Heislerville, Cumberland County

Each spring in Cumberland County near the Maurice River the shorebirds congregate by the 1000's in the impoundments in Heislerville. Here you can find Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dowitchers, Dunlin, Black Skimmers, Black Bellied Plovers and if you are lucky an oddball or two.
This year birders found both Curlew Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope. I was lucky enough to see the Curlew Sandpiper, a new life bird, with the help of another birder. I missed the Red-necked Phalarope.

But it's the spectacale of so many birds that is so impressive. They forage in the mudflats close to the road and allow you close access to study them. Then every once in a while the birds will be spoked and will take off in a cloud of birds, circling around before settling down again to rest or feed some more. It really is fantastic to see the masses of shorebirds all in one place. It's a not to be missed experience for beginning and seasoned birders alike.