Field Trips

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Wedgewood Rd. parking lot, 7:45 a.m. (39.715200, -75.7603524)

Leader: Bob Murray (610-644-5440, rmurraymmi@gmail.com)

Note: The walk will be on an abandoned railroad bed, along the banks of White Clay Creek, which forms a section of the Mason-Dixon trail. We will cover a total distance of about 3 miles. There will be bathroom facilities at the Nature Center, which is at the midpoint of the walk. We will finish up before noon.

Note: The park charges a fee of $8 per vehicle.

Directions: Call leader for directions if not carpooling.

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

White Clay Creek

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Natural Lands' Binky Lee Preserve at 1445 Pikeland Road in Chester Springs, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Luc Jacobs (484-706-1999, jacobsluc52@yahoo.com)

Note: This will be a 3 to 4 hour walk covering about 2.5 miles with a decent grade at one point. We will be looking for resident and migrating birds including Bobolinks, Yellow-breasted Chats and sparrows in grass fields and shaded woodland paths.

Directions: Call or email the leader for directions or use the link below. The Google Maps coordinates are: 40.095808, -75.603413.

Binky Lee Preserve

For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.

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

Leaders: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.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 162 west for about 2 miles and turn left onto North Creek Road. The parking lot is on the right.

Stroud Preserve

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Natural Lands Trust Building at 1199 Cannery Rd. Coatesville, PA 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Cathy Huneke (610-368-2275, cathyhuneke@hotmail.com)

Note: We will walk the Yellow Trail, about 3 miles. There is a bathroom on site.

Directions: Take Rt. 842 south toward Unionville. Second road after Barnard’s Orchard take a right on to Cannery Road. The driveway to the Natural Land’s Lenfest Center is on the left. Park by the Center.

Cheslen Preserve

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Smith Bridge Parking Lot, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain with a bridge to cross a stream.

Directions: Route 202 South to Smithbridge Road. Turn right onto Smithbridge Road.  At the end of Smithbridge Road, turn left onto Brandywine Creek Road.  The parking lot is .3 miles on the right. GPS coordinates are 39°49'59.7"N 75°34'29.7"W.  In Google Maps, navigate to 'Smith Bridge Parking Lot'.  It is a large parking lot, and we will meet at the south end.  There is a porta-potty at the entrance.

For: Shorebirds, herons

Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Bruce Piecukonis (610-354-9471, Pterodroma@comcast.net)

Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all day trip.

Directions: Meet at the refuge headquarters parking area (800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway, NJ 08205).

E.B. Forsythe NWR, NJ

For: Migrating kites and shorebirds

Place: Bucktoe Creek 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 Creek Preserve

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