The Ocean State Bird Club follows the ABA Code of Ethic and encourages all its members to do the same. To learn more about the code of ethics, please click here.
Saturday, November 4, 8:00 am morning walk
Seapowet Marsh WMA
Seapowet Marsh & Fields, Tiverton
The Seapowet area of Tiverton is well known for its marshes and fields which in the fall are filled with sparrows, geese, and even the odd Sandhill Crane. walking the edges of the fields usually gives birders a chance to observe many different varieties of Sparrows such as Savannah, Swamp, and occasionally Vesper. Along with the normal cast more uncommon species such as Clay-colored Sparrow have also been observed here with some regularity. *Please note that hunting is permitted at this site and a blaze orange safety vest must be worn by all participants*
Parking: The parking lot is located along Seapowet Ave. (click here for google map directions)
Leader: Lynn Abby ([email protected])
Sunday, November 5, 8:00 am morning trip
Aquidneck Island Migrant Traps
Various Locations, Newport & Middletown
November is the time for rare and uncommon migrants in New England. In Rhode Island these species are drawn most frequently to several coastal sites many of which are found on Aquidneck Island. We will caravan across the southern portion of the island searching several well know migrant traps including Brenton Point State Park and Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. This trip should provide a robust mix of common waterbirds and songbirds along the way as we search for the generally uncommon and downright rare species these sites are known for.
Parking: Brenton Point State Park (parking near the office building).
Leader: Matt Schenck ([email protected])
Monday November 6, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm (6:30-7:00 social)
Talk: Explore eBird with Matt Schenck
Warwick Public Library
Launched and maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird is described as “a real time, online checklist program” that has “revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds”. Since its launch in 2002, millions of bird observations have been submitted to eBird and are available for birders to access. Along with basic observations of species occurrence and abundance, eBird data has grown to include an extensive library of rich media (photos & audio). Join Matt Schenck for an interactive talk focusing on navigating the mountains of data available at ebird.org. Whether you want to know how to use eBird to find a nemesis bird or how to locate birding hotspots, this talk is for you.
About the speaker: Matt Schenck
Matt Schenck is the Camp Director and a Naturalist at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown. He joined the eBird community in 2012, and has submitted nearly 3,500 checklists across 10 states, including nearly 3,000 checklists in Rhode Island alone. Along with submitting daily checklists, Matt enjoys pouring over both state and regional eBird data to locate under birded areas, and times of year for specific species in Rhode Island.
Sunday, November 12, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Youth Birders Walk
Sakonnet Greenway Trail, Middletown
The Sakonnet Greenway Trail at 10 miles in length is the longest nature trail on Aquidneck Island. Managed and protected by the Aquidneck Land Trust this multi use trail passes through multiple habitats in Middletown and Portsmouth.
Parking: We will park at the lot off Michell Lane. (Click here for Google Map directions)
Leaders: Matt Schenck ([email protected])
Saturday, November 11, 8:00 am
East Beach Walk
Charlestown
East Beach is the least developed of Rhode Island's state beaches and thus offers more undisturbed habitats for birds. The beach itself is a great place to observe waterbirds such as seaducks, loons, and grebes while the 3 mile sand trail though scrub pine forest may offer a glimpse of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin or any of the more uncommon winter finches.
Parking: We will meet at the East Beach lot (click here for google map directions)
Leader: Dylan Pedro ([email protected])
Saturday, November 18, 9:00 am
Moonstone Beach Walk
South Kingstown
Fine sand beaches, warm ocean breezes, endless pina coladas… join the OSBC for all of that, and less, on Saturday Nov 18 for a bird walk at Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown. Actually, the only thing we can be pretty sure of is that there will be some nice birds (and, yes, sand). This favorite spot for fall birding can yield some good species — after viewing Mud Pond, we will scan the ocean, walk to the cut to scan Trustom Pond, and perhaps walk down the beach to Card’s Pond, all while also checking for interesting birds in the dunes. The walk should take 2-3 hours; folks with conflicts can easily leave early. Dress for the weather; it can be breezy and chilly on the beach. Leaders will have spotting scopes, but if you have one you may want to bring it.
If it is raining steadily, or snowing (!) the walk will be cancelled. If the forecast simply includes rain as a possibility, the walk will go on. If you e-mail Don in advance to say you plan to come (and with contact info), he will contact you that morning if the walk is cancelled.
Parking: We will meet at the end of Moonstone Beach Road (click here for google map directions)
Leaders: Don Heitzmann
Seapowet Marsh WMA
Seapowet Marsh & Fields, Tiverton
The Seapowet area of Tiverton is well known for its marshes and fields which in the fall are filled with sparrows, geese, and even the odd Sandhill Crane. walking the edges of the fields usually gives birders a chance to observe many different varieties of Sparrows such as Savannah, Swamp, and occasionally Vesper. Along with the normal cast more uncommon species such as Clay-colored Sparrow have also been observed here with some regularity. *Please note that hunting is permitted at this site and a blaze orange safety vest must be worn by all participants*
Parking: The parking lot is located along Seapowet Ave. (click here for google map directions)
Leader: Lynn Abby ([email protected])
Sunday, November 5, 8:00 am morning trip
Aquidneck Island Migrant Traps
Various Locations, Newport & Middletown
November is the time for rare and uncommon migrants in New England. In Rhode Island these species are drawn most frequently to several coastal sites many of which are found on Aquidneck Island. We will caravan across the southern portion of the island searching several well know migrant traps including Brenton Point State Park and Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. This trip should provide a robust mix of common waterbirds and songbirds along the way as we search for the generally uncommon and downright rare species these sites are known for.
Parking: Brenton Point State Park (parking near the office building).
Leader: Matt Schenck ([email protected])
Monday November 6, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm (6:30-7:00 social)
Talk: Explore eBird with Matt Schenck
Warwick Public Library
Launched and maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird is described as “a real time, online checklist program” that has “revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds”. Since its launch in 2002, millions of bird observations have been submitted to eBird and are available for birders to access. Along with basic observations of species occurrence and abundance, eBird data has grown to include an extensive library of rich media (photos & audio). Join Matt Schenck for an interactive talk focusing on navigating the mountains of data available at ebird.org. Whether you want to know how to use eBird to find a nemesis bird or how to locate birding hotspots, this talk is for you.
About the speaker: Matt Schenck
Matt Schenck is the Camp Director and a Naturalist at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown. He joined the eBird community in 2012, and has submitted nearly 3,500 checklists across 10 states, including nearly 3,000 checklists in Rhode Island alone. Along with submitting daily checklists, Matt enjoys pouring over both state and regional eBird data to locate under birded areas, and times of year for specific species in Rhode Island.
Sunday, November 12, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Youth Birders Walk
Sakonnet Greenway Trail, Middletown
The Sakonnet Greenway Trail at 10 miles in length is the longest nature trail on Aquidneck Island. Managed and protected by the Aquidneck Land Trust this multi use trail passes through multiple habitats in Middletown and Portsmouth.
Parking: We will park at the lot off Michell Lane. (Click here for Google Map directions)
Leaders: Matt Schenck ([email protected])
Saturday, November 11, 8:00 am
East Beach Walk
Charlestown
East Beach is the least developed of Rhode Island's state beaches and thus offers more undisturbed habitats for birds. The beach itself is a great place to observe waterbirds such as seaducks, loons, and grebes while the 3 mile sand trail though scrub pine forest may offer a glimpse of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin or any of the more uncommon winter finches.
Parking: We will meet at the East Beach lot (click here for google map directions)
Leader: Dylan Pedro ([email protected])
Saturday, November 18, 9:00 am
Moonstone Beach Walk
South Kingstown
Fine sand beaches, warm ocean breezes, endless pina coladas… join the OSBC for all of that, and less, on Saturday Nov 18 for a bird walk at Moonstone Beach in South Kingstown. Actually, the only thing we can be pretty sure of is that there will be some nice birds (and, yes, sand). This favorite spot for fall birding can yield some good species — after viewing Mud Pond, we will scan the ocean, walk to the cut to scan Trustom Pond, and perhaps walk down the beach to Card’s Pond, all while also checking for interesting birds in the dunes. The walk should take 2-3 hours; folks with conflicts can easily leave early. Dress for the weather; it can be breezy and chilly on the beach. Leaders will have spotting scopes, but if you have one you may want to bring it.
If it is raining steadily, or snowing (!) the walk will be cancelled. If the forecast simply includes rain as a possibility, the walk will go on. If you e-mail Don in advance to say you plan to come (and with contact info), he will contact you that morning if the walk is cancelled.
Parking: We will meet at the end of Moonstone Beach Road (click here for google map directions)
Leaders: Don Heitzmann