Three Rivers Birding Club

Three Rivers Birding Club Outings

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 one of the areas listed below, download a PDF copy of the birding checklist provided and take it with you:

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania — Beechwood Farms Bird Checklist
Cook Forest — Cook Forest Bird Checklist
Erie County, Pennsylvania — Erie County PA Bird Checklist
Frick Park — Checklist of Birds in Frick Park
Harrison Hills Park — Harrison Hills Park Bird Checklist
Oil Creek State Park — Oil Creek State Park Bird Checklist
Shenango Reservoir — Shenango Bird Checklist
Westmoreland County — Westmoreland County Bird Checklist
Yellow Creek State Park — Yellow Creek State Park 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. Although we, too, like our pets, it is the club's policy not to include them on our walks.

Below is a general statement that will be followed for all our outings. Also, the leader may have specific requirements that are stated in the outing description:

"It is our intention to foster a safe environment during our outings. Social distancing and mask wearing are not required, and sharing equipment is optional; however, attendees should respect individuals who decide to remain socially distant or wear masks. Pets are not permitted on 3RBC outings. The leader may have certain prerequisites and can end a walk if an uncomfortable situation arises."

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 "Items of Interest" 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 --- August 2026

Friday, August 21, 2026 — Sewickley Heights Borough Park

Adrian Fenton will lead this walk which is intended for beginning/inexperienced birders and will be limited to six people. Please email the walk leader Adrian Fenton at AFe9963285@aol.com. Sewickley Heights Borough Park is an excellent location for seeing Fall migrants. We will go slowly to give everyone opportunity to see and identify birds. The starting time will be at 7:30 AM in the upper parking lot. See the 3RBC website for directions.

Please bring binoculars.

Saturday, August 22, 2026 — Sewickley Heights Borough Park

Adrian Fenton will again lead this walk which is intended for beginning/inexperienced birders and will be limited to six people. Please email the walk leader Adrian Fenton at AFe9963285@aol.com. Sewickley Heights Borough Park is an excellent location for seeing Fall migrants. We will go slowly to give everyone opportunity to see and identify birds. The starting time will be at 7:30 AM in the upper parking lot. See the 3RBC website for directions.

Please bring binoculars.

Friday, August 28, 2026 — North Park

Meet Adrian Fenton for a bird walk starting at 7:30 AM. He will change the meeting place to Lone Pine Field parking area along South Ridge Drive. These are the coordinates: 40.5880908, -79.9838212. We'll walk the area where the Red-headed Woodpeckers nest before heading over to Round Top shelter to walk down to Mine Waste field and take some trails through woods on our return to the parking area.

Saturday, August 29, 2026 - Hilltop Park (Collier Twp.)

We will meet Conor Tompkins (conorotompkins@gmail.com) at Hilltop Park located in Collier Township at 8:00 AM. This park has a mix of field, shrubland, and woods. It has a great view of the Carnegie area of the South Hills. We will hope to see swallows and swifts, lingering breeding birds from the summer, and fall migrants. The path is mostly paved but gets steep in some areas. There is a bathroom at the parking lot.

Location: GPS: 40.389897, -80.109740 The park is off of Hilltop Road in Collier Township.

3RBC Current Outings --- September 2026

Saturday, September 5, 2026 – Harrison Hills Park

Meet leader Dave Brooke (724-487-3586) at this county park off Freeport Road between Natrona Heights and Freeport. We will meet him at the Environmental Learning Center parking lot at 8:00 AM. The Environmental Learning Center coordinates: 40.6572, -79.7024. As you enter the park, stay left, and then turn left at the first intersection, and go up the hill to the large parking lot.
Dress for wet grass and mud. Previous fall outings have produced a nice variety of fall migrants, including warblers and vireos.

Friday, September 11, 2026 – Sewickley Heights Borough Park

Join Sheree Daugherty ( shereedaugherty@gmail.com) for our fall bird walk at Sewickley starting at 8:00 AM in the upper parking lot. Be prepared for muddy trails. Also, be aware that there are no restroom facilities in the park. We will look for the early fall migrant birds.
See the 3RBC website for directions.

Saturday, September 12, 2026 — Deer Lakes County Park

John Vassallo ((johnnvassallo@yahoo.com) and Todd Hooe will lead this outing focused on fall migrants including warblers, vireos, and flycatchers. Although the trails are pretty well maintained, please dress for possible wet grass, mud and rainfall.
The outing will begin at 7:30 AM and last approximately 4 hours. We will meet in the parking lot at these GPS coordinates: 40.618722, -79.815371. From Creighton-Russellton 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.

Friday, September 18, 2026 — Hartwood Acres

Come explore the Saxonburg Blvd. Fields of Hartwood Acres with Dan Mendenhall (dmendenhall@aswp.org) and John Dzikiy. We will start at 8:00 AM at the Hartwood Acres Mansion parking area (200 Hartwood Acres), hiking down through the woods, around the meadow trails, and back up the hill to the mansion parking area. The terrain can be steep in areas and dress for possible wet grass, mud, and rainfall. We will hike approximately 3 miles.

Please email Dan (dmendenhall@aswp.org) to register if you plan to attend, as we will cap participants at ten people.

>>> MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! <<<

Saturday, September 26, 2026 — 3RBC's 25th Annual Picnic at Boyce-Mayview Park

To celebrate 25 YEARS as Three Rivers Birding Club, we will meet at the far end of the Upper St. Clair Community Center parking lot at 1551 Mayview Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241, in the Boyce-Mayview Pavilion (40.335992, -80.105757).
There will be a choice of two bird walks starting at 9:00 AM, one to Boyce-Mayview Park, led by Christine Best, and the other to Wingfield Pines, led by Conor Tompkins.
A bring-your-own lunch and beverages picnic in the Boyce-Mayview Pavilion will follow the walks at 12:00 noon. There will be a celebratory cake. Plates, forks, etc. will be available. The pavilion has bathrooms and a water fountain to fill your reuseable container.
Directions: Follow GPS directions to 1551 Mayview road, Upper St Clair Pa 15241. Coordinates for the pavilion parkng are these: 40.335304, -80.106311. Once you have turned into the Upper St. Clair Community Center from Mayview Road, make a left, and follow the signs to "Boyce Mayview Pavilion." The road will end in a parking lot with handicap parking and some regular spots. If that lot is full, the road will lead you through to a second parking lot.

Bring your family and enjoy a fall day enjoying birds and a picnic!

If you have any questions, please contact Christine Best at christinebest@gmail.com.

Sunday, September 27, 2026 — Frick Park

Join Michelle Kienholtz (mlkienholz@aol.com) for a morning bird walk in Frick Park starting at 8:00 AM. We will start our walk at the Frick Environmental Center located at 2005 Beechwood Blvd. in Squirrel Hill, 15217.
Frick Park is an excellent location for finding fall migrants. We're hoping for lots of fall warblers.

3RBC Current Outings --- October 2026

Saturday, October 3, 2028 — Linda's Farm

Linda Croskey has invited us to visit her farm for this bird walk. We will meet at 8:00 AM at 882 Deer Creek Road, Gibsonia 15044. Linda's farm is comprised of a variety of natural habitats: several acres of goldenrod fields, farm fields with brushy edges, mature deciduous trees, plus several wildflower and milkweed meadows. This attracts grassland birds, warblers, and many fall migrants.

Dress for ticks, and bring water and snacks. Walking is mostly level along paths with a few hills over uneven terrain. Location is in northern Allegheny County in West Deer Township; there will be a sign at the end of the driveway. (GPS coordinates: 40.665712 -79.8923529) (Across the road is Harvest Valley Farm). For additional directions call Linda at 724-612-9963 or email lcroskey@consolidated.net.

Saturday, October 10, 2026 — Gilfillan Park (Upper St. Clair)

We will meet Conor Tompkins ( conorotompkins@gmail.com)) at Gilfillan Park located in Upper St. Clair at 8:00 AM. We will meet in the parking lot of the Westminster Presbyterian Church along Orr Road. This is an active farm with surrounding fields and woodland. We will hope to see a mix of fall migrants, including warblers and thrushes. The extensive dirt/mulch trail system is mostly flat. There are no bathroom facilities. Afterwards we can get brunch at a nearby restaurant, if there is interest.

Church parking lot location GPS: 40.340976, -80.0645403. Gilfillan Farm is across Orr Road, which is off of Route 19 South (Washington Road) just south of South Hills Village Mall.

3RBC Current Outings --- November 2026

Saturday, November 7, 2026 — Yellow Creek State Park

Roger and Margaret Higbee (724-354-3493 or Roger's cell 412-309-3538) will lead this outing to Yellow Creek State Park. This is our annual fall joint outing with the Todd Bird Club. Meet at the park office at 8:00 a.m., located on PA 259 just off US 422 east of Indiana. Allow an hour and a half to drive from Pittsburgh. The Park has a wide variety of habitats and a large lake that attracts a wide variety of waterbirds and sometimes exciting rarities.

Please contact Roger or Margaret Higbee (724-354-3493 or Roger's cell 412-309-3538) if you plan to go.

Saturday November 14, 2026 — Peters Lake

Meet Conor Tompkins (conorotompkins@gmail.com) at 8:00 AM at Peters Lake in Canonsburg aka Canonsburg Number Two Reservoir. This large lake has a walking trail that goes around the perimeter of the lake, with multiple viewing spots along the way. We hope to see migrating waterfowl and grebes, as well as resident herons and other fall birds. The trail system is partly paved and partly dirt, and is generally flat. There is a port-a-john at the trailhead.

Location: 40.257897, -80.108303

Saturday November 21, 2026 — Panhandle Trail Midway/Bulger

We will gather with our leader Conor Tompkins ( conorotompkins@gmail.com) at the Midway/Bulger Panhandle Trail trailhead at 3:45 PM. We have had good luck seeing Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers in the evening twilight here in the past few years. The trail is paved with a gentle but steady incline. The wind can be high here, so dress like it is 10 degrees cooler than the actual temperature. There is a port-a-john at the trailhead.

The parking lot located just south of the intersection of Washington Ave. and Prospect Street in Midway, PA. GPS coordinate: 40.3693449, -80.2924795