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.
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.
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.
For: Migrants and resident birds
Place: Parking lot on 1123 Rapp’s Dam Rd.
Leader: Rick Wolf (610-933-6414, randewolf@icloud.com)
Note: We will walk approximately 2 level miles along French Creek looking for migrating & resident birds in addition to learning about the rich history of the immediate area.
Directions: Take route 113 to Rapps Dam Road in Kimberton. Proceed for about 1/2 mile to the trail head just before the covered bridge or email or call the leader for directions or use the link below.
For: Spring migrants, butterflies, etc.
Place: Stroud Preserve parking lot, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Barry Blust (610-458-5616, barryblust@comcast.net)
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.
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.
For: Early migrants
Place: Newlin Township Maintenance Building, 8:00 a.m.
Leaders: Judy Ford (610-486-6061, RareJBird@verizon.net) and Mike Gardner (484-880-7083, birdnerd@zoominternet.net)
Note: Approximately 3 hours, walking over mostly flat, marshy terrain, about 1-2 miles. Waterproof boots or shoes a must.
Directions: The Newlin Twp Bldg parking lot (1751 Embreeville Rd Coatesville PA 19320) is west of West Chester, on PA Rte 162, directly across from the marsh. This is a half-day trip.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.