Field Trips

Place: 1 Park Road, Coatesville, PA, 8:00 a.m. Meet at the park office (40.029944,-75.841333)

Leaders: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty Werth (484-985-8614, pattyww@comcast.net) and John Werth (215-859-1148)

Note: The Chester County Parks system has seven wonderful parks which provide excellent birdwatching opportunities.  Join the West Chester Bird Club and Valley Forge Audubon Society on these joint field trips to explore all seven of the parks, one per month, in 2022.

We begin the series at Hibernia County Park, home to woods, fields, and the 94-acre Chambers Lake.  We will meander through the park's various habitats searching for birds, and hope for some interesting waterfowl resting and feeding on the lake.

This field trip will cover 1-2 miles and will last approximately 2 hours.

Restrooms are available on site at the park office, where we will meet.

Hibernia Park

For: Winter Residents and Early 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.
 
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: Local and migrating birds

Place: 150 Park Road, Nottingham, PA, 8:00 a.m. Meet at park office (39.740111,-76.037667)

Leader: John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com), Patty Werth (484-985-8164, pattyww@comcast.net) and John Werth (215-859-1148)

Note: The site for the 2nd in our series of monthly bird walks in the seven Chester County Parks, Nottingham County Park boasts some of the most unique natural features in the park system. This accessible park near the Maryland border 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.

This outing will cover 1-2 miles and will last approximately 2 hours.

Restrooms are available on site at the park office, where we will meet.

Nottingham Park

For: Spring Migrants & Returning Summer 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.

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: 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: 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. Due to Covid concerns, check with leader to confirm if a participant limit is in effect and if carpooling is occurring.

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

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Manor House 860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore, PA, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.net)

Note: This will be a 3 to 4 hour walk. This walk is in conjunction with BCDC.

Directions: Take Rt. 322 West through Guthriesville, take a soft right onto Springton Road at traffic light, Cross Highspire Road, continue .5 miles to to park entrance on right.

Springton Manor Farm