Walks
On a Saturday morning in May at the Blake Town Forest in Gill
Bird walks happen each spring and fall. Nature walks can happen any time. Some walks are guided by experienced individuals. Some walks are self-guided.
The schedule of guided walks is subject to change. If it's raining, guided walks are canceled. Check this page frequently and before heading out to a site.
If you're going out by yourself during the spring or fall migration seasons, check the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdCast site for up to date forecasts of best days. Keep in mind the following:
Many birds migrate at night when the atmosphere is more stable and free of thermals, meaning they expend less energy in flight. Also, there are fewer predators about at night.
Some species use the stars to navigate, although light pollution from urban areas has made this more difficult or impossible.
Birds that migrate at night then rest during the day. Best viewing will be early in the morning or at dusk.
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COVID RULES
Please bring a mask. Be prepared to wear it if conditions warrant.
Rules will be updated as conditions change.
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RECOMMENDED ANYTIME - Gunnery Sergeant Jeffrey S. Ames Accessible Nature Trail
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Spring, 2023
Weekday Walks
Weekday walks begin Friday morning April 28, 9-10 a.m. and continue each Friday morning through May 26 on the Mill Brook trails behind the Dickinson Library, 115 Main Street, Northfield. Meet in the parking lot behind the library at 9:00 a.m. each day. Walks will be led by naturalist and Bird Club Member David Brown. Results of 2023 Friday Morning Walks
Full Day Events
Thursday, May 11 - The Birds of Mt. Holyoke. Meet in the Northfield Town Hall parking lot at 8:00 am from which we will carpool or caravan to Mt. Holyoke. For those who wish to go alone, proceed south on Rte. 63 through Millers Falls, which requires a right and a left. Continue on 63 to the cross-over to Rte. 47, which is a short distance past Central St. Montague. Go south on 47 through Sunderland and through the lights at Rte. 9 in Hadley. A short distance past the lights, Rte. 47 turns left and then bears right toward Mt. Holyoke which looms on the left. Watch for a small sign for Skinner State Park. (If you see Barstow's farm restaurant on the left, you have gone too far.) Turn left up the access road and park at the gate. The trip from Northfield should take no more than an hour and a half.
At the gate, we may decide to split up. Some may wish to walk up the road the whole way to the summit. Others may wish to drive up to the half way house or all the way to the dance hall at the top.
Bring water and bug repellant. Carpoolers should have face-masks. We may wish to have lunch at Barstow's after the descent.
Thursday, June 1 - Paddling on Long Pond. Bring your canoe or kayak and meet at the canoe launch on Doane Hill Road in Royalston at 9:00 a.m. The Tully River/Long Pond area is rich in wildlife. Many wetland and bankside birds can be seen from your canoe or kayak, with the added advantage that you don't have to watch your feet all the time. Plan on a full morning of easy paddling as we cruise the shoreline watching for birds, aquatic mammals and their evidence. Bring plenty of water and a snack. Life vests are required.
Directions from Northfield to the Tully River canoe launch: From the center of Northfield drive east up Warwick Road (this road recently reopened following lengthy reconstruction) and at the junction with Wendell Road bear left into the village. At the stop sign continue straight onto Athol road and follow for about 8 miles through Tully, past Packard Pond and a little beyond the Orange fire station turn left onto Fryville Road. At the junction with Rte 32 turn left, pass Tully Lake and then turn right onto Doane Hill Road. Go down the road, past the Tully Lake campground, to the canoe launch at the bottom of the hill just over the river. (Fryville Road and Doane Hill road are both signed.) Plan to arrive by 9 a.m.
Results
Saturday Morning Walks -- All begin at 8:00 a.m.
May 6 - First Light - Meet at the picnic area on the Connecticut River. From downtown Northfield, drive 6.4 miles south on Millers Falls Road/ Rt. 63, then turn right at the "Riverview Picnic Area" sign across the road from the entrance to Northfield Mountain.
Results
May 13 - No club walk today - instead, we suggest you participate in the King Philip's Hill Walk, part of the Northfield 350th Commemoration schedule of events occurring throughout 2023.
May 20 - Hinsdale Setbacks - In Hinsdale, NH. Corner of Rt 119 & Prospect Street Parking Lot. Just north of the High School on your left if approaching from the south, down the hill, left hand turn. Results
May 27 - Camp Warwick (the old Prison camp). Directions from Northfield. Go to Warwick center (the Warwick Road from the center of Northfield recently reopened following lengthy reconstruction). From Warwick center drive southeast on Athol road for about one and a half miles. Turn left onto Richmond Rd. The remnants of the camp are about a mile and a half from that intersection and on the right. There is a white brick post marking the parking area.
Results
Click below on our recent Walks history to find out more about our usual venues and to review results of some past walks.
Watch this space for updated details.
The Merlin phone app from the Cornell Lab is highly recommended for identification of birds by sight and by song.
Click on the image below to download.
