Field trips for members and guests. See newsletter for more details.
May Field Trips
Lawn Chair Birding trip to Shenandoah National Park, Wednesday, May 7: (rain date May 14) with a meetup time of 7:30 or 8:00 am for carpooling from Harrisonburg. We will likely leave for home around 3:00 or 4:00 pm.
We have done this trip in the past, and it involves a combination of stops at overlooks, short walks, and/or lawn chair birding at places such as South River and Lewis Mountain Picnic Grounds (both have restroom facilities). Our last stop is Big Meadows, where we again break out the lawn chairs and enjoy the birds and scenery. We actually sit and wait for birds to come to us!
We carry lots of snacks and drink as we relax in our lawn chairs (or picnic tables), breathe in the mountain air, and view birds and wildlife. Sitting is not required, and those that wish to roam a bit are free to do so. Participants should bring lawn chairs, jackets, plenty of food and snacks, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
Registration is required for this outing. Please contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 to register. A Park pass (annual or lifetime) would be helpful for at least one participant in each vehicle in the group. Please include this information when registering, if appropriate.
April Field Trips
Hillandale Bird and Brunch Walk, Tuesday, April 8: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM for a bit of birding. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info.
Madison Run / Browns Gap Fire Road (Shenandoah National Park), Saturday April 12, with Greg Moyers – Join Greg at 9:00 AM to seek some of our earliest returning warblers and more. This is a great spot to see Louisiana Waterthrushes and other early-returning birds such as Pine Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, and Black-and-white Warbler. Meet at the fire road at 9:00 AM. We should conclude around noon. This is a fairly easy walk, with a gentle incline, along Madison Run on a well-maintained gravel fire road. Expect about a 3.5-4-mile round trip. There are no restroom facilities. Please contact Greg at gwmoyers@msn.com or 434-3029 if you plan to attend or need directions.
March Field Trips
Hillandale Bird and Brunch Walk, Tuesday, March 11: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM for a bit of birding. Then join us at Kathy’s house (around 10:30 am) for coffee, bagels and more! Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info. Kathy’s address is 521 Ridge Rd. in Harrisonburg.
Madison Run / Browns Gap Fire Road (Shenandoah National Park) & Ore Bank Rd, Woodcock Trip — Wednesday evening, March 12, with Diane Lepkowski – Join Diane under the nearly-full moon as we aim to find American Woodcock males displaying to impress the ladies! We’ll meet along the Fire Road at 6:45 PM & probably then head north to a viewing spot on Ore Bank Rd. Drive on your own or let Diane know if you wish to connect with others for carpooling (20-minute drive from Harrisonburg.) Park along the beginning of the Fire Rd, an extension of Browns Gap Rd, just east of the Ore Bank Rd intersection, taking care not to block the road. This is at the foot of the mountain, east of Grottoes, just inside SNP. Please sign up with Diane at dianelep1@yahoo.com if you plan to attend or have questions.
February Field Trips
Hillandale Bird Walk, Tuesday, February 11: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info. CANCELLED due to snow.
January Field Trips
Hillandale Bird Walk, Tuesday, January 14: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info.
December Field Trips
Hillandale Bird Walk, Tuesday, December 10: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info.
Hillandale “Last day of Fall” Bird Walk, Friday, December 20: Meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM.
November Field Trips
Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding: Friday November 8 (Sunday November 10, rain date.) Sign-up required due to limited space. Debbie Harrison will lead this evening trip, meeting in Broadway to carpool to Highland Retreat. Contact her at woodshar@aol.com to sign up (include your cell phone number, full name and name of any guest.) Rain or wind will cancel the trip.
Hillandale Bird Walk, Tuesday, November 12: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info.
October Field Trips
Hillandale Bird Walk, Tuesday, October 8: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info.
Field Trip Reminder: Virginia Wildlife Center Field Trip, Saturday, October 12
We will meet at the Virginia Wildlife Center, 1800 S Delphine Ave, Waynesboro, VA at 9:45 am on Saturday, October 12. Please remember to bring $5 per person in cash or a check made out to Rockingham Bird Club. Carpooling when possible is suggested. There are a few spots still available. Registration for this trip closes October 7. Contact Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517
***Participants might want to stop by the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch that day as well.
September Field Trips
Hillandale Bird Walk, Tuesday, September 10: We will meet at Shelter 12 at 8:30 AM. Contact Tom Mizell at ztomvaz@cs.com or 540-810-5898, or Kathy Byers at kkbyers77@gmail.com or 540-820-6517 for questions or more info.
Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, Friday, September 20, weather permitting: Anyone interested can meet by around 10 AM outside the long-closed Inn at Afton (at the intersections of Rt 250 and Howardsville Turnpike, uphill from where Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway meet.) This will be around peak Broad-winged Hawk migration. Peak day in the past has fallen between Sept 16 and 22 or so, with thousands of Broad-wings tallied in a single day. No need to sign up. Rain will cancel. Please contact Diane Lepkowski with questions at dianelep1@yahoo.com. For more information, visit http://www.rockfishgaphawkwatch.org/ and/or find them on Facebook.