Field Trips

For: Nesting birds including warblers (such as Golden-winged and Cerulean) and other upstate specialties.

Place: Sleeping Bear Retreat, Friday, 1:00 p.m  to Sunday 12:00 p.m.

Leaders: Armas Hill (302-529-1876, Armas@focusonnature.com) and John Mercer (484-459-2062, mercer1135@aol.com)

Note:  This trip is to the Blakeslee area in the Poconos to do some block busting for the PA Breeding Bird Atlas. The area is undercovered, so we are planning to go up Friday June 5, spend Friday and Saturday nights in the area, then coming home on Sunday, similar to how we used to do Sullivan County. We will be birding at Nature Conservancy preserves and at little-known places suggested by local atlas compilers. With an array of nesting birds including warblers (such as Golden-winged and Cerulean), flycatchers, and others. And the annual WCBC "evening with the Whip-poor-wills".
 
These are limited rooms available so please contact Armas Hill if you are interested.
 
Directions: TBA.

For: The birds that inhabit this rare meadow terrain, such as Chat, Prairie and Blue-winged Warbler.

Place: 165 Center Rd. Douglassville, PA, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Jared Brandt (jabrandt@pa.gov), and Sheila Martin (610-858-6005, sheilamartin554@gmail.com)

Note: Join West Chester bird club and State Park Staff for a morning of birding along the ADA accessible Hopewell Big Woods trail. During the walk we will be spotting the birds that inhabit this rare meadow terrain. This trail is plentiful with indigo buntings, yellow breasted chats, and summer season warblers such as prairie and blue winged warblers. This is the best time of year to get a view of these birds! The walk will be easy terrain with some inclines. Binoculars provided for participants who do not have any.

Directions: The most direct route is to take Rt 100 N to Rt 724 W then, just before entering Birdsboro, go left on Center Rd to parking on the left.

Do not use the website below for directions, they will take you to the wrong place.

Hopewell Big Woods

For: Summer residents

Place: Lot .25 miles south of Paoli Pike (at the soccer field lot), 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Sue Vanasse (484-459-4189, hsvanasse@verizon.net)

Note: Half-day trip, approximately a 3 mile walk over relatively flat terrain in both woods and open fields. Trail can be muddy, with roots, so wear sturdy shoes. There is a portable bathroom in the lot.

Directions: From Routes 202 and Paoli Pike, take Paoli Pike east between 3.5 and 4 miles to Line Road. Turn right on Line Road. Turn left into the soccer field parking lot.

Willisbrook Preserve

For: 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 via Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Note: Join a local birding expert who will guide 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: 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 via Paypal, Venmo, or cash donations at the door.

Note: Join a local birding expert who will guide 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: Good times!

Place & Time: Copeland School, 674 Copeland School Road, West Chester, PA, 6:00 p.m.

Hosts: Randy and Janet Aylam (aylamrs@verizon.net))

Notes: Covered dish picnic. As is our custom, the picnic will be pot luck. Everyone should bring some food to share and drinks for yourself. Please bring non-disposable plates and cutlery to avoid waste. There will be tables and chairs available in the building.

Please contact the hosts to let them know you are coming so they can prepare the tables for seating.

Directions: From West Chester, take Rt. 322 by-pass towards Downingtown. On the by-pass, stay in the right lane, to be able to turn right at Copeland School Rd. at the next light. On Copeland School Rd., turn left at the stop sign by the ball fields. Park at the top of the hill.

For: Shorebirds, herons and summer residents

Place: Bombay Hook NWR Headquarters, 8:30 a.m.

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

Note: This is an all day trip that will start at Bombay Hook and go South as far as we can get before we stop for dinner at a local restaurant and head home. Bring lunch. Minimal walking involved.

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.

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

Bombay Hook NWR

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 a local birding expert who will guide 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 at end or Route 272, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: A walk to Turkey Point in Elkton State Park, 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 back to the parking lot around noon. Afternoon birding may be available if people wish to continue.  There is a bathroom by the lighthouse.

Directions: Route 95 S to Maryland Route 272 south which takes you right to the parking lot.

Elk Neck State Park
Turkey Point Lighthouse

For: Migrating hawks, hopefully Broadwings will be coming through

Place: Rose Tree Park, Media, PA, 9:00 a.m.

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

Note: I will be there from 9 to 4, stop by any time to see the hawk watch and what we do.  If you get lucky, you can be there when the Broadwings pass through; this is the time when they are coming through, usually from 9/18 to 9/23. You can come any day; someone will be there. Bring along a chair, sunscreen, and a lunch if you plan on spending some time there.

Directions: Rose Tree Park is on Route 252, just north of the intersection with Route 1. The watch is at the Gazebo near the south entrance of the park.