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Trail Guides
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Jakes Landing - Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area
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3
 
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Jake's Landing Road, North Dennis, NJ
www.njparksandforests.org
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Return to Route 47 via Stimpson’s Island Rd. Turn Right onto Route 47 South.
After 2.7 miles, turn Right at the light and
continue on Route 47 South. Travel one mile
and turn Right onto Jake’s Landing Road. Map
Short walks into the white pine forest are easy because the understory is sparse and the forest floor is carpeted with pine needles. Look for whitewash on the trees and for owl pellets at the base of the trees. From spring to fall, visitors should beware of ticks and other
biting insects.
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Kevin Karlson |
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| | Jake’s Landing is a well-known site, popular year-round with fishermen and birders alike. For fishermen, the boat launch at the end
of Jake’s Landing Rd. provides easy access to Dennis Creek and from there to the Delaware Bay, which is approximately 3.3 miles from the boat launch. For birders, the experience begins with a slow pass along the 1.3-mile road. Majestic white pine stands, which were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, are found among acres of dense wet forest extending far to the west. The vast expanse of the tidal wetlands comes into view as one leaves the forested area, offering numerous seasonal bird and animal sightings.
Each evening the Northern Harrier that continually patrol the wetlands during daylight hours are replaced by Short-eared Owl, who in turn relinquish the territory back to the Northern Harrier at dawn. Rough-legged Hawk and Bald Eagle are commonly seen over the marsh or
resting in the trees at the edge of the marshland. Red-tailed Hawk are ever present and Great Horned Owl can be heard calling nightly. A bit of patience may be required if it’s cold and windy, yet the rewards can be great.
Two of the earliest migrating wood
warblers, the Pine Warbler in early March and the Yellow-throated Warbler in early April, are often first seen here. These birds claim nesting sites in the tall white pine stand along Jake’s Landing Rd. At dawn and dusk almost nightly, the American Woodcock perform mating displays in the brushy fields on the east side of the road. Eastern Meadowlark and Clapper Rail begin to sing more insistently. Osprey arrive at the nest platforms in the wetlands.
As the heat of summer picks up, Jake’s Landing can be distressingly “buggy.” Visitors should come equipped with bug spray and long-sleeved shirts. Many birds can be seen and/or heard at this time of year, including Seaside Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Willet, Snowy and Great Egrets and Great Blue Heron. The dense woods and swamp forest along the road are alive with many species of summer residents — birds, snakes, frogs,
turtles and butterflies.
A great variety of migrating raptors may be seen over Jake’s Landing at this time of year, along with thousands of Snow Geese and Canada Geese, as well as Double-crested and Great Cormorants. Bufflehead and Pied-billed Grebe are often seen on Dennis Creek beginning in early November.
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