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 --- March 2026
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Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Woodcock Walk at PennDOT Wetlands
Join Conor Tompkins (conorotompkins@gmail.com) for a "pop-up" Woodcock Walk at the PennDOT Wetlands on March 10, 2026. Participants will gather at the parking lot on Mayview Road in South Fayette (GPS 40.3309140, -80.1140820) across from the trail and the OTB Bicycle Cafe at Hastings at 7:00 PM.
This site has been good for Woodcock mating displays in the past, so we will keep our fingers crossed. The trail is flat but can be muddy. We will be out after dusk, so dress accordingly. The group can meet at the OTB Bicycle Cafe afterwards for a snack.
The outing will be cancelled if it rains, and you will be notified on our social media and website.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - Woodcock Walk
Enjoy the woodcock walks again this spring with leader Tom Byrnes (724-715-7184). Meeting time will be 7:00 PM. We will drive a short distance to a field in Harmar Township that has produced lots of American Woodcocks in the past several years. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight. Before going to the field, we will check the Great Blue Heron nests and for possible cormorants, which in previous years were exciting finds on this trip.
Please note: We are meeting at the same starting location as last year.
Directions: GPS coordinates: 40.540648, -79.810521
From PA Route 28, Exit 11 continue right to Freeport Road, then turn left onto Freeport Road and head east. Continue 2.4 miles passing under the PA Turnpike until you see the parking lot of Harmar House on the left - 1349 Freeport Road - our meeting place.
Sunday, March 22, 2026 - Pymatuning Area
Meet leader Ken Knapp (kcknapp50@gmail.com) at 8:00 AM at the Spillway on Hartstown Road in Linesville, PA.
(GPS coordinates: 41.63005,-80.4413)
for this half-day outing. Plenty of waterfowl species and a variety of raptors should be around. Sandhill Cranes are also a possibility. We will spend the morning visiting various locations in the area.
Please let Ken know that you are planning to attend by email at kcknapp50@gmail.com.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - Woodcock Walk
Enjoy our second woodcock walk of this spring with leader Tom Byrnes (724-715-7184). Meeting time will be 7:00 PM. We will drive a short distance to a field in Harmar Township that has produced lots of American Woodcocks in the past several years. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight. Before going to the field, we will check the Great Blue Heron nests and for possible cormorants, which in previous years were exciting finds on this trip.
Please note: We are meeting at the same starting location as last year.
Directions: GPS coordinates: 40.540648, -79.810521
From PA Route 28 Exit 11 continue right to Freeport Road, then turn left onto Freeport Road and head east. Continue 2.4 miles passing under the Turnpike until you see the parking lot of Harmar House on the left - 1349 Freeport Road - the meeting place.
3RBC Current Outings --- April 2026
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Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Woodcock Walk
This will be the final woodcock walk of this spring with leader Tom Byrnes (724-715-7184). Meeting time will be 7:00 PM. We will drive a short distance to a field in Harmar Township that has produced lots of American Woodcock in the past several years. Be prepared for a muddy walk and bring a flashlight. Before going to the field, we will check the Great Blue Heron nest and for possible cormorants, which in previous years were exciting finds on this trip.
Please note: We are meeting at the same starting location as last year.
Directions: GPS coordinates: 40.540648, -79.810521
From PA Route 28 Exit 11 continue right to Freeport Road, then turn left onto Freeport Road and head east. Continue 2.4 miles passing under the Turnpike until you see the parking lot of Harmar House on the left - 1349 Freeport Road.
Saturday, April 4, 2026 - Yellow Creek State Park
This outing will be a joint outing of the 3RBC and the Todd Bird Club. Meet Sue Dickson (724-388-5000) at the park office at 8:00 AM. The Park office is located on Route 259 just off Route 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.
Saturday, April 25, 2026 - Sewickley Heights Borough Park
This walk is intended for beginning/inexperienced birders and will be limited to the first six people who email the walk leader Adrian Fenton at AFe9963285@aol.com.
Sewickley Heights Park is an excellent location for seeing Spring migrating birds. We will go slowly to give everyone the opportunity to see and identify birds. The starting time will be at 7:30 AM in the upper parking lot. See the 3RBC Birding Locations page for directions. Please bring binoculars.
3RBC Current Outings --- May 2026
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Friday, May 1, 2026 — Sewickley Heights Borough Park
Join Sheree Daugherty (shereedaugherty@gmail.com) for our spring bird walk starting at 8:00 AM in the upper parking lot. See the 3RBC Birding Locations for directions. Be prepared for muddy trails.
This park is noted for having a variety of spring bird migrants such as warblers, vireos and other bird species surprises.
Saturday, May 2, 2026 — Boys Home Park in South Fayette Township
Meet Malcolm Kurtz (malcolmwkurtz@gmail.com) at 8:30 AM at the parking lot at the end of Rutherglen Drive. This birding location is an eBird hotspot and an opportunity for an outing in the South Hills.
GPS coordinates: 40.385180, -80.175165
Friday, May 8, 2026 — North Park
We will meet our leader Adrian Fenton (AFe9963285@aol.com) at the Gold Star Pavilion in North Park on Lake Shore Drive at 7:30 AM GPS coordinates: 40.593884, -80.003844.
We will bird Gold Star wetlands area, Marshall Lake and if time permits, part of Latodomi Nature Center.
Adrian would like participants to email him at AFe9963285@aol.com to let him know you plan to attend.
Saturday, May 9, 2026 — Harrison Hills Park
Meet leader Dave Brooke (724-487-3586) at 8:00 AM at this county park off Freeport Road between Natrona Heights and Freeport at the Environmental Learning Center parking lot. GPS: 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 spring outings have produced a nice variety of migrants, including warblers and vireos.
Saturday, May 16, 2026 — Deer Lakes County Park
John Vassallo (johnnvassallo@yahoo.com) and Todd Hooe will lead us on their annual Deer Lakes County Park spring outing. Our 7:30 AM meeting place will be at the parking lot at these GPS coordinates: 40.618722, -79.815371. From Creighton-Russellton Road, enter the park at Kurn Road, drive by two ponds on the right, then make a right turn, and proceed to the last parking lot.
Although the trails are pretty well maintained, please dress for possible wet grass, mud, and rainfall.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 — Frick Park
Meet Charity Kheshgi charitykheshgi@gmail.com and co-leader Kate St. John Outside My Window for a mid-week bird walk in Frick Park. We will start at the Blue Slide entrance at 8:30 AM and continue to 10:30 AM.
We will do our best to avoid the worst of the hills and hope to see the spring migrants that visit here.
Location of Blue Slide entrance: Beechwood Blvd. and Nicolson St.
