Sunday, May 17, 2026: A Piece of the Great Piece

White-eyed vireo. Photo by Fred Pfeifer.

Lincoln Park, New Jersey

Meet at 8 a.m. at Centennial Park on Pine Brook Road. 

Although it is in many ways a typical suburban town, much of Lincoln Park is wetland that cannot be developed. Thus, a large portion of the town’s square mileage is green space, offering many excellent birding opportunities. The town is home to Great Piece Meadows, a remnant wetland of Glacial Lake Passaic, which attracts numerous migrants. We will begin at Centennial Park, a small “pocket” park at the edge of Great Piece Meadows, which probably has more recorded bird species per square foot (including Morris County’s first Ash-throated Flycatcher) than any other location in the area. We will also visit another section of Great Piece known as Two Bridges, at the confluence of the Passaic and Pompton Rivers. We hope to see a variety of migrating songbirds and raptors as well as resident birds such as the wood duck, great crested flycatcher, yellow-throated vireo, wood thrush, and rose-breasted grosbeak.

Please bring binoculars, a sunhat, insect repellant, water and a snack. There is a port-o-john in Centennial Park. If you plan on joining us, contact Ivan Kossak at ivankossak@gmail.com to RSVP or to get more information.

Sunday, June 7, 2026: Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve

Yellow warbler. Photo by Beni Fishbein.

Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve

260 Skillmans Lane, Somerset, NJ (use this address for GPS)

8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Trip is canceled if it rains.

In the heart of Franklin Township, the 164 acres of restored native grasses and other plants at Negri-Nepote Grassland Preserve attract a variety of breeding and migratory birds. eBird lists 115 species seen at the preserve in June. We hope to see the site’s specialty, the grasshopper sparrow, along with other nesting birds such as the eastern meadowlark, orchard oriole, common yellowthroat, yellow warbler, American kestrel, and blue grosbeak. A small wetland area can attract shorebirds and waterfowl. 

There is no restroom on site.  There is a bathroom at the QuickChek on the right immediately after you leave Route 287 at Exit 10 and one at the WaWa on the corner of Route 27 and Skillmans Lane. 

We will be walking on open, flat trails. Bring a sunhat and sunscreen, water, a snack, binoculars, and a scope if you have one.  Email mbcoutings@gmail.com for more information. 

Saturday, June 13, 2026: Halifax Road, Mahwah, NJ

Orchard oriole. Photo by Michael Yellin.

Meet at 8:00 am at Continental Soldiers Park, 550 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ.

Halifax Road is a birding hotspot in Bergen County. We will hike an easy, forested trail along the Ramapo River that loops around a lake. We might see wood ducks, snowy egrets and green herons, yellow-billed cuckoos, a variety of warblers and vireos, and flycatchers including great crested flycatchers, eastern kingbirds, and eastern wood-pewees. If time permits, we may also hike another easy trail that cuts through a meadow where we can possibly see indigo buntings, blue-gray gnatcatchers, eastern bluebirds, and orioles; there may be ticks here, so please come prepared to do battle.

Bring binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, a sun hat, water and a snack. There are restroom facilities at Continental Soldiers Park.

Call Michael Yellin at 908 380-2719 if you need more information.