Field Trips

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Smith Bridge Parking Lot, 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.

Directions: Route 202 South to Smithbridge Road. Turn right onto Smithbridge Road. Turn left onto Brandywine Creek Road.  The parking lot is .3 miles on the right. GPS coordinates are 39°49'59.7"N 75°34'29.7"W.  In Google Maps, navigate to "Smith's Bridge Parking Lot, FSNHP Parking".  It is a large parking lot, and we will meet at the south end.  New restrooms have been installed in the parking lot.

For: Shorebirds, migrants

Place: Multiple Cumberland County hotspots, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Bruce Piecukonis (610-247-2205, Pterodroma@comcast.net)

Note: We will visit locations in the state forest and along Delaware Bay looking for passerine migrants and shorebirds. Bring along a lunch.

Directions: Meet at Wawa at the intersection of NJ Routes 47 and 347 (3904 NJ-47, Dorchester, NJ 08316). NOTE: this is a full-service Wawa.

For: Shorebirds, herons

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

Leaders: Bruce Piecukonis (610-247-2205, Pterodroma@comcast.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: TBD. 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: 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