West Leed Avenue, Pleasantville, NJ
Phone: (609) 484-3634
City of Pleasantville
From the parking area at Absecon Lighthouse, turn Left onto Vermont Avenue, and then Left onto Atlantic Avenue. Turn Right at the 4th traffic light onto Delaware Avenue. After 0.3 miles, continue onto Absecon Boulevard. After 3.8 miles, exit Right to merge onto Route 646 West/Delilah Road. After 1.8 miles, turn Right onto Route 9 North/New Road. Turn Right at the first traffic light onto Leeds Avenue. After 0.2 miles, park along the Right side of the Road at Absecon Creek. FROM THE NEASREST HIGHWAY: From the intersection of Route 9 and Route 40 in Pleasantville, continue North on Route 9/ New Rd. After 1.5 miles, turn Right on Leeds Avenue. After 0.2 miles, park along the Right side of the Road at Absecon Creek. DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST HIGHWAY: From the intersection of Route 9 and Route 40 in Pleasantville, continue North on Route 9/New Road. After 1.5 miles, turn Right on Leeds Avenue. After 0.2 miles, park along the Right side of the Road at Absecon Creek. Map
NJ Transit Bus Routes 554, 508, and 559 stop at the intersection of Leeds Avenue and Main Street. Walk West on Leeds Avenue for 0.2 miles to reach the Absecon Creek overlook.
A short distance further East on Leeds Avenue, Mallard Court spurs to the left. Park in the cul-de-sac and cross the drainage swale for a glimpse into the surrounding woods and another access point from which to scan the creek.
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| Swamp Darner | Tony Geiger |
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| |  Leeds Avenue offers a nice view of the upper reaches of Absecon Creek where it flows through freshwater hardwood swamps. The site contains a small but impressive collection of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. The bird population is well represented with backyard songbirds and wetlands species, and reptiles and amphibians are conspicuous in warmer weather.
The openness and accessibility of the area and the healthy freshwater habitat make this a rewarding stop and scan opportunity for the novice birdwatcher.
Fish Crows break the otherwise calm winter air with their raucus chatter. Local songbirds include Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch and Carolina Wren. Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher are occasional visitors. Black Duck, Pintail, Mallard, Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck are among waterfowl present. Indigenous mammal species to look for include raccoon and white-tailed deer.
The wildflower population present during the spring includes spring beauty, trout lily, dwarf ginseng, trillium, hepatica, rue anemone and violets. Reptiles such as snapping turtle, musk turtle and Northern water snake become active. Spring peeper, fowler's toad and chorus frog can be heard calling. Eastern cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, opossum, striped skunk and other members of the rodent family might be glimpsed along woodland edges.
Tree and Barn Swallows swoop over the creek. Reptiles include painted turtle, red-bellied turtle and Eastern garter snake. Birds nesting in the shrubs include Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler and House Wren. Great and Snowy Egrets, Black and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Green Heron and Glossy Ibis are among wading birds that visit. Forster’s Terns and the occasional Gull-billed Tern can be expected. Dragonflies and damselflies are abundant. Bats hunt insects at night.
Fall colors create a beautiful backdrop. Migrant waterfowl includes Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, American Coot, and Pied-billed Grebe. Songbirds move through the woods and raptors such as Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin and Cooper’s Hawk circle overhead. An occasional Bald Eagle will stop to perch on the dead trees.
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