Field Trips

[JAN] [FEB] [MAR] [APR] [MAY] [JUN] [JUL] [AUG] [SEP] [OCT] [NOV] [DEC]

RAS field trip calendar is usually updated in August for the September-December/early January part of our season, and in December for the January-August part of our season. Please check back often for additional updates!

All RAS field trips are free and open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, all field trips depart from the Commuter Parking Lot, Route 303 North, West Nyack, NY. We carpool whenever possible.

NOTE: If you plan to meet the group at the destination, please call the trip leader in advance!

January 2012 

1 Jan 2012 (Sun) 

Birding at Jones Beach, NY

Meet Della and Alan Wells at the Commuter Parking Lot, Rte. 303 North, West Nyack, at 5:45am. See the first sunrise of 2012 and start your new year list.

845-942-5751

8 Jan 2012 (Sun) 

SECOND Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier    

Meet Carol Weiss at 8am at the ball field parking at the pier. Prepare for cold and wind and expect to see an unusual bird or two. 845-358-3659

14 Jan 2012
(Sat)
Pelham Bay Park
Meet Jim Previdi at 8am at the Commuter Parking Lot, Route 303 North, West Nyack, for carpooling. Search for owls and waterfowl in this wild(er) corner of the Bronx. Dress warmly, bring snack and hot drink. Return by early afternoon. 845-942-8448
21 Jan 2012
(Sat)
Winter Birding at Montauk
Meet Jim Previdi at 6:30am at the Commuter Parking Lot, Route 303, West Nyack, for carpooling. All-day trip to the eastern end of Long Island to look for seabirds that come near shore during the winter months. 845-942-8448

February 2012

4 Feb 2012 (Sat) Winter Birding in Orange County
Meet Jim Previdi at 2pm at the Commuter Parking Lot, Route 303 North, West Nyack, for carpooling. See raptors and field birds. Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls are usually sighted just before sunset. Should return by 6:30 pm. 845-942-8448
5 Feb 2012 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier

Meet Veronika Krause at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Over by 10am. 845-359-9294
17 Feb 2012
(Fri)

Owl Prowl at Stony Point Battlefield

Meet Jim Previdi at 7:30pm a the main parking lot at the end of Battlefield Rd, accessed from Park Rd. off Rte. 9W in Stony Point. Search for the resident Great Horned Owl and Eastern Screech Owls. 845-942-8448 or Battlefield office 845.-786-2521

18 Feb 2012
(Sat)
Rockland Lake State Park
Meet Elyse and Tom Fuller at 8am at the North Pool parking lot. Look for late wintering ducks. Great for beginners. Over by 11:30am. 845-351-2893
19 Feb 2012
(Sun)
Croton Point Park
Meet Carol Weiss at 8am at the Commuter Parking Lot, Rte. 303 North, West Nyack, for carpooling. Look for wintering birds and possible rarities on the Westchester side of the Hudson. 845-358-3659

March 2012

4 Mar 2012 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier

Meet Peter Johnson at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Over by 10am. 914-261-2895

10 Mar 2012
(Sat)

Woodcocks at Kakiat Park

Meet Jim Previdi at 5:30pm at the Kakiat parking lot, Rte. 202 opposite Viola Elementary School, Suffern. Bring a flashlight. 845-942-8448 

18 Mar 2012
(Sun)
Morning Stroll at Kakiat Park
M
eet Carol Weiss at 8am at the Kakiat parking lot, Rte. 202 opposite Viola Elementary School, Suffern. 845-358-3659

April 2012

1 Apr 2012 (Sun) First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier
Meet Carol Weiss at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Check the pier and river for early migrants. Over by 10am. 845-358-3659
8 Apr 2012
(Sun)
The Celery Farm, Allendale, NJ
Meet Alan & Della Wells and Peter Johnson at 9am at the Celery Farm parking lot on Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, NJ. Great for beginners, may be wet underfoot. Look for waterfowl and very early spring migrants. Over by noon. 845-942-5751 or 914-261-2895
15 Apr 2012
(Sun)
A Spring Stroll at Mt. Ivy Swamp
Meet Veronika Krause at 9am at Pomona Middle School parking lot on Pomona Rd. Look for Marsh Marigolds and Chipping Sparrows along the railroad embankment. Over by noon. 845-359-9294
20 Apr 2012 (Fri) A Weekday Walk at the Celery Farm
Meet Elyse Fuller at 9am at the Celery Farm parking lot on Franklin Turnpike, Allendale, NJ.  Look for early spring migrants.  Over by 11:30am. 845-351-2893
27 Apr 2012
(Fri)
A Weekday Walk at the Elk Pen
Meet Elyse Fuller at 9am at the parking area for the Elk Pen section of Harriman State Park off Arden Valley Rd. 0.3mi east of Rte. 17.  Eastern Bluebirds, Prairie Warblers, and Field Sparrows are possibilities at this unique field habitat.  Over by 11am.  845-351-2893
29 Apr 2012 (Sun) Doodletown
Meet Carol Weiss at 7am
at the pull-off on Rte. 9W just north of the Iona Island causeway, south of Bear Mountain. Expect warblers, vireos, and northbound passerines. Over around noon. 845-358-3659

May 2012

3 May 2012 (Thu) An Evening Walk at Tallman State Park
Meet Tom Fuller at 6pm at the south entrance parking lot on Rte. 9W about one mile south of the main entrance to Tallman State Park for a bird walk. Over by dark.
845-351-2893
4 May 2012
(Fri)
A Weekday Walk at Doodletown
Meet Elyse Fuller at 9am at the pull-off on Rte. 9W just north of the Iona Island causeway, south of Bear Mountain. Great time of year for warblers and other migrants. Some uphill walking. Over by 11:30am. 845-351-2893
6 May 2012 (Sun) First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier
Meet Veronika Krause at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Over by 10am. 845-359-9294
10 May 2012 (Thu) Evening Bird Walk at Kennedy Dells
Meet Tom Fuller at 6pm at the far lot closest to the trails.  Wear long pants as there may be an opportunity to look inside nest boxes.  Over by 8pm.  845-351-2893
11 May 2012 (Fri) A Weekday Walk at Ironwood Drive
Meet Elyse Fuller at 9am at the cul-de-sac at the end of Ironwood Dr. in Tuxedo. This section of Sterling Forest State Park can be good for Golden-winged Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Prairie Warblers, and other shrubland species.  Over by 11am.  845-351-2893
18-19 May 2012
(Fri & Sat)
BIG BIRD DAY
Annual fundraiser - see RAS Observer for details.
26-28 May 2012
(Fri, Sat, & Sun)
Birding Delaware on Memorial Day Weekend (3-day Trip)
Call 845-942-5751 fro details.

June 2012

2 Jun 2012 (Sat) Galeville Airport during Nesting Season
Meet Della & Alan Wells at 7am at the Commuter Parking Lot on Rte. 9W in Stony Point (just south of Hogan’s Diner). The abandoned airport, now administered as the Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, is a hotspot for grassland birds. 845-942-5751
3 Jun 2012 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier 

Meet Peter Johnson at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Over by 10am. 914-261-2895 

10 Jun 2012 (Sun) Doodletown for Beginners
Meet Della and Alan Wells at 8am at the pull-off on Rte. 9W, south of Bear Mountain, just north of the Iona Island causeway. Practice bird ID and binocular use. Some uphill walking. 845-942-5751
17 Jun 2012
(Sun)
Dragons & Damsels of Rockland
Meet Alan and Della Wells at 9am at the Commuter Parking Lot, Rte. 9W in Stony Point (just south of Hogan's Diner) for carpooling. Learn to identify common dragonflies and damselflies at Lily Pond in Harriman State Park (short drive followed by short hike). Bring water, snack, binoculars (preferably close focus). Camera optional. Call to confirm if rainy or overcast. 845-942-5751
20 Jun 2012 (Wed) Solstice Hike at Sterling Forest State Park
Meet Tom Fuller at 5pm at the cul-de-sac at the end of Ironwood Drive in Tuxedo. Celebrate the longest day of the year with a brisk, 4-mile hike to Sterling Lake on a mostly level woods road. Bring water. Biting insects are possible. Over by dark.  845-351-2893

July 2012

1 Jul 2012 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier

Meet Carol Weiss at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Check the pier and river for summer residents. Over around 10am. 845-358-3659

August 2012

5 Aug 2012 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk at Piermont Pier

Meet Veronika Krause at 8am at the ball field parking lot at the pier. Over by 10am. 845-359-9294

12 Aug 2012 (Sun) Birds and Cameras at Jamaica Bay
Meet Alan and Della Wells at 7:30am at the Commuter Parking Lot, Rte. 303 North, West Nyack, for carpooling to this birding hot spot. Alan’s group will photograph shorebirds and Della’s group will not. Full day trip. 845-942-5751

September 2012

2 Sep 2012 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk

TBD

 

October 2012
7 Oct 2012 (Sun) First Sunday Walk
TBD  

November 2012

4 Nov 2011 (Sun)

First Sunday Walk

TBD

 

December 2012

2 Dec 2011 (Sun) First Sunday Walk
16 Dec 2011 (Sun)

Annual Christmas Bird Count (All Day) & Pot Luck Dinner

Join a team for our 66th Christmas Bird Count. Check www.rocklandaudubon.org or call Carol Weiss 845-358-3659