NOVEMBER 1 (Saturday) 
ROCK CREEK’S NORTH BRANCH STREAM VALLEY
Discover upper Rock Creek’s watershed with a variety of habitats. We will start along open fields and marshy areas next to Bowie Mill Park with the opportunity to see a variety of sparrows, hawks, fall migrants, and turkeys if we’re lucky. Previous lists included 8 species of sparrows including Fox, White-crowned, Swamp, and Savannah Sparrows. Depending on the weather, we’ll opt to explore a section of the stream valley for woodpeckers and other resident woodland species. Meet at 8 a.m. at Bowie Mill Park (https://tinyurl.com/yswz6v95) next to Sequoyah Elementary School. Limit: 16. LEADER: Jo Co at jobird11@gmail.com or 240-506-1723. Kathy Reitz will co-lead.

 NOVEMBER 4 (Tuesday) 
LOIS Y. GREEN CONSERVATION PARK
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE.  Morning walk through the woods. We’ll be looking for overwintering songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. Meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot at 8711 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg, Md. Limit: 12. LEADER: Mark England at englandmark@comcast.net.
 

NOVEMBER 11 (Tuesday)
REDGATE PARK: SEEKING SPARROWS
If you are just starting to sort out the sparrows, join us for our annual Veterans Day walk. We’ll work on ID-ing familiar species such as Song and White-throated Sparrow, while looking for less common ones like White-crowned and Swamp. This trip is geared to beginners, but all are welcome. Limit: 12. LEADER: Jo Cox at jobird11@gmail.com. Kathy Reitz will co-lead.

 NOVEMBER 16 (Sunday) @ 7:30 to ~10:30am
YMBC WALK – SYCAMORE LANDING FIELDS
 (39.081084092743986, -77.41589828061582; Poolesville, MD)
We will be walking close to 4 miles while we explore the fields along Sycamore Landing Rd. These sunflower fields still bring birds in November. Boots are recommended. Mentors: Clive Harris, Luke Sumberg, and Hanna Nettles. Reservations are required via:  https://tinyurl.com/YMBCFall25. Please note that guardians are responsible for their youth during the entirety of the trip and must stay with them during this time. There can be up to four youth per guardian.

 NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING:  NOVEMBER 19, 2025 (Wednesday), 7:30 p.m.
Claire Nemes, Ph.D., University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science,
Presents “Using Weather Radar Data to Map Migratory Stopover Sites”
During migration, songbirds spend more time foraging and resting than they do in flight. Protecting stopover habitat is essential for the conservation of migratory bird populations. Weather radar, which is also used to create BirdCast migration forecasts, is a fascinating and powerful tool for understanding patterns of stopover habitat use. Claire Nemes will share her postdoctoral research in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to
map out stopover hotspots across the state using weather radar data. The DNR along with birders, conservation groups, and resource managers can use these maps to help conserve Maryland’s migrants. Claire grew up in Maryland and joined MBC after reading about Golden-crowned Kinglets got her
hooked on birds. She completed her PhD and postdoctoral research in migration ecology at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Lab in Frostburg. Claire is now a postdoc studying American Kestrel movement at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and
Conservation Biology Institute. She’s a big fan of confusing fall warblers and loves everything about migration!

NOVEMBER 22 (Saturday)
GUNNERS LAKE POP-UP
No reservations needed! Meet at 8am to see the waterfowl and other lakeside birds arriving for winter. Gunners Lake’s small size allows for excellent views from every angle and the path is flat and paved, making this a great trip for newer birders. Park along Wisteria Drive and we’ll meet on the corner of the lake near Sky Blue Drive. Contact group leader Lauren Carey at ljcarey011@gmail.com with any questions.

DECEMBER 7 (Sunday) @ 8:00 to ~10:30am
YMBC WALK – LAKE NEEDWOOD
(Derwood, MD)
Exact meeting spot will be determined closer to the trip date. We will walk along paved and natural surface trails. Mentor: Jo Cox.
Reservations are required via: https://tinyurl.com/YMBCFall25. Please note that guardians are responsible for their youth during the entirety of the trip and must stay with them during this time. There can be up to four youth per guardian.

DECEMBER 7 (Sunday) 
BLACKWATER NWR
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE.
Full day (to dusk). Early waterfowl and lingering migrants plus late afternoon marsh watch. Brown-headed Nuthatch possible. Bring lunch and drinks. Limit:12. LEADER: Mark England at englandmark@comcast.net.
 

DECEMBER 13 (Saturday) 
LOIS Y. GREEN CONSERVATION PARK
Morning walk through fields and woodland edges. We’ll be looking for sparrows, waterfowl, and raptors. Trails are well maintained with some hills Meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot at 8711 Snouffer School Road, Gaithersburg, Md. Limit: 12. LEADER: Leo Dilling at LeoDilling@hotmail.com.

 
DECEMBER 16 (Tuesday) 
BLUE MASH NATURE TRAIL
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE.
Join us for a morning at one of Montgomery County’s top Hotspots. We’ll be looking for raptors and overwintering sparrows and waterfowl. The path can be muddy and overgrown, so waterproof boots are recommended. Meet at 8 a.m. in the Zion Road parking lot. Limit: 10. LEADER: Lauren Carey at ljcarey011@gmail.com.