, then LEFT once more, following \u00a0signs for Matts Landing.<\/p>

        1. Heislerville \/ Matts Landing <\/strong>GPS: 39.228403, -75.005315<\/li><\/ol>

          \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The road ends at the Delaware Bay, at the mouth of the Maurice River. \u272aOn the other side of the river is Bivalve, formerly a commercial fishing\/oyster port. <\/em><\/p>

          \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Birding: Check the Cormorant rookery on island. Shorebirds, herons, terns, gulls. The Delaware River flats may be productive for shorebirds if the tide is out, (climb the dike and scope from there)\u00a0 otherwise the shorebirds will be roosting in the impoundments.<\/p>

          1. Return home: <\/strong><\/li><\/ol>

            \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From Matts Landing to Wawa: Follow River Rd<\/u> \u00a0north to Rt. 47<\/u> which returns to the Wawa .\u00a0 GPS:\u00a0 39.289378, -74.968792<\/p>

            \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To reach Route 55, from the Wawa, go north on Rt 47 <\/u>to Rt 55. Continue north to the Rt. 42 Freeway and 295.\u00a0<\/u><\/p>

            \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To reach Rt. 206 via Hammonton, leave Rt. 55 at Exit 26, making an IMMEDIATE HARD RIGHT AFTER EXIT.<\/u> Lincoln Road becomes \u00a0Rt 54<\/u> and then Rt 206\u00a0 <\/u>north of the White Horse Pike.\u00a0 GPS:\u00a0\u00a0 39.634992, -74.804714<\/p>

            Click the maps above to enlarge.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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            \n\t\t\t\t<\/i>Prev<\/span><\/span>Previous<\/span>Salem County, NJ, March 19, 2025<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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            \n\t\t\t\tNext<\/span>Ocean City and Huber Preserve, June 11, 2025<\/span><\/span><\/i>Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            The ML Birders headed out to Belleplain State Forest on a gray and blustery day hoping to see some early arriving warblers. The birding gods were conspiring against them!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":16450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-field-trips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16456"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16456\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16483,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16456\/revisions\/16483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mlra.org\/MLBirders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}