Date: 3/21/26 1:15 pm From: Mark Hibberd <markghibberd...> Subject: Re: [Arlington Birds] Federated Women's Club State Forest
👍👍👍
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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