Program and Event Descriptions:

Annual Waterford Labor Day Picnic ― Sunday, September 5, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.  For the past three years, LWC has partnered with the Waterford Foundation to build a vegetative riparian buffer on the Phillips Farm.  Join us at this annual celebration of the project.  Bring a picnic and enjoy it at the Mill, join us on a guided tour of the history and natural wonders at the Phillips Farm, and watch a Monarch Butterfly release.

Wings Over Sky Meadows ― Monday, September 6, 8:00 a.m. - Noon.  Registration required.  Only 30 minutes from Loudoun and situated on the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sky Meadows State Park offers a mix of habitats, including meadow, forest, field, and stream.  Explore this natural area with Joe Coleman and Laura McGranaghan in search of birds, both resident and fall migrants, and late-season butterflies. We will walk up to 3 miles, some uphill and downhill in sunny terrain, but at a leisurely pace. Co-sponsored with the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS).  Registration required: Members (ANS & LWC): $23; Nonmembers: $32.  To register contact ANS at 301-652-9188 x16.

Birding Banshee ― Saturday, September 11, 8:00 a.m. Join the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the Friends of Banshee Reeks at the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve for the monthly bird walk. Because of its rich and varied habitat, this part of the county is a birding hot spot. Please bring binoculars. Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

Chimney Swift Night Out ― Saturday, September 11, 6:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Chimney Swifts congregate in communal roosts prior to their migration in the fall. Some roosts may consist of an extended family group of a half a dozen birds but the larger sites can host hundreds or even thousands of swifts! By keeping a watchful eye, we've found one such roost in the Lincoln area that has had in the past upwards of 600 birds swirling around! We'll sit on a lawn area across from the chimneys where they roost and watch the wonderful aerial flights of the chimney swifts. Bring a chair and snacks. We may wrap up earlier than 8:30 if the show is over before then. Sign Up online for specific meeting location and other details.

Birding the Appalachian Trail and Hawk Watch ― Saturday, September 18, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Join us as we hike along the Appalachian Trail in search of migrants in the morning. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Snickers Gap to car pool to a close-by location for a hike that leads to a beautiful waterfall. Around 11:00 a.m., we’ll meet back at the Snickers Gap Hawk Watch for a few hours of hawk watching and possibly see a major push of Broad-winged Hawks. Bring a lunch and a chair. Meet us at 8:00 a.m. at Snickers Gap or join us at 11:00 at the Snickers Gap Hawk Watch. Questions: contact Mary Ann Good at magood1@verizon.net.

Sunday in the Preserve ― Sunday, September 19, 1:00 p.m. Join a naturalist from the Friends of Banshee Reeks and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for a free, informal family walk around the preserve. Search for the many natural wonders that make this such a special place. For information call the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve at 703-669-0316.

Mid-Week Nature Walk at Dulles Wetlands ― Tuesday, September 21, 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  Registration Required.  Join Joe Coleman and Phil Daley on a free, mid-week nature walk to explore the Dulles Greenway Wetlands Mitigation Project to see birds, butterflies, and wildflowers.  Waterproof footgear, long pants and insect repellent advised.  This field trip is being co-sponsored by the Northern Virginia Bird Club.  To register please Sign Up online or questions contact Joe Coleman at jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org or 540-554-2542.

An Introduction to Our Local Snakes ― Wednesday, September 22, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Purcellville Library.  Liam McGranaghan will present a slide show on the snakes one is likely to see in our area.  Learn more about these fascinating creatures and why they are a valuable part of the world around us.  Come at 7:00 for light refreshments and meet the speaker; the free program will start at 7:30.

Birding the Blue Ridge Center ― Saturday, September 25, 8:00 a.m. On the fourth Saturday of each month (except December) the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy leads a free bird walk at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). This beautiful 900-acre preserve is located on Harpers Ferry Road, Rt. 671, in northwestern Loudoun County. Only a few miles south of Harpers Ferry and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the property includes meadows in the valley and heavily forested slopes on the Blue Ridge. Meet at the visitor center. The Blue Ridge Center is located just north of Neersville, at 11611 Harpers Ferry Road (Rt 671). Detailed directions can be found on the website, www.brces.org. Questions: contact Joe Coleman at 540-554-2542 or jcoleman@loudounwildlife.org.

Bluebird Monitoring Program Potluck ― Saturday, September 25, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Registration Required. Join us at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve in Leesburg for our end of the season pot luck social and close out. We'll take a look at the results of our efforts and swap stories from the summer's action. Bring a dish to share and we'll relax under the trees at Banshee for a late lunch and some time together. Registration required. Please Sign Up online or contact Elizabeth Evans at eevans@loudounwildlife.org