B.O.C. Field trips

CHANGE: moved up to Saturday Feb. 25 due to the bad weather forecast for sunday.  Same time.

 - E.J. Breneman Quarry - Winter Waterfowl - 12 Noon 

This has become a well attended outing for members and non-members alike. Experienced BOC birders with spotting scopes will help you see and learn to identify the ducks and other waterfowl wintering in Berks County. Meeting Location: 1049 Reedy Road, Sinking Spring PA. Directions: Meet at the parking lot of Cacoosing Meadows Park on Reedy Rd. near Evans Hill Rd. Coordinator: Rudy Keller 484-336-4155

March 1, 2026 (Sunday) - Lake Ontelaunee – Waterfowl and Late Winter Birds - 12 Noon 

We will carpool to various points around the lake and, weather permitting, take a walk to the more remote parts of this habitat. Migrating ducks may be numerous and we will take the time to help everyone identify them through scopes. Meeting Location: at the west end of the dam on Rt. 73 between Routes 61 and 222. (Lake Shore Dr, Shoemakersville, PA 19555. GPS: 40.447, -75.933. Directions: Meet at the Lake Ontelaunee dam breast parking lot on Rte. 73. Coordinator: Rudy Keller 484-336-4155 

March 14, 2026 (Saturday) - Green Hills Preserve - 8 AM 

Walk the grassland/meadow trails in search of late winter and early spring birds. Possibilities include N. Harrier, Purple Finch, Fox Sparrow and other sparrows. 

Location: 553 Gunhart Rd., Mohnton, PA. Directions: Take Rt. 10 South past the Penske Complex to Rt. 568. Turn right and go 1 mile to a right on Gunhart Rd. Sign for preserve and parking on right. 

Coordinator: Art Zdancewic 610-858-3315 

March 15, 2026 (Sunday) – Union Meadows East Woodcock Stakeout – 7 PM 

Listen for and try to glimpse the crepuscular Am. Woodcock as it performs its courtship flights. 

Directions: 100 Campbell Ford Rd., Douglassville, PA. From Birdsboro, take Rt. 724 E two miles to park sign on left just past Fork and Ale Restaurant. Coordinator: Art Zdancewic 610-858-3315 

March 21, 2026 (Saturday) - Berks Leisure Area (CAKE) Walk - 8 AM

Welcome spring with a walk along the Tulpehocken Creek to Grings Mill. Beautiful Wood Ducks are a highlight along with the TREAT at the end of the walk. 

Location: Berks Leisure area at 1901 Tulpehocken Rd, Wyomissing, PA 19610. Directions: Take Broadcasting Rd. in Wyomissing east to dead end at Tulpehocken Rd. Turn right and go 1 ½ miles to the sign for Berks Leisure Area.  Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053

March 24, 2026 (Tuesday) - Berks Nature - Angelica Park - 8 AM 

Walk the trails of this new wetland where early spring migrants are possible. Location: The Nature Place parking lot: Location: 575 St Bernardine St, Reading, PA 19607. Directions: Take Rte. 10 south from Lancaster Ave. and turn right into the Alvernia University entrance. Park in the first lot on the right. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053 

March 28, 2026 (Saturday) - Schuylkill River Trail, Gibraltar End - 8 AM 

Easily seen Bald Eagles have been nesting in this area, and a Great Blue Heron colony can be observed before the foliage appears. Meet at the newly created Reeser’s Landing. Location: 1018 Gibraltar Rd, Birdsboro, PA 19508. Directions: From traffic light in Gibraltar, go north across bridge to first left. Parking on left. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053

April 4, 2026 (Saturday) - Grings Mill - 8 AM 

With good weather, we might see early Palm and Pine Warblers on this popular walk. Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers and resident birds of riparian habitat will be found. Location: 2083 Tulpehocken Rd, Reading, PA 19610. Directions: Take Broadcasting Rd. in Wyomissing east to dead end at Tulpehocken Rd. Go right ½ mile to parking on left. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053 

April 7, (Tuesday) - Kernsville Dam and Recreation Area – 8 AM 

Sora, Virginia Rail and bitterns may be found along with other spring migrants. The trail winds through the marsh and enters a woodland along the Schuylkill River. Meeting Location: The parking lot for the John Bartram Trail, Hamburg, PA 19526, 40.5624, -75.9947. Directions: Take Rt. 61 north to traffic light for Cabela’s in Hamburg. Make a right on Jetson Dr. and another right on Industrial Rd. Go 1 mile to Kernsville Dam Rd. on left. Parking will be on the right. Coordinator: Matt Wlaniewski 484-577-3530

April 11, 2026 (Saturday) - State Game Lands 280 - 8 AM

Varied habitats including grassland/meadow, hedgerows, woodlots and waterways at the perimeter of Blue Marsh Lake should yield some interesting migrants and residents, including Osprey. Meeting Location: Justa Road 40.37066, -76.06973. Directions: Take State Hill R. to dead end at Brownsville Rd. Make a left and travel 4 miles to Justa Rd on right. Make right and go to dead end. Coordinator: Liz Cates 610-926-3206

April 18, 2026 (Saturday) - Union Meadows East - 8 AM

An easy walk on a flat gravel trail that circles through meadows, brush and riparian woods along the Schuylkill River. Great place to see early migrating warblers, thrushes, sparrows and many other songbirds. Rusty Blackbird has consistently been found here in late winter and spring. Walks here typically record high species counts. Location: 100 Campbell Ford Rd, Douglasville, PA. Directions: Take Rt. 724 east from Birdsboro 2 miles to park sign on left just past Fork and Ale Restaurant.  Coordinator: Jay Kline 610-858-5130

April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) – Berks County Parks, Angora Fruit Farm - 8 AM 

The abandoned orchard and bordering woods often yield close-up views and photos of warblers and other spring arrivals.  Location: Angora Fruit Farm, Berks County Parks & Recreation, Angora Rd, Reading, PA 19606, GPS 40.3624, -75.8839. Directions: Take Rt. 12 east to Spring Valley Rd. exit. Turn right, go ½ mile and turn left on McKnight’s Gap Rd. Follow the road uphill and down the other side to stop sign and turn right on Angora Rd. Go right one block to park sign and entrance lane on left. Coordinator Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053

April 28, 2026 (Tuesday) - Hay Creek Watershed - 8 AM 

Along with spring warblers that may be encountered here, breeders like Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Am. Redstart and Acadian Flycatcher are usually seen. Berks County’s only known breeding colony of Bank Swallows is in the neighboring quarry, but the birds are difficult to see.  Location: Old 82 Parking Area: 2000 Hay Creek Rd, Birdsboro, PA. Directions: From the intersection of Rts. 724 and 568 in Gibraltar, take Rt. 568 west about 1.5 miles. Make a left onto White Bear Rd. and go past 2 stop signs (4 miles) to the dead end at Hay Creek Rd. Turn left and follow Hay Creek RD to its end. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053

May 2, 2026 (Saturday) - Nolde Forest EEC - 8 AM 

This forest is a good place to see spring woodland birds, and as a bonus we may get a good look at a Barred Owl. This owl nests here and both adults and nestlings have been seen in recent years. This venue is hilly but paved in most of the areas that we walk. Location: Nolde Forest Sawmill Parking Area, 3025 New Holland Rd, Reading, PA 19607.Directions: From the intersection of Rts. 724 and 625 in Shillington, go south to the sign for the Sawmill Parking Area on the right. Coordinator: Linda Ingram 610-621-7473 

May 5, 2026 (Tuesday) - Hamburg Reservoir - 8 AM

This venue requires the ability to walk uphill for about a mile on a gravel road at a leisurely pace. We will bird the woodland edge below and around the reservoir. It is possible to get good looks at warblers along the sunlit edge of the forest here in May. Location: Pinnacle Access of the Appalachian Trail, 400 Reservoir Rd, Hamburg, PA 19526. Directions: Take Rte. 61 north to the turnoff to downtown Hamburg. Proceed to State St. and make a right. Go 4 miles and make a left on Reservoir Rd. just past Edenburg. The street sign is easy to miss. Go straight ahead to the parking area. Coordinator: Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053

May 9, 2026 (Saturday) - Hopewell Big Woods Trail - 7 AM 

Note the earlier than usual starting time for this downhill walk through grassland and edge habitats on a well-maintained trail. This is the easiest place in Berks County to see Yellow-breasted Chat. Prairie and Blue-winged Warblers breed here, and Grasshopper Sparrow and Blue Grosbeak, along with many other migrants and breeders, are possible. Most birds can easily be seen, and this walk can produce some of the highest species counts of the year. Location: 165 Center Road, Douglassville, PA. Directions: Take Rt. 724 east 1.5 miles from Birdsboro and turn right on Center Rd. Coordinator: Jason Kline 610-858-5130

May 16, 2026 (Saturday) - Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site - 8 AM

We usually see breeding species like Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler, N. Parula and Am. Redstart, along with Wood Thrush, Veery and others. Red-headed Woodpeckers were here last year. Directions: Disregard HFNHS gate; still closed at 8a.m. Use 23 Clement Brooke Lane, Elverson 19520 exactly for GPS; turn at gravel driveway to their secondary/handicapped lot; orange cone indicates. Limited to ~8 spaces; if full, use grass expanse at start of driveway. Coordinator: Sheila Martin 610-858-6005

May 30, 2026 (Saturday) - Historic Dreibelbis Farm - 8 AM 

This last scheduled walk of the BOC birding year has become popular with our members due to the interesting history of the property and its good variety of nesting birds, including Red-headed Woodpeckers, Am. Kestrels, flycatchers, swallows, and bluebirds.  Location: 356 Hard Hill Rd, Hamburg, PA. Directions: Take Rt. 222 north to the roundabout at Moselem Springs. Take 3rd exit from circle west on Rt. 662. Go about a mile and make a right on Rt. 143. Travel 1.6 miles and turn left at the farm sign into the lane. Coordinator: Dan Brennan 484-336-0455 

FIRST DAY OF BIRDING, January 1, 2025 by Peter and Jane Wolfe

8 AM, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, Art Z, Dan B, Liz C, Hannah S, Irene T, Rudy K, Deanne J, Linda I, Jason K (with his camera) met Peter and Jane W. at E J Breneman Quarry. These eleven intrepid birders were eager to begin their lists for the New Year. The weather cooperated, about 47° F, clear, no fog, rain, or snow. Hidden among the many Canada Geese and Mallards was 1 Cackling Goose, small with a short bill. Also 1 female Canvasback, 5 American Coots, 2 Northern Pintail, 1 Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, and Ruddy Ducks revealed themselves. A Belted Kingfisher flew by, better heard than seen.

From Breneman’s, we drove to Blue Marsh Lake. There was nothing at State Hill Boat Launch or the Stilling Basin. Our next stop was Dry Brooks Day Use Area where we saw the usual Ring-billed Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. A Bald Eagle and 3 Common Mergansers flew over. Eastern Bluebirds were dropping from the trees to grab food on the ground. Peter and Jane had filled the feeders at the Sensory Trail so the usual House Finches, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, 1 Black-capped Chickadee, Downy Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were enjoying their seeds and suet.

Time for a quick break in the parking lot and there we had a surprise. Jason shared his homemade Butternut Squash bread with everyone. Delicious! Thank you Jason!

Our last stop was past Bright School Road at the end of Snyder School Road. We parked in a muddy lot and walked what used to be a macadam road. Disappointment reigned as we only saw a few Juncos. We turned around and headed back to our cars. Down by the creek, a hunter was walking with his dog. He must have pushed some birds up to us because suddenly we saw Golden-crowned Kinglets, Field Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and what has become the rare American Tree Sparrow. And so our New Year’s Day birding adventure ended on a very happy note totaling 49 species.

E. J. Breneman Quarry - February 23, 2025, by Rudy Keller

The first mild day in two months brought out 16 birders to see wintering waterfowl at the best place in Berks County to get good looks at them. We saw 12 duck species, including such winter regulars as Redheads, N. Pintails, Ruddy Ducks and the Am. Coots that live among them. Snow Geese dominated the lake. A clamorous lift-off sent a spectacular wave of geese low over our group, but not one birder was pelted with goose pesto. Join us in 2026. 

Green Hills Preserve - March 15, 2025, by Art Zdancewic

Early migrants were on the move on this foggy morning. We counted many robins, Red-winged Blackbirds and 38 Song Sparrows among the 28 bird species we listed. Everyone's highlight was seeing an overwintering imm. N. Harrier quartering the fields and resting in the grass, where it was nicely photographed by Russ Hoffman. Two of the 12 participants were new to our walks and I encouraged them to attend more BOC activities. 

Woodcock Watch at Union Meadows Park - March 15, 2025, by Art Zdancewic

This rescheduled walk was attended by 13 people wanting to see and hear the courtship flights of American Woodcocks. Sunset was at 7:10 pm and the display started at 7:20 pm. The three males calling and doing their wing twittering flights were easy to hear but very difficult to see.

Nolde Forest EEC - May 3, 2025, by Rudy Keller

Most of the 39 bird species seen by our group of seven birders were newly arrived neotropical migrants. Nine were warbler species, including breeding Louisiana Waterthrushes. We watched a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird gather plant down to line her nest.  As last year, the most memorable bird was one of the resident Barred Owls. The owl, well photographed by Jason Kline, flew to a high branch overhead carrying prey to feed to its nestlings in a nearby tree cavity.

SGL 106, Pine Swamp Rd. - May 4, 2025, Rudy Keller

Songs of 46 bird species filled the mountainside forest on this misty morning. Wood Thrushes and Ovenbirds carried the chorus, with grace notes from 13 other warbler species and three vireo species. We heard both cuckoos, notably a very vocal Black-billed Cuckoo, as well as a noisy, flashy pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Despite the later starting time, this productive walk was again sparsely attended, attracting only three birders. Visibility may be an issue. When trees are fully leafed out, as they were this year, most birds are heard but not seen, a problem for birders who must see a bird to appreciate it. 

Hamburg Reservoir - May 10, 2025, by Linda Ingram

On this clear morning following a rainy day, nine birders arrived at the parking lot to a chorus of song from many of the 50 bird species we found. Many hikers to the Pinnacle passed our group as we slowly birded the forest edge along the road below the reservoir. We saw or heard 13 warbler species. Everyone got long, clear looks at two male Cape May Warblers, the highlight among the warblers. We all appreciated seeing the many shades of blue on an Indigo Bunting singing from a low perch. A patch of pink ladyslippers near the reservoir brought out the cell phone cameras. BOC field trip planner Russ Hoffman, who dislikes uphill walks, made it up the hill and back down on this one, and even enjoyed it. 

Hopewell Big Woods Trail - May 24, 2025, by Rudy Keller

Visibility is hardly ever an issue in this open habitat. In spite of strong west winds, our group of 12 people saw 59 bird species. Yellow-breasted Chat is everyone's target bird here, and this year we listed five, with good looks at two males on exposed song perches. As usual, birds of old fields and brushy edges abounded, such as five Prairie Warblers, as well as Common Yellowthroats, Indigo Buntings and Field Sparrows by the dozen. An Olive-sided Flycatcher sallying from a dead ash tree, definitively photographed in harsh light by Jason Kline,  was the only one seen this spring by most of the participants.  

Old Dreibelbis Farm - June 1, 2025, by Allan Chelius

There were approximately 10 BOC members who met at Dreibelbis farm. It was a wet and windy day so the distance we could go was limited. According to the members, among the 43 bird species heard or seen were Indigo Buntings, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats. We saw a Red-headed Woodpecker for a brief moment, but I did not get a picture. We got a quick look at a Green Heron. There were many Tree and Barn Swallows. I got photos of an Eastern Kingbird, a Great-crested Flycatcher and an Eastern Wood-Pewee. Great group of knowledgeable birdwatchers!

 Flash Birdwalk 

at Union Meadows East

FRIDAY OCTOBER 14TH 

at 8:00 am 

As we had hoped, we had good looks at many sparrows including Swamp, White-crowned, Lincoln's plus the regular ones like Song and White-throated.

We had a nice comparison of Downy and Hairy woodpeckers together on one tree which Russ Hoffman captured in the photo above! The full ebird checklist is here. 

Afterwards some of us went to the 2 year old butterfly meadow at Union Meadows west and got to enjoy over 100 American Goldfinches eating the seeds of the native perennial Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)

as shown on our eBird list

We met at Union Meadows East parking lot, trailhead for the Schuylkill River Trail,  Rte.724/East Main St. in Monocacy, 2 miles east of Birdsboro. 

Coordinator: Mike Slater paplantings@gmail.com Meeting Location: 100 Campbell Ford Road, Douglassville PA 19518 

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The photo of a Downy and a Hairy Woodpecker on the same tree is by Russ Hoffman.

October 11 (Tuesday) Kernsville Dam Recreation Area - Desilting Basin 8:00 am

This recently augmented wetland habitat is continuing to produce interesting sightings. 

Coordinator Mike Slater was joined by 6 other birder for a lovely morning of birding. Even though the air was cold at the beginning the sun warmed thing up to a comfortable temperature.

The highlight was many amazing, close looks at palm warblers on the trail. We saw 46 species which are on the group's eBird checklist here. 

Afterwards four of us stopped at the storm-water detention pond at Hamburg Commerce Park off Rte 61 and saw some sandpipers, including a White-rumped, 3 pectoral and l0 least sandpipers along with 23 killdeer.  Some of Mike's video of them feeding is here and there are more pictures on 

the eBird Checklist

Photo of a palm warbler in the parking lot by Mike Slater

The latest eBird Reports for Berks County

Photo: A Merlin at Blue Marsh Lake.

 by Mike Slater