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Trail Guides
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Newport Landing
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2
 
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End of CR 656/Newport Landing Road, Newport, NJ
Phone: (856) 785-0455
www.njfishandwildlife.org
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Turn Right out of the NPS driveway onto CR 637/Fortescue Rd. Follow to the end
of the road and turn Left onto CR 656/Newport Landing Rd. Take Newport Landing Rd. to
the end and park. Map
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| Clapper Rail | Bill Garwood |
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| | Enjoy breathtaking views of the tidal creek and adjacent Nantuxent Wildlife Management Area. A restaurant, boat ramp, and boat rental service are
located here, so you may take the opportunity to enhance your viewing by boat. Bald Eagle nest in the area and you can see various nest sites, on the horizon across the creek and looking north, although only one is likely to be used by the local pair each year. Eagles are present year round and can often be seen soaring and fishing nearby.
scanning the remnant dike across
the creek for a glimpse of a red fox or river otter sunning themselves on cold winter days.
Stop and listen when you get out of your vehicle. Often, thousands of Snow Geese will be on the marsh. Even when they are not visible, you can hear them gabbling noisily as they feed. Peering across the tidal creek will get you a good view of a Bald Eagle nest.
Clapper Rail are present and can be seen easily when traveling the creek by boat. If a
boat ride is not on your itinerary, listen for the distinctive kek-kek-kek-kek of the Clapper Rail’s call and carefully scan the edge of the creek. These chicken-like birds can often be seen
feeding in the mud.
With the warm weather come the biting insects so be sure to bring insect repellent. Crabbing and fishing are great at this time of the year so grab some bait, rent a boat and spend
the day on the water angling for a succulent
dinner. Don’t forget to take your binoculars for
unexpected looks at salt marsh creatures going about their business.
Raptors are back and so are waterfowl. Search the skies for hawks and the creeks for ducks. Scan the banks of the creeks for Great Blue Heron and the last of the egrets. Wintering shorebirds such as Dunlin and Sanderling can be seen on the mudflats.
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