LEWISTON — The Stanton Bird Club of Lewiston and Auburn has three events planned for September. Wednesday, Sept. 6, will find the club watching birds at Pineland Farm. The Whitman Spring Trail will be the site for bird watching on Wednesday Sept. 20. There will also be a Saturday walk on Sept. 16, at Thorncrag.

All trips are free and open to everyone regardless of birding skills. The leaders identify and comment on birds seen and heard. Walks are approximately two miles, on fairly smooth trails. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.

For the Wednesday, Sept. 6, walk at Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, those going will gather and park by the Welcome Center at the entrance from Morse Road off Rte. 231.

Pineland Farms is a 5,000-acre working farm and recreational venue that welcomes visitors. It includes over 18 miles of trails through woodlands and fields. Walkers will be on the lookout for fall migrants, such as the hermit thrush and the grey catbird.

On Wednesday Sept. 20, the club will walk the Whitman Spring Trail, Auburn. Parking will be on Holbrook Road at North Auburn Road, not in the Land Lab driveway. The easy trail, which runs parallel to Lake Auburn offering views of the lake, is fairly flat and goes through a wooded area. Walkers might see the common loon and belted kingfisher.

The leaders for the two Wednesday walks, from 8 to 11 a.m., are Stan and Joan DeOrsey. FMI: Stan or Joan, 207-406-4741 or e-mail jsmd@att.net.

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The Saturday Sept. 16, walk, from 8 to 10:30 a.m., will take participants to Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary. Walkers will meet at the Thorncrag parking lot off Montello Street, near Highland Spring Road. Thorncrag is a setting where the city blends with nature, and one can tune out the city sounds and have a short wilderness experience. It includes areas of open meadow, forest and brushy edges. The pileated woodpecker and yellow-rumped warbler are often seen there.

The Saturday walk will be led Steve Reed. FMI: call him at 207-319-6630.

The club manages Thorncrag as well as the Woodbury Nature Sanctuary in Monmouth and Litchfield.

FMI: www.StantonBirdClub.org, facebook.com/Stanton-Bird-Club-124412894909/.

A pileated woodpecker, nearly the size of a crow, is a year-round resident of Maine, commonly found in forested areas even near cities. It is often seen on Stanton Bird Club field trips.

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