Birding Hotspots
Delaware County
Ridley Creek State Park
Only 16 miles from center city Philadelphia, the park’s 2,600 acres provide important habitat and open space in Delaware County. An Important Bird Area, the woodlands, meadows, and creeks of the park provide excellent birding opportunities year-round with over 200 species observed here. The 2-mile loop around the bridle trail is especially good for warblers and other migrants in the spring.
351 Gradyville Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073
Newlin Grist Mill Park
A 160-acre park, nature preserve, and historic site, Newlin Grist Mill Park contains over 8 miles of trails meandering through bird-friendly habitat. Boasting woods, streams, and native pollinator gardens, the grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
219 S. Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342
The Willows Park Preserve
This 47-acre public park of pond, meadow, and gardens is the gateway to both the undeveloped lands of the 93-acre Skunk Hollow Park and the linear 4.2-acre Saw Mill Park. A network of paths and trails connects all three parks and winds through woodlands and along a section of Little Darby Creek. The park system is a good place to spot songbirds, especially during migration.
490 Darby Paoli Road, Villanova, PA 19085
Rose Tree Park
Grassy rolling hills and mature trees characterize this retired steeplechase grounds, now a 120-acre park in Upper Providence Township. A popular spot for hawk-watching, 14 species of raptors have been recorded here.
1671 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063
Crum Woods
Straddling the Crum Creek in Swarthmore, the Crum Woods is one of the last remaining forested areas in Delaware County. With 3.5 miles of walking trails among the 220 acres, this site is especially good for finding woodland birds such as woodpeckers, thrushes, and migrating warblers.
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge Wetlands
Encompassing the western part of the refuge and accessed by the Woodland, Tinicum, and Darby Creek trails, the tidal marshes here support an incredible diversity of bird life – over 270 species, including large numbers of waterfowl, raptors, sparrows, and songbirds. Parking is located off Route 420 just north of I-95.
Wanamaker Avenue, Essington, PA 19029
Hildacy Preserve
The former farm fields at this 55-acre preserve have been converted to meadows dominated by native grasses such as big and little bluestem, Indian-grass, and switchgrass. Thirteen types of sparrows are among the 140+ bird species that have been spotted here.
1031 Palmers Mill Road, Media, PA 19063
Darlington Open Space
Part of the Middletown Township open space preservation program, the Darlington Tract offers birders a 2.75-mile trek along portions of Chester Creek and through mixed woods, meadows, and farmland. This tract also connects to a larger trail system which includes Natural Lands’ Wawa Preserve. Birding records only go back to 2009, but already more than 170 species have been recorded here.
665 Darlington Road, Middletown Township, PA 19063
