The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor two early September birding trips to local sites that offer good opportunities to view migrating shorebirds. The trips are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1 and Wednesday Sept. 5.

Both will be led by an experienced birder and visit various ponds and wetlands in the Eastern Panhandle.

For both trips, participants will meet at 7:30 a.m. just inside the entrance to the Archer’s Rock subdivision off Harlan Springs Road north of (from Route 9 just north of the intersection with I-81, go right on Harlan Springs Road about 1.5 miles). From there, various ponds and wetlands in the Eastern Panhandle will be visited.

Each trip will last about three hours. Each will be led by an experienced birder

The trips are free and open to anyone with an interest. Children will be welcome. Binoculars will be available for anyone who needs them.

No pre-registration will be required.

Many shorebirds pass through the Eastern Panhandle from August to mid-September as part of their fall migration. Species likely to be sighted include greater and lesser yellowlegs, semi-palmated sandpipers, least sandpipers, and pectoral sandpipers, as well as other marsh birds.

Participants in these trips should wear sturdy footwear, dress appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions, and bring along water and insect repellent. Both these trips will be cancelled in the event of steady rain.

For more information go to the PVAS website at www.potomacaudubon.org or contact Sandy Sagalkin at 240-291-6465 or monsansagalkin@myactv.net.