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Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

Willisbrook Preserve, Malvern, PA

For: Summer residents

Place: Willisbrook Preserve parking lot .25 miles south of Paoli Pike at 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 and in a quarter mile, turn left into Willisbrook Preserve. The parking lot is to the right and in front of the soccer fields.

Willisbrook Preserve

Hopewell Big Woods

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

Place: 165 Center Rd. Douglassville, PA (Lat/Long: 40.24705, -75.79200). See below for more directions.

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. The address above will bring one right to the gravel driveway turn, regardless whether using 724, 422 or I-76 PA Turnpike (though the latter includes many tedious turns).

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

Hopewell Big Woods

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

Sullivan County, PA

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

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

Chester County Parks Birding Series: Springton Manor Farm

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

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park

Chester County Parks Birding Series: Hibernia County Park

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 

Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

For: Seasonal birds

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

Leader: Various leaders in conjunction with Friends of Exton Park

Note: Formerly known as Church Farm Pond and now a part of Exton Park, this pond and surrounding wetland had been a popular birding spot for years.

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 Road and park in the gravel parking lot on your left where the perimeter trail starts. This is a 1.5 mile walk and will take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Exton Park