Buckhorn Road, White Township, NJ
Phone: (908) 637-4125
www.njfishandwildlife.org/wmas.htm
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Return to U.S. Route 46 East, and after 2.0 miles turn Right at the traffic light onto CR 519 South. Proceed 1.7 miles and turn Left at the stop sign and blinking traffic light onto CR 623 South/Brass Castle Road. After 1.0 mile turn Right onto Buckhorn Drive and proceed 1.1 miles. Turn Right into the WMA drive, following it downhill to the parking area. For an alternate parking area and access to the orchard, turn Left out of driveway and after 1.0 mile at the curve in the road turn Left into dirt driveway and follow to parking area. There are no signs for this parking area. Map
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| Great Horned Owl | Scott Elowitz |
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| | This 433-acre WMA contains diverse habitats, ranging from woodlands and emergent wetlands to abandoned apple orchards and successional fields. The property protects the many springs that feed Buckhorn Creek, along with a reservoir that provided drinking water for the town of Belvidere until the 1970s. Old logging roads provide easy access throughout the property.
the opportunity for careful scanning of the reservoir and its source, the picturesque Buckhorn Creek.
Large flocks of wintering robins may be seen in the forested areas, along with bluebirds, woodpeckers and numerous sparrows throughout the old orchard and surrounding fields. The lack of leaves may make searching for an owl nest easier. Great Horned Owls begin their courting and nesting during the winter cold, making them the earliest nesters in New Jersey. Rather than build its own nest, this owl species looks for a substantial old nest, such as one built by Red-tailed Hawk, to claim as its own.
The property is located atop Scott’s Mountain, and offers an ideal stopover for migrating birds, as well as scenic views of the Delaware Water Gap. The banjo-like “twang” of the green frog may be heard by the creek, but only if approached in silence.
Cool waters from the spring-fed creek and shaded trails that traverse the property offer Buckhorn WMA visitors a welcome respite from the warm summer months. Nesting birds, such as Eastern Bluebird, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Louisiana Waterthrush and Veery are in the area, although they are less likely to vocalize and therefore more difficult to spot.
The ridge-top location affords visitors an opportunity to look for migrating raptors such as Red-tailed, Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned and Red-shouldered Hawks, and Neotropical birds such as Yellow, Black-and-white and Yellow-rumped Warblers, along with Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart.
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