Jakes Landing Road
At the north end of the county, Jakes Landing Road, part of the Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area, meets Route 47 just south of the turning to Woodbine (Washington Avenue). About a mile and a half long, this road has been famous among birders, fishermen, and hunters for decades. A boat ramp in the car park at the end of the road accesses the creek and will take you out into the Delaware Bay. The road goes through a variety of woodlands, with large stands of enormous White Pines before opening up into vast coastal marshes. The whole road, with a mosaic of habitats and few cars, makes this a great place to go for a walk at any time of year.
The woodlands can be good for migrants, woodpeckers, nuthatches, and owls. Since I have been coming to New Jersey, this was always known as the go-to place to see Yellow-throated Warblers. An added bonus was Pine Warbler, though their numbers have gone up quite dramatically since then, another southern species clearly moving north with climate change. Pine Warblers, as you might expect given their name, are usually found in pine trees. They have a trilled song similar to a Chipping Sparrow. They often confuse people because their colors range from bright-ish yellow to dull brown; the devil in me loves that. Their size, shape, and behavior are always the same. Big and bulky for a warbler, they have quite a long tail, nipped in at the base, forked at the tip, also like a Chipping Sparrow. I wonder if that is just a coincidence.
Yellow-throated Warbler is one of my favorites. Fairly big with a fat belly and short, narrow tail, it has a monster of a bill for a warbler. In many respects it reminds me of a Black and White Warbler. As nothing in nature is by accident, what is its long bill designed for? The Yellow-throated’s is for probing deep into cones and pine clusters for insects and other morsels. In winter they escape to warmer climes south and can always be found rummaging around in palm trees. This beautiful warbler is so crisply marked black and white, the yellow throat its gem. It also has a beautiful song of sweet, clear notes trailing off at the end.
Once you leave the woods, you are greeted by a massive expanse of marsh. Many of the same species can be seen year-round, though some of the breeders probably leave and are replaced by more northerly breeders. In summer, the sound of Clapper Rails can be deafening. Seaside Sparrows are common, and there are a few Sharp-tailed Sparrows mixed in. In winter, and on migration, they are joined by more northerly breeders including Nelson’s Sparrow. On high tides, it can be good to check the bushes around the car park and it is not unusual to see multiples of all three species. Some are a little tricky to ID but this a great place to compare and contrast.
Further out in the marshes, Snow Geese winter in their thousands. They are sometimes impossible to see but if spooked by an eagle or hunters, the takeoff can be incredible. Add a beautiful dawn or sunset lighting—well, I am sure you can imagine.
The marshes in winter are generally considered the best place in the region to watch for raptors. The salt hay fields and their rodents to the south are no longer the attraction they were, but it is still a great area with the large vista helping. Rough-legged Hawk, a beautiful Arctic buzzard, is almost annual here. Long winged with a black tail band, they frequently hover. Elegant, but powerful, they are getting scarcer; also to be expected given the changing climate is a northern species. Jakes still remains the place to see Rough-legs.
There are lots of Red-tails out here, and Bald Eagles are quite common, as they seem to be everywhere these days. Most of these raptors can be seen sitting in the dead treetops that have been killed by saltwater intrusion. These snags are also a great place to see Great-horned Owl at dawn and dusk. Watch for them flying out to hunt over the marsh. They always like the best vistas. If not, you can usually hear them calling from inside the woods.
One raptor that typically sits on lower perches, and most commonly on the ground, is the Northern Harrier. Slim and graceful, they quarter the marshes with long wings and tail, tipping from side to side. They are so light and remarkably buoyant; it is always a pleasure to watch them. I sometimes think how wonderful it must be to be able to float so effortlessly yet be able to move so quickly when need be. They can stop on a dime and maneuver in the tightest of spots—no mouse has a chance. I would certainly be a Northern Harrier out on Jakes Landing. What would you be?
