DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of PA 352 and US 1, follow PA 352 north 3.3 miles and turn right (east) onto Gradyville Road. At 1.2 miles turn right onto Sandy Flash Road and follow this to the Park Office parking area on the right. This section of the park offers good birding but is extensively used by picnickers and can be quite crowded in summer. The Bridle Trail north of Gradyville Road provides an excellent area to search for the park's breeding birds and migrants. Park on Gradyville Road near the bridge over Ridley Creek. Enter the trail at the gate and proceed straight. The usual route is to proceed straight along the creek to where a trail comes in from the left. At this point the trail forms a large loop. Since the trail is long and the farthest portions of the trail are the least productive, it is not unusual for local birders to go up either fork and then double back on the trail to conserve time and cover the more productive areas. Some breeding birds of note to be expected here include Yellow-billed and Black-billed cuckoos, Acadian and Willow flycatchers, Veery, Brown Thrasher, White-eyed and Yellow-throated (rare) vireos, Blue-winged, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Prairie, Kentucky and Hooded warblers, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-breasted Chat (rare). This trail is good for migrant passerines in both spring and fall. The Lower Sycamore Mills Road area refers to that portion of Sycamore Mills Road from the gate at the intersection of Barren, Chapel Hill, Ridley Creek, and Bishop Hollow roads, to the handicap fishing area. Park at the gate. This area is heavily used by runners, walkers, cyclists, and fisherman and on weekends parking may be difficult by midmorning. This area is excellent for observing birds at all seasons. Nesting species of note here include Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Parula, and American Redstart. Small flocks of Cedar Waxwing are usually encountered. Yellow-throated and Cerulean warblers have nested in the tall sycamore trees along the creek. The Park Office can be reached from Gradyville Road by following the signs to the office. The tall trees surrounding the office and parking lot are good for nesting Orchard and Baltimore orioles. Chipping Sparrow nest near the parking lot. Walk the paved trail behind the office for breeding woodland species and spring migrants. Check the flower gardens for Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the pond for Wood Duck. In winter, examine the feeders located behind the office. This is a good spot to look for Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Purple Finch in winter. Forge Road can be reached from the Lower Sycamore Mills area or by parking in Picnic Areas #15 and #17. From the Lower Sycamore Mills Road area follow Forge Road to the left going uphill. The woods and hillsides on either side are good for woodpeckers, thrushes, Ovenbird, and Kentucky Warbler. In winter White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco dominate the area. Follow the trails off the road through the pines on the south side of the road. Cooper's Hawk have nested here. In winter this is a good spot for Great Horned Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden and Ruby-crowned kinglets, and Hermit Thrush. The fields just beyond picnic area #17 on the north side of the road are good for White-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged and Prairie warblers and provide one of the better areas for finding Yellow-breasted Chat in the park. American Woodcock can be found displaying here on spring evenings. Chestnut-sided Warbler nest in the nearby woods. As you follow the road straight you will parallel the boundary with Tyler Arboretum's North Woods. The fields on the right will usually have nesting Field and Song sparrows, which in winter will be joined by White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco. Eastern Bluebird nest in nearby Tyler Arboretum, and small flocks can usually be found foraging in the fields. Other species found here are typical of the parks woodland areas. From Gradyville Road follow the signs to the Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation and park in the adjacent parking lot. The marsh adjoining the parking lot has nesting Willow Flycatcher and Swamp Sparrow, and Virginia Rail have been found here in past years. The three target species to be searched for here are: Warbling and Yellow-throated vireos and Orchard Oriole. All three nest in the large sycamore trees along the creek in the Plantation. Ask permission to enter the farm for birding, as they are not open all week, and an admission fee is charged. The Blue Trail can be reached by following the White Trail which starts at Picnic Area #9. The Blue Trail passes through wooded areas that are good for nesting Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky and Hooded warblers. The areas described above are some of the better birding areas, but the entire park offers good birding. The best birding can be done in the early morning before it becomes crowded. A bird checklist and park maps are available at the Park Office.