The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will sponsor a birding trip to two sites in western Berkeley County on Thursday, Aug. 22, beginning at 7 a.m. It will be free and open to anyone with an interest, regardless of their birding skills. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. No pre-registration is required.

Participants should plan to meet at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of the Food Lion supermarket on Route 51 in Inwood. From there, they will travel first to an orchard near Gerrardstown, where the focus will be on grassland birds and other species. Then the trip will proceed to the Stauffer’s Marsh Nature Preserve in Back Creek Valley, to view shorebirds and other fall migrants.

This field trip will be conducted rain or shine. Participants should dress appropriately for the prevailing weather and bring drinking water, trail snacks and insect repellent. Those who need binoculars should let the trip leader know ahead of time, as loaner binoculars will be available.

For more info, contact trip leader Jim Farley at jamesfarley@frontiernet.net or 540-686-2056.