APRIL 8 (Wednesday)
VIOLETS AT VIOLETTE’S 
For something a little different, join us at Violette’s Lock for a leisurely morning walk (10 a.m. to noon) in search of early spring wildflowers. We’ll scan the towpath edges and take the side paths toward the river, hoping to find not only violets but also spring beauties, bluebells, trillium, and other plants that sustain insect life and produce the fruit that birds depend on. Limit: 10. LEADERS: Moira Davenport at moiradavenport@gmail.com and Karen Cyr.

APRIL 12 (Sunday) 
HUGHES HOLLOW 
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
Half day. Expected species include Red-headed Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, and many other marsh dwellers. A chance for several warblers including Prothonotary. Meet at 7 a.m. in the parking lot. Limit: 12. LEADER: Lauren Carey at ljcarey011@gmail.com. Gaurav Kapoor will co-lead.

APRIL 15 (Wednesday)
APRIL MEETING: Kathy Brown presents “Adventures in Panama, April 2025” (with Photos by Charlie Brown)
Last year my husband Charlie and I toured Panama for 10 days with MOS. We stayed at the Canopy Tower overlooking the Canal Zone and Soberanía National Park and then traveled to El Valle de Antón, where the Canopy Lodge is located. We birded rain and cloud forests, continental divides, river valleys, savannas, and the Pacific Ocean, and saw more than 250 species. It was a lovely trip!  Kathy Brown has been a member of MBC/MOS for about 5 years and has been birding since 2018. She knew she was hooked when she spent 2 hours birding on a rainy afternoon in her own backyard. Kathy is a longtime member of Montgomery County Road Runners, and she continues to enjoy her other passion, nursing, in which she has worked for 49 years. Charlie Brown was convinced by Kathy to join the wonderful world of birding. Photography has always been one of his passions. In addition to using it in his career in cell biology, he now applies it to birding. And since golf is another passion, he discovered he could bird by golf cart. He is currently arranging to photograph the birds of Needwood Golf Course via golf cart.

APRIL 18 (Saturday)
POP-UP TRIP: BLUE MASH NATURE TRAIL 
No reservations needed! Meet at the Zion Road  parking lot at 7:30 a.m.  We’ll be looking for lingering ducks, overwintering songbirds, and early spring migrants. The trails are frequently wet and muddy, so waterproof shoes are recommended. This location has no facilities. Contact trip leader Lisa Norwalk at lhnorwalk@gmail.com with any questions.

APRIL 19 (Sunday)
YMBC TRIP: HUGHES HOLLOW (Hunting Quarter Road, Poolesville, MD) 
7:00 to ~10:00am We will explore the impoundments and the woodland area. To get to Hughes Hollow, follow River Road towards Poolesville. Turn left at the second entrance to Hunting Quarter Road (across from Hughes Road). Follow the road to the left and there will be a parking area on the right. Plan to wear long pants and footwear suitable for wet/muddy conditions. Mentors: Dave Powell and Clive Harris. Reservations are required via https://tinyurl.com/YMBC26Spring. 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.

APRIL 25 (Saturday) 
LAKE WHETSTONE 
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
We’ll begin with a view of the Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron rookeries on the island and then walk the shoreline to see other waterbirds and local breeders. The path is flat and easy walking, making it a great trip for new birders. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Lake Whetstone dock in Montgomery Village. Limit: 10. LEADER: Lauren Carey at ljcarey011@gmail.com.

MAY 1 (Friday) 
BIRDING BY EAR AT PENNYFIELD LOCK  
Spring is the time to listen for and learn to identify the songs and calls of migrant and local breeding birds. Trip geared to new birders. We’ll take the towpath upstream to the watered impoundment listening for songs and calls. Meet at 7 a.m. in the Pennyfield parking lot. Limit: 6. LEADER: Leo Dilling at leodilling@hotmail.com.

MAY 2 (Saturday)
CROYDON CREEK NATURE CENTER 
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
Come discover this lovely park during spring migration. We’ll expect to see lots of migrants as they pass through the park, including many warblers. Meet in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Limit: 12. LEADER: Anne Mytych at amytych@yahoo.com.

MAY 3 (Sunday) 
IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE, B-CC CHAPTER, CONSERVATION FARM
THIS TRIP IS FULL. 
Half day. The B-CC Chapter is generously providing us access to this large private property south of Poolesville. Woods, hedgerows, streams, fields, and ponds provide a wide range of bird habitats, and migration should be well underway. Meet at 7 a.m. at the League’s Chapterhouse. Limit: 10. LEADER: Emily Huang at emily.huang.woods@gmail.com.

MAY 6 (Wednesday) 
MBC MAY SOCIAL
Guest of Honor:  Ed Vigezzi.
Join us on Wednesday, May 6, for our annual spring social at the Woodend headquarters of Nature Forward. Smokey Glen Farm of Gaithersburg will cater this delicious dinner with scrumptious pies for dessert.  Guests bring appetizers to share!  The evening begins with a social hour at 6:00 PM, featuring an open bar (and friendly bartenders!).  Dinner begins at 7:30 PM.  After-dinner entertainment will include our traditional recognition of the Guest of Honor, followed by a slide show of members’ favorite bird photos. For those interested in presenting in the show, send up to to 8 digital bird photos to Mark England (montgomerybirdclub@mdbirds.org) in preferred order.  Space is limited!  We need to receive both the paid reservations and photo submissions no later than April 25. Once again we have a convenient online reservation system. Reserve your social spaces online; then opt to pay either by credit card or by mailing a check. To reserve, go to: https://mdbirds.org/join/chapters/montgomery-bird-club/mbc-payment/

 MAY 9 (Saturday) 
RICKMAN/WOODSTOCK EQUESTRIAN PARK
We’ll explore this location for some spring early-morning birding on the west side of Route 28 (https://rb.gy/qpdqda). Meet at 7 a.m. Limit: 10. LEADER: Scott Young at scott4aves@icloud.com. Dave Roberts will co-lead.

MAY 10 (Sunday)
ROYCE HANSON CONSERVATION PARK AT BROAD RUN, POOLESVILLE
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a morning bird walk at this fantastic new Montgomery County park. The park’s diverse habitat has already offered excellent looks at raptors, sparrows, and woodpeckers. In the spring, we’ll comb the ponds and field edges, hoping for warblers and other migrants. Meet in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Limit: 12. LEADER: Lauren Carey at ljcarey011@gmail.com.

MAY 13 (Wednesday)
BLUE MASH AND OAKS LANDFILL
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
Half-day trip. We’ll start at the Blue Mash Nature Trail and then drive over to the Oaks Landfill to look for raptors, Blue Grosbeaks, migrant songbirds, and possible Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows. Reservations with a phone number required at least a week ahead of the trip for names to be submitted to the County. Meet at 7 a.m. in the Blue Mash parking lot. Limit: 12. LEADER: Mark England at englandmark@comcast.net.

MAY 17 (Sunday)
LITTLE BENNETT REGIONAL PARK 
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
We will be looking for warblers and other migrants on the Wilson Mill and Kingsley Trails. Kentucky Warbler possible. We’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. at the parking area for the Wilson Mill Trail. Beginners welcome! Trip will be cancelled in case of heavy rain or thunderstorms. Limit: 12. Contact leader for reservations (required). LEADER: Paul Orsinger at paulorsinger@gmail.com. Luke Sumberg and Hanna Nettles will co-lead.

MAY 25 (MONDAY)
PATUXENT RIVER AT BROWN’S BRIDGE
THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
On a morning walk, we’ll look for Cliff Swallows building mud nests beneath this bridge in the northeastern part of the county. We will also explore wooded trails on WSSC property bordering the reservoir to observe other possible breeding birds including Scarlet Tanager, flycatchers, and thrushes. Be prepared for bright sunlight at the bridge and possible biting insects in wooded areas. Trip will be cancelled in case of heavy rain or thunderstorms. Limit: 10. Start Time: 7:30 am. LEADER: Paul Orsinger at paulorsinger@gmail.com. Cheryl Hogue will co-lead.

MAY 25 (MONDAY)
YMBC TRIP: WESTERN PIEDMONT TRAIL (14920 Hyattstown Mill Rd, Clarksburg, MD 20871) 
7:30 to ~10:00am On Memorial Day we will be checking out the Western Piedmont Trail at Little Bennett. We will meet at the parking lot near the Hyattstown Mill (14920 Hyattstown Mill Rd, Clarksburg, MD 20871) and be walking on natural surface areas. Plan to wear long pants and footwear suitable for wet/muddy conditions. Mentors: Andy Martin and Bob Cantilli. Reservations are required via https://tinyurl.com/YMBC26Spring. 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.

JUNE 5 (Friday) or JUNE 6 (Saturday)
RACHEL CARSON CONSERVATION PARK 
BITH TRIPS ARE FULL.  WAITLIST AVAILABLE
Join us for a morning walk on Friday or Saturday as we explore the meadow and wood edges of this lightly visited park. We’ll be looking for Indigo Buntings, Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, and plentiful warblers. Meet at 7 a.m. in the parking lot. Limit: 12. LEADER: Lisa Norwalk at lhnorwalk@gmail.com.

JUNE 14 (Sunday) 
YMBC TRIP:  ROYCE HANSON CONSERVATION PARK 
7:00 to ~10:00am We will meet in the parking lot and explore the park on natural surface trails. Plan to wear long pants and footwear suitable for wet/muddy conditions. Mentors: Lauren Carey and Carla Morris. Reservations are required via https://tinyurl.com/YMBC26Spring. 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.

AUGUST 15 (Saturday)
OAKS LANDFILL, LAYTONSVILLE
Late afternoon visit from 5 to 7 p.m. to look for fall migrant shorebirds—if water levels are good. Also possible, American Kestrel, Blue Grosbeaks, Savannah Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, and other breeding birds. Reservations with a phone number required at least a week ahead of the trip for names to be submitted to the County. Meet at 5 p.m. at 6001 Rt. 108, Laytonsville, Md. Limit: 12. LEADER: Mark England at englandmark@comcast.net.

SEPTEMBER 5 (Saturday)
OAKS LANDFILL, LAYTONSVILLE
Late afternoon visit from 5 to 7 p.m. to look for fall migrant shorebirds—if water levels are good. Also possible, American Kestrel, Blue Grosbeaks, Savannah Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, and other breeding birds. Reservations with a phone number required at least a week ahead of the trip for names to be submitted to the County. Meet at 5 p.m. at 6001 Rt. 108, Laytonsville, Md. Limit: 12. LEADER: Mark England at englandmark@comcast.net.