~ HOFFMANN BIRD CLUB ~

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

2012–2013 Hoffmann Bird Club Schedule

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.

Monthly Meetings are held at Berkshire Life Insurance, 700 South St., Pittsfield, MA or Pleasant Valley Sanctuary, 427 W. Mountain Rd., Lenox, MA. See the schedule for specific dates and locations. Most meetings begin at 7:00PM. They are free and open to everyone interested in birds. Come enjoy the scheduled program and light refreshments. Bring a friend.

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

Important Trip Tips

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 the HBC eNews for more details as the date nears.

3. If you plan to take the overnight trips scheduled on 9/22 and/or 10/20, please make hotel reservations at least a month or two in advance. Be sure to make refundable reservations.

2012-2013 Schedule

September 2012

Fri 9/7 Potluck and Monthly Meeting 5:30PM
“Polar Adventures in Spitzbergen”
Gail Platz, HBC Member & Ornithological Traveler
Pleasant Valley Sanctuary
427 W. Mountain Rd., Lenox 01240


Sat 9/8    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 (458-3664, veganpeace2@gmail.com)

Sun 9/9   Pittsfield State Forest    7:30AM
We will look for migrants and visit the hawk watch. Meet at the Lanesborough Post Office, Rt. 7. Leader Gael Hurley (281-1017,   gael19@nycap.rr.com)

Wed 9/12   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 9/15   Blueberry Hill Hawk Watch    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.  Bring a dish to share.  Meet Tom Begley (655-0112,  AT8395@aol.com ) at Price Chopper parking lot on the Pittsfield-Lenox Rd., Lenox to carpool. Rain date 9/16

Sat 9/22–Mon 9/24   Cape May                TBA
(combined event with the Allen Bird Club.)
Join us for this 3-day, 2-night trip to Brigantine NWR and Cape May Point. Make your own motel reservations at the Cape Harbor Motor Inn, (609-884-0018). Please be sure you contact leader Chris Blagdon (684-1808,  ceblagdon@nycap.rr.com) about local departure time and place

October 2012


Mon 10/1   Monthly Meeting     7:00PM
Berkshire Life Insurance, 700 South St. Pittsfield
Warblers of Eastern North America
Sam Fried,  Author  Founder of “Flights of Fancy” Adventures

Sun 10/14      “The Big Sit”    Dawn to Dusk
A worldwide count of species seen or heard at the height of migration. Count at Canoe Meadows Sanctuary, Holmes Rd, Pittsfield. Bring a chair, count any time of day. Contact Jamie Bishop (634-02340,  pidgies@gmail.com or Gael Hurley (281-1017,  gael19@nycap.rr.co) or Birdwatchers Digest a   www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/bigsit/about.php

Sun 10/14    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 10/20-Sun 10/21    Rhode Island Coast
                              Town Hall Hinsdale    6:30AM   or McDonalds in Lee    7:00AM        
Overnight trip to the R I coast in search of migrating shorebirds, passerines, ducks and hawks. For reservations see website of Scarborough Beach Motel in Narragansett. Register with Dave Monk by 10/15.  (655-8594,  mamonks@verizon.net)

HBC Members are welcome at the Hopkins Forest Saw-whet Owl Banding Program that runs mid-October to early November. Weather permitting, It is open evenings at the Owl Banding Station at Hopkins Forest in Williamstown. Call Drew Jones (413-597-4353) before you go for further details 

Sat 10/27    Mahanna Cobble    7:00AM
A semi-strenuous walk on the ski trails to Mahanna Cobble above the Bousquet Ski area. Expect birds of northern hardwood forests. Scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak & redstarts likely. Mourning warbler, indigo bunting & oriole, possible. Meet at Bousquet parking lot on Dan Fox Dr.: Contact Doug Bruce (499-0596;  dbruce@bnrc.net) for details

Sun 10/28    Great Meadows NWR    6:30AM
½ day visit to this NWR in Concord to find waterfowl, raptors and late migrants. Will also bird near by Concord Water Treatment Plant, site of the famous Mass. Mountain Bluebird. A variety of sparrows are possible there. Bring lunch.  For habitat details contact Chuck Johnson (978-505-9139, chuckjohnson10@aol.com). Register w/ Dave Monk (655-8594, mamonks@verizon.net)  by 10/27 to arrange for carpooling from Lenox Price Chopper.          

November 2012

Sun 11/4   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


Mon 11/5      Monthly Meeting        7:00PM
Berkshire Life Insurance, 700 South St., Pittsfield
The Importance of eBird
Marshall Iliff,
eBird/Avian Knowledge Network Project Leader
Cornell Lab of Ornithology



Sat 11/10    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).

December 2012

Tue 12/4     Monthly Meeting       7:00PM
Berkshire Life Insurance 700 South St., Pittsfield
Members Night and Christmas Count Details
Bring 10 slides or digital images and holiday sweets to share and sign up for the Christmas Count!

Sat 12/15  Central Berkshire Christmas Count
Join a team and keep the tradition going. Sign up at Members Night (12/4), or contact count leader Tom Collins (499-2799,  tcbirder@nycap.rr.com) for departure place and time. Blizzard date: 12/18.

Due to unpredictable weather conditions, monthly meetings are not scheduled in January or February. Field trips continue.

January 2013

Tue 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 1/5    Fairhaven
A trip to SE Mass & /Buzzards Bay to search for wintering waterfowl, loons, grebes, and passerines.  Bring lunch and a scope.  Leader: Kathy Mills, contact Tom Begley (655-0112,  AT8395@aol.com) for travel details by Jan. 2

February 2013

Sat 2/2    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 ).

March 2013

Mon 3/4   Monthly Meeting   7:00PM
Berkshire Life Insurance, 700 South St. Pittsfield
“Sparrow Tales”
Rick Wright, Managing Director
WINGS & Birding New Jersey

Sat 3/23     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)
         

Our spring Birding Beyond Your Backyard walks will begin soon. This spring walks will be in the Williamstown area. For dates & places contact Dave Monk at ( outreach@hoffmannbirdclub.org, 655-8594) or (hoffmannbirdclub.org/beyond/html

April 2013

Tue 4/2     Monthly Meeting       7:00PM
Berkshire Life Insurance, 700 South St. Pittsfield
The Psychology of Bird Identification
David Sibley, Master Ornithologist

Sat 4/6   Connecticut Coastal Caravan    7:00AM
A 3/4 day trip to the Connecticut shoreline in the Milford - New Haven area looking for wintering waterfowl. Bring a scope. Lunch optional. Leave CT for MA about 2:30PM. Contact Dave Monk in advance (655-8594,  mamonks@verizon.net) to arrange carpools.

Sat 4/13  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 4/28   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 (884-2661, carriejones2011@aol.com)

May 2013

Saturday 5/4/2013   Annual Meeting and Banquet
Join club members for a brief meeting
to elect officers followed by

“The Evolution of Beauty in Birds”
Richard Prum, Curator of Ornithology
Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

Banquet coordinators are Juliet Flynt and Paula Wells
Email  banquet@hofffmannbirdclub.org or call 664-9301

The Williams Inn will host our banquet in Williamstown, MA

Members will receive restaurant, reservation and speaker details thru eNews.   Reserve early!

Sat 5/4   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 (veganpeace2@gmail.com)

Sun 5/5      Steepletop                 7:30AM
A ½ day ramble through BNRC’s Steepletop Reserve in New Marlboro. Includes 1200 acres of wetlands, clearcuts, and mature forest. Waterproof boots recommended. Meet at the Old Inn on the Green, 134 Hartsville-New Marlboro Road, New Marlboro. Contact leader Doug Bruce (499-0596;  dbruce@bnrc.net) in advance for directions

Sun 5/12  Post Farm and Woods Pond       7:00AM (Note this is a change from printed booklets)
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).
 
Thu 5/16   Hand Hollow Conservation Area           7:00AM
                      and Ooms Pond, East Chatham, NY         
Target specie are Mourning, Bay-Breasted, Canada and Blackburnian Warblers. Hand Hollow part is an easy 2 hour walk. Meet Tom Collins at 6:30 AM at Pittsfield Plaza, W. Housatonic St., (Rt. 20), to carpool or meet at 7AM at Clellie’s home on Gale Hill Rd. In NY.  Contact Clellie (518-794-9063 ClellieL@aol.com) for more directions and details
 
Fri 5/17–Sat 5/18    Birdathon                       TBA  (Note this is a change from printed booklets)
Support Mass Audubon’s annual Birdathon to benefit our local sanctuary. Contacts, count format and other details will be announced in the Hoffmann eNews.
 
Sat 5/18    Century Run                                 TBA  (Note this is a change from printed booklets)
Join the traditional Big Day count of the birds in Berkshire County Contact count leader Tom Tyning ttyning@berkshirecc.edu  to join a team. Watch Hoffmann eNews for added details about the count.

Fri 5/24    Kent Falls, CT    5.30AM
Join a ¾ day trip along River Rd. in search of Worm- eating, Hooded & Cerulean Warblers. Bring lunch. Contact Noreen Mole for more information (442-6327,smole@berkshire.rr.com)

Sat 5/25 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 (458-3664, veganpeace2@gmail.com).

Sun 5/26   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 5/31    Tyringham    7:00AM
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.

June 2013

Sat 6/1    Green Mountain Nat. Forest    6:30AM
A ¾ day trip to Vermont to explore Kelly Stand Rd, Somerset Reservoir & Grout Pond areas.  Roadside birding & some light hiking. Bring Lunch. Contact Tom Begley (655-0112,  AT8395@aol.com) or Noreen Mole (442-6327, smole@berkshire.rr.com)

Sun 6/2    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 6/8  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 6/9, Becket quarry 7:00 AM

To Becket quarry, led by Rene Laubach.  This trip will explore the Becket Land Trust property.  For details contact Rene Laubach rlaubach@massaudubon.org

Sun 6/9    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 6/15    Old Colonial Road    7:00AM
Birding in this BNRC preserve in Stockbridge on Rt. 183. We will look for water and woodland birds during an easy, 2 hour walk. Meet and park at the Stockbridge Bowl boat launch on Rt.183 at 7:00 am. For more information and complete directions, contact Doug Bruce (499-0596;  dbruce@bnrc.net)  for directions.


The club’s monthly meetings are suspended for the summer. They will resume in September. Field trips and outings continue through the summer months.


July 2012

Sat 7/13    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).


Fri 6/7  Picnic & Birding at Pleasant Valley
427 West Mountain Rd., Lenox
5:00PM Birding- 6PM Picnic
“The Birds of the Equatorial Pacific:
Malaysia & Ecuador”
Ed and Sue Lewis, HBC Members & Ornithological Travelers
Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Main courses & beverages are provided
RSVP Requested – Watch eNews for details





The trips in listed in this guide are those confirmed at press time in July. During the year, other walks may be offered. Check for additional trips and events in HBC eNews or on our website at   www.hoffmannbirdclub.org.