THIS TRIP IS FULL.  Join us as we explore this location for some spring early-morning birding on the west side of Route 28 (https://rb.gy/qpdqda). We’ll bird the broad fields and separating woods, beginning at 7 a.m., hoping for warblers and sparrows, vireos, woodpeckers, and raptors. Limit: 10. For reservations (required) and more information, email the LEADER: Scott Young at [email protected]. Dave Roberts will co-lead.

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  Half-day trip starting at the Blue Mash Nature Trail, where we will look for a variety of songbirds and other species. Then we will drive over to the adjacent Oaks Landfill to look for raptors, Blue Grosbeaks, and possible Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows. Limit: 12. Start at 7 a.m. at 20500 Zion Road, Laytonsville, Md. For reservations (required), contact the LEADER: Mark England at [email protected] or 240-308-4114.

Save the date! The much anticipated annual Social, after several cancellations, will return to the beautiful setting of Woodend, the Chevy Chase home of the Audubon Naturalist Society. We plan to meet in person to honor the Member of the Year, enjoy members’ presentation of their most beloved recent photographs, and have a delicious dinner. Look for more information in future communications.

UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO WEATHER, THIS TRIP IS CANCELLED. Half day. Explore the diverse habitats in this one-square mile refuge at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers in Woodbridge, Virginia. A variety of raptors and migratory warblers, vireos, thrushes and flycatchers should be present, and rails and bitterns are possibilities. Start at the parking lot in the center of the refuge at 7:30 a.m. Limit: 12. For reservations (required), contact one of the CO-LEADERS: Mike Bowen at 202-236-0510 or [email protected] or Gerry Hawkins at 571-277-8406 or [email protected]. Directions: From Maryland, take Rt. 495 south to I-95 south LEFT Exit 161 (Woodbridge), follow Rt. 1 south, cross the Occoquan River, turn left at the light onto Dawson Beach Rd. and follow this road to the end.

Tune up your ears as we listen for and learn to identify the songs and calls of migrant and local breeding birds. The trip will be geared to new birders but all are welcome. We will start at 7 a.m. at the parking lot at Hughes Hollow. Limit: 6. For reservations (required) and more information, email the LEADER: Paul Woodward at [email protected].

Half day. Once again, 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. Trip will start at 7 a.m. at the League’s Chapterhouse. Limit: 10. For reservations (required) and directions, email the LEADER: Jim Nelson at [email protected].

Come discover this lovely park during spring migration. Lots of migrants pass through, including many warblers. We will start in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Limit: 16. For reservations (required) and more information, email one of the CO-LEADERS: Anne Mytych at [email protected] or Emily Huang at [email protected].

Across 11 Western states and millions of acres of public lands, the Greater Sage-Grouse continues to make its remarkable courtship displays where the birds congregate, at sites called leks. Patrick Newcombe, former MBC Chat editor and YMOS alumnus, has recently finished a documentary, Glory of the West, about conservation of the Greater Sage-Grouse. During a gap year from Princeton University, Patrick spent two months camping and filming the Greater Sage-Grouse on their leks in Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, and Idaho. To supplement his footage, he interviewed ranchers, natural gas lobbyists, indigenous people, conservation professionals, and government biologists. Patrick will join us via Zoom to share his film and insights about the Greater Sage-Grouse and their fascinating ecosystem, home to hundreds of other species of birds.

With Spring come the warblers—and the vireos and the thrushes and the orioles! We’ll stroll north toward Violette’s Lock, looking and listening for new arrivals and early nesters, not neglecting spring wildflowers. Limit: 8. For reservations (required) and starting time and place, email the LEADER: Lydia Schindler at [email protected].

THIS TRIP IS FULL. 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). We’ll use our eyes and ears to identify forest birds, likely some waterfowl, and perhaps early migrants. Limit: 8. For reservations (required), time, and directions, email the LEADER: Cheryl Hogue at [email protected].

Half day. We will begin at the Hughes Hollow parking lot in the McKee-Beshers WMA at 7 a.m. We will explore the wetlands and fields of Hughes Hollow. Species to be expected include Red-headed Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, and many other marsh-dwellers, as well as lingering winter land birds. A chance for several warblers including Prothonotary and other early neotropical migrants. Limit: 16. For reservations (required) and more information, email the LEADER: Jim Nelson at [email protected].

We’ll be looking for early warblers and lingering waterfowl as we head upstream for a several hour walk. Easy level walking. Start at the Pennyfield parking lot at 7 a.m. Limit: 6. For more information and for reservations (required), email the LEADER: Dave Powell at [email protected].