~ HOFFMANN BIRD CLUB ~

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

The Hoffmann Bird Club is Berkshire County’s premier ornithological organization. It was established in 1940 with a mission of promoting the study of birds in the county. The club was founded under the auspices of the Berkshire Museum and is named in honor of Ralph Hoffmann, a naturalist born in Berkshire County.

Field Trips: Times listed are departure times; please arrive a few minutes early to meet the leader(s) and carpool when possible. When carpooling, participants are expected to contribute to gas expenses. Local trips generally last until lunch, unless otherwise noted. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Dress for the weather, wear proper footwear, and bring binoculars (if you have them). Please contact the Trip Leader to let her/him know you are coming.

Our Birding Beyond Your Backyard trips will continue this year. Call Dave Monk at 655-8594 or email him at outreach@hoffmannbirdclub.org to learn how they can expand your birding enjoyment.

Unless otherwise noted, all telephone numbers are in area code 413

1. It is very helpful if you contact trip leaders in advance to let them know you are coming so they are aware of how many people to expect.

2. If you are taking a trip where some details are TBA, contact the leader by phone or email or check    eNews for more details as the date nears.

3. If you plan to take the overnight trips scheduled on 10/1 and/or 10/22, please make hotel reservations at least a month or two in advance. Be sure to make refundable reservations.

Sat 9/3     Explore Lanesborough                  7:30AM

We’ll watch for migrating songbirds and raptors on a walk around a pond and former cross-country ski trails. We’ll check the caves and springs at the site. Meet at the old Brodie Ski Touring Center, 770 Rt 7, Lanesborough. Leader: Matt Kelly (458-3290, veganpeace@earthlink.net)

Sun 9/11   Pittsfield State Forest                                7:30AM

We will look for migrants and visit the hawk watch Meet at Lanesborough Post Office, Rt. 7. Leader Gael Hurley (281-1017, gael19@nycap.rr.com)

Wed 9/14   Springside Park                             7:30AM

Meet at playground parking lot off North St. (Rte. 7), Pittsfield to look for migrating songbirds and sparrows in a variety of habitats. Leader: Noreen Mole, 442-6327, Smole@berkshire.rr.com

  Sat 9/17   Blueberry Hill Hawk Watch/Picnic   7:30AM

(Combined event with the Allen Bird Club). 

Look for raptors overhead and migrating passerines in the woods at Blueberry Hill Hawk Watch in West Granville. Meet Tom Begley (655-0112, AT8395@aol.com ) at Price Chopper parking lot on the Pittsfield-Lenox Rd., Lenox to carpool. Bring a dish to share. Rain date 9/18

Sat 10/1–Mon 10/3   Cape May                          TBA

Join us for this 3-day, 2-night trip to Brigantine NWR and Cape May Point.  Please be sure you contact leader Chris Blagdon (684-1808, ceblagdon@nycap.rr.com) about local departure time and place

Sun 10/9       “The Big Sit”       Dawn to Dusk

Join a worldwide count of species seen or heard during the height of fall migration. Counting is done sitting inside a 17 ft. circle at Canoe Meadows Sanctuary, Holmes Rd, Pittsfield. Bring a chair and count any time of day. Contact Coordinators Jamie Bishop (634-0234, pidgies@gmail.com or Gael Hurley (281-1017,gael19@nycap.rr.co) or Birdwatchers Digest at www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/bigsit/about.php

Sat 10/15 White Memorial, Litchfield, CT                                6:30AM

A ¾ day trip to White Memorial Sanctuary. The park has 4000 acres of fields, woods, lakes and marshes to bird. Lunch stop or bring your own. Contact leaders Noreen Mole (442-6327, smole@berkshire.rr.com) or Tom Begley (655-0112, AT8395@aol.com) for details.

Sun 10/16    Leaders choice                TBA

Destination, time and meeting place are to be determined. Contact leaders Bob Wood & Holly Higinbotham (684-3724, higinbo@hotmail.com) for details.

Sat 10/22-Sun 10/23    Rhode Island Coast

                              Town Hall Hinsdale                                6:30AM

                              or McDonalds in Lee                                7:00AM        

Overnight trip to the R I Atlantic coast in search of migrating shorebirds, passerines, ducks and hawks. For reservations see website of Scarborough Beach Motel in Narragansett. Please sign up with Dave Monk (655-8594), mamonks@verizon.net) by 10/19

Sun 10/30                    Cumberland Fields                    6:30AM

A ¾ day trip to these meadows in Middleboro to search for unusual sparrows, fall migrants and other meadow species. The walk is flat but may be muddy so use appropriate footwear. Meet at Price Chopper Rt. 7 in Lenox.  Bring lunch. For habitat details contact Chuck Johnson  (978-505-9139, chuckjohnson10@aol.com). Register with Dave Monk (655-8594, mamonks@verizon.net)  by 10/27 to arrange for carpooling           

Sun 11/6   65th Bartlett Hendricks                                7:00AM     Memorial Waterfowl Census                    

Join the annual census of central Berkshire lakes and wetlands! Meet at Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield. Bring lunch and a scope. Trip ends around 3:00PM. Coordinator: Tom Tyning (442-2165, ttyning@berkshirecc.edu

Sat 11/12    NW CT Waterfowl Census      8:00AM

Meet at Bartholomew’s Cobble. Bring lunch and a scope. Trip ends about 2:00PM. Leader Kate Ryan (528-4355, DivinDucky@aol.com).

Sat 12/3     Cape Ann                               TBA

All-day trip to Gloucester and Rockport to find sea ducks and alcids. Bring lunch. Contact leaders Noreen Mole (442-6327, Smole@berkshire.rr.com) or Chris Blagdon (684-1808, ceblagdon@ nycap.rr.com.)

 

Sat 12/17  Central Berkshire Christmas Count

Join a team and keep the tradition going. Sign up at Members Night (12/5), or contact count leader Tom Collins (499-2799, tcbirder@nycap.rr.com) for departure place and time. Blizzard date: 12/18.

Sun 1/1   South Berkshire Christmas Count   

Join a team and welcome the new year with some winter birding. Contact René Laubach (637-0320, rlaubach@massaudubon.org) to sign up or for more information about time and place.

Sat 2/4    Breakfast and Winter Birds                                7:30AM

Meet at Ozzie’s Restaurant, Maple St., Hinsdale at 7:30AM for breakfast. We will then look for wintering birds around Hinsdale and nearby towns. Mostly roadside birding. Leader Tom Begley (655-0112, AT8395@aol.com ).

Sat 2/11–Sun 2/12   13^th Annual Winter          TBA      Coastal Trip      

The club’s annual full-day or overnight trip to Cape Ann, Salisbury Beach, Joppa Flats, and Parker River NWR. Make reservations at the Fairfield Inn, Amesbury (978-388-3400). Contact Chris Blagdon (684-1808, ceblagdon@nycap.rr.com) for departure time and place details.

Sat 3/10    SW New Hampshire                                7:00AM

A 3/4 day trip to Vernon Dam, Lake Wantastiquet and the Hinsdale Setbacks in New Hampshire to search for migrating waterfowl.  Bring lunch and scopes. Contact leaders, Tom Begley (655-0112, AT8395@aol.com) or Noreen Mole, (442-6327, smole@berkshire.rr.com) for travel information

Sat 3/17   Connecticut Coastal Caravan   7:00AM

A 3/4 day trip to the Connecticut shoreline in the

Essex - Milford - New Haven area looking for wintering waterfowl. Bring a scope. Lunch optional.  Contact Dave Monk in advance (655-8594, mamonks@verizon.net) to arrange carpools.

Sat 3/24    Leaders Choice                  7:00AM

A search for signs of spring in Berkshire County. Meet at Berkshire Museum on South St., Pittsfield. Leader: Dave St. James (443-9456, dpstj@bcn.net)

Sat 4/14   Stockbridge Cemetery &                  7:30AM   Beartown State Forest

Search for early spring migrants at two seldom explored sites in South County. Meet on Rt. 7 in Stockbridge across from the Red Lion Inn. Contact Kate Ryan (528-4355, divinducky@aol.com) for details.

Sun 4/15     Birding Williamstown             7:30AM

A leisurely morning walk looking for birds in Williamstown & South Williamstown. Meet at Field Farm on Sloan Rd., S. Williamstown. Contact Carrie Jones (664-2004, carriejones2011@aol.com)

Sat 5/5    Warner Farm, Cummington       7:30AM

Search for American Bittern, Waterthrushes, Virginia Rails, Cuckoos & more!  Meet at The Creamery on Route 9 in Cummington. Leader: Charles Quinlan: (413-634-0334).  Email contact: Matt Kelly (veganpeace@earthlink.net)

Sun 5/6 Brielman's & George Darey Housatonic  WMA 7:30 A.M.

We will be searching a variety of habitats including wetlands and woodland for migrants.  Meet at the George Darey WMA parking area on New Lenox Rd. in Lenox. Trip will end late morning.

Leaders: Gael Hurley & Andrew Vitz, Ornithologist from Mass Fish and Wildlife.  (gael19@nycap.rr.com, 281-1017).

Sat 5/12     Century Run                                TBA

Join the traditional Big Day count of the birds in Berkshire County Contact count leader Ginny Akabane at 298-5273 or gakabane@hotmail.com  to join a team. Watch Hoffmann eNews for added details about the count

Fri 5/11–Sat 5/12    Birdathon                                TBA

Support Mass Audubon’s annual Birdathon to benefit our local sanctuary. Contacts, count format and other details will be announced in the Hoffmann eNews.

Thu 5/24   Hand Hollow Conservation Area and Ooms Pond, East Chatham, NY      7:00AM

Target species: Mourning, Bay-Breasted, Canada and Blackburnian Warblers. Hand Hollow portion is an easy 2 hour walk. Meet Tom Collins at Pittsfield Plaza, W. Housatonic St., Rt. 20, to carpool at 6:30AM. Or meet at 7AM at Clellie’s home on Gale  Hill Rd. Contact Clellie (518-794-9063, ClellieL@aol.com) for more directions and details

Sat 5/19                Tyringham Valley                7:00AM

Meet at Tyringham Cobble, Jerusalem Rd. in Tyringham to search for spring migrants. Other spots in the valley will also be visited. Includes light hiking and roadside birding. Bring lunch. Contact Gil Schrank (269-7300, gschrankny@aol.com)         

Sun 5/20   Post Farm and Woods Pond                                7:00AM

Morning walk in search of spring migrants and rails. Meet at the Price Chopper parking lot on the Pittsfield-Lenox Rd., Lenox. Leader Gael Hurley (281-1017, Gael19@nycap.rr.com).

Fri 5/25     Westover to Skinner SP           7:00AM

A ¾ day trip to South Hadley to look for Cerulean Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler. Moderate walking. Meet at Allendale Shopping Ctr., Pittsfield. Lunch stop or bring your own. Leaders: Tom Begley (655-0112, AT8395@aol.com) and Noreen Mole (442-6327, smole@berkshire.rr.com)

Sat 5/26  New Ashford/Mount Greylock    7:00AM

We will walk about 4 miles at a birding pace along a marsh and a wooded stream, on back roads and trails, and along limestone cliffs at the base of Mt. Greylock. This is territory rarely visited. The terrain is a bit strenuous. Meet at JW Kelly’s Real Estate, Rte. 7, New Ashford. Leader: Matt Kelly (458-3290, veganpeace@earthlink.net).

Sun 5/27    Hilltown Ramble            6:30AM

A search for migrating song birds. We’ll start in Windsor and make our way to Hawley Bog, Meet at Moran Wildlife Management Area, Rt.8A in Windsor. Contact Leaders Bob Wood and Holly Higinbotham (684-3724, rrwood50@hotmail.com)

Fri 6/1                  Tyringham            6:30AM

Search for summer residents at several sites in the Tyringham Valley. Meet at the McDonalds on Rt. 20 in Lee.  Contact leader Ed Neumuth (884-4961, eneumuth@gmail.com) for additional details.

Sat 6/2   New Marlboro                                6:30AM

We will search the back roads and local hot spots for breeding birds. Meet at McDonald’s on Rte. 7 in Great Barrington. For more information, please contact trip leader Brian Faggioni (274-0149, faggioni@verizon.net).

Sun 6/3    October Mountain                        6:00AM

Join our annual trip to October Mountain State Forest. Contact leader Ed Neumuth (884-4961, eneumuth@gmail.com) for meeting place directions

Sat 6/9  South County Leaders Choice     7:30AM

Meet Kate Ryan at the Wild Bird Store on Rt. 7 in Great Barrington to explore some of the busy bird sites of the southern Berkshires. Contact Kate at
(528-4355, DivinDucky@aol.com) for details

Sun 6/10   Springside Park                                7:00AM

Meet at the playground parking lot off North St. (Rte. 7), Pittsfield to look for resident songbirds and sparrows in a variety of habitats. Leader: Noreen Mole (442-6327, Smole@berkshire.rr.com

Sat 6/16   Steepletop                                     7:30AM

A ½ day ramble through BNRC’s Steepletop Reserve in New Marlboro. Includes 900 acres of wetlands, clearcuts, and mature forest. Waterproof boots recommended. Meet at Price Chopper in Great Barrington. Contact leader Doug Bruce (499-0596; dbruce@bnrc.net) in advance for details

Sun 6/24                    Mahanna Cobble                    7:00AM

Moderate hike on ski and hiking trails to Mahanna Cobble above the Bousquet Ski area. Watching for birds of wetlands and hardwood forests including Mourning Warbler. Meet at Bousquet parking lot on Dan Fox Dr. Leader: Doug Bruce (499-0596; dbruce@bnrc.net) for details

Sat 7/14    Leaders Choice                                7:00AM

A walk through several birding locations in the Williamstown area looking for nesting bobolinks, buntings, kestrels, and other summer  residents. Meet at the former Store at Five Corners on Rt. 7 in South Williamstown.   Leaders: Marina Brodskaya (458-0309, marinbrod@roadrunner.com) and Katharine Wiencke (458-1846, kwiencke@verizon.net).