April 2006 Outings
Saturday, April 1 — Lake Arthur
Besides the nice variety of waterfowl expected, other species could include Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwings, Common Snipe, and Ruffed Grouse. Lake Arthur is a man made lake that is the heart of Moraine State Park. Although heavily fished, waterfowl are more comfortable with the fishermen than they are with hunters. Therefore, the lake gets good (sometimes spectacular) numbers and variety of waterfowl in migration. Meet our leader DanYagusic, in the Moraine State Park day use area (south shore) in the first parking lot on the right at 8:00 AM. From I-79, take route 422 east toward Butler and exit at the Moraine State Park exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left and go straight into the park until you see the first major parking area on your right. This is where we will meet. Allow one hour driving from Pittsburgh.
Sunday, April 2 — Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed (Washington County)
Outings to this area continue to produce an impressive list of species. Mary Grey will be our leader.
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 Dan in the parking area about 200 yards on the left. 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. Be prepared for muddy trails and pack a lunch to stay into the afternoon.
Saturday, April 8 — Pymatuning Area
Meet leader BobVan Newkirk at the Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center (Waterfowl Museum) at 9:00 AM. Plenty of waterfowl, lots of Bald Eagles, and Plenty of waterfowl, lots of Bald Eagles, and Rough-legged Hawks are likely, as well as the area’s albino Red-tailed Hawk.
Wednesday, April 12 — Woodcock Walk
Meet leader Tom Byrnes (724-275-7230) for a second look this spring at the strange display of the Timberdoodle. Meet 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 has produced lots of American Woodcock last year. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight.
Sunday, April 23 — Lower Buffalo Creek Watershed (Washington County)
Larry Helgerman will lead this outing to this area which can produce an impressive list of species. 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 Dan in the parking area about 200 yards on the left. 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. Be prepared for muddy trails and pack a lunch to stay into the afternoon.
Saturday, April 29 — Nine Mile Run Watershed (Lower Frick Park)
Chuck Tague and Jack Solomon (412 521 3365) will be our leaders. Meet at 7:30 AM at the lower parking lot at the Center for Creative Play, the last driveway on the right (east)side of Braddock Ave. as you're going south, just before (north of) the entrance to the Parkway. We will bird the Nine Mile Run (NMR) valley, and see and learn about the ecological restoration efforts going on in the southern end of Frick Park.
Neotropical migrants should be out in force. Yellow-throated Warbler has been showing up here, and shorebirds are beginning to use the newly created wetlands. This will be a joint outing with the NMR Watershed Association. A late brunch at Kazanky's is in the cards whenever we tire or the birds slow down.
Sunday, April 30 — Frick Park
Meet Jack Solomon (412 521 3365) at 7:30 AM at the Frick Environmental Center parking lot, off Beechwood Blvd. just north of Forbes Ave., in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill section for a bird walk starting further north in Frick than we will on April 29. Brunch at Kazanky’s.
Sunday, April 30 — Moraine State Park
For this outing, Bob Machesney (412-366-7869) will help us to explore a more remote area of the park. This all morning hike will take us to Muddy Creek, the main source of water to Lake Arthur and an abandoned railroad bed that once serviced the valley. Though we may find some water birds in the flooded area on either side of the railroad bed, our main focus will be passerines in the Frank Preston Conservation Area. Bring plenty of water, lunch, and proper footwear for the muddy trails and raingear. (It always rains on Bob’s outings!). You should be in good physical condition. Though most of the trail is fairly level, we will probably take a bridal trail up to the top of the hill. At the farthest point we may be over 2 miles from the parking lot.
Meet in the parking lot under the Route 528 Bridge at 7 AM. This area has a comfort station, but none will be available during the hike. We will caravan about 3 miles to the trailhead. From I-79, take Route 422 east toward Butler, then Route 528 north several miles. At the north end of the high bridge over Lake Arthur, make an immediate right turn into the boat launch area.
