Field Trips

For: Winter Residents

Place: French Creek State Park, 843 Park Rd, Elverson, PA, 8:30 a.m.

Leaders: Patty and John Werth (home: 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: We will travel a route that keeps us primarily on paved trails and roads.  Heated restrooms are located nearby. This is a joint walk with WCBC and VFAS.

Directions: From West Chester, take Hwy 100 north to Ludwigs Corner. Turn left on Conestoga Rd. Turn right on Route 345, follow the many twists and turns of Rt 345 to a left onto S. Entrance Road. Turn right onto Park Rd and park at the Playground parking lot behind the office.

For: Harlequins, eiders, loons and other waterfowl

Place: Barnegat Light State Park. Meet at Barngegat Light Borough Hall, 8:15 a.m.

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

Note: There will be a walk of about 1.5 miles between the dunes to observe the end of the jetty. Brigantine is a fee area (per car); bring your National Park Service "Eagle Pass". Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip.

Directions: Meet at Barnegat Light Borough Hall, 10 E 7th St, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006. Follow NJ Route 72 onto Long Beach Island. Turn left onto Long Beach Island Blvd. Go about 7 miles to 7th Street on right. Please make a rest-stop at Wawa, 370 NJ Rt 72, Manahawkin (approach from East Bay Ave. Plan 30 minutes to Barnegat Light from Wawa). Forsythe NWR Visitor Center address: you MUST use 800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway NJ or Google will steer you 30 miles wrong.

Carpooling: If so, meet at Gateway Shopping Center, 125 Swedesford Road, Wayne (junction of 202 and 252). Departure time is 5:45 a.m. (Estimated return no later than 5 p.m.)

Barnegat Light

EBForsythe

For: Winter Residents

Place: 700 Park Rd, Downingtown, PA, 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Patty and John Werth (home: 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: Meet at the boat house parking lot. Walk will be about 1 mile. This is a joint walk with WCBC and VFAS.

Directions: Take Rt 100 to Park Rd. Boat House is at end of the road.

Marsh Creek State Park

For: Seasonal Birds

Place: Exton Park, Exton, PA 8:30 a.m.

Leader: Bryan & Tracey O'Leary (610-888-2225, boleary0072@yahoo.com)

Note: This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours. Public bathrooms are available.

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 Rd. and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts.

Exton Park

For: Waterfowl and other late winter visitors

Place: Painters Crossing, 7:00 a.m.

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

Note: Minimal walking involved.  Bring lunch, this is an all-day trip.

Directions: Meet at NWR, 2591 Whitehall Neck Rd, Smyrna, DE 19977 at 8:30 a.m. Do not leave the HQ; depending on birding on Whitehall Neck Rd, we may arrive to the HQ after 8:30. Please contact leader if you will meet the group at Bombay Hook. We will bird Bombay Hook and head north to various spots in Delaware.

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

Bombay Hook NWR

For: Winter Residents

Place: Bryn Coed Preserve, 1869 Flint Rd, Chester Springs, PA 19425

Leaders: Patty and John Werth (home 484-985-8164, day of walk: 215-859-1148, Pattyww@comcast.net)

Note: Trails are earthen on rolling hills and depending on weather conditions may be muddy and slippery. Good footwear is a must. This walk is in conjunction with Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: From West Chester, take Hwy 100 N to 113N to left on Kimberton Rd for 1.1 miles to left on Flint Rd for 0.7 miles to parking lot on right.