FEBRUARY 2025

FEBRUARY 23 (Sunday)
LOIS Y. GREEN CONSERVATION PARK

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST ONLY.  Morning walk through the varied habitats of this excellent 250-acre park, including two ponds, fields, and deciduous and coniferous 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 [email protected].

MARCH 2025

MARCH 1 (Saturday)
TIMBERDOODLING AT BLUE MASH

THIS TRIP IS FULL. LONG WAITLIST AVAILABLE. Join us for some crepuscular adventuring and witness the whistling Woodcocks! We’ll meet in the gravel lot off Zion Road in Laytonsville at 4 p.m. Pre-dusk we will be watching for late winter stragglers as well as early spring migrants. The grand finale will be listening for the first “peents” of the evening followed by the whistle and whirl of the sky-dancing American Woodcocks. Wear boots and bring a flashlight! Limit: 12. LEADER: Angela Atwood-Moore at [email protected]. Stacy Rabinovitz will co-lead.

March 2 (Sunday) (YMBC WALK)
Hughes Hollow

8 to ~10am We will scout out the impoundments as well as the woodland area. To get to Hughes Hollow, follow River Road towards Poolesville and turn left at the second entrance to Hunting Quarter Road (across from Hughes Rd). Follow the road and a parking area will soon be on your right. Plan to wear long pants and footwear for wet/muddy conditions, especially if it has rained recently. Mentor: Lauren Carey. Reservations are  required via  https://tinyurl.com/YMBCWinter45. Please note that guardians are responsible for their youth during the entirety of the trip and must stay with them during this time.

MARCH 2 (Sunday)
LAKE ARTEMESIA

THIS TRIP IS FULL. WAITLIST AVAILABLE.  Join us at 7:30 a.m. for a late winter trip to Lake Artemesia. Half a dozen species of ducks or more are likely; early landbird migrants such as Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe are possible, and winter birds will still be present. Easy walking on a paved path. Limit: 10. LEADER: Rob Hilton at [email protected]. Lisa Shannon will co-lead.

MARCH 4 (Tuesday)
CAMBRIDGE WATERFRONT & BLACKWATER NWR

THIS TRIP IS FULL. WAITLIST AVAILABLE. Full day (to dusk). Winter waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds, plus late afternoon marsh watch. Brown-headed Nuthatch possible. Bring lunch and drinks. Limit: 12. LEADER: Mark England at [email protected].

MARCH 6 (Thursday)

OAKS LANDFILL, LAYTONSVILLE

Bundle up for LATE AFTERNOON (3:30 to 6:00 p.m.) search for wintering sparrows and raptors, including possible Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Mostly open terrain with some ponds, which we will check if they are not frozen over. Reservations required at least a week ahead of the trip for names to be submitted to the county. Meet at 3:30 p.m. at Landfill entrance drive at 6001 Rt. 108, Laytonsville, Md. Limit: 16. LEADER: Mark England at [email protected].

MARCH 7 (Friday)
GUNNERS LAKE, GERMANTOWN

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST ONLY.  This little body of water has established a deserved reputation over the years for a nice variety of wintering waterfowl and rather close views of the birds. If the lake is frozen over at the time of the trip, we will switch to a nearby larger body of water. Walking will be along a level, paved path. We’ll start at 8 a.m. along the north side of Wisteria Drive, where there is ample parking. Maps giving directions will be sent to participants. Limit: 10. LEADER: Andy Martin at [email protected].

MARCH 8 (Saturday)
ROCK CREEK’S NORTH BRANCH STREAM VALLEY

THIS TRIP IS FULL. WAITLIST ONLY.  Discover upper Rock Creek’s watershed with a variety of habitats. We’ll start along open fields and marshy areas next to Bowie Mill Park with the opportunity to see sparrows, hawks, and early migrants. Turkeys and a woodcock have been spotted in this area. For those wanting a longer foray, a 4-mile loop that includes the stream valley will be possible. The path at this point along Rock Creek is meandering and narrow with some steep sections. We’ll start at 8 a.m. at Bowie Mill Park (https://tinyurl.com/yswz6v95) next to Sequoyah Elementary School with the option to do the shorter paved walk or the longer loop. Limit: 12 (two groups of six). CO-LEADERS: Josephine Cox at [email protected] and Anne Mytych at [email protected].

MARCH 9 (Sunday)
TIMBERDOODLING AT BLUE MASH

THIS TRIP IS FULL. WAITLIST AVAILABLE. Join us for some crepuscular adventuring and witness the whistling Woodcocks! We’ll meet in the gravel lot off Zion Road in Laytonsville at 4 p.m. Pre-dusk we will be watching for late winter stragglers as well as early spring migrants. The grand finale will be listening for the first “peents” of the evening followed by the whistle and whirl of the sky-dancing American Woodcocks. Wear boots and bring a flashlight! Limit: 12. LEADER: Angela Atwood-Moore at [email protected]. Stacy Rabinovitz will co-lead.

MARCH 15 (Saturday)
WHEATON REGIONAL PARK

THIS TRIP IS FULL. WAITLIST AVAILABLE.  A bit early for spring migration but who knows? Wheaton RP always surprises us. Ducks, woodpeckers, flycatchers, raptors (sometimes a Merlin!), bluebirds, and towhees are all possible, and if you don’t know WRP, you will enjoy the variety of terrain and landscape. Limit: 12 (two groups of six). LEADER: Evelyn Ralston at [email protected]. Josephine Cox will co-lead.

MARCH 22 (Saturday)
BROOKSIDE GARDENS

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  WAITLIST ONLY.  If you’ve been wanting to explore this garden oasis in suburban Maryland, here is your chance. Easy walk with mostly local birds and a few winter visitors or early spring arrivals. Good for beginners and anyone wanting to begin their spring birding in a lovely setting. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center parking lot. Limit: 10. LEADER: Karen Cyr at [email protected].