April 2005 Outings
Wednesday, April 6 — Lake Arthur
This weekday outing will be led by Carol and Fred McCullough (412-921-6873). Meet in the Moraine State Park day use area (south shore) in the first parking lot on the right at 8:00 AM. For directions and carpooling, see March 26 outing, but carpool at 7:00 AM.
Saturday, April 9 — Yellow Creek State Park
This outing will be a joint outing of the 3RBC and the Todd Bird Club. Meet Scott Speedy (724-639-3517) at the park office at 8:00 AM. The park office is located on Route 259 just off Route 422 east of Indiana. Allow an hour and 15 minutes to drive from Pittsburgh. Yellow Creek State Park has been the prime outing location for the Todd Bird Club since the club was created. The park contains a wide variety of habitats and a large lake that attracts a wide variety of species. Some of the waterfowl numbers have been spectacular in the past with real rarities showing up on a fairly regular basis.
Sunday, April 10 — Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed
Mary Groome will lead this outing to this exceptional IBA site. For directions, see March 20. Meet at 8:00 AM.
Wednesday, April 13 — Woodcock Walk
Meet leader Tom Byrnes (724-275-7230) at the Ames/Giant Eagle parking lot just off the Harmar exit of Route 28 at 7:00 PM. Meet in front of the old Ames store. We will carpool and drive a short distance to a field in Harmar Township that produced lots of American Woodcock last year. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight to witness the strange display of the Timberdoodle. This is the second of three walks Tom will lead to this location this spring.
Saturday, April 16 — Presque Isle
This trip to one of Pennsylvania's greatest birding locations will be a leaderless outing. Meet at 9:00 AM at the first parking lot on the right after entering the park. From Pittsburgh, take I-79 North until it ends. Take the exit for Route 5 West (also called West 12th Street) and continue for about one mile. Turn right onto RT. 832 which leads directly into the park. Allow 2 and ½ hours driving time. Lots of waterfowl and early migrant songbirds are expected, but you never know what to expect here. Presque Isle has produced some of Pennsylvania's best (and only) records of some rarities. Bring a lunch with you or join the group at one of the local restaurants just outside the park.
Saturday, April 23 — Frick Park
Join leaders Jack and Sue Solomon (412-521-3365) for the first outing at Frick! Frick Park is an excellent migrant trap that can sometimes have a great variety of warblers. Meet at the Frick Environmental Center parking lot off Beechwood Boulevard at 7:30 AM.
Sunday, April 24 — Frick Park
Join leaders Jack and Sue Solomon (412-521-3365) for another outing at Frick! Meet at the Frick Environmental Center parking lot at 7:30 AM.
Sunday, April 24 — Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed
Larry Helgerman (412-531-9273) will lead this outing to this exceptional IBA site. For directions, see March 20. Meet at 7:30 AM.
Saturday, April 30 — Harrison Hills/Buffalo Creek Valley
Meet leader Jim Valimont (412-828-5338) at this county park off Freeport Road between Natrona Heights and Freeport. As you enter the park, bear left and meet in 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. We will break late in the morning for lunch and the outing will resume for a trip to the Buffalo Creek area. Brian Shema (412-963-6100) will guide us, perhaps to the Horrigan property, the newest addition to the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania's sanctuaries. This will be a chance to explore this property during a spring migration. Take Rt. 28N to Exit 17 (Butler/Freeport), Rt. 356. Turn right at the end of the ramp onto Rt. 356 N. Just after crossing Rt. 28, meet in the Park and Ride lot on the left at 1:00 PM. Depending on the number of cars, we will carpool from here to the limited parking area on Monroe Road.
Saturday, April 30 — Mingo Creek State Park
George Bercik (412-655-4707) will lead this outing to search out migrants at this state park near Finleyville. Meet George at 9:00 AM at the Ebenezer covered bridge. To reach Mingo Creek State Park, take route 51 South to route 88 South. South of Finleyville there is a traffic light with a Giant Eagle store. Start tracking your mileage here. At 3 miles turn right onto Ginger Hill Road. (There is a high bridge here.) At about 200 yards, turn right onto Little Mingo Creek Road. At 1.2 miles, turn left at the Mingo Creek Park sign. At 2.2 miles, turn left at the stop sign. At 0.7 miles, turn left to the Ebenezer covered bridge. Meet in the parking lot at the bridge where there are restrooms and a picnic pavilion.
