Field Trips

For: Spring migrants and resident birds

Place: 1 Park Rd, Coatesville, PA, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: This outing will cover about 2 miles and will last approximately 2-3 hours.  There is a modern restroom at the park office where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: We will meet at the park office near the mansion off of Park Rd.

Hibernia Park

For: Spring 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: Spring migrants, butterflies, etc.

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

Leaders: Lois Bryman (610-399-4613, lbryman25@gmail.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: Valley Creek Park, 361 N. Morehall Road, Malvern, 10:00 a.m.

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

Flyer:

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For: Local Birds

Place: Pavilion 4 Lot 790 Cedar Knoll Rd.

Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.net )

Note: 3 hr. trip, about 2 miles in mostly flat field or hard dirt paths

Directions: From Downingtown, take the Rt. 30 Bypass west, to exit for Rt. 82 north. Exit ramp, go left on Rt. 82 to the top of the hill then take a left onto Cedar Knoll Rd. Proceed about 1.9 miles to second park entrance on left, #790. DO NOT go to #720 which is the first entrance to the park.

Hibernia Park

For: Warblers, Sandhill Cranes, Whip-poor-will and other upstate specialties

Place: Hotel Dushore, 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 is a two-night trip, with accommodations at Hotel Dushore.  The rooms will be roughly $160 per night.  We will meet Friday at the hotel at 1:00pm, bird part of the day Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday until noon.  We have rooms for 8 people tentatively reserved. Some rooms have two twin beds so people can share to save costs, but most have only one queen, so we will be limited in the number of participants.  Early registration with the leaders is important. If you are interested in doing this trip, even if you are not sure, please let the leaders know as soon as possible so we save the correct number and mix of rooms before they sell out. There is time to cancel the reservations if you change your mind but may not be a chance to add a room if you decide to go last minute. Once at the Hotel, we will try to carpool if feasible.

Directions: From Interstate Route 80, take 42 north to Route 220 to Dushore Hotel.

Hotel Dushore

For: Purple martins and breeding birds

Place: Springton Manor Farm

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

Note: The Chester County Parks system’s 300-acre Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore is part preserve and part farm and home to many types of bird-friendly habitats. Of special note here are centuries-old oak and maple trees as well as thriving Purple Martin and Barn Swallow colonies during the summer. 

Directions: 860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore, PA 19343.  Meet at the parking lot at the end of the park road, by the big barn.

Springton-Manor-Farm

For: Evening birding

Place: Hibernia County Park at Chambers Lake

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

Note: Enjoy an end-of-the-day bird walk with Park Ranger Rita Mounayar on the less-travelled trails of Hibernia Park starting from Chambers Lake.

Directions: Meet at the Chambers Lake parking lot: 214 Wagontown Rd, Coatesville, 19320

Hibernia Park 

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 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: 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

For: Local birds

Place: 191 County Park Rd. Pottstown, PA

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.
 
The 535-acre Warwick County Park in northern Chester County includes dense hardwood forest, wetlands, meadows, and riparian areas along a section of French Creek, an "exceptional value" stream. This diversity provides excellent habitat for birds. This 1.5 to 2 hour walk on mainly flat (and possibly muddy) terrain on unpaved trails will cover approximately 2 miles. A modern restroom is on site. This walk is a collaboration of WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.
 
Directions: From the intersection of Routes 100 and 23, proceed west on Route 23 for 3.4 miles. Turn left onto County Park Road (entrance is somewhat hidden) and continue 0.3 miles to the entrance to Warwick County Park, on the left. Follow the drive to the last parking lot on the left.

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.