September 2005 Outings

Sunday, September 4 — Buffalo Creek IBA-80

From Pittsburgh, take I-79 south to I-70. Take I-70 west to the Taylorstown exit. At the stop sign, take a left. At the next stop sign, take a right. After about one mile, you will come to a blinking red light. Proceed straight through this light and meet in the parking area about 200 yards on the left. Allow about 3/4 hour from Pittsburgh. In case you get lost, ask for directions to the S-bridge, which is a well-known local landmark at this intersection. Meet at 8:00 AM at the S-bridge.

Saturday, September 10 — Todd Sanctuary

George Reese (724-353-9649), a former Todd naturalist, will lead us in search of landbird migrants at the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s original land holding, which is now part of the Buffalo Creek Valley Important Bird Area in Butler County. Before 1900 the eminent ornithologist W. E. Clyde Todd birded there as a teenager, and it has been a favorite birding spot for ASWP members for many decades. Ask George about the history of Mr. Todd’s gift of the original parcel to ASWP and how it grew to a sanctuary of more than 200 acres. Meet George at 8 AM in the sanctuary parking lot. Take Route 28 north to Route 356, then go less than a mile north to the traffic signal at Monroe Road. Turn right on Monroe Road and bear right onto Kepple Road near the Buffalo golf course. Continue past Stepp Road until you see a small, easy-to-miss sign for the Todd Sanctuary parking lot on your right.

Saturday, September 10 — Presque Isle State Park

Bob VanNewkirk (412-366-1694) will lead us at one of the state’s prime locations for seeing fall migrants. Meet at 9 AM in the first parking lot on the right as you enter the park. The park is at the north end of Route 832 just west of the city of Erie. Bring a lunch.

Sunday, September 11 — Allegheny Front Hawk Watch

Join leaders Tom and Janet Kuehl for a morning walk in search of fall migrants, followed by an afternoon of hawk watching. State Game Land 228 provides a variety of habitats for the morning walk, including old farm fields, enclosures protected from deer, a hemlock grove along a small stream, and lots of forest edge. The afternoon will be mainly a watch for Broad-winged Hawks, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles. Meet at 8 AM in the Adele’s Diner parking lot at the intersection of Routes 30 and 160 at Reels Corners. Take the Turnpike east to the Somerset exit, Route 281 north to Stoystown, and Route 30 east to Route 160 at Reels Corners. Allow for a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh. We will drive to the game lands parking lot and car pool to the hawk watch from there. Bring water and lunch, and be prepared for variable weather and colder conditions associated with the 2,900-foot elevation. This outing is limited to 12 participants. To reserve, call 724-325-1918 or e-mail Janet. 

Saturday, September 17 — Beechwood Farms

Brian Shema will lead this walk through the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s nature reserve at the peak of the landbird migration. Brian and Dave Wilton listed over 25 species of warblers including Connecticut, Mourning, Wilson's, and Orange-crowned in just two mornings at Beechwood Farms in mid-September last year. Meet at 8 AM in the parking lot at 614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel. Take Route 8 north to Harts Run Road, turn right (east), go to the T at Dorseyville Road and turn right (south). Beechwood is a few tenths of a mile on your right.

Saturday, September 17 — Presque Isle State Park

Dave Wilton announced that this season’s second Presque Isle visit will be a “leaderless” outing that he will lead. Whatever that means, birding with Dave is always fun. Presque Isle is worth two trips in September for a vast array of fall migrants. Meet at 9 AM.  See September 10 for directions.

Sunday, September 18 — Frick Park

Ted Floyd, editor of the American Birding Association's Birding magazine, will lead an outing at his boyhood stomping grounds on the day before his 3RBC program. Meet at 7:30 AM at the Frick Environmental Center parking lot, 2005 Beechwood Blvd. From the Parkway, exit at Squirrel Hill, take Forward Avenue to Beechwood Boulevard, turn left, and go about a mile to the semicircular drive on the right. If you reach Forbes Avenue, you went a bit too far. The confusing fall warblers should be out in force, and Ted’s tremendous identification skills will help us to name them.

Thursday, September 22 — Harrison Hills Regional Park

Sue Solomon ( 412-521-3365) will lead us in search of migrants at this park in northeastern Allegheny County between Natrona Heights and Freeport. This traditional birding hotspot has been added to the Buffalo Creek Valley Important Bird Area. We will meet at 8:15 AM. Take Route 28 north to Exit 16, turn right off the exit ramp, then in about one mile, turn right onto Freeport Road. The park entrance will be less than a mile on your left. Take the left fork on the park entrance road and meet in the first parking lot on the left. Dress for wet grass and mud.

Saturday, September 24  — Madjaric Farm

Pat and Sherron Lynch (724-935-3178) will lead this outing to Bob and Berenice Madjaric’s 72 acres of varied habitat in southern Butler County. Take I-79 north to the Portersville/Prospect exit (Exit 96). Turn right onto Route 488, go about one mile, and then bear right onto Kern Road. (Don’t make the 90-degree turn.) On Kern Road, go about 0.5 mile to a group of mailboxes. Turn right onto Thunder Mountain Road. The Madjarics live at the end of this road. Please drive slowly on the gravel roads. Meet at the Madjaric house at 8 AM. Bring a lunch and be prepared for muddy trails.

Saturday, September 24  — Sewickley Heights Park

Meet Bob VanNewkirk at 8 AM in the parking lot at this fine location to see fall landbird migrants. For directions, see August 9.

Sunday, September 25  — Harrison Hills Regional Park

Sue Solomon will lead us on the second fall outing at this fine location to see migrant landbirds. See September 22 for directions. Meet at 8:15 AM.

Friday, September 30 — Harrison Hills Regional Park

This time Jack Solomon (412-521-3365) will be our leader. If you like stories with your birding, this outing is for you. The end of September can produce new migrating species not present on the two previous outings at the park. See September 22 for directions. Meet again at 8:15 AM.