SEPTEMBER 2024

September 1 (Sunday)
YMBC WALK: Meadowside Nature Center/Lake Frank

7 to ~9am  We will meet at the Meadowside Nature Center parking lot (at the end of Meadowside Lane past the Lathrop E Smith Environmental Education Center) and explore that area plus parts of Lake Frank. Mentor: Mark England. As always, bring your binoculars! Reservations are required via http://tinyurl.com/YMBCSummer24. Please note that guardians are responsible for their youth during the entirety of the trip and must stay with them during this time. If you are interested in being a mentor or learning more about it, please contact us at [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 8 (Sunday)
WHEATON REGIONAL PARK

On this walk, aimed at new birders but open to all, we’ll spend a morning exploring Wheaton RP (accessible by Metrobuses Y2 and Y8). Starting at 7:30 a.m. we’ll use our eyes and ears to identify forest birds, likely some waterfowl and perhaps early migrants. Limit: 16. LEADER: Cheryl Hogue at [email protected]. Lisa Norwalk will co-lead.

 SEPTEMBER 8 (Sunday)
HUGHES HOLLOW

This half-day trip is targeted at newer birders, but all are welcome. We will meet in the Hughes Hollow parking lot at McKee-Beshers WMA at 7:30 a.m. We will explore the wetlands and fields of Hughes Hollow. Species to be expected include migrant warblers, Green Heron and other waterbirds, and possibly raptors. Limit: 10. LEADER: Clive Harris at [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 15 (Sunday)
RICKMAN/WOODSTOCK EQUESTRIAN PARK

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST IS AVAILABLE.  Join us for some early-morning autumn birding as we explore the Equestrian Park on the west side of Route 28 (https://rb.gy/qpdqda). We’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. and bird the broad fields and separating woods for warblers and sparrows, vireos, woodpeckers, and raptors. Limit: 12. LEADER: Scott Young at [email protected]. Dave Roberts will co-lead.

SEPTEMBER 15 (Sunday)
CHARLES COUNTY

Join us as we explore Charles County with its BBA3 Coordinator and one of its Atlas participants. The focus will be on Nanjemoy, a difficult area to bird because of all of its private land. We will have access to the very large property of the Lion’s Club-owned Camp Merrick for forests, wetlands, and the Potomac and will make other stops TBD closer to the date, but they might include land owned by the Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, as well as Mallows Bay and other state parks. Carpooling is necessary with a limit of three cars. We will meet in Charles County at 8 a.m. (leader will give directions on registration) and carpool from there. Please bring a bag lunch and a drink; we’ll stop around 1 p.m. and picnic on land owned by Francesca and her husband, returning to the meeting place around 3. This should be a rich time for migrants, but we also hope to pick up Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, and other lingering nesting species. Limit: 10. LEADERS: Francesca Grifo at [email protected] and Lynne Wheeler at [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 18 (Wednesday)
PENNYFIELD TO VIOLETTE’S BIRD STALK

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST IS AVAILABLE.  Half day. We will meet at 8 a.m. in the Violette’s Lock parking lot at the end of Violette’s Lock Road. We will then carpool to Pennyfield Lock and walk back up the C&O Canal towpath to Violette’s. This walk should net an interesting mix of late warblers, other landbird migrants, and maybe a few early winter visitors, as we scan the skies and river for raptors and waterbirds. Limit: 10. Because we will be carpooling, do not sign up if you are not vaccinated against COVID-19 or if you are uncomfortable carpooling. LEADER: Jim Nelson at [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 21 (Saturday)
CROYDON CREEK NATURE CENTER

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE.  Come discover (or rediscover) a Montgomery County birding gem. Some 140 species of birds have been recorded in this park. Multiple warblers and thrushes as well as Common Nighthawks are possible. Some moderate hiking. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Nature Center parking lot. Limit: 8. LEADER: Emily Huang at [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 25 (Wednesday)
OAKS LANDFILL

Explore in carpools this now-closed landfill adjacent to the Blue Mash Nature Trail. Mostly open terrain on a gravel road, including two pond views. In addition to sparrows, raptors, and waterfowl, shorebirds are possible if there are mudflats at the big pond. The leader will have a scope for distant birds. We will meet at 8 a.m. Limit: 16. LEADER: Mark England at [email protected]  NOTE: The county requires all participants to provide their names and phone numbers when they register with the leader.

OCTOBER 2024

OCTOBER 5 (Saturday)
WHEATON REGIONAL PARK

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE.  Early and mid-October can be quite productive in Wheaton Regional Park, which is often particularly good during fall migration. Warblers, vireos, thrushes, and sparrows are all possible. All are welcome, and beginners are particularly encouraged to join. We will begin at 7:30 a.m. and finish around 10 or when bird activity drops off. Limit: 10. LEADER: Rob Hilton at [email protected]. Lisa Shannon will co-lead.

OCTOBER 6 (Sunday)
HUGHES HOLLOW

Join us for a morning of marsh and woodland birding. Targets are fall migrants such as warblers, sparrows, and ducks. Beginners and young birders are especially encouraged to join. We will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Hughes Hollow parking lot. Limit: 10. LEADER: Lauren Carey at [email protected]

OCTOBER 6 (Sunday)
WHEATON REGIONAL PARK
YOUTH MONTGOMERY BIRD CLUB TRIP

8 to ~10am We will meet at the lower parking lot near the carousel. The address is 2002 Shorefield Rd, Silver Spring, MD. Trails are grassy and natural surface. Mentors: Andy Martin and Bob Cantilli. As always, bring your binoculars! Reservations are required via http://tinyurl.com/YMBCFall24. 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.If you are interested in being a mentor or learning more about it, please contact us at [email protected]

OCTOBER 9 (Wednesday)
GREAT FALLS, MARYLAND

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST IS AVAILABLE.  Join us for a leisurely morning walk on the C&O Canal towpath. We will meet at Great Falls, Maryland, at 8 a.m. and will walk downriver looking and listening for woodpeckers, kinglets, and a variety of sparrows. Possible ducks include American Black Duck and Common Merganser. This walk is geared toward beginning birders, but all are welcome. Limit: 8. LEADERS: Gene Murray at [email protected] and Susan Higginbotham at [email protected]

NOVEMBER 2024

November 3 (Sunday)
Lois Y. Green Conservation Park
Youth Montgomery Bird Club Trip

 to ~10am We will meet at the parking lot at 8711 Snouffer School Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Trails are grassy and natural surface. Mentor: Lauren Carey and Andy Martin. As always, bring your binoculars! Reservations are required via http://tinyurl.com/YMBCFall24. 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.If you are interested in being a mentor or learning more about it, please contact us at [email protected]