August 2011

Sunday, August 28 - Orangeburg Sod Farms
Full Day • Easy • Contact: Judy Walker • MAP
This is our annual trek to the coastal in search of hard to find, migrating shorebirds like Upland and Buff-bellied Sandpipers. Since it can be hot pretty quickly in these open fields with no shade we try to get down there as early as possible. We will meet in the Shoney's parking at the Carowinds exit (#90) off of I77 at 5:45 AM in an attempt to leave by 6 AM. Bring plenty of water, a hat, bug spray and sun screen. Snacks and lunch are recommended.

September 2011

Thursday, September 8th - Latta Park (Dilworth)
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
Migrants will have started coming in, so we'll check this park and see what's there. Meet at 8:30 AM in the shelter on East Park Ave.

Saturday, September 10th - Beginner's Bird walk.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Sally Miller • MAP
This is designed for new birders, but anyone can come. Sally Miller will cover the basics for looking at birds, as we go though McAlpine Creek Greenway. If you need binoculars, let her know. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Monroe Road.

Sunday, September 11th - Butterfly Walk
Afternoon 1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Taylor Piephoff • MAP
Taylor Piephoff will lead us on a section of Mallard Creek Greenway to look for butterflies and, of course, birds. We'll meet at 1:30 PM at the Governor Hunt Road access.

Wednesday, September 14th - Anne Springs Close Grnwy
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
We'll join Dave Lovett to walk this wooded area looking for fall migrants and others. There are a few small hills. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot of Bloom's at the corner of Regent Parkway & US 21. (Take a left at the Carowinds exit from I-77 south. Go one mile. Bloom's is on the left. Knowing Dave, he'll have a great lunch spot picked out for any who have worked up an appetite.

Saturday, Sept. 17th - Jackson Park, Hendersonville, NC
Full Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
This Hendersonville city park is the fall equivalent of Latta Park in the spring, with a 20-warbler day possible. This is an all-day trip, so bring a lunch. We'll meet at 7:30 AM at the McDonald's on Hwy 64 ( Exit 49-A on Interstate 26 ) in Hendersonville. It's about two blocks on the right after you cross the interstate.

Sunday, September 18th - Toby Creek Greenway
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Judy Walker • MAP
This greenway, meandering through the UNCC campus, continues to surprise us with interesting birds. If there is time we may also check out the Van Landingham Glen. Meet at 8:30 AM in the Town Center parking lot across the entrance road from the Hardee's.

Thursday, September 22nd - Latta Park (Dilworth)
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
We'll meet at 8:30 AM at the shelter on East Park Ave.

Saturday, September 24th - McAlpine Creek Greenway.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Tom Sanders • MAP
Tom Sanders will take us through this area of fields, woods and beaver pond. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Monroe Rd.

Sunday, September 25th - Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
Ron Clark will lead us through this beautiful wooded preserve, covering about two miles. The trails could be a bit muddy if it has been raining. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Hoyt Hinson Rd off Nevins Rd.

Wednesday, Sept. 28th - Lower McAlpine Creek Grnwy.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
This is the section of greenway next to Four-Mile Creek. It is very good for migrants in the fall. We'll meet at the Johnston Road parking area at 8:30 AM.

October 2011

Saturday, October 1st - Cowan' Ford Refuge.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: John Bonestel • MAP
John Bonestell will take us through sections of the refuge. This area is accessible by permit only, so this is an opportunity to go "behind the fence". Meet at the viewing stand at 8:30 AM.

Tuesday, October 4th - Latta Park (Dilworth)
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
This inner city park is always good in migration. We'll start at 8:30 AM at the shelter on East Park Ave.

Thursday, October 6th - Campbell Creek Greenway.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Tom Sanders • MAP
This is a flat, paved three-mile roundtrip walk on the east side of town, led by Tom Sanders. Meet in the parking lot on Margaret Wallace Rd at 8:30 AM.

Sunday, October 9th - Big Sit
This is a fun-filled day of birding with minimal walking. It takes place in the viewing stand at Cowan's Ford Refuge. It will start before daybreak and end around 5-6, whenever the last folks leave. You can come for an hour or all day. Bring a chair, snacks and your binoculars. This is a great way to meet folks, and one of the few outings where talking is okay. Dave Lovett heads it up, and will be cooking hot dogs and whatever else he brings. Sign-up isn't necessary. If you have questions, contact Dave Lovett.

Wednesday, October 12th - Nations Ford Greenway.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
This trail has not been manicured yet, so it doesn't get many visitors. It does get some great birds though. There are a couple of small hills. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot of Bloom's at the corner of Regent Parkway & US 21. (Take a left at the Carowinds exit from I-77 south. Go one mile. Bloom's is on the left.)

Saturday, October 15th - Holly Bend Nature Preserve.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: John Bonestel • MAP
This area is part of Cowan's Ford Refuge, recently acquired by the county. It comprises 250 acres, surrounding the old house on the right before the refuge. John Bonestell will lead us on our first trip to this area. Meet at 8:30 AM in front of the house.

Saturday, October 15th - Beginner's Bird walk.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Sally Miller • MAP
This is designed for new birders, but anyone can come. Sally Miller will cover the basics for looking at birds, as we go though McAlpine Creek Greenway. If you need binoculars, let her know. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Monroe Road.

Thursday, October 20th - Evergreen Nature Preserve.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Tom Sanders • MAP
Tom Sanders will lead this trip through woods, pond, and open field. Meet at 8:30 AM in the bus lot at Winterfield School.

October 22nd - 23rd. Huntington Beach State Park.
Weekend Trip • Moderate/Strenuous • Contact: Judy Walker • MAP
This is our fall sojourn to a South Carolina birding hot spot. Fall migrants – hawks and warblers – will still be moving through, wintering shorebirds will have settled in and a few ducks may also have begun arriving. This is probably the best time of the year to see Peregrine Falcons and Merlins, and I am sure we will be delighted with spectacular views of thousands of tree swallows.

We will meet in the parking lot on the eastside of the causeway at 7:30 AM. It can get pretty hot so remember a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. We will eat lunch in the park so you will also need to bring food.
Since many participants stay for the weekend, we usually go out to dinner on Saturday night. At dinner we will plan where we will go on Sunday.

November 2011

Saturday, November 5th - Latta Prairie.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Tom Sanders • Map
Join Tom Sanders to bird this prairie and woods in Latta Nature Preserve. It's a two-mile walk on a dirt/gravel road. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot of the Nature Center in the preserve.

Thursday, November 10th - Four-Mile Creek Greenway.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
This is a two-mile boardwalk that is always good in the winter. We'll meet at 8:30 AM in the Johnston Rd. parking lot, and carpool to the other end.

Saturday, November 12th - Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
This beautiful preserve on the north side of Charlotte is mostly woods, with one open field . Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Hoyt Hinson Rd.

Saturday, November 12th - Beginner's Bird Walk
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Sally Miller • MAP
This is designed for new birders, but anyone can come. Sally Miller will cover the basics for looking at birds, as we go though McAlpine Creek Greenway. If you need binoculars, let her know. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Monroe Road.

Wednesday, November 16th - Six-mile Creek Greenway
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
We'll meet at 8:30 in the parking lot on Marvin Rd.

Sunday, November 20th - Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
Full Day • Moderate • Contact: Judy Walker • MAP
Wintering passerines will have settled in to the refuge and ducks should start arriving. This is always an interesting trip. We are never sure what we will find.

If you want to car pool we will meet at 7 AM in the parking area adjacent to the McDonald's at Windsor Square on Independence Blvd. You can also meet us at the bathrooms at the main entrance to the refuge on Rt. 52 at 8:15 AM. Please indicate whether you are planning to carpool or drive down directly when you contact the leader.

November 26th-27th - Sunset Beach area.
Weekend Trip • Moderate • Contact: Taylor Piephoff
Taylor Piephoff will lead us on this coastal trip. Sunday the 27th will be a 1/2 day. Meet at the east end of Ocean Isle Beach at the public parking area for Ferry Landing Park with the gazebo. This is different from where we have met in the past. There is a sign that says Ferry Landing Park now. Plan to meet at 8:00 AM.

Places we wil cover will be the east end of Ocean Isle Beach (including a beach walk and scrub boardwalk); OIB wastewater treatment plant, Twin Lakes and some undeveloped residential areas. We will never be very far from restrooms and food stops. Approximately 1.5 miles of walking, mostly in the morning beach walk. Make sure you contact Taylor by November 20th if you plan on joining the group.

December 2011

Saturday, December 3rd - Wintering Waterfowl
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Judy Walker • MAP
By now most of the wintering waterfowl should have arrived at Coddle Creek Reservoir and the surrounding area. We will meet at Panera Bread across from Concord Mills Mall at 9 AM to first check out the wetland behind HH Greg and then car pool up to the reservoir. Depending on time we may even swing by Moss Creek Greenway to see what's there.

Wednesday, December 7th - McAlpine Creek Park/Greenway
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
This park on Monroe Rd. in SE Charlotte features open fields, beaver pond, lake and woods. Meet in the parking lot at 8:30 AM.

Saturday, December 10th - McDowell Prairie/Copperhead
1/2 Day • Medium • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
We'll start at the prairie and bird it until around 11:00 AM. Then we'll go over to Cooperhead Island and check the river and nearby woods. Because of the limited parking at the prairie, we will meet in the Harris Teeter parking lot at the intersection of Hwy 49 (south) and Hwy 160 at 8:30 AM.

Thursday, December 15th - Four-mile Creek Greenway
1/2 Day • Medium • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
We'll meet at the Johnston Rd. parking lot at 8:30 AM for this two mile walk through a variety of habitats.

MAS Sponsored Christmas Bird Counts

Saturday, Dec. 17th • Gaston CBC • Contact: Steve Tracy

Sunday, Dec. 18th • Lake Norman CBC • Contact: Taylor Piephoff

Monday, Dec. 26th • Charlotte CBC • Contact: Ken Kneidel

Satuday, Dec. 31st • Pee Dee CBC • Contact: Judy Walker

January 2012

Saturday, January 7th - Cowans’ Ford Refuge.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: John Bonestell • MAP
John will take us through sections of the refuge. This area is accessible by permit only, so this is an opportunity to go “behind the fence”. Meet at the viewing stand at 8:00 AM.

January 14th & 15th - Huntington Beach State Park (SC)
Weekend Trip • Contact: Judy Walker

Our winter excursion to Huntington Beach State Park is an annual favorite offering some different bird species than our fall trip. Waterfowl - both freshwater and saltwater - have arrived in good numbers including loons, grebes, and ducks. Gannets are numerous offshore along with shorebirds along the quiet beaches.

We will meet at 8 AM in the causeway parking lot. Be sure to dress warmly as the winds off the ocean can be chilling and bring a lunch for a midday break. For those staying the weekend, Saturday evening we gather at a local restaurant for dinner to decide on where we will bird Sunday morning for half a day before heading home.

Thursday, January 19th - Four-Mile Creek Greenway.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
This is a two-mile boardwalk that is always good in the winter. We'll meet at 8:30 in the Johnston Rd. parking lot, and carpool to the other end.

Saturday, January 21st - McDowell Prairie/Copperhead Island.
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
We'll start at the prairie and bird until around 11:00. Then we'll go to nearby Copperhead Island for woods and open water. There is limited parking at the prairie so we'll meet at 8:30, in the Harris-Teeter parking lot at the intersection of Hwy. 49 and Hwy 160.

Saturday, January 21st - Beginner's Bird Walk
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Sally Miller • MAP
This is designed for new birders, but anyone can come. Sally Miller will cover the basics for looking at birds, as we go though McAlpine Creek Greenway. If you need binoculars, let her know. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Monroe Road.


Wednesday, January 25th - Anne Springs Greenway.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
Dave Lovett will lead this trip to this greenway south of Charlotte. Meet at 8:30 out in front of the Food Lion on Hwy 21. Turn left on Carowinds Blvd from I-77 south. The Food Lion is about one mile, on the left.


Saturday, January 28th - Latta Prairie and Nature Preserve.
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Tom Sanders • MAP
This will be a walk to the prairie, and then we'll check the water access points in the preserve for winter ducks, etc. Meet at 8:30 in the parking lot in Latta Nature Preserve.

February 2012

Saturday, February 11th: Evergreen Nature Preserve
1/2 Day • Moderater • Contact: Louise Barden • MAP
Larry and Louise Barden will lead us on this walk, mostly through woods. We'll meet in the bus parking lot of Winterfield School at 8:30 AM.

Sunday, February 12th: Sherman Branch Woodcock Walk
Evening • Easy • Contact: Taylor Piephoff • MAP
Join Taylor Piephoff as we look at American Woodcocks, and other birds, in this nature preserve. The birds are almost guaranteed. Meet at 5:00 PM in the parking lot off Rocky River Rd.

Wednesday, February 15th: Four-mile Creek Greenway
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
This is a two-mile boardwalk that is always good in the winter. We'll meet at 8:30 AM in the Johnston Rd. parking lot, and carpool to the other end.

Saturday, February 18th: Beginner's Bird Walk
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Sally Miller • MAP
This is designed for new birders, but anyone can come. Sally Miller will cover the basics for looking at birds, as we go though McAlpine Creek Greenway. If you need binoculars, let her know. Meet at 8:30 AM in the parking lot on Monroe Road.

Saturday, February 18th: Pee Dee NWR
Full Day • Moderate • Contact: Ron Clark • MAP
Something interesting always shows up on this trip. Ducks and sparrows should still be abundant and there may be some early spring migrants considering the weather this year. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful national wildlife refuge in our own backyard.

If you want to car pool, we will meet at 7 AM in the parking area adjacent to the McDonald's at Windsor Square on Independence Blvd. You can also meet us at the bathrooms at the main entrance to the refuge on Rt. 52 at 8:15 AM. Please indicate whether you are planning to carpool or drive down directly when you contact the leader.

Saturday, February 25th: Cowan's Ford Wildlife Refuge
1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Tom Sanders • MAP
John Bonestell will take us through sections of the refuge that are accessible by permit only, so this is an opportunity to go "behind the fence". Meet at the viewing stand at 8:30 AM.

Wednesday, February 29th: Six-mile Creek Greenway
1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Dave Lovett • MAP
Spend part of this "extra day" strolling through a bottomland hardwood forest that almost always turns up some surprises. Spring is on its way and some early migrants should be showing up. We will meet in the parking lot at 8:30 AM.