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Trail Guides
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Lone Cedar Park
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3
 
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End of Packers Island Road, Raritan Township, NJ
Phone: (908) 806-6106
www.raritan-township.com
Township of Raritan
Turn Left out of parking area and after 0.5 miles turn Left at the stop sign onto Old Clinton Road. Proceed 1.0 mile and turn Left at the stop sign to remain on Old Clinton Road. After another 0.2 miles, turn Left onto River Road and continue 0.4 miles turning Left at the stop sign onto Packers Island Lane. Follow to its end, approximately 0.3 miles. There is street side parking only. Map
Open daily 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. Parking is available on the road side. Ticks are present; take appropriate precautions.
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| Pearl Crescent | Lloyd Spitalnik |
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| | This former farm site has been preserved by the township. It is a great location to check for migrant activity in the area. There is a short walking loop through the field and the tree line provides ample cover and food for a variety of songbirds. A panoramic view of the sky comes in handy during hawk migration season.
Check for winter resident birds. Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay should be moving about the tree lines, while White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco make use of the scrub growth. Be alert for the mobbing behavior of American Crows or other birds; it could indicate the presence of an owl or hawk.
Make sure to check the tree line; it can be a migrant trap for a variety of different birds. Look and listen for Blue-winged and Black-and-White Warblers among others. In the field, Prairie Warbler, Bobolink and Fox Sparrow are possible migrants.
Make a quick stop here during the summer to look for a few of the summer breeding birds. Common Yellowthroat should be calling from the brush line while American Goldfinch, Chipping and Song Sparrows and Red-winged Blackbird are moving about the field. Scan the far tree line for a perched Red-tailed Hawk. Early July is the height of butterfly season. Black and Tiger Swallowtails, Red Admiral, Monarch, Pearl Crescent, Spring Azure and Cabbage White may flutter by.
The field offers a wide view of the sky and over the river corridor. Look for Red-tailed Hawk and both Black and Turkey Vultures; they may be residents or migrants. Also scan for other birds of prey that may be moving south. Possible sightings include Broad-winged Hawk or American Kestrel.
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