Field Trips

For: Migrants & residents

Place: Marsh Creek State Park, Park Road parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Dorothy Bedford (609-658-1894, db@bt9.org)

Note: We will start out at Marsh Creek State Park and continue to Struble Lake, Chambers Lake, Coatesville Reservoir and other birding areas, ending up back at Marsh Creek. Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip. Minimal walking involved. Covid protocols apply, please confirm attendance and bring your mask.

Directions: The park is located 2 miles west of Eagle Village off of PA 100. The address is 675 Park Road, Downingtown, PA. Meet at the main parking lot by the (closed) snack bar.

Marsh Creek State Park

For: Early Spring migrants and residents

Place: Cedar Hollow Preserve Park Road parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Tracey & Bryan O’Leary (610-888-2225, boleary0072@yahoo.com))

Note: This walk will take between 1.5 and 2 hours through meadows, forests, wetlands, and streams. There are NO bathrooms.

Directions: From Rt 202, take a right on Matthews Drive, a right on S Morehall Rd and then a right on E. Swedesford Road, turn left on Church Road to parking lot on right.

Cedar Hollow Preserve

For: Local birds and early migrants

Place: Okehocking Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Bob Murray (610-644-5440, rmurraymmi@gmail.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 3 East. After passing Route 926, at the next light (DelChester Road) make a u-turn and come back to the Okehocking Parking lot.

Okehocking Preserve

For: Wildflowers and migrating and resident birds

Place: Westtown School cabin parking lot, 8:30am.

Leaders: Tim and Janny Sterrett (484-678-8528, timsterrett@gmail.com)

Note: This is a half-day trip. This is a walk that will cover about 2 miles over some hilly areas and take around 3 hours.

Directions: From West Chester, follow Route 3 east to Westtown Way road, turn right. Take the next left, follow Walnut Hill Road until you see Westtown School entrance. Turn right then park in first parking lot on the right.

Westtown School

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: TBD

Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty & John Werth (pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: The Chester County Parks system has seven wonderful parks which provide excellent birdwatching opportunities.  Join us as we explore all seven of the parks, one per month, in 2024 & 2025.

Directions: TBD

For: Spring Migrants

Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Mike Coulter. If you plan to attend please email the Great Marsh Institute at lori@greatmarshinstitute.org to let them know to expect you. This will help them to organize and keep groups small. This event is free but donations are always welcome via Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Note: Join local birding expert Mike Coulter as he guides us through the Great Marsh, an ancient periglacial marsh and the largest marsh in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

This event is hosted by the Great Marsh Institute, a non-profit with the mission of supporting scientific studies and educational opportunities for all! This event is free, but donations of any amount are welcome to support the Institute! For full trip details see here. This will be about a 3 hour walk. Conditions could be muddy and very wet so wear appropriate footwear.

Please note that the property is private but you can always visit during our planned trips.

Directions: The marsh is off of Rt. 401 four miles northwest of Rt. 100 at Ludwig's Corner. Lat/Long = 40.127651, -75.767697 or use 28 Moores Road for GPS directions. Meet at the grassy parking area at the top of the hill near 28 Moores Road. Once you turn off of Rt. 401 on to Moore's Road proceed 1/4 mile along the gravel road. You will cross a bridge and at the 1/4 mile mark make a right up the hill on the paved part of the drive. This is the first right after the bridge. At the top of the hill you should see other cars parked in the meeting area.

For: Waterfowl, snipe

Place: Struble Lake Parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Jim Russell (610-399-1580, jrussell73@verizon.net)

Note: This is a half day trip. There is minimal walking involved.

Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 322 west about 7 miles then take a slight right onto Chestnut Tree Road (after Sunoco gas tanks.) In about 3 miles bear left at stop sign onto Morgantown Road. The parking area for Struble Lake is 0.5 miles on the left.

Struble Lake

Marsh Creek State Park