Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

SEPTEMBER

Paddle on the Potomac RESCHEDULED FROM JULY 21
Wednesday, September 6 (9:30 am-12:30 pm)
Leaders: Melanie Choukas-Bradley and Stephanie Mason
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Meet two naturalists at the Key Bridge Boathouse for a summer paddling trip around Theodore Roosevelt Island. Discover the magic of paddling around DC’s historic 88.5 acre island in the Potomac beneath the boughs of magnificent sycamores, cottonwoods, silver maples, black walnuts, basswoods and river birches. Witness the blooms of many summer wildflowers growing along the shoreline and the thrill of spotting ospreys, bald eagles, herons and egrets, and the noisy kingfisher! Canoes or kayaks can be rented or you can bring your own. NOTE: registration fee does not include boat rental. REGISTER HERE

Fridays at Widewater
Fridays (10 am-3 pm)
Section A: September 8
Section B: October 6
Section C: November 3
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $34; nonmembers $48
Entire series $92; nonmembers $130
An elder of a Native American tribe from the Pacific Northwest advised: There is more to be learned by climbing the same mountain a hundred times than by climbing a hundred different mountains.  Following this admonition, our Senior Naturalist begins a series of broad-based nature explorations along the Potomac River’s C&O Canal and its varied habitats, from upland rocky woods to rich floodplain forests. On each Friday’s hiking loop of 4 miles, we’ll follow the same stretch of the Towpath upriver from the Widewater area to Great Falls, returning to our cars along the Berma Road trail above the Canal.  As we experience the fading of summer and the arrival of autumn, we’ll watch for and enjoy changes in plant life, as well as all manner of wildlife, including migrant birds, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians, and mammals. We’ll continue this series with a monthly hike along this stretch through next summer. REGISTER HERE

Sleuthing for Spiders
Saturday, September 9 (1-4:30 pm)
Leader: Cathy Stragar
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Spiders are ubiquitous creatures in our basements, meadows, and woodlots. While they inspire feelings of fear among many, they are a source of wonderment and mystery to the nature enthusiast. Join a naturalist for an introduction to the natural history and identification of spiders. On our field trip to McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, near Poolesville, MD, we’ll search for spiders in a variety of habitats and discuss their life histories, feeding strategies, and adaptations. REGISTER HERE

Fall Birding Series
A: Sunday, September 10: Ag History Farm Park, MD
FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
(John Bjerke) (7-10 am)
B: Saturday, September 30: Huntley Meadows, VA
(Mark England) (7:30-10:30 am)
C: Sunday, October 8:  Lois Green Conservation Park, MD
(Mark England)  (7:30-10:30 am)
D: Saturday, October 21: Dyke Marsh, VA
FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
(Mike Bowen) (8-11 am)
E: Sunday, October 29:  Hughes Hollow, MD
(John Bjerke)  (8-11 am)
F: Saturday, November 4: Pennyfield Lock, MD
(Mike Bowen) (8-11 am)
G: Sunday, November 12: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, DC
(John Bjerke)  (8-11 am)
Each walk members $24; nonmembers $34
Entire series $152/$215
Our fall birding series visits seven protected areas, all under an hour’s drive from D.C., where a variety of habitats — including field, forest, and wetland — provide good opportunities for the observation and identification of birds in autumn. On the earliest walks, we’ll hope to catch some southbound migrants. As the season progresses, we’ll watch for sparrows, raptors, waterfowl, and other birds. These teaching walks are aimed at beginning to mid-level birders, but all are welcome. Most of our explorations will be on natural surface trails that may be uneven or muddy, but some destinations include mild uphill and downhill. Image credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren REGISTER HERE

Midweek Meanders Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
A: September 13 – Riley’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
B: September 27 – Carderock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
C: October 11 – Violettes Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
D: October 25 – Pennyfield Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
E: November 8  -Widewater FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
F: November 22 – Swain’s Lock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $24; nonmembers $34
Entire series $130/$184
Enjoy one or all of these leisurely autumn walks along portions of the C&O Canal that enjoy less traffic than the towpath stretches close to Washington. The focus of our walks, each beginning from a different location, will be general natural history of the varied habitats along the Potomac River and the C&O Canal. We’ll proceed at a “naturalist’s shuffle” pace, stopping often to observe birds, fall wildflowers and foliage, butterflies, snakes, turtles — and whatever else we might find. Participants interested in carpooling will meet at Woodend. REGISTER HERE

Bats About
Thursday, September 14 (7-9 pm)
Leader: Kerry Wixted
Free, but registration is required.
Come and explore the natural history of and the conservation concerns for the bats in our region with this indoor/outdoor program at our Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD. As the sun is setting, we’ll head out outdoors on a short search for bats in the evening sky.  Back inside, we’ll learn about the habits and habitats of these important and fascinating mammals. Our presenter is Wildlife Education and Outreach Specialist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Image credit: Chris Harshaw REGISTER HERE

Evening on the Canal
Friday, September 15 (6:30-8:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Join senior naturalist Stephanie Mason on a walk through the woods and along the Potomac River’s C&O Canal beginning at Swain’s Lock near Potomac, MD. As day gives way to dusk — and then to nightfall — we’ll look and listen for owls, foxes, bats, katydids, moths, and other nocturnal and crepuscular animals, discussing the adaptations of creatures whose “day” begins as ours ends. REGISTER HERE

Confusing Composites
Saturday, September 16 (9 am-1 pm)
Leader: Sujata Roy
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Most of our area’s late summer and fall-blooming wildflowers belong to the composite (Asteraceae) plant family. With many local species of asters, goldenrods, sunflowers, bonesets and more, it can be intimidating even to begin to consider IDing them. In this introductory field class, our leader will use both meadow and woodland at Little Bennett Park in Montgomery County, MD to explain the differences between the main groups of “confusing composites” while offering tips on how to begin identifying them. Image credit: Alice Crain  REGISTER HERE

Fall Flight at Cromwell Valley Park
Sunday, September 17 (3/4 day field trip)
Leaders: Hal Wierenga and Lynn Davidson
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Bring along a folding chair and cross your fingers for a good day of raptor flight at this hawk watch in Baltimore County, just outside the northern side of the Baltimore Beltway. Our trip is scheduled close to peak for the southward passage of Broad-wing Hawks in massive numbers. Of course, we can’t control weather conditions or migratory pulses, but our leaders will do their best to give you a productive day of birding. That will include exploring some of Cromwell Valley Park’s trails for fall migrant songbirds, and perhaps even heading out to other close-by locations in the afternoon if the hawk flight is slow. REGISTER HERE

Late Summer Wings and Wildflowers
Sunday, September 17 (8 am-noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $28; nonmembers $38
A park in upper Montgomery County, the Lois Green Conservation Area offers open meadows, pond and stream, and forested edges as an ideal spot for broad-based nature exploration. We’ll look for butterflies and other insects, migrant and resident birds, and other wildlife against the backdrop of late summer, sun-loving wildflowers and fruiting trees. We’ll walk several miles on natural surface trails with some uphill/downhill. Image credit: Jim Stasz  REGISTER HERE

Creek Critters at Webb Sanctuary
Tuesday, September 19 (11 am-1 pm)
Webb Sanctuary, Clifton VA
Free, but registration required.
Please join us for this special event! You will learn how to find and identify creek critters (macroinvertebrates) living in Popes Head Creek, and generate Stream Health Reports based on your findings using the Creek Critters smartphone app. The stream site is a 10-minute downhill walk from the parking area. Participants will work in shallow water (less than 10 inches deep). This is a FREE event, but registration is required. Children over 10 years old are welcome to participate. REGISTER HERE.

Fall Flora of the Gold Mine Tract
Wednesdays (10 am-1 pm)
A: September 20
B: October 18
Leader: Marney Bruce
Each walk: members $24; nonmembers $34
Entire series $43; nonmembers $61
Fall is a great season to explore the plant life of the Gold Mine Tract, a large block of forest above the C&0 Canal at Great Falls Park, MD. While not a true old-growth woodland, there are towering hardwood species to study and enjoy, and it is a fine example of Piedmont forest.  Each hike of up to 3 miles will explore a different stretch of this area as we search for lingering blooms, developing fruits, and changing color.  Terrain underfoot will be natural surface trails, which could be muddy, over gently rolling hills.  Expect a few moderate uphill/downhill sections on each hike. Note: there will be an admission fee to the Park unless you have an annual or Golden Age pass. REGISTER HERE

Natural Heritage Series: Blue Ridge Beginnings
Friday, September 22 (10 am-4 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $48
A little more than an hour northwest of Washington lies Catoctin Mountain, the front edge of the Blue Ridge. Here, on a day of the week when visitors are few, we’ll enjoy the first day of fall in Catoctin Mountain Park. We’ll hike around 4 miles, at a leisurely pace, as we look for the plants and animals that inhabit the Park’s woods and waterways. In addition to natural history, we’ll consider the Mountain’s cultural history and past land uses. Our explorations will include some uphill and downhill hiking over rocky ground. Image credit: TrailVoice REGISTER HERE

Walk Among the Ancients
Saturday, September 23 (9 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Kit Sheffield
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Here’s a chance to learn (or re-learn) to recognize some of our native ferns and fern relatives. Aimed at beginners and those wanting to refresh their basic fern knowledge, our field trip will explore habitats along several trails at Great Falls Park, VA. Our search for these plants of ancient lineage will cover some uneven and rocky ground, which could be muddy, but we will proceed at a slow pace. REGISTER HERE

Butterfly Migrants at Glendening Preserve
Saturday, September 23 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Rick Borchelt
Members $24; nonmembers $34
The Parris N. Glendening Preserve in Anne Arundel Co.’s Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary maintains a large butterfly garden that is one of the best area locations for late-summer migrant butterflies, including Long-tailed Skippers, Ocola Skippers, Fiery Skippers, Cloudless Skippers and Sleepy Oranges, and, of course, Monarchs. We’ll spend most of our time exploring this active garden, boosting participants’ skills identifying difficult-to-ID skippers, with a short walk into surrounding fields for late summer dragonfly and damselflies as well as other insects. Image credit: John Flannery REGISTER HERE

Forest Bathing Walk  FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Sunday, September 24 (9:30 am-12:30 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $28; nonmembers $38
We are happy to offer a Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing walk on a farm in Comus, MD near Sugarloaf Mountain. Numerous studies in Japan, Europe and North America have demonstrated the health benefits of spending quiet time immersed in nature, including lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol, lowered blood pressure, increased immune system function, and elevated mood (things that ANS members already knew!). We will walk less than a mile at a slow pace and spend quiet time sitting and watching early fall wildflowers and nectaring butterflies. Our leader says this walk is “more about being than IDing.” She has portable forest bathing stools to loan to each participant for the duration of the foray. Melanie welcomes any questions about this new form of nature meditation, which evolved from practices in Japan and Korea: mcb@melaniechoukas-bradley.com. Image credit: Melanie Choukas-Bradley  REGISTER HERE

On the Move at Cape May
Monday, September 25 (8 am) to
Tuesday, September 26 (4 pm)
Leader: Mark Garland
Members $110; nonmembers $150
Cape May, at New Jersey’s southern tip, is known around the world as a great concentration point for southbound migrants. Staggering numbers of birds pass through Cape May when the winds come from the northwest after an autumn cold front. A great mix of habitats means there’s always lots to see here, even when the winds don’t bring the big migratory push. Late September is a peak time for migrating falcons, accipiters, warblers, and monarch butterflies. We plan to visit Cape May Point State Park, the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, and other natural areas around Cape May. Overnight options include a variety of motels, hotels, B&Bs, and campgrounds in or near Cape May. Participants secure their own lodging.  Image credit: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren REGISTER HERE

Geology Hike along Sligo Creek
Tuesday, September 26 (10:30 am-2:30pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Our hike will follow the paved Sligo Creek Trail upstream in Montgomery County for 4 miles between New Hampshire Avenue and Forest Glen Road. In its descent to the Coastal Plain, the creek has cut a gorge into the Piedmont Upland. Within the gorge are many fine exposures of Laurel Formation schist and gneiss, derived from marine sediments in a long-vanished ocean. As we march creekside, we will observe modern stream processes as well as discuss the history of the ancient bedrock. Note: our geology hikes move farther and at a faster pace than our usual “naturalists’ shuffle.” REGISTER HERE

 

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

OCTOBER

Window into the World of Fungi
Thursday, October 5 (7-9:30 pm)
Leader: Tovi Lehmann
Free, but registration required.
Rooted, yet not plants, heterotrophs, but not animals (growing in fairy rings, yet not even fairies), fungi are members of another kingdom. Mostly hidden under the surface, fungi have evolved their own solutions to life’s persistent problems. Gaining the recognition for their pivotal role in shaping the living world, they now reshape fundamental perceptions of biologists. In this lecture at our Woodend Sanctuary, we will explore the natural history and ecology of our local fungal neighbors, rather than focus on the edibility of particular species of mushrooms.  Image credit: Doug Bowman  REGISTER HERE

Intro to Tree Identification
Friday, October 13 (10 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $48
Fall is a great time to learn to identify our local trees and shrubs. With brilliant leaves highlighting the twigs, new buds already formed, and many fruits hanging on, there are lots of distinguishing features that help sort out the various species. This program at our Woodend Sanctuary will begin indoors with a look at some techniques of tree identification, coupled with practice using a simple key. We’ll then move outdoors to use our new skills to identify many of the trees growing on the grounds. Both beginners and those who want to brush up on their ID skills are welcome. REGISTER HERE

Geology of Donaldson Run and the Potomac Gorge
Saturday, October 14 (1-6 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
members $30; nonmembers $42
If you haven’t been able to make it to Utah to see the deep canyons and high plateaus of Canyonlands, Arlington’s Potomac Overlook Park and the adjacent Potomac River gorge provide a scaled-down replica. Of course, the local bedrock is metamorphic rather than sedimentary, but Utah can’t expect to have everything! We plan an out-and back hike of about three miles down Donaldson Run to the river and up the Potomac Gorge to Chain Bridge. The trails will definitely be rocky, with some steep sections, and there will likely be mud as well. The reward for our exertion will be excellent views of dramatic outcrops and erosional features. Note: our geology hikes move farther and a faster pace than our usual naturalists’ shuffle. Image credit: Rob Pongsajapan REGISTER HERE

Natural Heritage Hike: Calvert Cliffs State Park
Sunday, October 15 (10 am-4:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $34; nonmembers $48
While most visit Calvert Cliffs State Park for the marine fossils along its Chesapeake Bay beach, this park in southern Maryland offers rich natural history as well.  We’ll hike out to the Bay and back (total of 4 miles) as we explore coastal plain forests, marshland, and stream valley habitats.  We’ll look and listen for all manner of fall wildlife activity, as we make stops along the way to study plant communities in their seasonal aspects. Note: There is a per car fee for Park admission. Carpooling will be encouraged and facilitated with a central meeting point just outside the Beltway. REGISTER HERE

Walk Among the Giants
D. Sunday, October 22 (8 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $24; nonmembers $34
Walk among the giant Sycamores, Oaks, and River Birches on this new seasonal series of explorations along the Potomac River just upstream of Great Falls, MD. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for all manner of wildlife, and watch the winter woods turn green, and then summer sultry before fall colors herald the coming of another winter. Our floodplain trail, connecting with the Towpath, is mostly level, but could be muddy as we walk our loop of roughly 2.5 miles. REGISTER HERE

Native Plant Gardening for Homeowners
Fall Walk: Tuesday, October 24 (10 am-Noon)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $20; nonmembers $28
Explore the Blair Native Plant Garden, located just outside the Sanctuary Shop, with our Senior Naturalist who helped develop the garden and its educational focus. Find out more about the values of gardening with native plant species, including: lower maintenance; more value to native birds, butterflies and other insects, including pollinators; reduced negative impact on local ecosystems, and more. We’ll discuss native alternatives to popular non-native species such as English ivy, as well as resources for broadening one’s knowledge and understanding of plants natives to the mid-Atlantic. You’re welcome to bring along a bag lunch to eat with the leader after the walks, which are scheduled to highlight seasonal aspects of the Garden.
REGISTER HERE

The Natural and Cultural History of the Ag Reserve
Friday, October 27 (9:30 am-4 pm)
Leaders: Melanie Choukas-Bradley &
Stephanie Mason
Members $36; nonmembers $54
Thirty-five years ago, with regional farmland rapidly diminishing, Montgomery County had the foresight to set aside more than 90,000 acres of farms and open space in the western and northern third of the county as an “Agricultural Reserve.” Come explore this scenic, biologically diverse area and learn how it contributes to clean air and water, the availability of fresh local produce, and the overall quality of life for residents of the metro area. Our trip will visit a working CSA farm, a fall produce and pumpkin stand, an historical site, and perhaps an artist’s studio, time permitting, to experience the rich diversity of plants and wildlife (and human livelihoods) that thrive in the Reserve’s fields, meadows, wetlands, and rocky woodlands. We’ll begin and end the tour in some of the beautiful parkland along its borders: Seneca Creek State Park and Dickerson Conservation Park, site of an American sycamore, officially the largest known tree in MD. Image credit: Don Graham REGISTER HERE

Raptors on the Move at Waggoner’s Gap
Saturday, October 28 (3/4 day field trip)
Leaders: Liam and Laura McGranaghan
Members $30; nonmembers $42
Fall brings thousands of migrating raptors—hawks, falcons, eagles, and their allies—to the Appalachian ridges and Atlantic coast. Our field trip goes to one of the premier hawk-watching sites in the area: Pennsylvania’s Waggoner’s Gap, about a 2.5-hour drive from DC. Our experienced leaders, known for their raptor expertise, will help you develop your own ID skills for these birds-on-the-move. Getting to the hawk watch lookout requires walking up a short, but rocky, trail to an outcropping of perched boulders. REGISTER HERE

Late Fall at Cape May
Saturday, October 28 (8 am)-Sunday, October 29 (4 pm)
Leader: Mark Garland
Members $110; nonmembers $150
Cape May is one of the premier spots in North America to see concentrations of southbound birds during the fall migration. October’s end typically brings the year’s largest concentrations of coastal water birds, including scoters, cormorants, and gannets, along with temperate songbird migrants — those species whose migrations stop before reaching the tropics. When the weather conditions are right in late fall, there can be thousands of songbirds: sparrows, blackbirds, American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Gray Catbirds, kinglets, and others. Some owls are migrating too, and on Saturday evening we may have a chance to visit researchers working at night to band them. On Saturday we’ll visit areas near the southern tip of Cape May, while on Sunday we’ll move to the northern part of Cape May County. Note: Participants secure their own lodging. Many options, including camping, are available. Image credit: William H. Majoros REGISTER HERE

Fall Tree ID for Birders
Sunday, October 29 (2:30-4 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Free, but registration required.
With trees ablaze in fall colors and their fruits hanging high, we’ll learn the identifying characteristics visible through binoculars of the most common species of trees and shrubs along the C&O Canal towpath upstream of Carderock. REGISTER HERE

 

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.

NOVEMBER

A Year in Rock Creek Park
D: Fall Nature Hike in Rock Creek Park
Saturday, November 4 (9:30 am-3:30 pm)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $34; nonmembers $42
In 2016 the award-winning author of A Year in Rock Creek Park completed 10 years of her popular walks for ANS titled A Year at Boundary Bridge. This year, Melanie Choukas-Bradley will branch out into other areas of Rock Creek Park with a new series of field trips throughout the year. Autumn will find us hiking the Western Ridge and Valley Trails during peak autumn foliage and fruiting season, stopping to study and admire trees along the route. Please join ANS as we visit familiar parts of Rock Creek Park and explore new ones! The Fall Hike will traverse 4-6 miles, with uphill and downhill on natural surface trails which may be rocky and uneven.  Image credit: Erin Johnson  REGISTER HERE

Questions? Call Pam at 301-652-9188 x16 or email pam.oves@anshome.org.