Field Trips

For: Winter Residents

Place: Bryn Coed Preserve, 1869 Flint Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425

Leaders: Patty and John Werth (home 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: Trails are earthen on rolling hills and depending on weather conditions may be muddy and slippery. Good footwear is a must.

Directions: From West Chester, take Hwy 100 N to 113N to left on Kimberton Rd for 1.1 miles to left on Flint Rd for 0.7 miles to parking lot on right.

For: Winter residents

Place: Your feeders and your yard, all day.

Coordinator: Carol Majors (484-883-8311, carolmajors@gmail.com)

Note: Count birds at your feeder, in your yard or any site of your choosing.  Although the bird count is Feb. 14 to 17, only lists for Feb. 15 will be counted in the report. Input data into eBird.org and send to coordinator. All results must be sent to Carol by February 27. For more information, see website at Great Backyard Bird Count.

For: Winter Residents

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: Winter Residents

Place: 700 Park Rd, Downingtown, PA, 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Patty and John Werth (home: 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: Meet at the boat house parking lot. Walk will be about 1 mile. This is a joint walk with WCBC and VFAS.

Directions: Take Rt 100 to Park Rd. Boat House is at end of the road.

Marsh Creek State Park

For: Waterfowl and other late winter visitors

Place: Painters Crossing, 7:00 a.m.

Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)

Note: Minimal walking involved.  Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip.

Directions: Meet at NWR, 2591 Whitehall Neck Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977 at 8:30 a.m. Do not leave the HQ; depending on birding on Whitehall Neck Rd, we may arrive to the HQ after 8:30. Please contact leader if you will meet the group at Bombay Hook. We will bird Bombay Hook and head north to various spots in Delaware.

Carpooling: Meet at Painters Crossing, PA, on the northwest corner of Routes 1 and 202. Departure time: 7:00 a.m.

Bombay Hook NWR

For: Winter residents

Place: John Heinz NWR, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19153 (NOT the Rt 420 access), 8:30 a.m.

Leaders: Dorothy Bedford (609-658-1894, db@bt9.org), and Patty and John Werth (home: 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215 859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: This is a walking outing. The impoundment at JHNWR is a celebrated winter waterfowl destination providing forage adjacent to the Delaware River. Unlike most other WCBC waterfowl trips, it is ALL WALKING. The Wetland Loop is 3.5 miles and is expected to take 3 hours if we do the entire loop (although last year there was so much to see we only covered 1.7 miles, to the observation tower and back). More refuge information at  https://www.fws.gov/refuge/john-heinz-tinicum/visit-us. This is a joint walk with Valley Forge Audubon Society.

For: Waterfowl & American Woodcock

Place: Main parking lot on west (Lyndell) side of Marsh Creek State Park at 5:30 p.m.

Leader: Barry Blust (610-996-7913, barryblust@comcast.net)

Note: Please park down towards the water so as to not disturb the woodcocks in their display area.