Field Trips

For: Spring migrants

Place: 150 Park Rd, Nottingham, PA 19362, 8:00 a.m.

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 2023.
 
The site for the 3^rd  park in our series, Nottingham County Park boasts some of the most unique natural features in the park system. Located in southern Chester County near the Maryland border, this 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 outing will cover 1-2 miles on gently sloping natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours.  Restrooms are available on site at the park office, where we will meet.
 
Nottingham Park

For: Spring Migrants

Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 7:00 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 or donations at the door. Note that the time has been shifted an hour earlier this month.
 
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: 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 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The club will join
Larry on May 24. 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: Summer residents

Place: Pavilion #4, 1 Park Rd, Coatesville, PA 19320, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.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 2023.
 
Our 4^th location is Hibernia County Park, home to woods, fields, and the 94-acre Chambers Lake.  We will meander through the park’s various habitats searching land, water, and sky for passerines, waterfowl, raptors, and more.
 
This outing will cover about 2 miles on earthen trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Restrooms are available on site at pavilion #4, where we will meet.
 
Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 30 bypass west to exit for Route 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.
 
Hibernia 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.

Exton Park