Friday, Sept. 26 Field Trips

Field trip sign-ups are are closed. If you have any questions, please email Jim Rapp at jim.rapp@mdbirds.org.

On Friday, Sept. 26, we are hosting the following field trips:

  • iNaturalist and the Maryland Biodiversity Project
  • Linganore Creek Farm (potential new MOS Sanctuary)
  • Patapsco State Park – Henryton
  • Placemaking for Birds—Restoring Habitat in the City
  • Rivermist/Monocacy River Path



To view a spreadsheet with field trip titles, leaders, and start/finish times for each day, please click here or click in the image.

Google Map of Friday Field Trip Locations

Friday Field Trip Descriptions

Many thanks to the field trip site descriptions provided by the Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC, a project of the Maryland Ornithological Society!

Field trips are listed below in order of start time. Please note the meeting location of each field trip to estimate the driving time from your lodging for the weekend.

Most field trips start on Friday morning (this is new to the 2025 convention). All-day trips may include a recommendation for lunch (bring your own or eat together at a local restaurant). These trips will end in the early afternoon. Other trips start in the morning and end before lunch. We encourage you to support the many great restaurants in Frederick and the region during the MOS Convention!

All field trips should end between 2:00 – 3:00 pm so that participants can drive to Frederick for the 4:00 – 9:00 pm Friday night social and dinner at Monocacy Village Park.

MORNING START TIMES

Greenfield Road
Time: 7:00 – 11:30 am
Guide: Gemma Radko

Greenfield Road runs alongside the Monocacy River for part of its length, through mixed forest, shrub, and field habitats. Good for migratory and resident birds. Participants should be able to do a two-mile hike.

  • Meeting Location: Urbana Park & Ride – South Lot GPS coordinates: 39.323206, -77.354986
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 12, we can bring four cars maximum
  • Difficulty: About a two-mile hike on a flat gravel road. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: There is no restroom along the trail.

Patapsco Valley State Park – Henryton
Time: 7:00 – 10:30 am
Guide: Meg Harris

Patapsco Valley State Park extends along the Patapsco River, encompassing 16,043 acres and eight developed recreational areas. Henryton is on the South Branch of the Patapsco River and consists of floodplains and upland deciduous forest with some fields and edge habitat. The Henryton trail extends both up and down stream, this trip we will go upstream for 1.25 miles or so. This is a multi-use trail frequented by hikers, horseback riders and fishing enthusiasts.

  • Meeting Location: Alpha Ridge Park, located at 11685 Old Frederick Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104-1475 GPS coordinates: 39.32023, -76.91699. For those not meeting at the Alpha Ridge Park location and plan to go directly to the park, please know there are two Henryton Roads. Please go to Henryton Road that is directly off of Route 99.  Do not use the one off of Marriottsville Rd.
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 12
  • Difficulty: Approximately 3 miles hiking round trip. Dirt path along the river with occasional small hills. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms will be available in the parking lot before and after the hike.

Gambrill Mill Trail
Time: 7:30 – 10:30 am
Guide: Lynn Kieffer & Sarah Heald

The Gambrill Mill Trail is located at the Monocacy National Battlefield. Half of this loop trail consists of an accessible boardwalk with several benches. An overlook at the end of the boardwalk provides a view of the Monocacy River and bridges significant to the battle. The trail follows a wood line, native meadow, Bush Creek, and an old wagon road that Federal troops used to retreat from the battle. We will walk through a variety of forest, stream-side and field habitats. The trail is always a good place for migrating warblers and resident central MD birds.

  • Meeting Location: the parking lot for the Gambrill Mill Trail, located near 4801 Urbana Pike GPS coordinates: 39.367265, -77.387436
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 10
  • Difficulty: Approximately 2.5 miles on boardwalk, mown paths and dirt trails. Mostly flat with one significant hill to walk up then down. Some attendees may find a walking stick helpful. Please be aware of potential groundhog holes. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: There is no restroom along the trail. There is a Panera and Starbucks within a mile of the meeting location.

Gwynns Falls Leakin Park
Time: 7:30 – 11:30 am
Guide: Joe Corcoran

Winan’s Meadow and the Leakin Park mansion are great places for fall migrants, especially warblers. We’ll also experience a nice variety of other woodland and some field birds in this heavily wooded urban park. If time permits, we’ll visit the Carrie Murray Nature Center grounds, named after the mother of Eddie Murray, the famous Baltimore Oriole baseball player who donated money for the center in honor of his mom.

  • Meeting Location: the parking area at the Winans Meadow Trailhead, near 4500 N Franklintown Road, Baltimore, MD 21229 GPS coordinates: 39.30457, -76.69368
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 16
  • Difficulty: Approximately 3-4 miles of hiking with one steep hill. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms will be available.

Birding the Battlefields: Gettysburg
Time: 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Guide: Russ Kovach & Kevin McPartland

Visiting Gettysburg Battlefield offers a chance to walk the ground where a pivotal Civil War battle took place, and to reflect on the sacrifices made there. The park features monuments and markers, and also some of the best bird watching in the region. Red-headed Woodpeckers are regular, and the varied habitat makes for an equally varied birding experience. This field trip is sponsored by Vortex.

  • Meeting Location: the parking area at Little Round Top on Sykes Avenue GPS coordinates: 39.79192, -77.23625
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Difficulty: Moderate with both paved and unpaved paths, rocks, and open fields. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: Restrooms will be available.

Audrey Carroll & Fred Archibald Audubon Sanctuaries
Time: 7:30 am – 3:00 pm
Guide: David Smith

The Audrey Carroll & Fred Archibald Audubon Sanctuaries are two of the region’s premier birding destinations. Both sanctuaries have a mix of warm season grassland meadows, forest, and scrub-shrub. Audrey Carroll also has some marshy habitat and a small pond. We are recommending a lunch stop at The Derby Restaurant in New Market in route between Audrey Carroll and Fred Archibald sanctuaries.

  • Meeting Location: begin at the Audrey Carroll Audubon Sanctuary, located at 13030 Old Annapolis Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771 GPS coordinates: 39.415246, -77.208370
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Difficulty: Mowed trails with some hills; estimate no more than 5 total miles of walking at two sanctuaries. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: There are no restrooms at the sanctuaries.

Linganore Creek Farm
Time: 7:45 – 11:00 am
Guide: John McKitterick

Linganore Creek Farm is slated to become the 11th MOS sanctuary, and the only one of any size in Central Maryland. Its 125 acres have been managed to provide successional habitat and open fields, as well as riparian woods along Linganore Creek. Each trip will walk about half of the paths that wander through the farm. This trip is meeting at the Monrovia Park and Ride and carpooling from there because parking is limited at the farm.

  • Meeting Location: Monrovia Park and Ride GPS coordinates: 39.376652, -77.262005
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 19
  • Difficulty: Expect 3-4 miles walking over mostly mowed paths with some ups and down. One minor stream crossing. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: A restroom will be available at the start/end of the walk

Baker Park
Time: 8:00 – 10:30 am
Guide: Jim Rapp

This field trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

Baker Park is a 58-acre community park located in the heart of Historic Downtown Frederick. The park features 2.5 miles of paved trails along Carroll Creek. We’ll enjoy a leisurely stroll through the park’s varied habitats as we search for songbirds, raptors, waders and waterfowl. With almost a century of history, Baker Park continues to serve as a popular venue for birding, hiking, concerts and festivals.

  • Meeting Location: meet at the Baker Park Bandshell, located behind the City of Frederick Parks & Recreation Office, located at 121 N Bentz St, Frederick, MD 21701 GPS coordinates: 39.416564, -77.415331
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Difficulty: Expect an easy 2.5-mile stroll over mostly level, paved paths. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Accessible restrooms are available at the bandshell in the park.

Placemaking for Birds—Restoring Habitat in the City
Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Guides: Deb Portney, Jerry Warner, Jenny Willoughby

This field trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

During Placemaking for Birds—Restoring Habitat in the City, you will take a stroll with two birders and an arborist through Baker and Waterford Parks. Baker Park’s Culler Lake has been restored to provide habitat and better water quality. Just a bit farther west, the Friends of Waterford Park have created a passive park paradise for birds, insects, and other critters with their native planting efforts. A stream restoration and reforestation effort has added to the habitat. Start and end at the Barbara Fritchie House (closest parking at the W. Patrick Street Garage). 

  • Meeting Location: meet at the Barbara Fritchie House, 154 W Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Park in the West Patrick Street Garage or find parking along the street GPS coordinates: 39.413956, -77.414664
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 20
  • Difficulty: Easy, paved paths. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Accessible restrooms are available at the bandshell in the park.

AFTERNOON START TIMES

Connecting Land, River, and Sky: Anacostia River Birding Tour (BOAT TRIP)
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Guides: María-Elena Montero, Octaivia Nettles & Trey Sherard

All aboard to experience DC unlike you’d imagined! The Connecting Land, River, and Sky Birding Tour is a one-of-a-kind experience to discover the beautiful birds that live on land and water in Washington DC. First, hop aboard the Anacostia Riverkeeper boat to tour the cultural and natural history of the Anacostia River, followed by a guided walk in Anacostia Park with the DC Bird Alliance. Arrive early to enjoy lunch along the Anacostia Waterfront or in the Navy Yard neighborhood.

  • Meeting Location: meet at the Yards Marina, located at 1492 4th St SE, Washington DC 20003. There is nearby garage and street parking. GPS coordinates: 38.872845, -77.000441
  • Cost: $35 per person
  • Maximum # participants: 19
  • Difficulty: Easy walking over mostly level surfaces. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a water bottle. 
  • Facilities: Restrooms will be available at the marina.

Beginning Bird Walk
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Guides: Mary Lou Clark & Karlyn McPartland

This field trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

A beginning birder experience, we will start with the basics-using binoculars, looking for birds in trees, the sky, etc., how to describe the location of a bird to others, using a laser pointer, recording birds in eBird, and using Merlin. Then we will do a walk around the park to practice these skills.

  • Meeting Location: Monocacy Village Park picnic pavilion, located at 409 Delaware Road, Frederick, MD 21701 GPS coordinates: 39.42884, -77.39946
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 15
  • Difficulty: Very easy. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: Restrooms are available.

iNaturalist and the Maryland Biodiversity Project
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Guides: Sue Muller

This trip will focus on documenting species for the Maryland Biodiversity Project using the iNaturalist app. Primary habitats explored will be marsh and forest edge. Please have the app installed on your phones. Training will be provided if you are not familiar with the app.

  • Meeting Location: Woodsboro Regional Park, 10642 Woodsboro Rd, Woodsboro, MD 21798. Note there are two parking lots; we will meet in the west parking lot. GPS coordinates: 39.53223, -77.30929
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 10
  • Difficulty: Easy walking through grass and over boardwalks, less than one mile. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Please note that some trails may become muddy if it rains prior to or during the convention.
  • Facilities: No restrooms.

Rivermist/Monocacy River Path
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Guides: Gary Ladner

This field trip will be accessible to participants using mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers and rollators. If you have questions, please contact Field Trip Coordinator Jim Rapp at jmrpp2@gmail.com.

The Monocacy River Path follows the Monocacy River in Frederick. It is a paved path with short side dirt paths available in several places. We can look for Barred Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, Indigo Buntings, and more.

  • Meeting Location: meet at the Riverside Park Boat Ramp GPS coordinates: 39.443949, -77.382861
  • Cost: Free
  • Maximum # participants: 12
  • Difficulty: Estimated hiking distance is 2 to 3 miles on level paved paths. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
  • Facilities: No restrooms are available on the trail.