Sunday, February 1, 2015

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, NJ


ABOUT THE PARK:
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
At the first parking lot, the entrance fee payment area.

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 39.465096, -74.451029

View Larger Map
First parking lot.

TRAIL MAP:
Brigatine Unit Hiking Trails - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, NJ at EveryTrail


 HIKE DISTANCE: 6.6 miles

THE HIKE:
Right from the parking lot, a field sparrow.
Continuing past the visitor's center to ...
... the Grassland Trail.
Atlantic City in the distance.
The left side of the Leeds Eco-Trail is a boardwalk.
The Conserve Wildlife Foundation's osprey cam!
The other side of the Leeds Eco-Trail goes through woods where lots of birds were seen along the way.
House Finch
Northern Mockingbird
Back to the parking lot to access the hiking trails.
Instead of going straight to the Songbird Trail, we turned left and did the short Woodland Trail loop.
I got 5 pictures and he was blurry in all of them :(
Now on to the Songbird Trail.
It starts on a short section of the Wildlife Drive ...
... then leaves the drive to the left into the woods.
A break spot up ahead.
The Songbird Trail is joined by white-blazed Jen's Trail.
Jen's Trail
A pond just before the Songbird Trail starts to follow the Wildlife Drive.
Not very pleased with this "trail."
It's not so bad ...
... as long as you hold your breath and keep your mouth closed when cars pass by or you get a lung full of exhaust.
Experimental Pool Overlook
No secretive marsh birds today,just some Mallards.
Nearing the end.


8-MILE WILDLIFE DRIVE:
Gull Pond Tower - A tower I could actually climb.  It wasn't effortless but I just kept telling myself how much sturdier and shorter it was than a fire tower and I made to the top with knees knocking but I made it.
Views from the top.
Safely down from the tower (down wasn't as bad as I expected it to be) and on with the Wildlife Drive.

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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 2, 2015 at 7:40 AM

    good to know when i can't get out for a hike due to work/weather i can count the two of you for my hiking fix!, good to see you were able to get in some hikes over the past few weeks before the snow!

    Brian

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    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'February 2, 2015 at 9:50 AM

      We just keep heading further south to get out of the snow!

      Daniela

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2015 at 7:49 AM

    Nice pictures. It's great to see all these different places you find to hike in. Pictures of the birds were great! I love seeing Shawnee too! Thanks for sharing. Joanne

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  3. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2015 at 8:30 PM

    Hi Daniela -- Welcome back to South Jersey...not too far from my neck of the woods this time around! (In fact, you almost did capture my town of Brigantine, just north of your shots that featured the Atlantic City skyline.) Fortunately, we evaded the "Storm of the Century" down here...this time! :)

    Excellent choice for a hiking adventure -- great trails outside of Wildlife Drive...I did all the trails & drove Wildlife Drive about 3 years ago, but it was before I obtained my excellent Canon camera, so I'm probably due to go back sometime. As always, Shawnee is "Ms. Personality" -- my 2 favorite shots are the one just before the "break spot"...Shawnee looked totally 'all business' there! The other one is, of course, the one where you come out to Wildlife Drive, and she wasn't really pleased with the "trail" -- the one word that comes to mind when I see that face of hers is "REALLY??"

    Of course, the wildlife shots were excellent...love that Great Blue Heron in your last shot of this bunch.

    Anyway -- great to have you & Shawnee back in South Jersey again, and excellent pix...look forward to your next adventure!

    Jim

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    Replies
    1. Gone Hikin'February 3, 2015 at 9:46 PM

      Thanks, Jim! Shawnee and I are like the birds, we migrate south when there is snow up north so until all of this white stuff melts, South Jersey it is!

      Daniela

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