Upcoming Events › Field Trips

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 8:00am.

Leader: Carol Majors (610-399-1509, carolmajors@gmail.com)

Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain with one stream crossing.

Directions: Route 202 South to Rt. 92 just over the state line. Turn right onto Route 92 then follow it to the left. Take the first right on to Ramsey Rd. Look for the parking area on the right.

For: Spring migrants/possible Gray-cheeked Thrush.  On second walk: Hooded Warbler and possible Kentucky Warbler

Place: Fernbrook parking lot, 8:00 a.m.. For GPS use 1954 St. Peters Road Pottstown, PA

Leaders: Patty Werth (484-985-8164, pattyww@comcast.net) and John Werth (215-859-1148)

Note: Coventry Woods is part of Hopewell Big Woods, and 148 species of birds have been recorded at this site in just the last four years. The trails are unpaved and some are steep. This walk of about 3-4 hours will cover 1-2 miles. If there is interest, there is the possibility of a second walk of similar duration and distance to follow at a different location within the 660-acre park, which usually yields some additional species. A portable restroom is on site at the Fernbrook parking lot.

Directions: From West Chester, take Route 100 north about 20 miles bear left onto W. Hoffecker Road. Go .5 miles, turn right on Laurelwood road. Go .1 mile, turn left on to Temple Road. Go 1 mile, bear left onto St. Peters Road. In 1.1 mile turn left to stay on St. Peters Road.

Coventry Woods

For: Seasonal birds

Place: Exton Park, 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

Directions: From the intersection of Routes 30 and 202, drive west along Route 30 and turn right on Valley Creek Blvd. At the end of the road, make a left on Swedesford Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

For: Spring migrants/possible Gray-cheeked Thrush. On second walk: Hooded Warbler and possible Kentucky Warbler

Place: Fernbrook parking lot, 8:00 a.m.. For GPS use 1954 St. Peters Road Pottstown, PA

Leaders: Patty Werth (484-985-8164, pattyww@comcast.net) and John Werth (215-859-1148)

Note: Coventry Woods is part of Hopewell Big Woods, and 148 species of birds have been recorded at this site in just the last four years. The trails are unpaved and some are steep. This walk of about 3-4 hours will cover 1-2 miles. If there is interest, there is the possibility of a second walk of similar duration and distance to follow at a different location within the 660-acre park, which usually yields some additional species. A portable restroom is on site at the Fernbrook parking lot.

Note: This is a joint trip with the Valley Forge AUdubon Society and North Coventry Township.

Directions: From West Chester, take Route 100 north about 20 miles bear left onto W. Hoffecker Road. Go .5 miles, turn right on Laurelwood road. Go .1 mile, turn left on to Temple Road. Go 1 mile, bear left onto St. Peters Road. In 1.1 mile turn left to stay on St. Peters Road.

Coventry Woods

For: Shorebirds, herons, nightjars

Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Martin Page (610-359-9887, Martin_Page@msn.com) and
Bruce Piecukonis (610-354-9471, Bruce.Piecukonis@L-3com.com)

Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all day trip. Trip will include dinner followed by additional birding.

Directions: Call leaders for trip details, carpooling and directions.

For: Shorebirds and other migrants

Place: Belleplain State Forest Office Parking Lot, 1 Henkinsifkin Rd, Woodbine, NJ, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Jeffrey and Lynn Faust (215-463-6394, jsfaust@wistar.org)

Note: We explore Belleplain for Warblers & Summer Tanagers; Fortescue & Heislerville WMAs for Red Knots & other shorebirds. This is an all day trip with minimal walking. People are free to depart whenever they wish. Bring lunch, snacks and plenty of drinks.
Please contact leaders by Thursday to let them know you are coming, and for directions.

Belleplain State Forest

For: Migrating kites and shorebirds

Place: Bucktoe Preserve parking lot, Kennett Square, PA, 3:00 p.m.

Leader: Larry Lewis – Early Bird Tours (484-340-7672, earlybirdtours@comcast.net)

Note: Join Larry as he searches the skies for migrating kites and shorebirds. The watch goes
every day from May 17 thru June 6, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The club will join
Larry on May 23. People can come and go as they want and are welcome to join Larry any of
the days he is at the watch.

Directions: From Kennett Square, take Union Street south out of town.  This becomes Kaolin Road.  Make a right onto Hillendale Road.  Proceed about 1.5 miles to Sharp Road and make a left.  The entrance is on the left at 432 Sharp Road.  Look for the “BCP” sign.  Upon entering driveway, make a right on gravel road opposite first driveway you see.  Follow gravel road to the pavilion and parking area.

Bucktoe Preserve

For: Seasonal birds

Place: Exton Park, 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

Directions: From the intersection of Routes 30 and 202, drive west along Route 30 and turn right on Valley Creek Blvd. At the end of the road, make a left on Swedesford Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

For: Breeding warblers, mountain birds, and nesting Sandhill Cranes

Place: Elkmont Lodge in the Endless Mountains near World’s End State Park, Friday to Sunday.

Leaders: Nancy Bernhardt (610-565-8387) and John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)

Note: Enjoy beautiful vista at Elkmont Lodge in rural Sullivan County. Departure for home on Sunday. Some easy walking possible, but not required. Generally less than a mile each night and each morning.

Note: Contact leader by May 14 for trip details, directions and to make reservations and provide your estimated time of arrival. For those who wish to arrive Thursday evening please contact Nancy Bernhardt in advance (610-565-8387) so she can make room and dinner arrangements. This group will bird Friday morning and return to the Lodge to collect those that arrive later on Friday.

For: Migrants, shorebirds, and horseshoe crab spawning

Place: Heislerville NWP, Maurice River, NJ, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 PM

Leader: Dave Davis (267-251-7648, kilmorreyinc@ccis.net) and Rita Modesti (610-304-1832, rmo54@yahoo.com)

Note: This trip will visit locations along Route 47 from Matt’s Landing/Heislerville and South to the Cape May NWP/Woodcock Trail. This is a full day trip. There will be minimal walking involved.

Directions: Meet at 8:00 am at Wawa. 3904 NJ Route 47, Millville, NJ 08332. Call leader to confirm your joining and to verify meeting location.