A Pensauken Diary 



BY CHRESWELL J. HUNT 



The tributaries of the lower Delaware on the New Jersey side 

 are tide-water streams. There are mostly high, wooded banks 

 on the north side, with an expanse of alder swamp and spat- 

 terdock marsh on the other, which is more or less covered by 

 the high tides. 



Such a stream is Pensauken Creek. This creek forms a part 

 of the boundary line between Burlington and Camden Counties, 

 New Jersey. Both branches rise near the little settlement of 

 Evesboro in Burlington County and wind in crooked northerly 

 courses for some ten miles when they unite at Fork's Landing. 

 Then the creek turns and flows more to the west, emptying into 

 the Delaware near Palmyra. 



For some eight miles it is navigable for a small boat. Here 

 the fishermen find fairly good sport, and the ornithologist finds 

 birds in abundance. During the past four years I have been on 

 this creek in all seasons and weathers and at all hours of the 

 day and night, and at all times — whether the tide was at ebb or 

 flood, whether it was midday or midnight — I have found birds. 



In the fringes of woodland which here and there skirt the 

 creek the chestnut oak predominates, while several other oaks, 

 Jersey pine, beech, sycamore, chestnut, ash, sour gum, per- 

 simmon, hackberry and red maple are abundant. In some 

 places the banks are covered with thickets of alder, button-bush, 

 arrow- wood, Viburnum dentatum, and sweet pepperbush, over 

 which clambers a tangle of green brier, making an ideal retreat 

 for Cardinals, Brown Thrashers and Catbirds. 



No matter how often we visit this creek we shall never find it 

 the same. The tide will be different if nothing else is, and 

 when one is limited to weekly visits these changes are most 

 striking. To-day we may paddle with ease over the marshes 



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