Birders of ALL levels—from beginner to expert—are welcome on Mearns Club field trips. Please join us!

In January 2009, the Mearns Club adopted the American Birding Association Code of Birding Ethics. Please keep the tenets of the code in mind when participating in Mearns Club field trips.

Information, including maps, for the birding locations mentioned in the list of field trips here can found on the pages of the Birding Areas section of this website (see the navigation menu).

The leader’s phone number is included for each trip so that you can call if you have any questions. Any changes to the field trip schedule will be announced via the Mearns Groups.io group.

Trip leaders are responsible for preparing a trip write-up and posting it on Groups.io. Leaders, if you need to change a trip schedule, contact Bob Slechta (845-541-8210) or Joyce Depew (845-978-9952).

Field Trip Schedule through December 2026

There’s no need to sign up for field trips, and you don’t have to be a club member to join us. Just show up at the designated meeting location. Any last-minute changes or cancellations will be posted in our Groups.io email group.

September

September 13, 2026, Sunday, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Outdoor Discovery Center, Cornwall, New York: Meet Brenda Jordan (207-461-0348) at 8 am at the Cornwall dog park off Angola Road to explore this eastern Orange County birding hotspot. With luck, we’ll find a Lincoln’s Sparrow.

September 19, 2026, Saturday, Bashakill Wildlife Management Area, Wurtsboro, New York: Meet Joyce Depew (845-978-9952) at 8:30 am at the first NYS DEC parking lot you come to as you enter the Bash from Route 209. Philadelphia Vireo and Gray-cheeked Thrush will be our target birds.

September 27, 2026, Sunday, 6 1/2 Station Road, Goshen, New York: Meet Liz McKnight (201-400-1428) at 9 am where the Heritage Trail crosses 6 1/2 Station Road to look for a variety of birds making good use of varied habitats as they head south.

October

October 3, 2026, Saturday, Winding Waters Trail, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, Pine Island, New York: Meet Rich Van Tieghem (201-370-2721) at 8:30 am at the Oil City Road platform. We’ll bird there for a while before heading to the Winding Waters Trail, where we hope to find a Connecticut Warbler.

October 10, 2026, Saturday, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum Outdoor Discovery Center, Cornwall, New York: Meet Dave Baker (845-527-7508) at 8 am at the Cornwall dog park off Angola Road. We’ll see what birds are making good use of the abundant fall fruit at this location.

October 25, 2026, Sunday, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, Pine Island, New York: Meet Johanna Bloomfield (541-778-1754) at 9 am at the Oil City Road platform. We’ll be looking for herons, egrets, ducks, and Sandhill Cranes.

November

November 7, 2026, Saturday, Black Dirt Region, Orange County, New York: Meet Dave Baker (845-527-7508) at 9 am in the parking lot of the Jolly Onion restaurant in Pine Island, and we’ll search for Northern Harriers, Horned Larks, and Snow Buntings.

November 22, 2026, Sunday, Eastern Orange Lakes: Meet Bob Slechta (845-541-8210) at 9:30 am in the parking lot of the mini mall near the intersection of Route 94 and Orrs Mills Road in Salisbury Mills. We’ll check the local lakes for waterfowl and other birds as they work their way south.

November 28, 2026, Saturday, Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge: Meet Tom and Jane (845-443-5440) at 4 pm in the refuge parking lot to look for Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls.

December

December 19, 2026, Saturday, Audubon Christmas Bird Count: If you want to participate in this annual national bird census, contact Karen Miller (845-381-3283).