September 2009 Outings
Fridays September 4, 11, and 18 - Sewickley Heights Borough Park
In collaboration with the Fern Hollow Nature Center at Sewickley Heights Borough Park, this bird walk will be lead by Bob VanNewkirk (412-366-1694 or email at van126@comcast.net). The walk will begin at 8:00 AM starting from the upper parking lot. Birders should be prepared for muddy trails. It is also advisable to bring water and a lunch. We will bird the park and along Little Sewickley Creek Road. Warblers, flycatchers, thrushes, and vireos will be our target species.
Saturday, September 12 - Presque Isle State Park
Join Bob VanNewkirk (412-366-1694 or email at van126@comcast.net) at one of the state's prime locations for seeing fall migrants. Meet at 9:00 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 13 - Harrison Hills Park
Meet leader Jim Valimont (412-828-5338) at 8:15 AM 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 for this morning walk in search of migrants. Dress for wet grass and mud. Previous fall outings have produced a nice variety of fall migrants, including warblers, and vireos.
Saturday, September 19 - Allegheny Front Hawk Watch
Karen Jackson (724-668-7421) will lead this joint outing with the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club. The date should be near the peak of Broad-winged Hawk migration and many other raptor species can be expected. Meet at 10:00 AM at the Hawk Watch. Directions to the site are located on the 3RBC website http://www.3RBC.org, and on the Allegheny Plateau Audubon site, http://www.alleghenyplateauaudubon.org/hw.html. You may also contact Dick Byers otusasio@lhtot.com for a map. Bring a lunch and dress warmly. Be prepared for changes in the weather! Allow 2 hours drive time from Pittsburgh.
Sunday, September 20 - Butler Freeport Community Trail
Meet Bobbi Diller (cell 724-355-3229) from the Butler Freeport Community Trail Council for a morning walk to look for fall birds. We will meet at the Laneville trailhead at 7:30 AM. Bobbi will show us her favorite birding spots along the trail. Directions: Travel north on SR 28 to exit 17 Freeport. Turn left onto SR 356 toward Freeport. Follow the road passing the BP station on the left, and some small shops on the right. As you come to the bottom of the hill approximately 1.4 miles from the exit 17, you will come to a "triangle intersection" bear left toward the bridge that goes to Freeport, then at a stop sign turn left on to Old Pike Road. Then bear right on to Main Street. Travel 0.2 mile to Old Mill Road. You will cross Butler Road and pass Skiles Street on the right. At Old Mill Road bear right and travel about 0.1 mile and the parking lot will be on the left at the tail head. (Note: This trail head is at the north end of Laneville.)
Saturday, September 26 - Frick Park
Jack & Sue Solomon (412-521-3365), will lead this quest for Frick Park's fall migrants, especially warblers. Meet at 8:00 AM in the Frick Environmental Center parking lot, off of Beechwood Blvd. (2005 Beechwood Boulevard, 15217, in Squirrel Hill). Detailed directions are at http://www.pittsburghparks.org/_94.php.
Sunday, September 27 - Fox Chapel Parks
Steve and Sue Thomas (412-782-4696) will lead to several parks and nature reserves in the Fox Chapel area in search of migrant and resident species. Meet at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve at 614 Dorseyville Road at 7:30 AM. Be prepared for muddy trails!
