A Day at Hawk Rise

Warbler spotted

An amazing day at Hawk Rise Sanctuary in Linden NJ was had by all. It was a bit overcast but that did not dampen the
enthusiasm of over a dozen guests especially when the birds began to show themselves. Led by All Things Birds program director, Scott Barnes, we started off early by spotting the resident Bald Eagle and then it just got better from there ending with over 45 species seen.

Scott Barnes enjoying talking shop with the group

The salt marsh at Hawk Rise is in the midst of restoration. By removing dead Phragmites and the top layer of debris, or wrack, and sediment tidal flow into the marsh was reestablished. This salt water flow slows the growth of the Phragmites and allows native grasses such as Spartina to reestablish. In the small pools and low-growing vegetation swamp sparrows, Greater Yellowlegs, Marsh Wrens, and Swamp Sparrows can be found looking for food.

Quick Tally
Mallard 2
Least Sandpiper 3
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Laughing Gull 1
Ring-billed Gull 10
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 5
Bald Eagle 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 2
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 8
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 10
American Crow 12
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
House Wren 2
Carolina Wren 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Veery 2
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 10
American Goldfinch 2
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 2
Swamp Sparrow 2
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 3
American Redstart 4
Northern Parula 3
Bay-breasted Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Palm Warbler 1
Mourning Dove 2

The lookout point at the end of the landfill trail is a great place to spot shore birds, wading birds and fishing birds. Bald Eagle, Great and Snowy egret, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Gulls of all sorts, Least Sandpiper and many other birds can be seen from this location overlooking the Rahway River.

Some of the species spotted this day – Photos by Shannon Merolla