2007-2008 Field Trips Sign up sheet for all field trips will be available at the Audubon meetings preceding the trip. Contact Field Trip Chair, Ed Richmond for further information at Home 301-7231or Cell 404-5088 before 9:30 p.m. or e-mail emrichmond@cox.net Since field trips may have to be canceled or moved to other dates for a variety of reasons please sign up for the trips ahead of time or contact Ed for information before arriving at the trip sits.  If you would like to have updates about field trips sent to you by e-mail, please contact Ed at the above e-mail address and he will add you to the field trip up-date list. On all field trips; dress for the weather, wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes. Bug spray is sometimes useful, bring water, snacks or lunch if you so desire, and don’t forget your binoculars, scopes and field guide.

September 22, Saturday: Dismal Swamp Canal Trail

Join our new field trip coordinator, Ed Richmond, at the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail for some great fall birding. We’ll be looking for fall migrants, as well as local favorites. Meet at 8 a.m. in the North Trailhead parking lot at the intersection of Dominion Blvd and Old Route 17 in Chesapeake. For more information contact Ed at 301-7231, before 9 p.m., or visit the trail’s website at http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/park-rec/pdf/trail-map-DSCT.pdf.

October 19-21, Friday-Sunday: Overnight Field Trip to Pea Island NWR and Alligator River NWR.

Saturday: Meet at the Bodie Island Light at 8 a.m. We will then travel to Pea Island NWR, Bonner Bridge & the NC Aquarium, if interested and time allows.

Sunday: Alligator River NWR, then on the way home, the dikes and impoundments of a NC Wildlife Management Area located off of US 64, between Manteo and Columbia, NC. We have seen golden eagles there on previous occasions.

Lodging has been arranged for two nights at The Elizabethan Inn, 814 Hwy 64 East, in Manteo NC. Refer to Virginia Beach Audubon Society when making reservations. $69 per night plus tax for a two double bed room. Call 1-252-473-2101.

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November 17 : Saturday: Craney Island - Hoffler Creek

Meet at 7:30 AM at the Contractors gate. Take the Cedar Road exit north from Route 168, turn left on River Shore Road, turn right on Hedgerow Lane, follow it behind the apartments to gate. From there we will go to Hoffler Creek.

December 15 : Saturday - Colchester Road & Whitehurst Tract

Meet at 7:30 AM at the Food Lion Parking Lot at the corner of Princess Anne Road and Sandbridge Road.

January 26 - Saturday - ESNWR - Fisherman's Island Ranger escorted tour of Fisherman's Island.

Meet at 7:30AM at south end parking lot of the CBBT. Meet ranger at ESNWR Visitor's Center at 8:30AM. We will have to pay toll to ESNWR. They will arrange for toll on return trip.

February 8-9: Lake Mattamuskeet, NC

Arrangements have been made to stay at the Hyde-Away in Fairfield, NC - 1-252-926-8101 for Friday night. We will meet the ranger at the Lake Landing gate at 8:00 am. This usually is quite an eventful day.

March 22: Henricus Historical Park

Meet at Hardee's- 8:30 AM - 1901 West Hundred Road, Chester, Va - at the corner of Route 10 and Old Stage Road. Time - 8:30 AM. Henricus Historical is at the end of Old Stage Road north of Rout 10. It overlooks the James River and is next to Dutch Gap. There are marshes along Old Stage Road before you get to the park. There is a boardwalk that takes you into the marshy area also.

April 19, Saturday: Merchants Millpond State Park, NC-

Meet at 8:00 at the Canoe Launch Parking Lot. Chief Ranger Floyd Williams will lead us. Bring a 5 pound bag of sugar as a donation to feed the humming birds. Floyd is going to retire in the fall of 2008.

May 19, Saturday: Birders Breakfast Outing- Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club

Meet at 5:45 am at the parking lot at the Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club main entrance at 1052 Cardinal Rd., Va. Beach.We will take guided walks through the the course with our expert birders. At 8:00 am we will enjoy a gourmet breakfast at the club house. The total cost is $25.00 with $15.00 (tax deductible) donated to the Virginia Beach Audubon Society. Call Bob Zabot at H 460-5333 or C 353-0681 for more information.

May 24: Saturday - Dismal Swamp NWR

Meet at 8:30 am at the parking lot at the Washington Ditch, which is located on White Marsh Road (Route 642) in Suffolk, VA. We will leave the parking lot and travel south on 642, and turn left on Desert Road (Route 604.) Just past the Visitor Center on the left is the entrance to the Ditch Road. It is just over three miles from the Washington Road to the Railroad Ditch Road. The Visitor Center is closed on the weekends, so we cannot meet at the Visitor Center parking lot. The main reason for meeting at the Washington Ditch is to consolidate vehicles if there are too many.

Lodging has been arranged at the Super 8 Motel, 842 Sword Beach Lane, US 460 & Old Turnpike Drive, Bedford, Va . Call 1-540-587-0100. Rooms are normally $65.88. If we fill 10 rooms, the price will be $58.88. Rooms are blocked off for "Virginia Beach Audubon Society" until 15 May 2008. Two floors with no elevator. You can go to the Super 8 website and check out the facility for types of rooms that are available. On Saturday, 7 June, we will meet at 7:00 at the Peaks of Otter parking lot. We will travel north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down Warbler Road. On Sunday - 8 June - , we will travel north on the Parkway to the James River crossing. There is a visitors center here and a bridge across the James River. We will go home from there. Bring snacks, drinks and lunch for both days.