Field Trips

For: Summer Residents & Early 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 and resident birds

Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 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 one stream crossing.

Directions: Route 202 South to Rt. 92 just over the state line.  Turn right onto Route 92 then follow it as it turns to the left.  Then take the first right on to Ramsey Rd.  Look for the parking area on the right.  In GPS, navigate to Ramsey’s Farm, Ramsey Road, Wilmington, DE  The parking lot is across the street from the entrance.

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Royal Farms at the junction of US Route 40 & MD Route 781. On the eastern side of Elkton, on the north side of Route 40, 7:30 a.m.

Leader: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com)

Note: A walk to the marsh and other habitats at Elk Landing, the Elk River Park, and then to the Elk Neck State Forest including the arboretum. Lastly to the Elk Neck State Park, at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, one of the best places in the Mid-Atlantic for bird migration in the late summer and fall. Mostly songbirds and raptors. The walk should be completed around noon, and afternoon birding may be available if people wish to continue. If so, bring a lunch. There is a bathroom in the state park.

Directions: Route 95 south to Delaware 896 south. Turn right on Rt. 40 to the parking lot at the intersection of Rts. 40 and 781.

Elk Neck State Park
Turkey Point Lighthouse

For: Late Summer Residents & 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: Fall migrants, warblers, shorebirds and waterfowl

Place for Saturday: Cape May Point State Park Lighthouse parking lot, 7:30 a.m.

Place for Sunday: Higbee Beach parking lot, 7:00 a.m.

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

Note: Contact Barry for details. Please make your own reservations if you plan on staying overnight.

Note: This trip involves considerable walking, 2 to 4 miles each day, over relatively flat terrain, but some walking in sand will be involved. Please join us both days or either day.

Cape May Bird Observatory

Cape May Point State Park

For:  Migrants and resident birds

Place: 1399 Schoff Rd, Atglen, PA 19310, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: Paths are both earthen and paved and gently rolling. We will travel 1-2 miles over 2-3 hours. There is a portable restroom on site. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and VFAS.

Directions: Go west on Strasburg Road to Parkesburg, then south on 10 to Highland Drive. Turn right and go 3.4 miles to the intersection with Schoff Rd, then turn right on Schoff and go 1 mile to the park entrance on the right.

Wolf's Hollow Park 

For: Late Summer Residents & 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: Migrating and local birds

Place: Barrett's Meadow, 8:30 a.m.

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

Note: Plenty of parking, no restrooms though. This will be a walk for Thornbury township open to all, especially beginners. This spot can be good for fall sparrows. It is only about 1 mile of easy although sometimes wet walking.

Directions: At the corner of Creek Road and Tanguy Road in Cheyney, PA

For: Fall Migrants & Early 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: Fall Residents

Place: 953 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note:  This outing will cover about 1-2 miles through woods and fields and will last approximately 2 hours.  A portable restroom is available on site.  This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: From Route 202N take route 29 towards Phoenixville. Turn left on to Main Street. After crossing the bridge, turn Right on High then left on Dayton Street which becomes Route 113. Follow Rt. 113 to Park on right side.

Black Rock Sanctuary

For: Migrants & residents

Place: Marsh Creek State Park, Park Road parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Dorothy Bedford (609-658-1894, db@bt9.org)

Note: We will start out at Marsh Creek State Park and continue to Struble Lake, Chambers Lake, Coatesville Reservoir and other birding areas, ending up back at Marsh Creek. Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip. Minimal walking involved.

Directions: The park is located 2 miles west of Eagle Village off of PA 100. The address is 675 Park Road, Downingtown, PA. Meet at the main parking lot by the (closed) snack bar.

Marsh Creek State Park