Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Snow Goose Winter Spectacles

Vogt Pool and surrounding impoundments host thousands of snow geese from December to February, creating one of New Jersey's most d…

Shorebird Migration Hotspots

Spring and fall draw tens of thousands of shorebirds to tidal flats and marshes, peaking with species like piping plovers on barri…

Brigantine Wilderness Beach Walks

Explore Holgate and Little Beach, two of New Jersey's last undeveloped barrier islands, for nesting piping plovers, black skimmers…

This 8-mile one-way gravel loop through salt marshes, freshwater impoundments, and uplands ranks as the refuge's signature route, offering car-based views of massive bird flocks from observation towers at Gull Pond and Turtle Cove. Birders scan for clapper rails in reeds and arctic visitors like snow buntings, all with Atlantic City as a surreal backdrop.

Vogt Pool and surrounding impoundments host thousands of snow geese from December to February, creating one of New Jersey's most dramatic winter bird concentrations viewable from your vehicle. Pairs with black ducks and Atlantic brant for a quintessential coastal waterfowl show.

Spring and fall draw tens of thousands of shorebirds to tidal flats and marshes, peaking with species like piping plovers on barrier beaches, making Forsythe a top East Coast stopover site. Scan from towers for rare arctic breeders amid Ramsar-protected wetlands.

Explore Holgate and Little Beach, two of New Jersey's last undeveloped barrier islands, for nesting piping plovers, black skimmers, and least terns in a 6,000-acre wilderness area closed seasonally to protect breeders. Foot access reveals dunes, tidal pools, and solitude.

Osprey Outlook boardwalk and live "osprey cam" at the Visitor Center deliver close-up nest action, with scopes trained on active platforms amid back bays; summer fledging adds family drama to this raptor hotspot.

Forested trails burst with migrating warblers in spring and fall, contrasting the dominant marshes with woodland birding amid oaks and pitch pines unique to this coastal plain refuge.

Back bays shelter hundreds of brant geese each winter, a focal species for the refuge's founding mission, alongside diving ducks like buffleheads and red-breasted mergansers.

Diked freshwater and brackish pools, like Vogt Pool, attract diverse waterfowl and rails, showcasing refuge-managed habitats that boost biodiversity beyond natural tidal marshes.

This 0.85-mile out-and-back crosses beach to salt marsh with Great Bay panoramas, doubling as a fishing spot for summer anglers targeting local species.

Twilight drives reveal these grassland owls quartering over fields, a refuge specialty tied to maintained open habitats amid pine woodlands.

Trails showcase migrating monarchs amid autumn foliage color shifts, blending insect migration with the refuge's kaleidoscopic plant displays.

Listen for calls and glimpse these secretive marsh dwellers in Spartina-dominated cordgrass, a year-round staple of the refuge's 80%+ wetland footprint.

Spot diamondback terrapins and others basking on logs in freshwater impoundments during summer, a low-key reptile highlight amid bird-focused visits.

Observe skimmer flocks on undeveloped shores, key to the refuge's beach-nesting bird protection efforts in the Brigantine Wilderness.

Bare-branch trails host lingering winter songbirds like snow buntings and Lapland longspurs, extending the season's birding beyond waterfowl.

Marshes teem with egrets, herons, and glossy ibises raising young, peaking in the heat when families fledge from platforms.

Scan impoundments for muskrats towing vegetation and river otters hunting, adding mammal drama to bird-centric ponds.

Tiny terns defend nests on barrier beaches, viewable from afar in this last stronghold of undeveloped New Jersey coast.

Spot sleek mink patrolling edges for crabs and fish, a stealthy predator sighting unique to the refuge's tidal zones.

Watch these flycatchers hawking bugs from perches in summer fields, tying into the refuge's grassland management.

Trails reveal flocks in oak-pine woodlands, contrasting the watery lowlands with inland forest vibes.

Winter bays host grebes with goldeneye chasers, showcasing diving waterfowl ballet in sheltered waters.

Visitor Center panels and StoryMap unpack the site's global importance, with scopes and cams enhancing self-guided learning on cordgrass ecology.

Details the 8-mile Wildlife Drive as a year-round birding hotspot with snow goose winters, shorebird migrations, and warbler uplands, plus trails for foot exploration. https://www.birdingplaces.eu/en/birdingplaces/united-states/edwin-b-forsythe-national-wildlife-refuge

Covers the refuge'