For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.
Place: Stroud Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com)
Note: Trip is an approximately two- to three-hour walk covering about 2 miles with some moderate hills.
Directions: From West Chester, take Route 162 west for about 2 miles and turn left onto North Creek Road. The parking lot is on the right.
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.
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Natural Lands Trust Building at 1199 Cannery Rd. Coatesville, PA 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Cathy Huneke (610-368-2275, cathyhuneke@hotmail.com)
Note: We will walk the Yellow Trail, about 3 miles. There is a bathroom on site.
Directions: Take Rt. 842 south toward Unionville. Second road after Barnard’s Orchard take a right on to Cannery Road. The driveway to the Natural Land’s Lenfest Center is on the left. Park by the Center.
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Smith Bridge Parking Lot, 8:00 a.m.
Leader: Carol Majors (484-883-8311, carolmajors@gmail.com)
Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain with a bridge to cross a stream.
Directions: Route 202 South to Smithbridge Road. Turn right onto Smithbridge Road. Turn left onto Brandywine Creek Road. The parking lot is .3 miles on the right. GPS coordinates are 39°49'59.7"N 75°34'29.7"W. In Google Maps, navigate to "Smith's Bridge Parking Lot, FSNHP Parking". It is a large parking lot, and we will meet at the south end. It is unknown if there will be porta pottys at the entrance. They are expected around midMay. Alternatively, there are porta pottys at Thompson's Bridge, 5 minutes away. For directions, navigate to "Brandywine Creek State Park, Thompson's Bridge".
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.
For: Shorebirds, herons
Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Bruce Piecukonis (610-354-9471, Pterodroma@comcast.net)
Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all day trip.
Directions: Meet at the refuge headquarters parking area (800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway, NJ 08205).
For: For breeding birds such as Yellow-breasted Chat and Prairie Warbler
Place: 150 Park Rd., Nottingham, PA 8:00 a.m.
Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)
Note: Nottingham County Park protects a globally rare ecosystem comprised of serpentine rock, oak-pine barrens, savannahs, prairies and many unique plants, which in turn harbor a wide variety of birds, some of which reliably breed here but very few other places in the county. This walk will cover 1-2 miles on gently sloping natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Modern restrooms are available on site at the park office. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
Directions: Turn left as you enter the park. We will meet in the first large parking area just beyond the park office.
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.
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.
For: Local Birds
Place: Pavilion 4 Lot 790 Cedar Knoll Rd.
Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.net )
Note: 3 hr. trip, about 2 miles in mostly flat field or hard dirt paths
Directions: From Downingtown, take the Rt. 30 Bypass west, to exit for Rt. 82 north. Exit ramp, go left on Rt. 82 to the top of the hill then take a left onto Cedar Knoll Rd. Proceed about 1.9 miles to second park entrance on left, #790. DO NOT go to #720 which is the first entrance to the park.
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.
For: Summer residents
Place: Willisbrook Preserve parking lot .25 miles south of Paoli Pike at 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Sue Vanasse (484-459-4189, hsvanasse@verizon.net)
Note: Half-day trip, approximately a 3 mile walk over relatively flat terrain in both woods and open fields. Trail can be muddy, with roots, so wear sturdy shoes. There is a portable bathroom in the lot.
Directions: From Routes 202 and Paoli Pike, take Paoli Pike east between 3.5 and 4 miles to Line Road. Turn right on Line Road and in a quarter mile, turn left into Willisbrook Preserve. The parking lot is to the right and in front of the soccer fields.