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Neighbor News

Orange Reservoir - Now known as “The Waterfront”

Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

Maria Savidis Markatos, Neighbor
A young Bald Eagle like I saw in the early afternoon of January 19, 2019
A young Bald Eagle like I saw in the early afternoon of January 19, 2019 (Maria I Savidis)

I remember sneaking into the reservoir as a teenager with my friends for a swim in the cool refreshing waters. Who would have thought that years later fountains, swan themed paddle boats, a restaurant and paved walking path would encircle this small lake?

The Orange Reservoir is part of the South Mountain Reservation in New Jersey’s Essex Parks and recreation system. The path around the reservoir is two miles in length and is unidirectional in the time of covid. As you get your daily steps in, make sure to look carefully in the trees. If you do, you might see some of our fabulous feathered friends.

A juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird on 7/10/2017
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird like the one seen on 7/10/2017
A Palm Warbler on the morning of 10/30/2018
A Palm Warbler on the morning of 10/30/2018
A Northern Flicker - 4/24/2018
A Northern Flicker - 4/24/2018
And A young Bald Eagle like I saw in the early afternoon of January 19, 2019.
And A young Bald Eagle like I saw land on the tree in front of me in the early afternoon of January 19, 2019.
You might also see a Great-crested Flycatcher 6-10-2020
You might also see a Great-crested Flycatcher 6-10-2020
A Yellow-rumped Warbler also on the morning of 10/30-2018
A Yellow-rumped Warbleron the morning of 10-30-2018
A Double-crested Cormorant preening in a tree 7-26-2020
A Double-crested Cormorant preening in a tree 7-26-2020
Or An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Or An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

If you look in the water you might see

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A Great Blue Heron on 7-25-2019
A Great Blue Heron on 7-25-2019
A Great Egret wading in the reservoir as seen on 7-25-2019
A Great Egret wading in the reservoir as seen on 7-25-2019
Female Wood Duck with her ducklings almost in a row
Female Wood Duck with her ducklings almost in a row 7-23-2020
An American Black Duck trying to get some rest 7-26-2020
An American Black Duck trying to get some rest 7-26-2020

And if you look on on the path and in the grasses you might see what I found to be the most surprising of all .......

A young peacock 7/27/2020
A young peacock 7/27/2020
Four Peafowl standing in a row 7/27/2020
Four Peafowl standing in a row 7/27/2020
A couple of Peafowl looking at me 7/27/2020
A couple of Peafowl looking at me 7/27/2020

So always expect the unexpected. For a nice scenic walk, wear your face mask, remember social distancing and visit the Orange Reservoir Loop.

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Located at:
Cherry Lane
West Orange, NJ 07052

Open daily

Written by Maria Savidis Markatos

https://photographybymariasavidis.com

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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