Chesapeake Audubon Society Field Trips and Programs

Please join us for one of these enjoyable outings! Take a look at the calendar and plan to spend some time with other CAS members and friends enjoying relaxing outdoor activities. Do you have an idea for a field trip or would you like to help us lead one? Drop an e-mail with your suggestions and comments.

Contact us to register (at least 48 hours in advance) for a field trip and then come explore some of the region's wonderful natural areas. Beginners are welcome as all trips include attention to novices. NOTE: please send your e-mail address if you would like updates and reminders about field trips and other upcoming events.

Trip Reports and other Special Events

FIELD TRIP INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY: If on the night before or the morning of a field trip, steady rain or severe weather (i.e., heavy snow, dangerous winds, flooding, etc.) is forecast, and you have doubts about the trip being held, call the trip leader for information.

2008

*February*

Saturday, February 9 Loch Raven Hugh Simmons

CAS President Hugh Simmons has found this location to be a great winter birding spot and would love to share it with you. For information about meeting location and time, and to register, call Hugh at 410-628-4246 before 9 PM or you can send e-mail to hughsimmons@comcast.net

Saturday, February 23, 8-9:30 AM Patterson Park Patterson Park Staff

Join us to find out if any winter ducks are visiting the boat lake. Last year we saw Black Duck and American Widgeon. Will the Red-shouldered Hawk who’s been here since October still be around? Join the Patterson Park staff at the fountain near the pagoda for their regular monthly walk and find out. No need to register but for more information you can call 410-558-2473.

*March*

Saturday, March 1, 8-10 AM Cromwell Valley Park Kate Manrodt

Winter is quickly coming to an end; come see what one of our favorite destinations has to offer.

Join Kate at the Willow Grove parking lot No need to register but for more information you can call Kate Manrodt, 6-9 pm, 410-254-1881.

Saturday, March 8, 8-10:30 AM Pickering Creek Marian Argentino

The Pickering Creek staff tells me this is a wonderful late winter destination. Let’s check out this Eastern Shore hotspot before its cold-weather visitors fly back north to breed! Contact Marian Argentino for registration and directions at 410-852-9913 or by e-mail, chesauduboninfo@aol.com

Friday, March 14, about 7pm Gunpowder River With Tom Scollins

Tom will lead a field trip for frogs and salamanders on the Gunpowder River off of Ashland Road in Hunt Valley at the origin of the rail trail. We will meet at sunset. Hip waders or high boots are recommended. Email Tom to sign up and for more details on meeting location and time at trapguy@yahoo.com. If you don't have email you can

also call Hugh Simmons at 410-628-4246.

Saturday, March 15, 8-10 AM Cromwell Valley Park Kate Manrodt

Return to Cromwell for our last walk of the winter season. There’s no telling what you’ll see but you can bet it’ll be good! Join Kate at the Willow Grove parking lot No need to register but for more information you can call Kate Manrodt, 6-9pm, 410-254-1881.

Saturday, March 29, 8-9:30 AM Patterson Park Patterson Park Staff

Come and look for early spring migrants among the daffodils! Typical March visitors to the park include towhees, Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes and Eastern Phoebes. Join the Patterson Park staff at the fountain near the pagoda; no need to register but for more information you can call 410-558-2473.

Saturday March 29, Noon –2 PM Signs of Spring Stroll Bryan MacKay

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center holds its superb wildlife art festival this weekend. Take a break from looking at painted and carved birds to look at the real thing on this 2 mile stroll. There may even be a few early wildflowers or some amphibians. Please register with Bryan MacKay at 410 747 7132 evenings 6-10 pm.

*April*

Saturday, April 5, 8 AM Piney Run Park Jerry Tarbell

Piney Run Park in southern Carroll County surrounds a nice sized lake with plenty of hiking trails. Bring a scope if you have one to check out the waterfowl that should still be plentiful on the lake. We may also get some early passerine migrants along the trails. There is an entrance fee: Carroll County residents pay $5 per car: all others pay $8 per car, so let us know if you want to carpool. Directions: Take Rt. 26 (Liberty Road) to White Rock Road. Head south on White, make a left onto Martz and drive through the park gate. We will meet in the parking lot to the left of the gate. Please register at ChesAudubonInfo@aol.com or call Marian Argentino at 410-852-9913.

Saturday, April 12, 8-11 AM Harford Glen Ruth Bergstrom

The “Glen” re-opens to the public just in time to welcome our spring migrants! Join Ruth Bergstrom along the trails of this beautiful park just outside Bel Air. Please register by sending an email to Ruth at ruthb22@yahoo.com.

Saturday, April 19, 8-11 AM Susquehanna Birds & Blooms Hugh & Marian

Both sides of this path between the Susquehanna River and Deer Creek will be full of spring beauties of both the flora and fauna varieties. Come join Hugh Simmons and Marian Argentino and enjoy the show that Mother Nature offers each year in Harford County! Contact Marian for registration and directions at 410-852-9913 or by e-mail, chesauduboninfo@aol.com

Tuesday, April 22, Daytrip *date change* Earth Day Hike/Old Rag Mountain John and Kevin

Celebrate Earth Day and enjoy the beauty of nature on the premier day hike in the Washington area. The climb is strenuous but not technically difficult. It is 7.5 miles round-trip and takes 6-7 hours, including time for lunch at the top. You will need well broken in walking shoes or boots with hiking socks, lunch, at least a quart of water, warm clothing and rain gear and a pack to carry it all in. Dinner in Warrenton, VA. We usually arrive back home after 8 pm. We meet at the new farmers’ market parking lot in Sperryville, VA at 10 am. Contact John Love at 301-498-1978 to register.

Saturday, April 26, 8-11 AM Spring Hawk Watch/Ft. Smallwood Marian/Tekla

Joined by a group from Patterson Park, Marian Argentino and Tekla Ayers will lead the group through this newly refreshed Anne Arundel County park recently named an Important Bird Area for its unusual concentration of Spring Hawks. Contact Marian Argentino for registration and directions at 410-852-9913 or by e-mail, chesauduboninfo@aol.com or if you want to carpool with the Patterson group, contact Tekla at 410-558-2473 or PPAudubon@gmail.com

Saturday, April 26, 6 PM Annual Spaghetti Dinner CAS Staff

Join us for this absolutely delicious dinner offering. See details in the events and meetings section of this website.

*May*

Saturday, May 3 Lake Roland Hugh Simmons

This location at this time of year offers everything a birder could hope for! Join Hugh on this fantastic trip through one of Baltimore birders’ favorite parks. For information about meeting location and time, and to register, call Hugh at 410-628-4246 before 9 PM or you can send e-mail to hughsimmons@comcast.net

Sunday, May 4, 8 AM Daytrip to Patuxent River Park Jerry Tarbell

Another new location offered by new a Field Trip Leader and one that has to make your to-do list every year. This time we’ll head to Price Georges County to this very birdy park on the west side of Jug Bay during the peak of migration and according to Jerry, anything is possible and we’ll be on the lookout for Ovenbirds, Hooded, and Prothonotary Warblers. We’ll meet at the Nature Center shortly after the gates open at 8 AM. There is a wildlife drive that is only open on Sundays from about noon to 4 PM. It's a nice drive, with stops at a wetlands overlook and at an observation tower and it will take us over to Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary. To register and/or get directions, contact Marian Argentino at ChesAudubonInfo@aol.com or call 410-852-9913.

Saturday, May 10, 8-11 AM Adkins Arboretum Ruth Bergstrom

Join us on the Eastern Shore at this 400-acre native garden and preserve. Walk along a portion of the 4 miles of paths that pass through streams, meadows, and forests. Last year we observed almost 50 bird species including Yellow-breasted Chat, Baltimore Oriole, and American Redstart. After the walk you can join a docent guided walk or lighten your wallet at their famous spring native plant sale. There is a $3.00 entrance fee. Please register by sending an email to Ruth Bergstrom at ruthb22@yahoo.com

Sunday, May 18, Day Trip Bombay Hook NWR Marian Argentino

This Delaware Bay hotspot is one of our most popular trips and this is the weekend closest to the full moon which will increase of chances of seeing the very threatened Red-Knot. We’ll meet at the Visitor’s Center at 8 AM. Contact Marian for registration and directions at 410-852-9913 or by e-mail, chesauduboninfo@aol.com

Saturday, May 24, 8-10 AM Cromwell Valley Park Kate Manrodt

Breeding season is in full swing and the park is full of birds in all the beautiful spring colors! Join Kate at the Willow Grove parking lot No need to register but for more information you can call Kate Manrodt, 6-9pm, 410-254-1881.

Saturday, May 31, 730AM-300PM Oriole Day CAS Staff

Come join us at our annual get-together at Cromwell Valley Park. Fun for the whole family! Details coming soon.

Chesapeake Audubon Field Trip Leaders

Marian Dodson Argentino, Field Trip & Program Director for CAS, is an ardent nature enthusiast who greatly enjoys being outdoors
 discovering whatever the day has to offer. Although her primary interest is birding, she misses few opportunities to learn about all of the
 flora and fauna that crosses her path. She invites you to come along. Who knows where you might go or what you might see next?

Hugh Simmons is President of Chesapeake Audubon, and is known for his friendly and helpful attitude. Hugh knows his birds, and where to find them.

Bryan MacKay is the author of Hiking, Cycling and Canoeing in Maryland: A Family Guide (1995) and Baltimore Trails: A Guide for Hikers and Mountain Bikers (2002). He especially enjoys introducing people to unique natural places.

Kate Manrodt is the naturalist/educator for Cromwell Valley Park and Vice President of Chesapeake Audubon.

Mark Schilling, a former staff member, lives on the Eastern Shore and participates annually in the NJ Audubon World Series of Birding. He specializes in birding by ear, and particularly enjoys having novices on his trips.

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