It is Saturday Feb. 4^th 2023 – and IT IS COLD! 7 degrees! 9:30 a.m. I am returning home to Allamuchy after having breakfast over in East Stroudsburg with my stepdaughter Carolee and her husband Jim.

I’m on I 80 approaching Exits 4 – ABC DECISIONS/DECISIONS! Do I want to take Rt. 46 east? – Stay on I 80? or take Rt. 94 and check out some bridges along the Paulinskill River for some wildlife photos. I go for the latter. I have been working on an album for my Flickr site, which I will title ‘Wildlife on the Paulinskill’. Maybe I will get lucky and get some new photos, even if not, this is one of my favorite loops for checking wildlife, quiet roads, nice river exposure for photos AND, you don’t need to leave your car! I am exiting to get on Route 94 north!

MY TOUR

I am not on 94 very long and get off by the winery to go over by the Columbia Wildlife Management Area by Columbia Lake before they took the dam out. OK no photos going over the bridge, I’ll continue up and turn onto Brugler Road, with the beautiful 5 arch bridge. Cross the bridge – no photos and as I round the bend following the river I notice a telltale white object, in a tree right in front of me, A Hawk sitting right next to the river!

Got a couple of photos through my dirty windshield. Glad I chose the Scenic Route! Get back onto Rt. 94 and head north. My original idea was to go to Vail Road but as I approached East Crisman Road I decided to turn and check out that bridge. 

I get to mid span looking south nothing then check north, NOW I’M SCRAMBLING! A Bald Eagle is sitting on a limb right over the Paulinskill! Now I am REALLY GLAD, I took the long way home.

**Have decided to make this journey along with informing you about my new album on Flickr – “Wildlife on the Paulinskill” my next Photo of the Week article! Stay tuned.

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran    

Director Open Space

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman   

Allamuchy Historical Society – President