Date: 10/15/26 9:59 am From: Naomi Lloyd via groups.io <naomi_kestrel...> Subject: [hmbirds] 2027 field trips, gauging interest
Hello birders! We're working on our 2027 field trip schedule. How much interest would there be in an August trip to the Outer Banks? The highlight would be joining one of the Brian Patterson NC day-boat pelagics. We looked into their schedule and they have a lot of dates in August next year. Distance-wise it's about a 10-hour straight-through drive. The boat trips are not cheap ($250 per person) but include on-board guides who really know the pelagic birds, and these are widely considered the best pelagic trips on the US east coast with a lot of potential for rare birds in late summer. We'd probably aim for a 5 or 6-day total itinerary, with one full day devoted to the pelagic and other days birding around the OB/coastal NC area (possibly including some coastal parts of the Delmarva area).
As usual priority will be given to Club members, and at present we're just looking for a show of interest. If this seems like something you'd like to do, please contact me so Gregg can begin to tie down a date for the Pelagic trip.
And as usual, if you know a local spot that needs further investigation, or if you'd like to lead one of our regularly scheduled trips, speak up! I'd especially like to do a day-trip or two to the lower Adirondacks, more spots in the less-birded counties of Region 8 like like Warren, Montgomery, Fulton and Schoharie, etc. We have so many new birders in the club, I'm sure some of you can show us somewhere great!
In addition, in looking over the schedule I realised I'm leading seven field trips a year, which is a lot considering I also lead the Thursday Birders and one CBC. I'd be happy to pass some of them on to volunteers. Those would be a Feb. Grasslands trip, May Schodack Island SP (get credit for everyone's Cerulean Warbler!), June Alfred E Solomon Grasslands, October Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail, and November Tomhannock Reservoir. Assistance gratefully accepted!
