B.O.C. Field trips

UPDATE:

March 25, 2025 (Tuesday) – 8 AM

 walk at the Schuylkill River Trail at Morlatten Village, 8 A M.. Join BOC members for a spring walk along the Schuylkill River Trail. Directions: Route 422 East past Douglasville to traffic light at Old River Road. Make a right and go a short distance to Old Philadelphia Pike and make another right and go a short distance to parking on left. Meeting place:,480 Old Phila. Pike, Douglasville Pa. 19518 

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March 29, 2025 (Saturday) - Blue Marsh L. Stilling Basin – 8 AM 

Meet at the Blue Marsh Lake Stilling Basin parking area at the base of the Blue Marsh Dam at 1280 Palisades Dr, Leesport, PA.  Birding route to be selected from the multiple options available at this site. Info Liz Cates 610-926-3206. 

  April 5, 2025 (Saturday) - Gring’s Mill Spring Outing – 8 AM 

This walk was well attended last year as we strolled along the Tulpehocken Cr. upstream toward the Red Bridge, getting good looks at Pine and Palm warblers as well as the striking breeding plumaged Wood Ducks. Directions: Go east on Broadcasting Rd. in Wyomissing to dead end at the Tulpehocken Creek. Make a right and go ½ mile to parking entrance on left. Info Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053. Meeting Location: Gring's Mill Recreation Area, 2083 Tulpehocken Rd, Reading, PA

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April 8, 2025 (Tuesday) - Kernsville Dam Desilting Basin - 8 AM

Good time of year to search for Berks County rarities in this maturing marsh habitat that was recently created. Rails and rare sparrows are possible here. Walk the wetland trail that leads to a woodland beside the Schuylkill River. Directions: R. 61 north to traffic light turnoff for Cabela’s. Make a right onto Jetson Dr. and go right again on Industrial Dr. one mile to left on Kernsville Dam Rd. to parking area. Info Matt Wlasniewski 610-463-8845. Meeting Location at the parking lot for the: John Bartram Trail, Hamburg, PA 19526, 40.5624, -75.9947

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April 12, 2025 (Saturday) - State Game Lands 280 - 8 AM 

Walk the fields and edges of the southwest part of Blue Marsh Lake hoping to find early migrant species. This area produces impressive eBird species lists at this time of year. Directions: From the intersection of State Hill Rd. and Brownsville Rd. drive west 4 miles to a right turn on Justa Rd. Proceed ahead to dead end parking area. Info Liz Cates 610-926-3206. Meeting Location: Justa Road 40.37066, -76.06973

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April 19, 2025 (Saturday) - Union Meadows Park - 8 AM 

Join BOC members for an easy stroll through a varied habitat looking for migrant warblers, thrushes and other songbirds that travel northward along this riparian corridor. Meet at the Union Meadows East parking area 2 miles east of Birdsboro on Rt. 724. Info Linda Ingram 610-621-7473, Rudy Keller 610-845-7310. Meeting Location: 100 Campbell Ford Road, Douglassville PA

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April 22, 2025 (Tuesday) - Angora Fruit Farm – 8 AM 

Enjoy spring among the apple blossoms as we look for early migrant warblers and thrushes. The orchard borders woodland where a variety of species may be found. Directions: Rte 12 bypass to Spring Valley Rd. exit. Make a right and go ¼ mile to McKnight’s Gap Rd. on left. Go up hill and down other side to stop sign. Make a right and go a short distance to the farm sign on the left. Info Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053. Meeting Location: Angora Fruit Farm, Berks County Parks & Recreation, Angora Rd, Reading, PA 19606 40.3624, -75.8839

April 26, 2025 (Saturday) - Hay Creek - 8 AM 

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Hear and hopefully see Louisiana Waterthrush along the streams of this varied habitat that attracts many different species of birds in the spring. Meet at the parking area at the closed south end of Hay Creek Rd. Directions: From the intersection of Rts. 724 and 568 in Gibraltar, take 568 west 1.5 miles and turn left on White Bear Rd. Go 4 miles past two stop signs and turn left at dead end. Follow Hay Creek Rd. to the parking area. Info Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053. Meeting Loc.: Old 82 & Parking Area, 2000 Hay Creek Rd, Birdsboro, PA

  May 3, 2025 (Saturday)- Nolde Forest EEC – 8 AM 

Meet at the Sawmill Parking Lot at Nolde Forest to hike the trails of this deciduous and coniferous forested habitat. Warblers, thrushes, flycatchers are usually found, and there is a possibility of seeing a Barred Owl. Directions: Rt. 625 South from Shillington to sign for Sawmill Parking Area on right. Info Art Zdancewic  610-858-3315.  

Meeting Location: 2910 New Holland Rd, Reading, PA

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May 4, 2025 (Sunday) - State Game Lands 106, Pine Swamp Rd. - 8 AM 

Excellent location to find neotropical migrants at this time of year and hearing Ruffed Grouse conducting their spring mating ritual. Directions: From Hawk Mt. Sanctuary, go south 4 miles to a right turn on Pine Swamp Rd. and go 1 mile to lane on the right which leads to the parking area. From Rte 143 drive 4 miles on Hawk Mt Rd. to Pine Swamp Rd. on the left. Info Rudy Keller 610-845-7310 Meeting Location: Pine Swamp RD, Kempton PA, 40.6262, -75.9520

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May 6, 2025 (Tuesday) - Exeter Scenic River Trail, Gibraltar - 8 AM 

Walk the riverside path to see the migrating birds that use this riparian corridor on their northbound journey. Directions: At the traffic light at Rt. 724 and Gibraltar Rd. go north across the bridge to the lane at the end of the bridge. Make left and park. Info Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053. Meeting Location: just before the Exeter Twp. Yard Waste Composting Area next to Trout Run Park, 914-920 East Neversink Rd, Reading, PA

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May 10, 2025 (Saturday) - Hamburg Reservoir – 8 AM 

The terrain for this walk is uphill through forested habitat where migrating warblers, thrushes and other songbirds will be seen and heard. Directions: Rt. 61 north to light at turnoff for downtown Hamburg. Turn right and proceed to State St. in downtown Hamburg. Take a right on State St. and proceed 4 miles to a left turn on Reservoir Rd. Info Linda Ingram 610-621-7473. Meeting Location: Pinnacle Trailhead access, 400 Reservoir Rd, Hamburg, PA

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May 13, 2025 (Tuesday) -Berks Nature/The Nature Place – 8 AM 

Join BOC birders as they check out this wetland habitat on a spring morning. Directions: From Lancaster Ave. take Rt. 10 (Morgantown Rd.) 1 ½ miles to the sign on right for The Nature Place and Alvernia U. Go right to parking area. Info Russ Hoffman 484-794-7053. Meeting Location: 575 St Bernardine St, Reading, PA 19607

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May 17, 2025 (Saturday) - Hopewell Furnace NHS – 8 AM 

A new BOC favorite in its 3rd year, 2025’s walk at Hopewell Furnace is moved back one week. E. Towhees, Balto. Orioles reliable; spring migrants, shorebirds likely at dam. Allow 2+ hrs. Coordinator: Sheila Martin 610-858-6005 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. Port-a-johns “iffy”.  

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May 18 (Sunday) – Great Marsh Bird Walk 

– Meet to carpool 8 am or meet at Great Marsh at 9 am

Join BOC birders at the private property known as the Great Marsh in Chester County, only a few miles from Berks, for a spring walk. The property consists of grassy footpaths, marshes and small ponds where both migrants and summer nesters can be found. The terrain is level and the possibly 2 mile walk is easy although may be wet depending on the weather. The property is located at 28 Moore's Rd., Elverson 19520 for GPS. Directions: Rte 176 to Morgantown, left on Rte 23 to a right on Rte 401, to Moore's Rd on right. Meeting time at the site is 9 AM. Carpooling will be available at Flying Hills in the deli (now closed) parking area. Information and to arrange transportation: Russ Hoffman, 484-794-7053.

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May 24, 2025 (Saturday) - Hopewell Big Woods Trail – 8 AM 

A downhill walk on an easy trail through grassland bordered by woodland. Great place for special birds in Berks. Birds seen here in previous years include Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper Sparrow, Prairie and Blue-winged Warblers. Directions: Park at the parking area for Union Meadows East, 2 miles east of Birdsboro. We will carpool up Center Rd. to the Big Woods Trailhead and bird downhill to the Union Meadows parking lot. 7473 Meeting Location: 100 Campbell Ford Road, Douglassville PA Alternatively: Turn right off Rt. 724 on Center Rd. and go uphill to parking on left if you prefer to park on your own and walk back uphill. Info Irene Taylor 610-856-1116, 

Rudy Keller 610-845-7310. 

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May 31, 2025 (Saturday) - Dreibelbis Farm – 8 AM

After last year’s very successful BOC outing here, we will be exploring this historic area again. Hopefully the Red-headed Woodpeckers are here nesting again this year. Direction: Rte 222 north to round-about at Moselem Springs. Go left on Rt. 662 about a mile to Rt. 143. Make a right on Rt. 143 and go 1.6 miles to Dreibelbis Farm sign on left. This is a field lane. Proceed on lane to house and park. Info Dan Brennan 484-336-0455. Location: 356 Hard Hill Rd, Hamburg, PA

*(GPS addresses are included as given by Google Maps)

 June – August 2025 

Bird, butterfly and dragonfly walks will be listed in the spring newsletter and here on the BOC website as they are finalized. 

 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