Field Trips

For:  Fall migrants and resident birds

Place: : 1 Park Rd. Coatesville, PA

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.

This outing will cover about 2 miles and will last approximately 2-3 hours. There is a modern restroom at the park office, where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: We will meet at the park office near the mansion off of Park Rd.

Hibernia Park 

For: Fall 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: Migrants, local fall birds and sparrows

Place: Waterloo Mills Preserve, Devon, PA, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Kevin Fryberger (Natural Resource Manager for Brandywine Conservancy) and Luc Jacobs (484-706-1999, jacobsluc52@yahoo.com)

Note: Kevin will give a brief introduction about the property and lead us around this beautiful private preserve of 170 acres in the heart of the Main Line.  It contains wildflower meadows, marshes, mature woods and over a mile of the meandering Darby Creek.  The preserve is owned by the Brandywine Conservancy.  It will be an easy 2 mile walk and we'll be especially looking for late fall migrants and sparrows, with a possible chance for Lincoln's Sparrow.

Directions: GPS coordinates of the entrance on South Waterloo Road: (40.0248571, -75.4186609).  From the intersection of route 3 and route 252 in Newtown Square, go north on 252.  After crossing Goshen Road and passing Liseter housing development on the left, continue straight on N. Newtown Street Road (don't bear left on rt 252 where it goes from 4 lanes to 2 lanes, but go straight). At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Newtown Street Road and then take the 3rd street on the right, which is South Waterloo Road.  About 1000 ft after crossing the Darby Creek, you will see the preserve entrance on the right, between two large rocks.  Drive carefully down the narrow gravel road for about 1000 feet and you will reach the parking lot.

For: Seasonal Birds

Place: Crow's Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Road, Elverson, PA, 19520, 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Rhoda McNitt (610-213-0713, rhodamcnitt@verizon.net) and Dan Barringer (484-368-9950, dbarringer@natlands.org)

Note: We will explore the Creek and Chief's Grove Trail. This will be a 2.5-mile trip with moderate walking.  We will be looking for seasonal birds.

Directions: Park at the Visitor's Center.

Crow's Nest Preserve

For: Shorebirds & herons

Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:30 a.m.

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

Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:30 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all-day trip. Carpooling will be from Painter's Crossing. We will leave at 7:00 a.m.

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

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

For: Migrants and local fall birds

Place: Parking area below dam, 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Rick Wolf (610-933-6414, randewolf@icloud.com)

Note: We will explore some of the fields looking for fall residents and migrants. This will be a 2.5-hour trip with moderate walking.

Directions: From Route 202, take 252 north about 2.5 miles to Route 23. Turn left on Route 23. Go about 1.5 miles, turn right on Ferry Lane, then right on Pawlings Road. Go about 1 mile, turn right at Pawlings Farm sign. Park on lot after farm house.

For: Seasonal Birds

Place: Shaw's Bridge Park at 274 S. Creek Road, West Chester, PA.

Leaders: Mary Bryant (mbryantvmd@gmail.com)

Note: We will explore the trail looking for seasonal birds. This walk is about 1.5 miles and should take around 2 hours.

Directions: Park at lot; there is a port-a-potty there.

Shaw's Bridge Park