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Veracruz, The River of Raptors with Hawk Mountain

Club member John Mercer
 

A review of the trip I took with Hawk Mountain and ProNatura to view the River of Raptors in Veracruz, Mexico. A chronological travel log of what we did and what we saw, with pictures of birds, sites and interesting critters, but mostly birds. A terrific trip especially for raptor lovers, but we also did a lot of other birding and some cultural visits, making this a well rounded and delightful trip.

 

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Event Series Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

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

Birding by Ear, Hibernia Park, Coatesville, PA

For: More advanced practice at birding by ear

Place: Hibernia Park parking lot by pond on Lion Head Rd., 8:30 a.m.

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

Note: We will walk along the creek to picnic tables where we will review the birds heard, then return. The total walking is about 0.4 miles, but the session can take up to two hours.

Directions: From Downingtown, take Route 30 bypass to Route 82 north (left turn). At the next left, turn onto Route 340 west. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Wagontown Road. Follow Wagontown Road around to Park Road. (Be careful, at one point it seems Wagontown ends in a tee, but it continues to the right. Turn right onto Lyons Head Drive (between the pillars with lion faces on them.) Follow Lyons Head Drive until you see the pond on the right, the parking area is after the pond.

Hibernia Park

Chambers Lake, Chester County, PA

For: Summer residents, butterflies, etc.

Place: Chambers Lake parking lot, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders:

Note: Trip is an approximately two- to three-hour walk covering about 2 miles with some moderate hills.

Directions: Take the Rt. 30 by-pass to the exit for Rt. 82. At end of the ramp go left and proceed to the first light. A Turkey Hill market should be on the left. Make a left at this light which should be Rt. 340. Follow Rt. 340, West Kings Highway about 2.1 miles.  Turn right on Wagontown Rd.  Stay on Wagontown Rd. until you get to Chambers Lake.

Chambers Lake

Event Series Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

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: #3 – Nottingham

For: Spring migrants

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 2023.
 
The site for the 3rd  park in our series, Nottingham County Park boasts some of the most unique natural features in the park system. Located in southern Chester County near the Maryland border, this 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 outing will cover 1-2 miles on gently sloping natural surface trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours.  Restrooms are available on site at the park office, where we will meet.
 
Nottingham Park

The Cassatt Preserve: The Headwaters of Birding at the Upper Main Line YMCA

Club Member Brian Quindlen
 

The Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn, Pennsylvania is unlike most other YMCAs. It is situated on a 54-acre campus in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Twenty of these acres contain the Cassatt Preserve, which is part of the first conservation easement in the state of Pennsylvania. This property contains a unique history for both the habitats and the people who have enjoyed it over the last century. Serving first as a summer estate, then a Norbertine monastery, and finally a YMCA, this property would eventually be home to a robust youth birding program and environmental education center. This program is a tribute to history of the habitats, people, and birds that make this property special.

 

Brian “BQ” Quindlen is an avid birder, photographer, digiscoper, and educator from Malvern, Pennsylvania. As a Pennsylvania state certified K-6 elementary school teacher and K-12 environmental educator, BQ connects students with nature in a formal education setting. Also, BQ is the leader of the Garnet Valley Trailblazers nature program, an environmental education club and summer camp that takes students from first through twelfth grade birding.
 

 

Note: This meeting will be held in person at the meeting house and via Zoom. Zoom signon will start at 7:15 to enable the meeting to begin at 7:30.

Event Series Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

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

The Great Marsh

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.

Event Series Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

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

Event Series Every Thursday Morning Exton Park, Exton, PA

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: #4 – Hibernia

For: Summer residents

Place: Pavilion #4, 1 Park Rd, Coatesville, PA 19320, 8:00 a.m.

Leaders: Kris Debolt and Peter Wade (215-219-5637, wadedeb@verizon.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 4th location is Hibernia County Park, home to woods, fields, and the 94-acre Chambers Lake.  We will meander through the park’s various habitats searching land, water, and sky for passerines, waterfowl, raptors, and more.
 
This outing will cover about 2 miles on earthen trails and will last approximately 2-3 hours. Restrooms are available on site at pavilion #4, where we will meet.
 
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