Throughout the year, we have many outings to locations in Western Pennsylvania and beyond. For a more comprehensive calendar of birding and other Western Pennsylvania natural history outings and outdoor activities of other groups, see the links at the bottom of this page under the heading of "Events Calendars".
If you are birding Frick Park, take a copy of the Checklist of Birds of Frick Park with you and if you are birding Shenango Reservoir, download the Shenango Bird Checklist.
Outings are free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, contact the leader in advance to confirm whether the outing is on or canceled. Also, contact the leader with any questions about weather, driving directions, or trail conditions.
In the event of a late cancellation of or a change to any of our outings, please check the Three Rivers Birding Club Facebook page or the "What's New?" section of the Home page of this website for the latest information on outings, cancellations, and other events that could not make our newsletter's deadline.
3RBC Current Outings - September 2018
Thursday, September 6, 2018 — SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS BOROUGH PARK
In collaboration with the Fern Hollow Nature Center, Bob VanNewkirk (412-366-1694 or email at van126@comcast.net) will lead this bird walk at Sewickley Heights Borough Park. The walk begins at 8:00 AM starting from the upper parking lot. Directions to the park can be found on the 3RBC's Birding Locations page. Birders should be prepared for muddy trails. It is also advisable to bring water and a lunch. Besides birding in the park we will drive and make stops along Little Sewickley Creek.
Hope to see you there!
Saturday September 8, 2018 — 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 8:30 AM in the first parking lot (Vista 1) 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. Directions to the park can be found on the 3RBC's Birding Locations page.
Bring a picnic lunch for this all day outing.
See you there!
Saturday, September 8, 2018 — DEER LAKES REGIONAL PARK
Todd Hooe (hooe@verizon.net) and Oliver Lindhiem will lead this outing focusing on fall migrants (warblers, flycatchers, vireos, etc.) at this under-birded park. The outing will begin at 7:30 AM and run until about 11:30AM. We will meet at the lot at these GPS coordinates: 40.618722, -79.815371. From Creighton-Russelton Road, enter the park (Kurn Road), drive by two ponds on the right, then make a right turn and proceed to the last parking lot. We will hike approximately 4 miles during this outing. Although the trails are pretty well maintained, please dress for possible wet grass, mud, and rainfall. More information on the park can be found at Deer Lakes Park.
Hope to see you there!
Sunday, September 9, 2018 — HARRISON HILL PARK
Meet leader Jim Valimont (412-828-5338) at 8:00 AM at this county park off Freeport Road between Natrona Heights and Freeport. We will be meeting at the Rachel Carson parking lot near the pond. Please note this is not the soccer field parking lot. As you enter the park, bear right and proceed to the parking lot at the end of the road. Dress for wet grass and mud. Previous fall outings have produced a nice variety of fall migrants, including warblers and vireos.
Directions to the park can be found on the 3RBC's Birding Locations page.
Hope to see you there!
Sunday, September 16, 2018 — GLADE RUN LAKE PARK
Dave Brooke (724-487-3586) will take us on a return outing to Glade Run Lake Park. Meet at 8:00 AM at the park located at Lake Rd, Valencia, Pa which is a turn off of Route 228. Google maps co-ordinates are 40.716229, -79.901211. We will survey the lake from the dam and boat ramp for waterfowl. Then we will walk a trail that is about two miles out and two miles back, which can be muddy in places so boots are highly recommended. The outing last spring was very successful so the fall should be just as exciting.
Sunday, September 23, 2018 — All-day Outing in the PYMATUNING AREA
Meet leader Bob VanNewkirk (412-366-1694 or email at van126@comcast.net) at 8:00 AM at the former site of the Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center (Waterfowl Museum), 12590 Hartstown Rd Linesville, PA (41.635779, -80.436634) for this all day outing.
Plenty of waterfowl, lots of Bald Eagles, and migrant songbirds should be around for this trip. Dress appropriately for the weather. Arrangements will be made to have lunch at the Spillway Inn for those who are interested.
Sunday, September 29, 2018 — FRICK PARK
Jack and Sue Solomon (412-521-3365) will be our leaders.
Meet at 8:30 AM at the "Blue Slide Park" entrance to Frick, where Nicholson St. meets Beechwood Blvd., to look for lingering migrants on an easy walk around Riverview Hill. Traditions of this walk include a good chance of a drive down to Duck Hollow to check for Northern Mockingbird as well as lingering waterfowl, and a near certainty that we'll head to a good spot for brunch afterwards.
If you're a beginner, tell Jack when you arrive, and he'll give you tips from his self-described "vast store of birding lore."
Frick can be an excellent migrant trap, and, as usual, we're hoping for lots of fall warblers.
3RBC Current Outings - October 2018
Wednesday, October 3, 2018 — MORAINE STATE PARK - NORTH SHORE
Meet our leader Karyn Delaney (724-713-9474) at the McDanels Boat Launch in front of the Owlet Gift Shop on the North Shore of Moraine State Park at 8:30 AM for a morning walk. We will walk a portion of the North Country Trail and/or the Butterfly Trails depending upon the bird activity. Both trails can have a variety of migrating species, including warblers.
Note: Rain Date will be Friday, October 5, 2018.
Saturday, October 6, 2018 — NORTH PARK
Meet our leader Steve Denninger (sjdenninger@gmail.com) for a fall bird outing in North Park. We will meet in the parking lot at the Round Top shelter (Shelter 101 on the North Park map) at 7:00 AM, and depart from the parking lot at 7:10 am. Shelter 101 is located on South Ridge Drive at 40.5883685, -79.9819363, and the North Park map is available here: North Park map (PDF).
We will be walking on established and overgrown trails, so there is a chance for ticks. The walk would be for 2 miles on flat to hilly terrain and take between 1.5-2.5 hours depending on bird activity. Please note that there is only a port-a-john at the parking lot.
Target birds would be Lincoln's Sparrow and late warblers.
Sunday, October 21, 2018 — MORAINE STATE PARK and ANNUAL PICNIC
Mark your calendar for the annual 3RBC picnic and bird walk. We will meet in the Moraine State Park day use area (South Shore) in the first parking lot on the right at 8:30 AM.
After the morning outing, we will have the pot-luck picnic at one of the park pavilions near the McDanel's boat launch. Please bring a dish that will serve 4-6 people to share.
Directions to the day use area: 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. Allow one hour driving from Pittsburgh.
