May 2003 Outings
During the last week of April and first two weeks of May, birders can expect to see find plenty of company when birding in Frick Park. Plan to arrive by 7:30 AM at the latest and proceed to the "meadow" to catch up if you are late.Don't forget to download a copy of the Checklist of Birds for Frick Park!
Saturday and Sunday, May 2 &
3 — Crane Creek Weekend
Jack
and Sue Solomon (412-521-3365) will be our guides
for this weekend trip to Crane
Creek State Park to bird the Lake Erie shoreline areas
just east of Toledo, OH.
Meet at the entrance to the boardwalk at 7:30 AM each morning. Click here for directions and lodging options.
This area is famous for spectacular numbers of migrants under the right conditions. We may also visit nearby Metzger Marsh and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. There are plenty of hotels and campgrounds in the area, but you are advised to make reservations. This is also the best time for walleye fishing and the motels do fill up. From the Toledo area, it is not far to Point Pelee in Ontario, where those that wish to extend the weekend trip can easily venture on Monday and Tuesday; we'll decide at Crane Creek whether to go on to Pelee.
Some of the people from the Westmoreland County Bird Club and the Westmoreland Conservancy may be there at the time of this outing, and will probably be staying at the Port Clinton Best Budget Inn, along with several 3RBC members.
Wednesday, May 7 — Enlow Fork
Meet leaders George Bercik & Bill Judd at 8:00 AM in search of migrating warblers (usually reliable for Cerulean, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-throated Vireo, thrushes, and Ruffed Grouse). Besides the birds, Enlow Fork is known for beautiful displays of spring wildflowers. Pawpaws should be in bloom, along with Blue-eyed Mary and Fire Pinks. The Falcate Orange Tip butterfly is also found here. Take I-79 South to I-70 West. Take Exit 2 off I-70 West (Claysville). Turn right on Rt. 40. Near the center of town, turn right on Rt. 231 South (near a church). Proceed 4 mi. to SGL 245 parking lot where we will assemble before continuing on via winding country roads. (See DeLorme p.70, D-2). Bring a lunch and day pack. Walk rated moderately strenuous.
Saturday, May 10 — Frick Park
Meet leader Jack Solomon (412-521-3365) at 7:30 AM for this morning outing in combination with the migration count. Meet at the parking lot of the Frick Environmental Center off Beechwood Boulevard. Frick Park is one of the best migration traps in the area and sometimes hosts huge numbers of warblers.
Saturday, May 10 —Migration Count
Allegheny County needs a compiler/coordinator for this important event. If interested, please contact Paul Hess. If a new compiler is found, check this website to determine what areas need covered.
Sunday, May 11 — Harrison Hills Park
This leaderless outing will meet at 8:15 AM in search of migrants. As you enter the park, bear left and meet at the first parking lot on the left for this morning walk in search of migrants. Dress for wet grass and mud. This county park sits on a bluff overlooking the Allegheny River and has been a consistently good spot to find migrant songbirds in the spring and fall. In the last few years, we have consistently found Worm-eating Warbler and Philadelphia and Yellow-throated Vireos.
Wednesday, May 14 — Harrison Hills County Park
Meet leader Jim Valimont at this county park off Freeport Road between Natrona Heights and Freeport. As you enter the park, bear left and meet at the first parking lot on the left at 8:15 AM for this morning walk in search of migrants. Dress for wet grass and mud.
Saturday, May 24 — Bell's Farm
Join Ralph Bell (724-883-4505) at 9:00 AM for this popular outing on his farm in Greene County. Eastern Bluebirds that feed out of your hand, nesting American Kestrels up close and personal, and Summer Tanagers are typical features of this perennial outing. Summer Tanagers reach their northern range limit in southwestern Pennsylvania and Greene County (around Ralph's farm) is one of the most dependable places to find them. Bring a lunch and spend all day. Take I-79 south to the Ruff Creek exit. Turn left onto Rt. 221 and proceed under the interstate. Continue 5 miles to a golf course and turn left onto Rt. 188 towards Jefferson. In Jefferson, make a left onto Pine St. Proceed down a hill and under the railroad crossing bridge. Go straight up the hill for 0.5 mile and turn at the sign saying "R. Bell Tree Farm." Continue back that road for 0.5 mile.
Non-3RBC Outings
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 3— Bellplain State Park, NJ
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 3 — Valley Forge National Park
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 3 — Fort Washington State Park
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 4— Embreeville County Park
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 4 — Wissahickon Warblers
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 4 — Laurel Summit & Fish Run Trail
Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club
Meet Jim Pemberton at the Laurel Summit Picnic Area at 9 a.m. for warblers.
Directions: Follow Route 30 past Ligonier. Turn south on Route 381 to Rector. In Rector follow the signs to Linn Run State Park. The picnic area is onthe left at the very top of Laurel Hill on the roadpast Linn Run State Park.
(Non-3RBC)
Friday - Sunday, May 3-5 — 3rd Spring Birding Festival
of Western PA
(Non-3RBC)
Wednesday, May 7— White Clay Creek, PA
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 10— North American Migration Count in
Chester County
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 10 — North American Migration Count
Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club
To participate as a field observer, feeder watcher,
or stationary counter, see directions on page 9.
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 11 — White Clay Creek Preserve
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 11 — BAS Naturthon
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 11 — North American Migration Count
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 11— Struble Trail, PA
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 17 — Fortescue and Heislerville, NJ
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 17— Leaderless Outing at Ann Rudd Saxman
Nature Park
Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club
Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at Donahoe Center
for a walk
through the 50 Acre Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park.
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 17— Hawkins Road and Brightview Farm,
NJ
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 18 — Fortescue, Dividing Creek, NJ
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 18 — Roaring Run Trail
Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club
Join Karen Jackson (724-668-7421)at 8 a.m. for a bird walk in the water-fall area of the Roaring Run Trail. This is a joint outing with the Roaring Run Watershed Association. The area is also rich in wildflowers.
Directions: Follow Route 66/56 north into Apollo. Turn right at the light just after you cross the bridge into town. Follow a narrow road for at least a mile staying close to the river. The road ends at the parking lot to the Roaring Run Bike/Hike Trail.
(Non-3RBC)
Wednesday, May 21— Welkinweir Preserve, PA
(Non-3RBC)
Thursday, May 22 — Wissahickon Nature Club (Directions)
Silent Spring, book discussion led by Mark
Tomlinson. If you
haven't read this inspiring book recently, there's still
time to borrow
one from your library. Silent Spring is also available
in talking
books.
This evening's exhibit will be All Members' Exhibits Night. Members are required to bring something from the wild.
Program begins at 7:30 p.m; join us at 7:00 p.m. for coffee and dessert. For more information contact Chuck Tague, President 412-488-8760, or Susanne Varley, Secretary 412-771-4737.
(Non-3RBC)
Saturday, May 24— E.B. Forsythe NWR and Barnegat Light,
NJ
(Non-3RBC)
Sunday, May 25— Little Sewickley Creek Ecology Outing
Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club
Join Tom Pearson (wildflowers & insects), Jim Pemberton (reptiles and amphibians) and Dick Byers (mammal sign & forest ecology) at 8 a.m. in the Bob Evans parking lot on Route 30 in Irwin.
