For: Fall migrants

Place: The South side of Chambers Lake, 8:00 a.m.

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

Note: A Big Sit is an all-day affair, but everyone is welcome to come and go as they please. It is usually a fun time to see how many birds can be spotted while not moving out of a 15 foot circle. Great fun, with plenty of food and camaraderie, like tailgating.

Directions: From Coatesville, PA (in western Chester County): From the Rt. 30 By-pass north of Coatesville, take Rt. 82 exit north. Turn left at the 4-way stop sign (Rt.340) and go 1.3 miles to Wagontown Rd. Turn right on Wagontown Rd. and continue on this winding hill for 1.5 miles (you will pass the Hibernia Park entrance on your right). Continue up the hill and the lake will become visible on the right. If attending the "Big Sit", continue a couple of tenths of a mile further along Wagontown Rd. past the lake parking lot and to the western dike of the lake. Carefully pull off the road and park in the grass near the dike. You will see us sitting on the dike near the road.

Chambers Lake

For:  Fall migrants and resident birds

Place: : 1 Park Rd. Coatesville, PA

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 & 2025.

This outing will cover about 2 miles and will last approximately 2-3 hours. There is a modern restroom at the park office, where we will meet. This field trip is a collaboration between WCBC and Valley Forge Audubon Society.

Directions: We will meet at the park office near the mansion off of Park Rd.

Hibernia Park 

For: Migrants, local fall birds and sparrows

Place: Waterloo Mills Preserve, Devon, PA, 8:00 a.m.

Leader: Kevin Fryberger (Natural Resource Manager for Brandywine Conservancy) and Luc Jacobs (484-706-1999, jacobsluc52@yahoo.com)

Note: Kevin will give a brief introduction about the property and lead us around this beautiful private preserve of 170 acres in the heart of the Main Line.  It contains wildflower meadows, marshes, mature woods and over a mile of the meandering Darby Creek.  The preserve is owned by the Brandywine Conservancy.  It will be an easy 2 mile walk and we'll be especially looking for late fall migrants and sparrows, with a possible chance for Lincoln's Sparrow.

Directions: GPS coordinates of the entrance on South Waterloo Road: (40.0248571, -75.4186609).  From the intersection of route 3 and route 252 in Newtown Square, go north on 252.  After crossing Goshen Road and passing Liseter housing development on the left, continue straight on N. Newtown Street Road (don't bear left on rt 252 where it goes from 4 lanes to 2 lanes, but go straight). At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Newtown Street Road and then take the 3rd street on the right, which is South Waterloo Road.  About 1000 ft after crossing the Darby Creek, you will see the preserve entrance on the right, between two large rocks.  Drive carefully down the narrow gravel road for about 1000 feet and you will reach the parking lot.

For: Shorebirds & herons

Place: Forsythe NWR Headquarters, 8:30 a.m.

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

Note: Meet at Forsythe at 8:00 a.m. Minimal walking involved. Bring a lunch, this is an all-day trip. Carpooling will be from Painter's Crossing. We will leave at 7:00 a.m.

Directions: Call leader for trip details, carpooling and directions.

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR