Date: 3/21/26 1:19 pm From: John Edmondson <johnhedmondson...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Federated Women's Club State Forest
yes probably I will have a top secret visit beforehand :🙂. Maybe a week
earlier in hopes of not missing the Swainson's Thrushes. Top secret you
understand. 🙂
On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 4:15 PM Mark Hibberd <markghibberd...> wrote:
> 👍👍👍
> Will you plan a visit earlier to check it out before the guided walk?
> M
>
> On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 4:09 PM John Edmondson <johnhedmondson...>
> wrote:
>
>> 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:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm wondering if anyone out there has had experience birding in the
>>> Federated Women's Club State Forest in Petersham, MA? Id' like to go out
>>> there, but my impression is that the area is huge. I don't know where to
>>> park or what the best birding spots are in the forest. If anyone has this
>>> information, I'd really appreciate it. :)
>>>
>>> This is what google maps shows:
>>> https://maps.app.goo.gl/psemMXcGZTHUxHTj9 >>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
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>>>
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>>
>
