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

Fridays at Widewater
Fridays (10 am-3 pm)
Section B: October 6
Section C: November 3
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk members $34; nonmembers $48
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

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  FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
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

Botanical Gems of Montgomery County: Blockhouse Point Conservation Park
Sunday, November 5 (9:30 am-1 pm)
Leader: Carole Bergmann
Members $24; nonmembers $34
We continue our series of field trips to some of the botanically rich, but often underappreciated, Montgomery County Parks. On this hike we’ll visit Blockhouse Point, along the Potomac River, where we’ll explore the preserve’s notable, contiguous forest of typical Piedmont plant species, as well as more uncommon ones. We’ll admire and ID fall blooms, fruits, and foliage. We’ll cover 2-4 miles, with some uphill/downhill and a hike out to a bluff above the Potomac, where views should be nice this time of year. On this moderate hike, our leader, the forest ecologist for the County, will focus on natural history but she won’t overlook the area’s cultural history. REGISTER HERE

Art and Nature Sketchbook
Friday, November 10 (10 am-2:30 pm)
Leader: Tina Thieme Brown
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Create a nature sketchbook page following a short walk at our Woodend Sanctuary with the artist of two Sugarloaf Mountain books and the Illustrated Agricultural Reserve Map. According to our leader, this activity can be relaxing way to sit and record seasonal observations. We will spend a short time outside looking closely at nature while sharing observations of native tree specimens. Moving inside, Tina will show you how to create a journal sketchbook page using line, color and handwritten notes to describe your walk in the woods.  After showing you a few sketchbook examples, she will introduce you to her favorite sketching art supplies and guide you through a sketch. Our leader says the only experience required is a love for our native trees. An art supply list (approx. $20) will be provided with your confirmation letter. REGISTER HERE

Fall on Wheels Along the Patuxent
Saturday, November 11 (9:30 am-3 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $36; nonmembers $50
Dust off your bike and join us to explore the woods and wetlands along the Patuxent River in Prince George’s County, MD. We’ll use the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Tour roadway, closed to cars on this day, to visit a variety of habitats in our search for fall activity in the natural world. We’ll dismount often to look for late fall blooms and colorful foliage plus all manner of wildlife, as we cover the Tour’s reach from Patuxent River Park to Merkle Wildlife Refuge. Our round-trip ride will be between 5-8 miles. Bring your own bike. REGISTER HERE

Building Stones of Pennsylvania Avenue
Sunday, November 12 (1-4:30 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $24; nonmembers $34
The buildings and monuments along the Avenue of the Presidents are faced with a variety of granites, marbles, and sandstones. We will start at the Federal Triangle Metro station and walk about 3 miles, examining the exteriors of various structures between the White House and the Capitol. We will discuss the geology and place of origin of the building stones, as well as explore aspects of political, cultural, and economic history related to the choice and use of material. All portions of our route will be paved. The pace set and distance covered on this geology field trip will be faster and farther than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” REGISTER HERE

Bird ID Series: Sparrows and Finches
Thursday, November 16 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, November 18 (half-day field trip)
Leader: Mike Bowen
Members $42; nonmembers $58
Lecture only: members $20; nonmembers $28
Sparrows and finches offer beginning and intermediate birders some of their most difficult ID challenges. On Thursday evening, our leader will use an illustrated lecture to provide identification help on these often confusing species. Our field trip will take us to one or more nearby natural areas where a variety of these birds can be studied. REGISTER HERE

Knock, Knock FULL – REGISTER FOR WAITLIST ONLINE
Saturday, November 18 (9 am-12 pm)
Leaders: Pam and Chris Oves
Free, but registration required.
On this approximately 4-mile roundtrip bird walk along the Canal’s towpath at Riley’s Lock, we’ll work to see or at least hear all 7 species of woodpeckers (a grand-slam!) that frequent our woods this time of year. Our walk is aimed at beginning birders. This walk will go faster and farther than our usual “naturalist’s shuffle.” REGISTER HERE

Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, November 19 (full-day field trip)
Leaders: Hal Wierenga and Lynn Davidson
Members $36; nonmembers $50
Late fall signals the arrival of thousands of ducks and geese in the mid-Atlantic region. Join us on a visit to Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge, near Chestertown, MD, to search for waterfowl in the wetland habitats of this island, situated near the mouth of the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay. Eastern Neck NWR has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area for Tundra Swans. More than 2,000 swans spend the early part of winter at the refuge before moving farther south to wintering grounds in North Carolina. Others stay at the refuge throughout the winter, along with an estimated 35,000 waterfowl of other species. In addition to our search for migrant waterfowl, we’ll look for raptors, sparrows, and other seasonal birds. 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.

DECEMBER

Winter Birding at Black Hill
Section A: Saturday, December 2 (8:30-11 am)
Section B: Sunday, January 7 (8:30-11 am)
Section C: Saturday, February 3 (8:30-11 am)
Section D: Sunday, March 4 (8:30-11 am)
Leader: Mark England
Each walk: members $20; nonmembers $28
Entire series $72/$104
The winter months can be an ideal time to learn more about birds and birding, and Black Hill Regional Park, in upper Montgomery County, is an ideal outdoor classroom for this study. Each walk in our series, intended for beginning to mid-level birders, will visit one or more sites in the Park in a search for waterfowl, sparrows, raptors, and other both resident and overwintering species. The Park’s habitats are varied and include wetlands and Little Seneca Lake, as well as forest and field. Join us for the entire series and observe the seasonal changes in numbers and species, or just sign up for individual walks. REGISTER HERE

Late Autumn Tree Walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island
Saturday, December 2 (9 am-Noon)
Leader: Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Members $28; nonmembers $38
Join the author of A Year in Rock Creek Park and City of Trees for a late autumn tree walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island. With winter-in-waiting, we will walk through the floodplain forest admiring and identifying sycamore, several species of maples, black walnut, American basswood, pawpaw, cottonwood, American beech and several species of oaks. Melanie will share many tricks for identifying trees as they prepare for winter, including bark, buds, growth habit and habitat. As we stroll the island’s perimeter on this late fall day, we’ll also be able to enjoy the vistas of the Georgetown waterfront and presidential memorials. There may not be restroom facilities open on the island at this time of year. Those who are sensitive to noise should note that the island lies under the flight path of Reagan National Airport. REGISTER HERE

Natural Heritage Series: Gettysburg National Park
Sunday, December 3 (10 am-3 pm)
Leader: David Farner
Members $32; nonmembers $46
In 1863 Gettysburg’s landscape was primarily composed of farm fields and pastures. Today the Park maintains a look similar to that of 1863 on almost 3000 acres. The result is one of the largest protected grasslands in Pennsylvania. On our visit, we’ll hike up to 3 miles at battlefield sites such as Devil’s Den, The Wheatfield and Cemetery Ridge. We’ll search for overwintering birds and other wildlife, while considering their survival adaptations. We’ll also consider how the landscape influenced the course of the battle and helped the Union achieve victory. Our explorations will include some uphill and downhill hiking, but we’ll proceed at a fairly leisurely pace. Image credit: Mark A. Wilson REGISTER HERE

Geology of Holmes Run Gorge
Saturday, December 9 (Noon-4 pm)
Leader: Joe Marx
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Alexandria sits atop a wedding cake of overlapping and intersecting terraces created by the Potomac River and its ancestral streams. Holmes Run, a relatively large upland watercourse in the northwestern quadrant of the city, has sliced through the layers down to the bedrock on which they all rest. We will walk about 3 miles on good trails and mostly level ground through the Holmes Run Gorge, examining outcrops of granite, schist and partially formed sedimentary rock. The discussion will focus on the ancient origins of the various rock types we see and on changes that have happened within the gorge in historic time. An added bonus will be a miniature magnolia bog! Note that our geology hikes move at a faster pace and for greater distances than our usual naturalist’s shuffle. REGISTER HERE

Birding Hotspots in Loudoun County
Sunday, December 10 (8 am-4 pm)
Leaders: Joe Coleman and Laura McGranaghan
Members (ANS & LWC) $36; nonmembers $50
Join two of Loudoun County’s top birders on a daylong search for sparrows, hawks, waterfowl, and other seasonal birds at some of this County’s richest birding destinations. The group will meet at in Leesburg, then move on to several locations before ending the day in the Lucketts area. Possible locations, depending on what species have been recently sighted, include: Beaverdam Reservoir, Banshee Reeks, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, and the Dulles Wetlands. All levels of birders are welcome. Co-sponsored with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC). Image credit: Wikimedia Commons user Fir0002  REGISTER HERE

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

JANUARY

Winter Walks Along the Canal
Wednesdays (10 am-12:30 pm)
Section A: January 10 – Carderock
Section B: January 24 – Widewater
Section C: February 7 – Swain’s Lock
Section D: March 7 – Pennyfield Lock
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Each walk: members $24; nonmembers $234
Entire series $88/$122
Join our Senior Naturalist for one or all of these walks along the C&O Canal as we look for over-wintering birds and other wildlife, practice winter botany skills, and enjoy the expansive views along the Potomac River that this season provides. Carpooling will be available from Woodend. Image credit: Karen Wilhelm  REGISTER HERE

Winter Hikes Along the River
A: Saturday, January 13 (full-day hike) Patuxent River, MD (4-5.5 mi)
Leaders:  Stephanie Mason and Cathy Stragar
B: Sunday, February 4 (full-day hike) Potomac River, MD (5.6 mi)
Leaders: Stephanie Mason and Cathy Stragar
Hike A: Members $38; nonmembers $52
Hike B: Members $38; nonmembers $52
Take on two of your New Year’s resolutions at once: spend more time exploring nature AND get more exercise by signing up for one or both of our hikes along local waterways.  We’ll search for over-wintering birds and other wildlife, while practicing our winter botany skills.  Hike A uses a roadway closed to traffic on the day of our outing as we explore the coastal plain woods and wetlands along the Patuxent River in Prince George’s County.  Hike B follows the historic C&O Canal towpath downstream from Point of Rocks to the Monocacy Aqueduct near Dickerson, MD. These hikes are designed to offer a natural history experience for persons who want to move farther and a bit faster than the pace of most ANS field trips. We will stop to observe natural phenomena, but will keep a pace necessary to cover the distance stated. Hikes could be modified depending on weather and ground conditions. REGISTER HERE

Winter Weeds Walk
Sunday, January 14 (2-4:30 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $24; nonmembers $34
Not all herbaceous plants disappear in the winter. Many persist as dried stalks and seed clusters, with a beauty to match the season. Join our Senior Naturalist for a walking introduction to winter weed and wildflower identification at the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management area near Poolesville, MD. We’ll also consider seed dispersal strategies and examine plant skeletons for signs of summer insect activity, such as galls, chrysalids, cocoons, and egg cases. REGISTER HERE

Introduction to the Natural History of Lichens
Thursday, January 18 (7:30-9:30 pm)
Saturday, January 20 (10 am-2 pm)
Leader: Dr. Paula DePriest
Members $42; nonmembers $58
Lecture only: members $20; nonmembers $28
Winter is the perfect season to search for the varied hues and forms of lichens, the fascinating and mysterious inhabitants of unpolluted ecosystems. On Thursday night, Dr. Paula DePriest of the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute, will introduce us to the natural history of lichens through an illustrated lecture. Saturday’s field trip to the Widewater area along the C&O Canal will give participants a chance to study and identify lichens in their natural environment. Image credit: Jim Stasz  REGISTER HERE

Winter Birding at Oaks Landfill
A: Sunday, January 21 (3-5:30 pm)
B: Sunday, February 11 (3:30-6 pm)
Leader: Mark England
Each walk members $20; nonmembers $28
You’ll want to bundle up for these birding treks to the now-closed landfill adjacent to the Blue Mash Nature Trail, a familiar birding spot in upper Montgomery County. As afternoon fades to dusk in the open terrain here, we’ll search for resident and overwintering species, including Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Our leader will bring along a scope for distant bird viewing. Our visit to this area which is “closed to the public” is by special permission. REGISTER HERE

Natural History of Owls
Thursday, January 25 (7-9 pm)
Leader: Scott Baron
Free, but registration required.
Local owl populations swell during the winter as resident species are joined by northern migrants. Looking for owls and understanding their specialized adaptations is an exciting winter activity. This illustrated slide lecture at our Woodend Sanctuary will cover field identification techniques, basic adaptations and natural history of owls. REGISTER HERE

Winter Tree ID for Birders
Saturday, January 27 (2:30-4 pm)
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Free, but registration required.
We’re reprising this popular field trip to help birders learn to recognize the field marks of many common trees through binoculars. The outdoor classroom will be Scott’s Run Nature Preserve near McLean, VA, where we’ll ID trees in their winter aspect, all the while keeping our eyes and ears open for birds moving amongst them.  Image credit: Jane Shelby RIchardson  REGISTER HERE