Monthly Field Trips

SEPTEMBER 2011

September 11
Sunday - 8 AM - Noon
Patuxent River Naval Air Station, St. Mary’s County
"GRASSPIPERS"
Leader: Kyle Rambo (301) 757-0005 kyle.rambo@navy.mil

This trip will visit some excellent grassland habitat on restricted access runways. Target species include Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover. Meet in the parking lot at NAS Gate #1. Limited to 10 participants. Pre-registration is mandatory (call 301- 757-0005). Open only to US citizens. You must bring a photo ID.

September 24
Saturday – 8 AM - Noon
Calvert Cliffs State Park, Calvert County
"FALL MIGRATION"
Leader: Tyler Bell (301) 862-4623 jtylerbell@yahoo.com (email preferred)

Neotropical migrants should be near their peak. Warblers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and other songbirds. Good trails through wooded habitat & along the creek. Take Rt. 2/4 south of Prince Frederick for about 14 miles. Follow signs to the park. Meet leader in parking lot. Facilities and fee. 3 miles round trip. RSVP required.

OCTOBER 2011

October 15
Saturday - 8 AM - Noon
Cove Point Marsh, Calvert County
"SHARP-TAILED SPARROWS"
Leader: Bob Boxwell (443) 404-5549 bobboxwell@hotmail.com

Cove Point beach and marsh were a unique habitat on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. A Living Shoreline project is attempting to restore the fresh water marsh after a massive breach and salt water incursion. We are targeting sparrows, marsh inhabitants and migrants. This is a restricted area and we are limited to ten guests. Reservations are required at least one week prior to the trip.

October 22
Saturday - 8 AM - Noon
Indian Head Rail Trail, Mason Springs, Charles County
"RED-HEADS ON THE RAIL TRAIL"
Leaders: Beth and Jason Groth (301) 705-7922 ecocat@yahoo.com

There are a few hot spots along the Indian Head Rail Trail (IHRT) that provide good wintering habitat for Red-headed woodpeckers, yielding high numbers of individuals. One of the hot spots has revealed as many as 23 individuals. Come join us for a leisurely morning of birding along this wonderful trail and search for these beautiful birds as well as sparrows and other land birds. Meet and park at MD Rt. 224 IHRT Parking Lot, located just East of MD Rt. 225.

October 29
Saturday – 8 AM - Noon
Caledon Natural Area, King George, VA
"FALL MIGRANTS AND RESIDENT BIRDS"
Leader: Mike Callahan (240) 765-5192 raptorsrule@juno.com

The Caledon Natural Area is a Virginia State Park on the Potomac River on the opposite shore from Riverside and Nanjemoy. Meadow and river bottom, swamp and marsh habitats and is known for Bald Eagles (at least 15 in one spot!), Red-headed Woodpeckers too. Last fall we had flocks of both Wood Stork and White Pelican at Caledon! Meet at MD 301 visitor center just north of Harry Nice Bridge. Toll southbound for bridge. Contact leader for more info. Limited to 12 participants due to space in the park van. RSVP required. $3 vehicle fee.

NOVEMBER 2011

November 6
Sunday – 8 AM - Noon
Myrtle Grove WMA, Charles County
"BIRDING FOR ALL LEVELS"
Leader: Fred Burggraf (301) 934-8042 fburggraf@aol.com

Youths especially welcome!

Diverse habitat for hawks, sparrows, woodpeckers, and early waterfowl. Great for beginning birders! From Rt. 301 in La Plata, take Rt. 225 west about 4.5 miles to the WMA on the right. From Rt. 210 take Rt. 225 east about 4 miles to the WMA. Follow the dirt road to the end (about a mile) and meet in the parking lot near the lake. RSVP required.

November 13
Sunday – 8 AM - Noon
King’s Landing Park, Calvert County
"LATE FALL BIRDS"
Leader: Tom Harten (301) 780-6196 tomharten@verizon.net

King's Landing Park, in Huntingtown, offers a variety of habitats attractive to wintering birds including forest, open fields, freshwater wetlands and the Patuxent River. We'll meet next to the CHESPAX office near the main parking lot of the park. King's Landing is located 5 miles north of Prince Frederick following Route 4. Turn left onto Old Town Rd. (MD 524). Turn left at Bowen's Grocery Store and continue straight for about 3 miles to park entrance. RSVP required.

November 19
Sunday – 8 AM - Noon
Mattawoman Natural Environmental Area Wildlands, Charles County
"EARLY WATERFOWL FROM THE GEORGE WILMOT TRAIL"
Leader: Gwen Brewer (301) 843-3524 glbrewer@comcast.net

Come search for migrating waterfowl on Mattawoman Creek and for songbirds in this prime natural area. This time of year as many as 5000 individuals and 13 species of waterfowl have been present, including Eurasian Wigeon. On Rt. 224 (Chicamuxen Rd.) off Rt. 225 between La Plata & Indian Head. Meet in the lower (2d) parking lot at Lackey High School (left side of Rt. 224). Bring a spotting scope if you have one and be prepared for a moderate walk. No facilities and no fees. This is a joint trip with Audubon Naturalist Society. RSVP required.

DECEMBER 2011

December 10
Saturday – 10 AM - 2 PM *NOTE LATER START TIME*
Beauvue Ponds, St. Mary’s County
"WINTER WATERFOWL AT BEAUVUE"
Leader: Sigrid Stiles. (301) 872-4053 sigstiles@aol.com

View wintering waterfowl at the ponds at Beauvue. We’ll also search for land birds such as Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Short-eared Owl and Eastern Meadowlark. No facilities, no fees. Meet at Leonardtown Middle School parking lot. Drive south from Leonardtown on Rt. 5. Turn right at the light at Medley’s Neck Rd then immediately left into the parking lot. RSVP required.

JANUARY 2012

January 2
Monday – 8 AM - 2 PM
St. Mary’s Winter Chase, St. Mary’s County
"START YOUR YEAR OFF BIRDING"
Leader: Mikey Lutmerding. (301) 455-9370 mlutmerding@gmail.com

Two-thirds day. Search for winter specialties in a very productive area. Expect stops at Beauvue, Point Lookout and other hotspots. Meet at entrance to Point Lookout State Park on Rt. 5. Be prepared for the cold and dress warmly. Bring scopes if you have them. Facilities are along the way, no fee except Point Lookout. RSVP required.

January 22
Sunday – 8 AM - Noon
Piscataway Park & Hard Bargain Farm, Prince George’s County
"WINTER WATERFOWL AND RESIDENT BIRDS"
Leader: Chris Ordiway. (301) 203-8014 olebuck@strixvaria.org

Email communication preferred. This is a prime area for wintering waterfowl. The varied habitat of woods, farm fields and edges provides a great variety of land birds. Take Rt. 210, Indian Head Highway to Livingston Rd. (South of Farmington Rd and North of Rt. 228). Take Livingston Rd. east and meet at Burger King in the Bloom shopping center, 15785 Livingston Rd., Accokeek, MD 20607. No facilities or fee. Limit of 20. This is a joint trip with Audubon Naturalist Society. RSVP required.

January 28
Saturday - All Day
Ocean City, MD to Indian River Inlet, DE
"WINTER COASTAL BIRDS"
Leader: Fred Shaffer. (410) 721-1744 glaucousgull@verizon.net

This mid-winter trip will visit the lower eastern shore and various inlets and bays along the coast in search of waterfowl, gulls, and other winter birds. Stops may include the Cambridge waterfront, Naylor Mill Road (viewing of gulls from the Salisbury landfill), Ocean City inlet, and Indian River inlet. Call leader for carpooling/meeting information. Contact Fred Shaffer at 410-721-1744 for additional information.

FEBRUARY 2012

February 4
Saturday - 9 AM - 11 AM
Point Lookout State Park, St. Mary’s County
"SCOUTING FOR BIRDS"
Leader: Melissa Boyle (443) 340-3035, melissaboyle3@gmail.com

YOUTH TRIP
Ages 8-12. Join scouts looking to complete badge requirements and learn winter birds. There is a fee to enter the park. Dress warmly, and bring binoculars. Pre-registration required. E-mail registration preferred. Meeting location to be determined. Contact leader for details.

February 5
Sunday - 9 AM - Noon
Jefferson Patterson Park, Calvert County
"WINTER WATERFOWL TRIP"
Leader: Tyler Bell (301) 862-4623, jtylerbell@yahoo.com

Open fields and wooded areas can provide good land birding and the river frontage for close views of winter waterfowl. Call or email the leader for directions to the meeting location. RSVP required.

February 9
Monday - 8 PM
Charles County
"Owl Prowl"
Leader: Mike Callahan (240) 765-5192, raptorsrule@juno.com

YOUTHS ESPECIALLY WELCOME

On this night hike we will listen and look for owls in Charles County. Due to the sensitivity of possible nesting owls, the meeting location will be given when you call leader Mike Callahan at 240-765-5192 to sign up.