August 2004 Outings

Saturday, August 7 — Buffalo Creek Butterfly/Dragonfly Outing

Come join Tom Pearson and Walt & Dana Shaffer as they explore Pa's newest Important Bird Area for butterflies and dragonflies on August 7. With 3 new wetlands there are sure to be lots of sunrises this Summer.  Walt has already found an Milberts Tortoiseshell butterfly in the I.B.A., Washington County first recorded! Anyone who knows Tom knows he's the man to ID those beautiful fantastic flying dragons, he will have his nets to hand out for all to participate.

Fun for all ages!  Meet at the S-Bridge at 10:00am.  Directions to S-Bridge: I-70 to Taylorstown exit, Follow signs for SR-221 north, meet in parking lot just past blinking light.  Questions, e-mail Christy.

Sunday, August 8 - Tuesday, August 10

Ted Floyd, Editor of Birding Magazine, 3RBC member, andformer (20 years ago) Pittsburgh Whiz Kid, will be in Pittsburgh August 8, 9, and 10, and has invited members of the 3RBC to bird with him those days. His tentative plans are to cover:

Sunday, August 8 — Imperial Area
Shorebirds, sparrows, and rarities.

Monday, August 9 — Frick Park

Early migrants, late breeders.

Tuesday, August 10
Shorebirds in Western Pennsylvania, as local conditions warrant.

Call Ted at 412-521-3365 after August 5 for details — he won't have any until then. Last minute emails will probably go unanswered, since he has no computer.

Saturday, August 21 — Shorebird Outing

Dave Wilton (412-848-2372) will lead this outing to areas known for shorebirds. Shenango Reservoir has become one of Western Pennsylvania's best location for migrating shorebirds, but Dave will scout out several areas in the days just before this outing. Meet Dave at 6:00 AM at the Park and Ride lot at Cranberry Township at the intersection of Rts. 19 and 228 (across from Denny’s). Enter the lot from the service road behind, accessible from the Burger King on Rt. 19. If water levels are low enough, the group will travel to Shenango. If Shenango is too high, there are other areas that are possibilities including the Miller Ponds at Pymatuning and Conneaut harbor in Conneaut, OH.

Bring lots of water, food, a wide brim hat, and footwear for muddy conditions. The water level at Shenango has been drawn down intentionally the last few years, exposing vast mud flats that attract a wide variety of shorebirds. Last year, of course, heavy rainfall caused major flooding instead of the desired mudflats. This outing is timed to get the greatest variety of shorebirds. Expect a minimum of 12 species of shorebirds, including both species of Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpipers, Least, Semipalmated, and Baird's Sandpipers, an occasional Red Knot, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers. The adjacent woods and fields around Shenango host a nice variety of songbirds along with Red-headed Woodpeckers.