Looking Back on our Hawk Weekend

Our Hawk Weekend here at the Sanctuary was certainly a great weekend for birders! Below you can find the counts for both Saturday and Sunday. In addition to some great birding, we also had a great turn out--on Saturday alone 115 people came out to the Sanctuary!

Having Pete Dunne at Scherman Hoffman was fantastic. For more information on the second edition of his book Hawks in Flight , I recommend taking a look at this great review by Jeff Bouton.

Also take a look at Margo Beller's blog post about the weekend!

 Hawk Weekend Counts

Saturday:
Osprey: 9
Bald Eagle: 14
N. Harrier: 2
Sharpie: 12
Coop: 15
Red Shoulder Broad Wing: 832
Kestrel: 4
Merlin: 0

Sunday:
Osprey: 22
Bald Eagle: 3
N. Harrier: 1
Sharpie: 16
Coop: 5
Red Shoulder Broad Wing: 1653
Kestrel: 6
Merlin: 1

This weekend: Mushroom Meander, Hawks, and More!

 This weekend, Scherman Hoffman hosts another great hawkwatch while also offering our unique Mushroom Meander with naturalist Dorothy Smullen!

SCOTT’S MOUNTAIN

Saturday, September 22

9:00 a.m. to noon

Join Hawkwatch director Henry Kielblock at one of the premier hawk-watching locations, Scott’s Mountain Hawkwatch at Merrill Creek. The program will begin indoors with a hawk identification workshop at the Merrill Creek Visitor’s Center. Then we’ll head out to the inlet/outlet tower to observe and count hawks as they pass overhead. Hawkwatch data is submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of North America. Please meet at Merrill Creek Visitor’s Center.

Cost:    $15 members,

            $20 nonmembers.

Directions to Visitor’s Center,off of Richline Road. Reach it from Route 57 west, right on Montana Road, up the hill and left on Richline Road to the Merrill Creek sign, then left into the nature center, staying right at the fork until you come to the parking lot.  OR, from 78 on the south or 80 on the north, take Route 519 to Fox Farm Road in Harmony.  Turn onto Fox Farm Road and follow it, staying right at the Y, past the reservoir to Richline Road.  Turn right on Richline, proceed to the Merrill Creek sign, turn right and proceed as above.  Facilities several places.   

MUSHROOM MEANDER

Sunday, September 23

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Join Dorothy Smullen, former president of the New Jersey Mycological Association, on a stroll through the woodland trails looking for mushrooms and other fungi. Not only are fungi important as nature’s recyclers, but many also are essential for the health of oak and pine forests.

Come and check out the variety. Preregistration required. Limit 15.

Cost: Free.

 

FREE SATURDAY FAMILY PROGRAMS: FIELD

Saturday, September 22

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Bring your family to Scherman-Hoffman for a fun-filled hour exploring with our naturalists and habitats. This week’s topic is the Field where you and your family can explore the field with nets and bug boxes to see who lives there.

Cost: FREE.

Hawk Weekend Sept 15-16!

Our exciting Hawk Weekend is about to start! We have several hawk-related events happening this weekend. To pre-register for any of these events and to learn more about them, go to our calendar.

Hawk Programs

Pete Dunne at the Sanctuary
On September 15-16 from 10am-4pm, author and NJA staff member Pete Dunne will be at the Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary in Bernardsville to teach attendees about a mass southbound migration of Broad-winged Hawks. This raptor spectacle is highly visible with the birds traveling in massed groups called “kettles.” Flocks may number in the hundreds and thousands. Stop by the sanctuary for this great, drop-in event!

Hawks in Autumn
This work shop led by birder and NJA staff member Pete Bacinski will offer a comprehensive look at magnificent Hawks in flight and perched. You will also learn the keys to identification and much more from this presentation on Sunday, September 16 from 1:30-3:30pm. Stop by before and chat with Pete Dunne as well! Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members.

Montclair Hawk Watch
This family-friendly hawk watch from 9am-noon on Saturday, September 15 is another great addition to our hawk-filled weekend. We'll be on hand to help you identify and spot hawks as the move through the ridges of the Watchung Mountains. Park along Edgecliff Road (Just off of Bradford Ave. in Cedar Grove) and look for the pathway to the stairs. The stairway is steep, but worth the effort. Bring a hat, water, a folding chair, and binoculars. Pre-registration requested. Free.


Other Programs

Kittatinny Valley Nature Walk
The second of many, this walk led by NJA naturalists will take place from 8:00am-11:30am on September 15. Meet in the parking lot on the left at the south end of twin lakes on Goodale Road, Andover. This is about .5 miles east of Route 206. Bring Binoculars. Free. Cosponsored by NJA and the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee.

Equipment/Exposure Photo Workshop
Interested in learning about photography? Our skilled teachers Phill Witt and Dave DesRochers will teach the first of three photo workshops on Saturday, September 15 from 10am-12:30pm. The main focus will be on reviewing the basics of nature photography. Cost: $12 members, $20 non-members.