Camera Icon
D Holmes

Field Trips

Join us as we travel throughout Hampden County (and beyond!) in search of birds. We offer a wide variety of field trips throughout the year, where you can be in the company of experts and beginners alike as you explore the habitats and behavior of wild birds.

2024_04-27 Ashley Ponds, Holyoke

April 2024

Saturday

,

April 27, 2024

Ashley Ponds, Holyoke

3 Hours

Songbirds and waterbirds

Meet in the back parking lot of Holyoke Pediatrics just west of Exit 12 (old Exit 15) off I-91 at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Steve Svec 335-4078

2024_04-28 Fort River Refuge Walk

April 2024

Sunday

,

April 28, 2024

Fort River Refuge Walk

2-3 Hours

Spring migrants

Meet in the refuge parking lot on 69 Moody Bridge Rd in Hadley at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Tim Carter 323-0601 and Beth Spirito 348-7447

2024_05-01 Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

May 2024

Wednesday

,

May 1, 2024

Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

2-3 Hours

Waterbirds and songbirds

Bring footwear appropriate for wet trails. Meet at sign on Bark Haul and Pondside Roads in Longmeadow at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Al & Lois Richardson 736-0846, ALNLOISR@AOL.COM

2024_05-04 Lake Wallace, Belchertown

May 2024

Saturday

,

May 4, 2024

Lake Wallace, Belchertown

2-3 Hours

Spring migrants, waterfowl, resident Virginia Rail

Meet at the Dunkin' Donuts, 37 State St. (Rte 202/Rte 21), Belchertown at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Tim Carter 323-0601 and Beth Spirito 348-7447

2024_05-05 Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, North Granby, CT

May 2024

Sunday

,

May 5, 2024

Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, North Granby, CT

2-3 Hours

Spring migrants and nesting species

Granby Land Trust's premier birding site, offering many spring migrants and nesting species, including Virginia Rail. An out-and-back walk (2.5 miles), level and easy except for one brief, moderate incline (200 yards). Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the preserve parking lot, 253 Loomis St, North Granby, CT. The lot is located 1/4 mile south of the Southwick/Granby town line.

TRIP LEADER(S)

John Weeks 959-222-9978, aerie.john@cox.net

2024_05-07 Ludlow Reservoir Morning Walk

May 2024

Tuesday

,

May 7, 2024

Ludlow Reservoir Morning Walk

2 Hours

Waterbirds and songbirds

Meet at parking lot for bike trail on Rte. 21 at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Howard & Marcy Schwartz 323-6967

2024_05-08 Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

May 2024

Wednesday

,

May 8, 2024

Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

2-3 Hours

Waterbirds and songbirds

Bring footwear appropriate for wet trails.  Meet at sign on Bark Haul and Pondside Roads in Longmeadow at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Bobby Olsen 508-509-0127, thebigrock9@gmail.com

2024_05-09 Rail Trail Evening Walk

May 2024

Thursday

,

May 9, 2024

Rail Trail Evening Walk

2 Hours

Roost time calls of wetland and grassland residents

Meet at the Station Road parking lot of the Norwottuck Rail Trail off South East St. in South Amherst at 6:00 p.m.  Call leader for details.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Harvey Allen 207-7272

2024_05-11 Mt. Tom Morning Walk

May 2024

Saturday

,

May 11, 2024

Mt. Tom Morning Walk

3 Hours

Spring migrants, Winter Wren and possible Worm-eating Warbler

Meet at the Rte. 141 entrance to the Mt. Tom State Reservation at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

2024_05-12 Mother's Day Walk at Robinson State Park

May 2024

Sunday

,

May 12, 2024

Mother's Day Walk at Robinson State Park

Half Day

Nesting and migrant songbirds

Meet on Colemore St. opposite the North St. entrance at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Steve Svec 335-4078

2024_05-13 South Hadley Falls below the dam

May 2024

Monday

,

May 13, 2024

South Hadley Falls below the dam

2-3 Hours

Waterbirds

Come out and watch birds feed on Shad at the base of the dam!  Bring your spotting scope if you have one, and be prepared to enjoy some easy birding. Probabilities include Bald Eagle, Black Vulture, Cormorant, Mergansers, Great Blue Heron and more, right from the parking lot of the new South Hadley Public Library.  Meet at the Library, 2 Canal St., South Hadley at 9:00 a.m. Call leader for details.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Harvey Allen 207-7272

2024_05-15 Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

May 2024

Wednesday

,

May 15, 2024

Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

2-3 Hours

Waterbirds and songbirds

Bring footwear appropriate for wet trails.  Meet at sign on Bark Haul and Pondside Roads in Longmeadow at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

2024_05-16 Stony Brook Wetlands, Ludlow

May 2024

Thursday

,

May 16, 2024

Stony Brook Wetlands, Ludlow

3 Hours

Wetland and grassland species

An easy 2-3 mile walk on flat terrain.  Bring footwear appropriate for wet trails.  Be prepared for ticks and mosquitoes.   Meet on Tilley St. (unsigned, except for a NO EXIT sign), off West St. in Ludlow, near Ludlow/Granby line at 7:30 a.m.  Parking is on either side of Tilley St. before the yellow gate.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Craig Allen 467-3028

2024_05-17 Allen Bird Club May Count

May 2024

Fri.-Sat., May 17-18, 2024

Friday

,

May 17, 2024

Allen Bird Club May Count

Bird an assigned area in central Hampden County from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Saturday.  Potluck supper for participants at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.  

TRIP LEADER(S)

Contact Janice Zepko for details, jzepko@comcast.net.

2024_05-18 Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

May 2024

Saturday

,

May 18, 2024

Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

2-3 Hours

Waterbirds and songbirds

Bring footwear appropriate for wet trails.  Meet at sign on Bark Haul and Pondside Roads in Longmeadow at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Erica Schwalm 335-8944, ericadschwalm@aol.com

2024_05-19 Mt. Holyoke - Skinner State Park

May 2024

Sunday

,

May 19, 2024

Mt. Holyoke - Skinner State Park

3 Hours

Worm-eating and Cerulean Warblers

Moderate 1 mile walk.  Meet at the park's main entrance off Rte 47 in Hadley at the parking area just before the toll gate at 7:00 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Tim Carter and Beth Spirito 348-7447

2024_05-22 Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

May 2024

Wednesday

,

May 22, 2024

Stebbins Refuge Morning Walk

2-3 Hours

Waterbirds and songbirds

Bring footwear appropriate for wet trails.  Meet at sign on Bark Haul and Pondside Roads in Longmeadow at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Michele Keane-Moore, mkeane_moore@hotmail.com

2024_05-23 Explore a Wilbraham Hotspot, the McDonald Nature Preserve

May 2024

Thursday

,

May 23, 2024

Walk at McDonald Nature Preserve, Wilbraham

2-3 Hours

Migrant and resident songbirds

Enjoy songbirds in the McDonald fields, woodlands and white cedar swamp. Between 2 - 4 miles of walking, depending on the group's preferences. Trail is primarily flat, and also has some sections with rocks and roots.  Note new meeting location is at the parking area for the Washington Road Trailhead on 12 Washington Road in Wilbraham at 7:00 a.m.  Wear footwear appropriate for wet trails.  Be prepared for ticks and mosquitoes. 

TRIP LEADER(S)

BobbyOlsen 508-509-0127, thebigrock9@gmail.com and Sue Burk530-3434, smburk43@gmail.com

2024_05-25 Hadley Hotspots

May 2024

Saturday

,

May 25, 2024

Hadley Hotspots

Half Day

Grassland birds, Orchard Oriole, and Vesper Sparrow

Meet in the Fort River Refuge parking lot on 69 Moody Bridge Rd. in Hadley at 8:00 a.m.  Call leader for details.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Harvey Allen 207-7272

2024_05-26 Quabbin Reservoir

May 2024

Sunday

,

May 26, 2024

Quabbin Reservoir

3 Hours

Songbirds, waterbirds, and eagles

Meet at the Visitor's Center at 7:00 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Tim Carter 323-0601 and Beth Spirito 348-7447

2024_05-31 Little River Breeding Bird Count

May 2024

Fri.-Sat., May 31 - June 1, 2024

Friday

,

May 31, 2024

Little River Breeding Bird Count

Help monitor the breeding birds in the Little River IBA (Important Bird Area) in parts of Granville, Blandford, Russell, and Southwick.  6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. Saturday.  Compilation and pizza at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.  

TRIP LEADER(S)

Contact Janice Zepko at jzepko@comcast.net for details.

2024_06-01 Westover ARB, Chicopee

June 2024

June 2024

Saturday

,

June 1, 2024

Westover ARB

Half Day

Upland Sandpiper, Kestrel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink and Meadowlark

There will likely be a guided bus tour of the Westover ARB grasslands in May or June. There are access requirements to this tour, including providing visitor information well in advance of the tour and a club limit of participants.

Details will follow as they become available.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Howard Schwartz 323-6967

2024_06-02 Stanley Park, Westfield

June 2024

Sunday

,

June 2, 2024

Stanley Park, Westfield

2 Hours

Breeding songbirds

Walk the woodland trails of the sanctuary in search of breeding songbirds. Meet at the main entrance sign to the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary located across from the recreation field at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Joanne Fortin 447-4212

2024_06-08 Tyringham and Post Farm

June 2024

Saturday

,

June 8, 2024

Tyringham and Post Farm

Half Day

Wetland and upland species

Some easy hiking.  Meet at McDonald's in Lee just north of Turnpike Exit 10 (old Exit 2) at 6:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Myles & Kathy Conway 269-7130 or 687-5037

2024_06-09 Southwick/Suffield WMA

June 2024

Sunday

,

June 9, 2024

Southwick/Suffield WMA

3 Hours

Resident songbirds and possible nesting rarities

Meet at the Suffield WMA parking area at 7:00 a.m.  To get there from intersection of Rte 10/202 and 57 in Southwick, head east on Depot St, turn right onto Sheep Pasture Rd, continue onto Point Grove Rd, parking area is on left just after Connecticut line.  

TRIP LEADER(S)

John Weeks 959-222-9978, aerie.john@cox.net

2024_06-14 Adirondacks, New York

June 2024

June 14-16, 2024

Friday

,

June 14, 2024

Adirondacks, New York

3 Days

Nesting boreal species

Moderate hiking involved. Make reservations at Sandy Point Motel (518-624-3871) in Long Lake as early as possible. Call leader at least 10 days in advance for details.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Myles & Kathy Conway 269-7130 or 413-687-5037

2024_06-22 Fort River Refuge Walk

June 2024

Saturday

,

June 22, 2024

Fort River Refuge Walk

2-3 Hours

Breeding species

Meet in the refuge parking lot on 69 Moody Bridge Rd. in Hadley at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Tim Carter 323-0601 and Beth Spirito 348-7447

2024_August Nighthawk Watch at Longmeadow Flats

August 2024

Thursday

,

August 1, 2024

Nighthawk Watch at Longmeadow Flats

Evening

Nighthawks

Evening date to be announced.  Check website or call for details.  Meet at the viewing platform on the corner of Pondside Rd and Birnie Road at 6:45 pm.  Suggest mosquito repellant.  

TRIP LEADER(S)

Al & Lois Richardson 736-0846, ALNLOISR@AOL.COM

2024_08-17 Plum Island

August 2024

Saturday

,

August 17, 2024

Plum Island

Full Day

Shorebirds, ducks, hawk, and egrets

Meet in the commuter lot behind McDonald’s near Turnpike entrance in Ludlow at 6:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Tim Carter 323-0601 and Janice Zepko, jzepko@comcast.net

2024_08-24 Longmeadow & Agawam

August 2024

Saturday

,

August 24, 2024

Longmeadow & Agawam

3 Hours

Shorebirds, egrets, and herons.

Meet at Pynchon Point Park on River Road in Agawam at 7:30 a.m.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Al & Lois Richardson 736-0846, ALNLOISR@AOL.COM

2024_09-16 Monhegan Island, ME

September 2024

September 16-19, 2024

Monday

,

September 16, 2024

Monhegan Island, ME

4 Days

Rarities and migrants.

Reservations for overnight accommodations generally open January 1, 2024 and must be made well in advance. We will depart on Sept. 16 from Port Clyde, ME using Monhegan Boat Line, 3:00 PM ferry and leave Monhegan on Sept. 19 on the 12:30 PM ferry. Contact leader for details.

TRIP LEADER(S)

Janice Zepko, jzepko@comcast.net and Doug James 454-4005, ufindme@comcast.net

DISCLAIMER: Members and non-members attend trips at their own risk.  Neither the Allen Bird Club, nor any trip leader, nor any driver shall be responsible for any injury suffered by any trip participant.  By participating in any trip, the participant acknowledges that he or she alone shall be solely responsible for any and all injuries suffered by the participant on any Allen Bird Club trip.

Got to top of page