BSES Nature Trail Round-Up 2025
- Brian Quindlen
- 19 hours ago
- 5 min read
In 2025, we had a phenomenal year of connecting students with nature on the BSES Nature Trail! This year, we tallied a total of 78 different species of birds on the trail. We also enjoyed three different club sessions and three different summer camp sessions. We also added two new birds to the Birds of Bethel Springs Checklist!
Trailblazers
In 2025, we had three successful sessions of Trailblazers BSES Birding Club along with three different summer camp sessions! Between all of our activities, we observed a total of 85 different species of birds. Highlights (not mentioned below) included Bald Eagle, Ovenbird, Palm Warbler, and Great Egret! Follow the links below each group picture for a recap from each session:
New Species for the BSES Nature Trail
In 2025, we only added two new species to the Birds of Bethel Springs Checklist. Oddly enough, both occurred on the SAME day!
Olive-sided Flycatcher - September 6th, 2025.150th Species of Bird for BSES!
This bird was briefly observed from the parking lot while walking to the entrance of the BSES Nature Trail. This flycatcher species does occur annually in our area in migration, but they are an uncommon species.
Least Sandpiper (no photograph) - September 6th, 2025 - 151st Species of Bird for BSES
Later the same morning, I took my 4th grade class out to the trail to look for the Olive-sided Flycatcher. As we were searching for it, 4th grade student Alex spotted two low flying shorebirds just over the meadow. They were a pair of Least Sandpipers! Best of all, Alex found this new species for the trail on his birthday!
Amazing how it was 493 days since our last observation of a new species for the BSES Nature Trail, and we miraculously had two new birds in one day!
Noteworthy Observations
In addition to the new species for BSES, we had a handful of noteworthy observations on the trail in 2025.
Merlin - February 19th, 2025 - A member of the falcon family, Merlin are a difficult bird to observe because they are often seen flying fast through areas in pursuit of prey! We had phenomenal looks at a Merlin with Trailblazers BSES Birding Club as it perched for all to see before taking off.
Red-eyed Vireo - April 23rd, 2025 - This observation represents the "earliest" arrival of this migratory species to to the BSES Nature Trail. Red-eyed Vireo have been observed annually on the trail from early May to late September since 2012. Last year, this species set a new earliest arrival date from spring migration on April 26th, 2024; the first observation of this species in the month of April on the trail. This 2025 observation represents the second-ever observation of the species on the trail in the month of April and the newest early arrival date; so early in fact, GVHS Birding Club President Ethan Kang went back out after Trailblazers to confirm this was a Red-eyed Vireo and not a different vagrant vireo species. Check out his excellent video documentation below:
We also had a few significant high count records for the trail; meaning the greatest numbers of a single species observed in one checklist:
Fish Crow (240) - February 26th, 2025 - Not many people know we have two kinds of crows in our area: American Crows (that often say "caw") and Fish Crows (that often say "meh.") We see both at BSES, but one evening during Trailblazers we observed a seemingly endless stream of Fish Crows (many of which were calling as they were passing by.) This observation smashed the previous high count record of 75 Fish Crow at BSES from January 9th, 2016 during the Trailblazers Christmas Bird Count for Kids.
Eastern Bluebird (31) and Chipping Sparrow (23) - October 14th, 2025 - On our walk to the Francis Harvey Green School fields with Trailblazers BSES Birding Club, we set not one but two new high count records! At this point in fall migration, both species are moving through our area in significant numbers. The previous high count of Eastern Bluebird was 15 birds on October 22nd, 2021. The previous high count of Chipping Sparrow was also 15 on September 6th, 2024. Exciting to set two noteworthy records in one walk!
Golden-crowned Kinglet (13) - Friday, October 17th, 2025 - The previous high count record of this species was 7 birds on November 4th, 2017.
Brown Creeper (3) - October 24th, 2025 - A wintering species in our area, Brown Creepers are masters of camouflage and can be difficult to detect. There have been many records of this species on the trail since its first observation on November 15th, 2015, but this observation nearly ten years later is the first time we've recorded more than 2 birds at once on the trail. Here's a photo of one Brown Creeper from the week before:
What to Expect in 2026
In 2026, we are hoping to continue with connecting students with nature! Expect winter, spring, and fall sessions of BSES Birding Club. We also have three exciting weeks of summer programming on our calendar:
Trailblazers High Adventure Summer Camp - June 22nd-26th, 2026 - For ages 10 and up!
Trailblazers Adventure Summer Camp - July 13th-16th, 2026 - For students entering grades 3-8
Trailblazers Summer Camp - July 27th-30th, 2026 - For students entering grades 1-6
Thank You
Finally, I would like to say thank you to those who have supported the Trailblazers program over the years! First, thank you to Ethan Kang and Ryan Ming, our Garnet Valley High School Trailblazers Guides, for their support with running BSES Birding Club. Also, thank you to Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Klemens for their support of both Trailblazers and the BSES Nature Trail. Thank you to all the parent volunteers from the Nature Trail Committee and all of our Keeper of the Trail volunteers! Thank you to Trailblazers families for their continued support as well!
One last thank you: I would like to send a huge thank you and big congratulations to James Harbison, our long-time GVHS Trailblazers Guide, for his amazing support of Trailblazers over the years. As the students can tell you, James has been volunteering with Trailblazers all throughout his high school career; helping students learn and stay safe with Trailblazers BSES Birding Club and Summer Camps. James graduated from Garnet Valley High School this year and is pursuing a degree in teaching. James, we are so proud of you and can't wait for you to instill a passion for learning with your future students!
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