Field Trips

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.

Cheslen Preserve

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. New bridge over stream crossing.

Directions: Route 202 South to Rt. 92 just over the state line. Turn right onto Route 92 then follow it to the left. 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: 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 $140 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: Shorebirds, herons

Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Bruce Piecukonis (610-354-9471, Pterodroma@comcast.net) and Tony Fernandes (610-647-7868, jets741@verizon.net)

Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all day trip.

Directions: Meet at the refuge headquarters parking area (800 Great Creek Rd, Galloway, NJ 08205).

E.B. Forsythe NWR, NJ

For: Spring Migrants

Place: 28 Moores Road, Elverson, PA, 7:00 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 or donations at the door. Note that the time has been shifted an hour earlier this month.
 
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: Breeding birds such as Yellow-breasted Chat and Prairie Warbler

Place: 150 Park Rd, Nottingham, PA 19362, 8:00 a.m.

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.

Nottingham County Park protects a globally rare ecosystem comprised of serpentine rock, oak-pine barrens, savannahs, prairies, and many unique plants, which in turn harbor a wide variety of birds, some of which reliably breed here but very few other places in the county. This walk will cover 1-2 miles on gently sloping natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Modern restrooms are available on site at the park office. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: Turn left as you enter the park. We will meet in the first large parking area just beyond the park office.

Nottingham Park

For: Summer residents

Place: Pavilion 4 Lot 790 Cedar Knoll Rd, 8:30 a.m.

Leaders: Lois Bryman (610-399-4613, lbryman25@gmail.com)

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

Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 30 bypass west to exit for Route 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: Summer residents

Place: Lot .5 miles south of Paoli Pike (Not ball fields lot), 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: Half-day trip, approximately a 3 miles 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. Go past the soccer field parking to the preserve parking, about ½ mile.

Willisbrook Preserve