Directions:  From the Potato Garden Run/Burgettstown Road Intersection, go west on Burgettstown Road for 0.5 miles to the interchange for PA Turnpike 576 (Burgettstown Road goes off to the left just before the interchange and becomes Ridge Road described below). Continue straight past the interchange and the road becomes Bald Knob Road. There are extensive grasslands along this road, however recent construction of a new road to the Pittsburgh Airport has destroyed a major portion of the grasslands. This road is currently paved at the beginning then becomes gravel, but may be completely paved in the future. Just after passing the turnpike overpasses, look for a large pond on the right that birders call the "Main Pond". This shallow pond attracts shorebirds in spring and fall. Spotted Sandpiper are common summer residents. A great variety of shorebirds have been recorded at this pond including common species such as both yellowlegs, Dunlin, Solitary Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Wilson's Snipe. Baird's and White-rumped sandpipers are uncommon to rare, but occur annually. Short-billed Dowitcher are sometimes seen in small numbers and Semipalmated Plover may be found in August and September. Less common species recorded include Black-bellied and American Golden- plovers, and Stilt Sandpiper. Rare species include Snowy Plover (one record), American Avocet (one record), Upland Sandpiper (in the nearby grassland), Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling (one record), Western Sandpiper (several records), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (one record), Long-billed Dowitcher (one record), and all three phalaropes. Other uncommon species recorded at the pond include Mute and Tundra Swan, Long-tailed Duck, Great Egret, Common Moorhen, Bonaparte's Gull, and Common, Forster's, and Black terns. A wide variety of waterfowl have been recorded during migration, and Allegheny County's first breeding record of Hooded Merganser was confirmed here. Blue-winged Teal were also confirmed breeding in the area and have been seen with young on this pond. Continue on Bald Knob Road to a bend and another smaller, more vegetated pond is on the right. This pond also attracts shorebirds and waterfowl, but the variety is much less compared to the larger pond, however this pond is not without surprises. Sora, American Bittern, and even a Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (all single records) have been found in the vegetation at the edge of the pond. The surrounding grasslands provide habitat for open country birds including Savannah, Grasshopper, and Henslow's sparrows. Clay-colored Sparrow were found for a few years during May in the grassland between the two ponds. Vesper and Field sparrows favor the brush and small trees in this area. Eastern Meadowlark and a few Bobolink are easily seen and heard. Brown Thrasher and Northern Mockingbird are present. Northern Harrier are resident, and Short-eared Owl have been seen in winter and bred nearby. Rough-legged Hawk are found almost every winter. American Pipit are often seen along the ponds or heard flying over during spring and fall migration. Continue along Bald Knob Road past the ponds and the habitat becomes brushy on the right with a large pine and larch plantation on the left. Ruffed Grouse can be heard drumming from the evergreens in spring. Prairie Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat can be found in the thick brush. Both species of cuckoos are often encountered with Black-billed the more common species. Follow the road to an intersection with Country Hollow Road. You can turn around here and retrace your route to continue the loop. If you continue on Bald Knob Road past this intersection, you leave Allegheny and enter Washington County. You can drive a short distance to the entrance to the Greater Pittsburgh Gun Club listening for Ruffed Grouse, Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, American Woodcock (on still evenings March to May), or even Purple Finch (in spring). The entrance to the Gun Club is 1.0 mile from the main pond.