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Trail Guides
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Hunts Mills Pond
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6
 
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Haver Farm Road, Clinton, NJ
Phone: (908) 735-8616
www.clintonnj.gov
Town of Clinton
Turn Left out of parking area onto West Main Street and after 0.3 miles turn Left at the traffic light onto CR 513 North. Proceed 0.5 miles turning Right at the traffic light onto Leigh Street. Continue 0.4 miles, and after passing under I-78, turn Right onto Haver Farm Road. Look for the Park entrance on the Right after 0.3 miles. The park is located in a housing development so look carefully for the sign. Map
| | Hunts Mills Pond is part of a greenway following the South Branch of the Raritan River. Waterfowl and wading birds can be found along the pond and river, while field and edge species can be seen throughout the rest of the park. A small trail system exists that is easy to follow.
Check the pond and river in March. Ponds around the Clinton area during this time can have a large diversity of birds.
Practice identifying common winter and year-round residents. Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco forage in dense brush and often sing on crisp winter days. Listen carefully for the different calls of Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Wintering waterfowl may be present if the water doesn’t freeze over; possibilities include Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck and Bufflehead.
Now is the time to check the pond for waterfowl and wading birds. Look for American Wigeon, Gadwall and Green Heron. The trees may be sporting migrating warblers like Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart and Yellow-rumped, Yellow, and Black-and-white Warblers. Listen early in the season for spring peepers and green and pickerel frogs. They will all be laying eggs in the pond. Later in the season be on the lookout for tadpoles, which eventually develop into adult frogs.
Study the breeding behavior and learn the calls of the visiting and resident birds. The nesting behavior of the American Robin can easily be observed and listen for the calls of Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee. The river is stocked with trout and fishing is allowed. Painted turtle, northern water snake and garter snake may be found along the river.
During fall be on the lookout for migrant warblers, sparrows and hawks as well as early-arriving winter residents. Cedar Waxwing can be seen roosting in the trees or eating late season berries. A yellow terminal tail band helps identify this species. Listen for the “yank, yank, yank” call of White-breasted Nuthatch; this bird is thoroughly at home upside down on tree branches and tree trunks.
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