September
A POP-UP - “CHIMNEY SWIFTS” (dusk, early weeks of September) could be downtown Williamsport, Lewisburg, Jersey Shore or even Picture Rocks. Though PA-Birds, PA Ornithology Society’s ListServ has reported early departures, and even an outright dearth of CHSWs, several LAS birders are watching the skies and chimneys for us and will report via “Pop-Up” or “Impromptu” what we might observe. Keep in touch with LAS ListServ.
SKYLINE DRIVE (Saturday Sept 7 at 8am): We expect to see and hear resident birds, as well as fall warblers, in a typical mixed PA forest. Towards the mountain top, tree species change, and vistas of west branch forest, peek through clouds of early morning fog. Directions: the Skyline Drive is closed but is a quite walkable paved road that gently ascends the NE slope of Bald Eagle Mountain off Rte. 15 just east of South Williamsport, commonly known as ‘Montgomery Pike’. At the top of the mountain, where parking is available off the highway, we will gather for the walk at the public rest stop (no comfort facilities). Leader: Maddi Dunlap (madwoman951@gmail.com).
HAWK WATCH at Montgomery Pike Overlook Rt.15 (Saturday Sept 14 at 10am): This hawk watch is close to home, inviting and beautiful. It has easy parking, is handicapped accessible, and has a spectacular view of the Susquehanna Valley. These days in September, Broad-winged Hawks are abundant and given favorable weather and a little luck, we may see several of them. Smaller numbers of several other species are usually viewed. Bring your comfortable lawn chair. Directions: Market Street south on Rte. 15 past the overlook to the legal U-turn. Come back on Rt 15 north to the overlook parking lot on the right. Join us. Leader: Larry Waltz (LNRWaltz@aol.com)
WILLIAMSPORT WATER AUTHORITY (Saturday Sept 21 at 8am)
Come explore the Water Authority property from a different starting point: The Waterdale Environmental Education Center entrance. Directions: Turn left in Duboistown, drive one mile south on Valley Road. Turn left on Mosquito Valley Rd. and at the second bridge, turn right onto Waterdale Rd and proceed to its end. (note that this is not the upper parking lot at the trail area). We will look for fall birds around Mosquito Run Reservoir and Mosquito Creek and walk along other Water Authority trails as time permits. Unpaved trails, mostly flat, dress for the weather including wearing mud-tolerant footwear. Birdwatchers of all experience levels welcome. Leader: Mary Morrison. More information: (https://www.lycoming.edu/cwi/waterdale.aspx).
Leader: (Morrison@lycoming.edu)
ROSE VALLEY LAKE (Saturday September 28 at 8am): Starting at the south boat launch, the group will scope the lake for herons, shorebirds, and waterfowl, and will also walk portions of the road to look for migrant songbirds. Directions: From Balls Mills, travel 4.5 miles north on Rose Valley Road. Turn right on TWP 691 for 2 miles to the South Launch. From Warrensville, travel 1.8 miles then turn right on to Sugar Camp Road for 3 miles. Take a sharp left on to Twp 691 for ½ mile to the South Launch
Leader: Bobby Brown (bobbybrown1011@gmail.com)
October
RIDER PARK “ANNUAL WALK IN PENN’S WOODS” (Sunday Oct 6 from 9 to 11am): Hike with Rider Park Manager, Sara Street, and members of Lycoming Audubon Society. We will tour a portion of the meadow area where an American Woodcock Habitat Enhancement project is being implemented. Then we will head out onto Rider Park trails to enjoy the woods and find some vistas. Bring your binoculars, hopefully we will see some birds along the way! Expect an approximately 2.5-mile loop hike with moderate elevation changes.
This initiative of Penn State’s forestry departments, supported by birding groups across Pennsylvania, as well as our Northcentral PA Conservancy, is an opportunity for collaborative learning about our forests and the interdependency of our natural world. We will also discuss the benefits of forests to your health. Directions: at Warrensvllle drive north on Pleasant Valley Rd. for one mile to Caleb’s Creek Road. Turn right and take it all the way to its end at the Rider Park entrance. . For directions and additional information please visit RiderPark.org
Leader: Sara Street, Park Manager (570-321-1500, SaraS@fcfpartnership.org)
LIME BLUFF RECREATION AREA (Saturday Oct 12, 4pm evening walk)
*** Note the date of this field trip was changed from October 19 to October 12.
At Lycoming Audubon’s suggestion, the East Lycoming Recreation Authority decided to leave large areas of Lime Bluff un-mowed to provide habitat for birds. In addition to fields that attract raptors like Red-tail Hawks and American Kestrels, there is plenty of edge habitat favored by a variety of songbirds. This is an easy walk along gravel and mowed paths. Directions: From Rt 405 in Hughesville going south, turn right onto Elm Drive, after ½ mile turn left into Lime Bluff Recreation Area. Drive to parking area.
Leader: Rhiannon Summers (summersrn28@gmail.com)
ZINDEL PARK in Clinton County: (Saturday October 19. Time 8:00 a.m. to about 11:00 a.m.)
*** Note the date of this field trip was changed from October 12 to October 19.
Leisurely walk on open roads and trails looking for fall migrants, late
resident birds, and possible early winter arrivals. Tick precautions are
recommended. Directions: From Rt. 220, take the McElhatten exit west of
Avis in Clinton County. Immediately turn south onto Reservoir Road for
about 1.25 miles to the parking area for Zindel Park where there is a
gate.
Leader: Wayne Laubscher (wnlaubscher@comcast.net)
ROBERT PORTER ALLEN NATURAL AREA (Saturday October 26 at 8:30am) Lycoming Audubon Society (LAS), cooperating with other public and private entities, has assisted in preserving 227 acres of grasslands, a beautiful wetland, and the riparian forest of an historic farm, all strategically placed between Bald Eagle mountain and the Susquehanna. This site, known by many as “Sylvan Dell”, is just east of Little League Stadium. As resources, time and effort come together, it will become a beautiful natural area for the public, close to the people-center of Lycoming County. Directions: from Rte. 15 (south Market Street) follow E. Central Ave to its intersection with E. Mountain Ave. (Little League stadium). Turn left and follow E. Mountain Ave to the parking area at the end of the road. Look for Lycoming Audubon signs.
Leaders: Dan Brauning and Doss Hill.
November
LYCOMING CREEK BIKE PATH (Saturday November 2 at 8:30am)
This is a leisurely, one mile roundtrip walk across Lycoming Creek, through a wooded wetland adjacent to farm fields that opens up into shrubby habitat after crossing Pleasant Hill Road. We will see and hear a variety of common winter birds and look for less common species like Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Directions: Meet at the parking area at the northern end of the Lycoming Creek bike Path.. From Lycoming Creek Road turn left on to Bair Road, which leads to the parking area and the Hepburn Twp recycling center.
Leaders: Ted Loy (tloy624@gmail.com) and Drew Haussmann
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER WALK, S. Williamsport Side (Saturday November 9 at 8:30am) This is an easy walking event. Meet your leader and other birders at the South Williamsport Recycling Center, walk to at the top of the dike on the river walk. You will view waterfowl and enjoy species of raptors like Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Red-tailed Hawks. We will check out birdlife that frequent the brush and trees along the path. Directions: From Market Street, turn west on W. Southern Ave in South Williamsport going to the 700 block past CVS. Look for “Cross Fit Promise” Co. at Poke Alley, turn right and travel two blocks to recycling center.
Leader: Jean Dalton (jklotz6@gmail.com).
“RAPTORS” (Saturday November 16 at 8:30) Carpooling field trip to the fields of Turbotville or Nippenose Valley, time and rendezvous spot to-be-determined.
Leader: Wayne Laubscher
December
MILL HILL ROAD “Owls/Harriers” (Saturday December 14 at 5:00pm until dark) The Ulmer family has graciously permitted us to view raptors at dusk. Target birds: Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, Kestrels, and other seasonal field species like Eastern Meadowlarks. Two Directions: (6900 block of Daugherty’s Run Rd., Lycoming Township) #1. From Williamsport Ford dealership (3600 West Fourth St), North on Daugherty’s Run Road for 6.7 mi. (note: Bottle Run Rd at 3 mi., at 6 mi, Kiess Hill Rd.) continuing right 0.7 mi., on Daugherty’s Run Rd. just pass State Road Church. #2. From old Rte. 15/Lycoming Creek Rd. Cogan Station, Left/West on Rte. 973 for 3.9 mi. At that point look for “Linden” directional sign, then left on Daugherty’s Run Rd. 1.5 mi. to Mill Hill Rd.
Leader: Larry Waltz (LNRWaltz@aol.com).