November 2024 Bird Walks in & around the Hudson Valley
Join bird walks near you! Columbia County, Dutchess County, Ulster County NY & Berkshire MA
Columbia County - Alan Devoe Bird Club
For more details & to register, please visit:
https://www.alandevoebirdclub.org/AboutCalendar.htm
SATURDAY, NOV 9, 2024
FRANKLIN MOUNTAIN HAWK WATCH
Coordinator: Chris Franks 518-781-0204
Meet 10:00 am. I-88 westbound, take Exit 15. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp, and right again at the light by McDonalds. Turn left at the fourth traffic light (0.7 mile) onto Southside Drive. Turn right onto Swart Hollow Road (0.8 mile). Follow Swart Hollow Road for 1.5 miles and take sharp right turn to Grange Hall Road. Driveway to parking is on left (0.2 mile). There is a kiosk by a barn and trail to watch is on the left. Dress warmly, bring a bag lunch, and carpool if possible. Franklin Mountain is renowned for migrating Golden Eagles and is staffed by volunteer counters.
SATURDAY, NOV 16, 2024
TOMHANNOCK RESERVOIR
Coordinator: Naomi Lloyd (HMBC) 518-596-5964
Meet 8:30 am in Pittstown. Reservoir parking lot is at the intersection of Lake Shore Drive and NY Route 7 at the west end of the causeway. Bring a scope if you have one. We look for waterfowl and possible shorebirds. We will carpool from the main parking area where possible as we make several stops around the reservoir. This walk is joined with the Hudson Mohawk Bird Club.
Dutchess County - Waterman Bird Club
For more details & to register, please visit:
https://watermanbirdclub.org/about-us/field-trips-2/
WEDNESDAY, NOV 6
Home of F. D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
Leaders: Ken & Carol Fredericks (845-452-7619).
Meet at the visitor center parking lot (4079 Albany Post Rd.) Rt. 9, Hyde Park at 9am.
SATURDAY, NOV 9
Greig Farm (227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook)
Leader: Matt Rymkiewicz (917-628-7880) at 9am. Call for meeting place.
WEDNESDAY, NOV 13
Dutchess Rail trail @ Gold’s Gym
Leader: Ernie Welch (email: razor06bill@gmail.com ).
Meet there (Titusville Rd., Poughkeepsie) at 9am.
Sunday, NOV 17
Madam Brett Park, Beacon
Leader: Ernie Welch (email: razor06bill@gmail.com).
Meet at parking lot on Tioronda Ave, Beacon at 9am.
WEDNESDAY, NOV 20
Thompson Pond
Leader: Janet Allison (845-264-3222). Meet there (335 Lake Rd., Pine Plains) at 9am.
WEDNESDAY, NOV 27
Vassar Campus, Poughkeepsie
Leader: Barbara Butler (914-474-5981). Meet at the greenhouse parking lot on 106 Raymond Avenue and park at the south end of the lot at 9am.
SATURDAY, NOV 30
Southern Duck Tour
Leader: Barbara Michelin (845-242-2301). Call for time & meeting place.
Ulster County - John Burroughs Natural History Society
For more details, please visit: https://jbnhs.org/events/list/
TUESDAY, NOV 5
ELECTION DAY SPARROWS AT JUNIPER FLATS
8:00 am - 12:00 pm. PRE-REGISTER with Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com) and find out meeting location. Fulfill your civic duty and join JBNHSers at the “old IBM Rec Center”. This Scenic Hudson property might sound more like a Utah sub-division but in approximately ten years of keeping track of bird sightings here has moved into 15th place on the list of birdiest places in Ulster County. Muck boots are recommended to keep feet dry from the morning dew/frost and dress in layers as temperatures could greatly change from start time to early afternoon.
SATURDAY, NOV 16
ASHOKAN RESERVOIR
8 am. Contact Dixon Onderdonk (dixononderdonk@gmail.com ) to register for this field trip with a focus on looking for eagles, loons, grebes, and waterfowl. Dress warmly and anticipate windy conditions. A spotting scope will help make this trip a better experience. Dixon will also disclose meeting location when birders register.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24
KINGSTON POINT BIRDING ON IMMIGRANT’S WAY
8 am. Contact trip leader Mark DeDea (forsythnature@aol.com) to register for this outing. We will start our day at Kingston Point Beach and walk north along the old Immigrant’s Way (now part of the paved Empire State trail) which often harbors late migrants and holdovers/half-hardies while providing views of the Hudson. Waterfowl and eagles can be expected as well. Please dress warmly and bring along your spotting scope. A caloric, warm breakfast snack and beverage will be provided to start our day and help us fondly remember our favorite Beatle.
Berkshire County, MA - Hoffman Bird Club
For more details & to register, please visit: https://hoffmannbirdclub.org/events/
SATURDAY, NOV 2
Shared Learning Experience for Bird Photographers
8:30 am, FREE. This will be a collegial outing focusing on how to approach taking photos of a small number of species, especially waterfowl. We will start at one of the south/central county lakes and move around as time permits.
Limited to 6 participants on a first-come basis. Must sign up ahead of time.
SUNDAY, NOV 3
79th Bartlett Hendricks Memorial Waterfowl Census
Berkshire Museum
7:00 am. This event is an annual census of Central Berkshire lakes and wetlands. The trip involves driving in cars to many lakes, getting out, and counting every bird. Bring a scope and lunch; the trip ends at about 3:00 PM. There is very little walking on this trip. There will be a stop for apples and pastries at Bartlett’s Orchard in Richmond!Meet at the Berkshire Museum on South Street. Be aware, today Daylight Savings Time Ends!
WEDNESDAY, NOV 6
Wednesday Morning Birding - Location TBA
Wednesday Morning Birding meets every Wednesday morning at 8 AM and is led by Chip Blake. Most of our walks last about an hour. The location of each week’s walk varies but is usually in the vicinity of Great Barrington. Everyone is welcome regardless of their birding experience. Wednesday Morning Birding is a great way to meet other birders and learn about new birding destinations. We don’t go anywhere where the terrain is too challenging but we often go places that are wet and muddy. WMB always begins at 8 AM and is intended to run no later than 9:30. No RSVP is necessary. WMB weather policy: If it’s precipitating in Great Barrington at 7 AM on the morning of WMB, WMB is canceled. If it’s not, it’s not.
SUNDAY, NOV 10
Northwest Connecticut Waterfowl Census 🦆
Bartholomew’s Cobble, 105 Weatogue Road, Sheffield
8:00 am. This trip is an annual census of Northwest Connecticut lakes. Bring lunch and a scope. The trip ends at about 2:00 pm.
WEDNESDAY, NOV 13
Wednesday Morning Birding - Location TBA
8:00 am
MONDAY, NOV 11
November Meeting: Heather Williams, Ph.D. – The Cultural Evolution of Bird Songs
Berkshire Community College, Koussevitzky Hall 111 (1350 West St., Pittsfield, MA)
7:00 PM, social time at 6:30 PM. HBC Monthly Meeting with Special Guest, Heather Williams, Ph.D. (William Dwight Whitney Professor of Biology at Williams College. https://biology.williams.edu/profile/hwilliam/) She will present The Cultural Evolution of Bird Songs. Live and on Zoom (email for Zoom link.)
SATURDAY, NOV 16
Laurel Lake, Lee/Lenox
8:00 am. Laurel Lake 35 Laurel Lake Rd., Lenox, MA. Please note that this trip was originally scheduled for November 30th. Look for waterfowl, herons, and other birds on and around Laurel Lake. The group will be walking along Laurel Lake Road. Meet at the causeway on Laurel Lake Road, between Summer Street in Lee and Plunkett Street in Lenox.
WEDNESDAY, NOV 20
Wednesday Morning Birding - Location TBA
8:00 am
WEDNESDAY, NOV 27
Wednesday Morning Birding - Location TBA
8:00 am
Local birdy things wanted!
If you have any bird walks that is not listed here, or bird related event, bird-themed art shows etc in & around the Hudson Valley, I’d love to introduce them here on Beakuency Substack and/or radio show on WGXC. Please feel free to get in touch!