(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Delran, NJ)--Looking for a great adventure? For free? Look no further than Amico Island. It was historically an island in the Delaware River at the confluence of Rancocas Creek. Now a 55-acre peninsula attached by a narrow strip of land to the town of Delran, it is enjoyed by visitors for a variety of outdoor recreational uses. Most trails are wide and level, traversing meadow, forest, pond, and wetland habitat. Various points in the park afford very nice views of the Delaware River and of the flats at the mouth of the Rancocas Creek, looking north toward Hawk Island. The gravel beaches along the river are good places to find skipping stones.

Boardwalk on Amico Island State Park is a photograph by Linda Stern which was uploaded on pixels November 18th, 2019.

In early spring (March-April), watch the nest-building and courtship activities of great blue herons in a heronry on a small island immediately south of Amico Island. The best viewpoint is from South Overlook #1, as marked on the trail map. Remains of the nests can be seen in winter. Some birds are present year-round.

During the winter months, you'll find Great Cormorants, Bufflehead, Canvasback, all three Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, an occasional Scoter species, Long-tailed Duck, Common Loon, and various gulls are likely visitors to the Delaware River and Rancocas Creek, and Bald Eagles may make an appearance. Yellow-rumped Warblers, various sparrows, and Northern Harriers work through the meadows. Mammals such as white-tailed deer, red fox, and eastern cottontail rabbit can be seen and tracked.

Spring:  The Great Blue Heron colony becomes active with courtship. Look for spring migrant neotropical birds such as Palm, Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green and Magnolia Warblers. Resident species such as Yellowthroat and Red-winged Blackbird begin territorial singing. Spring peepers begin calling in March, and red-bellied and painted turtles begin basking on warm days in April. source The Audubon Society

Read the article about the site written by New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Dennis Malloy Another hidden gem park in south Jersey

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE ON Thursday, March 25, 2021