Date: 3/21/26 1:09 pm From: John Edmondson <johnhedmondson...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Federated Women's Club State Forest
It's a nice spring location. I'm leading a walk there on May 19 (BBC, open
to all, cosponsored with Menotomy, but email me before to coordinate if
interested). I drive slowly down the road (from 122) with windows open and
listen for birds. It can be good to stay in the car and use it as a blind.
There are a few pull outs (not many) and a place to park near the end of
the paved road (near west st which is not drivable and is probably gated
off too. But there is generally so little traffic that you can park
temporarily anywhere along the road and then get out and walk. around. I'd
keep the car in sight though. There are not many trails (as far as I know)
off of State Forest Rd (the paved road). I bird from the road which is
shaded well once the trees leaf out.
About half a mile down there is a larger pull out on the right, almost a
parking area, not quite.There is a clear cut area in there that I assume is
for habitat creation. That's a good place to look for some warblers that
like edge and clearing. Chestnut-sided is a good bet. Other birds too. Park
there, off the road, and walk in for a while.
Keep driving slowly and with windows open. Maybe pull over in a few places
and walk around a bit.
On the road in the right time frame (hopefully when I go but I may be too
late), Swainson's thrushes, Hermit & Wood Thrushes and Veery calling and
singing are likely throughout May. Warblers from the road by ear and by eye
include Northern Waterthrush, Blackburnian, BTgreen, BTBlue, Redstarts, and
quite a few more. Some of these are further down near the wet areas.
I have heard Broad-winged Hawks from the road. Hearing is more likely than
seeing.
I would park at the pull out on the left near the swamp and walk the road
in both directions and walk out to the swamp edge. There is a pretty wide
brook on the left after the swamp and that's where we saw Blackburnian but
they could be in other places too.
Then drive to the parking at the end, park there and walk out to the right
on unpaved West st to the power line cut out. There you can hear and see
field sparrows and prairie warblers. On the way you pass through more
wetland and good birding. This is not far from the parking.
Then from the cutout, you can hike up soapstone hill. Pass through an area
with campers (I'm sure with reservations), maybe a dozen camping spots, or
fewer. On the other end there are trails. Using most trail map apps you
will see the trail up soapstone hill (it's in OSM so most trail apps have
it). It's kind of straight ahead then sharp left from the camping area.. As
you go up the hill, the birding is good. It's decent passing through the
camping areas too if there aren't too many people around. Chestnut-sided
probably breed in the area. The woods are not as dense and there are some
cleared areas off trail. If you like, continue past the top of soapstone
hill to a lookout area over the quabbin. That's a bit further than I plan
to go on my walk, but I do plan to go up soapstone hill. That's a great
place to eat a lunch you pack in.
Also we saw a black bear there last spring. A ways off the road across the
big brook on the left. It moved on. Use common sense.
If you like walking more, go to the various parking spots I've mentioned
and walk more. That is, you can do less of the slow driving and listening I
mentioned. But no matter what, drive slowly with windows open and listen
carefully. When parking and planning to leave it a while, don't block gates
and pull off the road.
On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 1:04 PM Toshia McCabe <toshia.fcolors...>
wrote:
