For: Shorebirds, herons and summer residents

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

Leaders: 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

Place: 953 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460, 6:00 p.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 2023.
 
Visiting the 6th park in the series, Black Rock Sanctuary, in the evening gives us the opportunity not only to observe birds that are settling in for the night, but also to watch for those that are just getting started. For example, this is the time of the year that common nighthawks can often be seen swooping through the skies at dusk, and young eastern screech owls are learning to sing. Our partnership with Chester County Parks and Preservation allows us to be in the park beyond closing time for this field trip, much of which will take place on the paved loop trail which is fully accessible to those with mobility challenges.
 
This outing will cover about a mile on paved and natural surface trails and will last approximately 2 hours. A portable restroom is available on site.
 
Black Rock Sanctuary

For: Migrating Nighthawks

Place: Bucktoe Preserve parking lot, Kennett Square, PA, 5:00 p.m.

Leader: Larry Lewis - Early Bird Tours (484-340-7672, earlybirdtours@comcast.net)

Note: The Bucktoe Common Nighthawk watch goes from Aug 23 to September 3 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bring picnic dinner and drinks and enjoy the show.

Directions: From Kennett Square, take Union Street south of town. This becomes Kaolin Road. Make a right onto Hillendale Road. Proceed about 1.5 miles to Sharp Road and make a left. The entrance is on the left at 432 Sharp Road. Look for the “BCP” sign. Upon entering driveway, make a right on gravel road opposite first driveway you see. Follow gravel road to the pavilion and parking area.

Bucktoe Preserve

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Parking lot off of Ramsey Rd., 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Carol Majors (610-399-1509, carolmajors@gmail.com)

Note: A walk along the Brandywine Creek in Delaware. The walk is about 2 miles over fairly even terrain with one 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: Fall migrants

Place: 191 County Park Rd, Pottstown 19465, 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 2023.
 
Our 2023 Chester County Parks birding series ends at Warwick County Park in northern Chester County. With meadows, wetlands, forest, and a section of the beautiful French Creek, birds abound! Fall migration will be underway and it’s a wonderful time to get out and observe what birds are moving through our area as well as well as those that stay year-round. Join us.
 
This field trip will cover 1-2 miles on mainly flat (and possibly muddy) earthen trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Meet at the parking lot below the park office. Modern restrooms are available on site.
 
Directions: From the intersection of Routes 100 and 23, proceed west on Rout 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.
 
Warwick Park

For: Migrants and resident birds

Place: Parking lot at end of Route 272, MD, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: A walk to Turkey Point in Elk Neck 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 south to Maryland Route 272 south which takes you right to the parking lot.

Elk Neck State Park
Turkey Point Lighthouse