Saturday November 6th, 2021
8:30 AM - 2 PM

Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin

Registration for this trip will be available starting on October 27 starting at 8AM. Limit of 15 for this trip. There will not be a waiting list. No drop-ins allowed, please. All participants must be fully vaccinated. Register via TicketBud HERE.

Join Jim and Bob on an easy birdy walk of 1.5mi around the Las Gallinas ponds where we are likely to see 10 species of ducks, 5 of herons, 5 of raptors, 5 of sparrows and some rails like Ridgeway’s, Sora, and Virginia with Gallinules, coots, Swans and Geese! Shall we try to identify the duck species by females? I wonder if the Merlin will be back. These oxidation ponds, where a large portion of Marin’s waste water is converted to useful nutrients and clean enough to return safely to the San Francisco Bay ecosystem, demonstrate how we can provide for wildlife and live in harmony with nature.

After lunch we are going to visit the Hamilton Wetlands, restored by the Army Corp of Engineers in the recent 5-10 years to the SF Bay ecosystem, which have become the winter home of some ten thousand birds. It is remarkable that thru the 2nd World War and the Cold War years the US Air Force stayed on alert and could launch jet fighter planes in minutes from an airport here to defend the Bay Area. We will try to find 10 species of shorebirds here while staying alert to many other possibilities.

Directions: From 101 north San Rafael take the Lucas Valley/Smith Ranch Road exit east. In about .5mi, immediately after crossing the RR tracks, left turn and follow the road another 0.5 miles to the Las Gallinas parking at the end.

To the Hamilton Wetlands return to 101 North, take the second exit, Nave Drive toward Hamilton. Stay on Nave, Dr.heading north, to Main Gate Drive and turn right. Go east to Hanger Avenue and park along the levy behind Hangar 7.

Saturday, November 13, 2021
8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Birding with Teresa and Miles Tuffli

Registration for this trip will be open starting on November 4 at 8:00 AM. There is a limit of 15 for this trip. There will not be a waiting list. No drop-ins allowed. All participants must be fully vaccinated. Please register via TicketBud HERE.

Head up the Sonoma County coast to bird Willow Creek Road in Jenner. We’ll have the chance for multiple raptor species, including potential for Ferruginous Hawk, American Kestrel, and maybe even Bald Eagle. Many year-round passerines will be frequenting the willows, alders, and scrub. With a view of the Russian River, we’ll look for some waterbirds as well.

We’ll meet at the Russian House #1 restaurant and bird the road’s entrance on foot. We’ll then move all cars down the road to a large pullout. We’ll bird the willows, creek area, and river view on foot before consolidating cars and continuing down the road, stopping to bird various sections. For a peek at the area, check out Miles and Teresa’s recap of birding Willow Creek Road back in July.

No bathrooms. Heavy rain cancels. Bring binoculars, layers, sunscreen, water, lunch, or snacks. Please carpool if possible.

DIRECTIONS: Russian House #1 is at 9960 Hwy 1, Jenner, CA. It is 9 miles north of Bodega Bay (15–20 minutes), directly along Hwy 1, on the right just before the Russian River bridge.

Sunday, November 14, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

CLICK HERE to register for the field trip. Registration for this trip opens October 8 at 8AM. There will be a waiting list if this trip sells out, and you will be notified if space becomes available. 

San Francisco Bay, the largest and one of the most important estuaries along the Pacific Flyway, is right in our own backyard. Join us as we cruise from Berkeley toward the Golden Gate Bridge and north into San Pablo Bay, hugging the shorelines and waters that are home to thousands of wintering birds. We will pass ten islands, under two bridges, and up two creeks in four counties in search of migrating and resident waterfowl, shore-birds and marine mammals. This trip offers water bird and marine mammal viewing in stunning locations, many of which can only be seen by boat. In addition to the many ducks, loons, pelicans and gulls that come into the Bay for the winter, we can also expect to see resident cormorants, grebes, terns, and murres.

Dress in layers, and bring liquids and lunch. All participants must be fully vaccinated. Please bring a mask for any time spent inside the cabin.

The trip costs $120. Limited to 25 people. 

Registered participants will receive directions to the Berkeley Marina and other instructions prior to the trip. 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021
7:30 AM to noon
With William Legge and David Wiechers
Click HERE to register for the field trip

Mid-November is a surprisingly active time for migrants at this Marin Headlands location, as we search for scarcer late fall migrants including winter wildfowl, loons, grebes and passerine migrants. As always, the weather will determine the focus of our search on the day.  With this ‘hotspot’ producing some memorable Marin rarities in recent Novembers, including Tricolored Heron, Scaly-breasted Munia and Rusty Blackbird, almost anything is possible! We will begin the morning with a sea watch (most productive when onshore winds are blowing) and/or visible migration watch (most productive when offshore winds are blowing) at 7:30 AM. Those arriving later may join us at 8:30 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. 

Registration for this trip will be open starting on November 8 at 8:00 AM on the MAS website Field Trips page. There is a limit of 12 participants for this trip. There will not be a waiting list. No drop-ins, please. All participants must be fully vaccinated.

DIRECTIONS: Head south on Hwy 101 and take the last Sausalito exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. At the exit stop sign, turn right and go under the freeway, then follow the road down to the left. Within 300 feet turn left at the sign to the Marin Headlands (This is the only available left turn before you begin the descent into Sausalito). You should see the tunnel with the five-minute light. Proceed through the tunnel on Bunker Road to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end and meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach. 

Saturday 12/04/21 from 8:30 to 2 PM - CLICK HERE to register for this field trip

Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin

Registration for this trip will be open starting on November 24 at 8:00 AM. There is a limit of 15 for this trip. There will not be a waiting list, and no drop-ins allowed. All participants must be fully vaccinated.

The Marin Audubon Society acquired and restored to tidal action the diked baylands around the residential Bahia neighborhood. As the ebbing tide exposes the mudflats thousands of shorebirds now descend to feed while on the flood tide hundreds of ducks and some gulls float, forage and loaf about. The oak wooded ridge stretching from 101 to Bahia, also saved from development by MAS, holds Oak Titmice, White-breasted nuthatch, Hutton’s Vireo at least 4 woodpecker specie and many sparrows in the winter. It is always interesting and we have had Golden Eagles soaring above.

The horseshoe pond at the south east end of Topaz is a great place to look for wintering ducks. Goldeneyes, Scaup, Canvasbacks, Buffleheads and Mergansers seem to like it and it has been Marin’s best place for Barrow’s Goldeneyes the last few years.

After lunch we plan to take a look at the nearby Rush Creek area from the Airport Road which parallels the 101 freeway north of Atherton. So join Bob and Jim if you would like enjoy a day of birding and see about 80 species on the day.

Directions: From 101 in north Novato take Atherton Avenue east, take the Y left onto Bugeia which becomes Bahia Drive, near the end at the bottom of the hill take a right onto Topaz, follow Topaz to its end and park. 

Thursday, December 9, 2021 - 11 AM to 1 PM - CLICK HERE to register for this field trip

Birding with Rich Cimino and Janet Bodle

Registration for this trip will be open starting on November 29 at 8:00 AM. There is a limit of 20 for this trip. There will not be a waiting list, and no drop-ins allowed. All participants must be fully vaccinated.

Join Rich for an easy bird walk on level ground during the incoming high tide high tide. We will bird the shoreline of San Pablo Bay watching for shorebirds on the rocks and diving ducks, loons, and grebes on the bay. We will also bird the fresh ponds water looking for wintering dappling ducks, warblers, White- crowned Sparrow. Bring your scope, water, and snacks. No Restrooms are available at the bird walk. Meet in the parking lot for the Jean and John Starkweather Shoreline trailhead. Heavy rain will cancel.

DIRECTIONS: From the north, take Hwy 101 to the Bellam Blvd. exit. Turn left on Bellam then right on East Francisco Blvd., which parallels I-580. Head east (toward the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge for about 1-1/2 miles. You will see a Bay Café Signage follow to the rear of parking lot at the Bay Park Center. Turn left on Pelican Way then right to the trailhead parking area. From the south you can take the exit to the San Rafael Bridge getting off at the last Marin exit, the San Quentin exit. For GPS, use the Bay Café address, 2165 Francisco Blvd., San Rafael. 

Saturday, December 11 2021 - 1 PM to 5:30 PM - CLICK HERE to register for this field trip

Birding with Kurt Rademacher

Registration for this trip will be open starting on December 1 at 8:00 AM. There is a limit of 15 for this trip. There will not be a waiting list, and no drop-ins allowed. All participants must be fully vaccinated.

At the junction of the Great Central Valley and Delta, the Cosumnes River Preserve is a 46,000-acre conservation project acquired and jointly managed through the collaboration of a number of conservation organizations and agencies. Here, the last un-dammed river on the west slope of the Sierra still routinely floods up in winter, fostering bountiful habitats of wetlands, savannah and riparian forest for wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds and raptors. Tundra Swans, Shovelers, American Wigeon, Green-winged & Cinnamon Teal, Pintails, White-faced Ibis, and White Pelicans are among the winter throngs. Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes are a highlight of our tour, and we’ll end up at Staten Island for sundown to witness the spectacle of some 15% of the Pacific Flyway’s cranes noisily settling down for their nightly roost.

DIRECTIONS: We’ll meet at the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center parking lot at 13501 Franklin Blvd, Galt. Allow about two hours from Central Marin via Hwys 37, 80 and 12 through Rio Vista to I-5, then north to Twin Cities Rd. exit. (Or you can take I-80 to Sacramento, then south on I-5 to Twin Cities Rd. exit.) On Twin Cities Rd. proceed east briefly to turn right (S) on Franklin Rd. about 1.7 miles to the parking area. You are wel- come to come earlier and enjoy your lunch on the Visitor Center veranda. After a briefing at 1 PM, we’ll enjoy a 1-mile loop hike on a trail and boardwalk, then drive to other key observation points on the preserve ending up at Staten Island. Come prepared with warm clothing for changeable weather including rain and mud for “Crane-down.”

January 8th, 2022 - 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM - CLICK HERE to register for this field trip

Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin

Registration for this trip will be open starting on December 29 at 8:00 AM. There is a limit of 15 for this trip. There will not be a waiting list. No drop-ins allowed. All participants must be fully vaccinated.

Bob and I are pleased to share the bird rich Stinson Beach/ Bolinas birding area with you. Coupled with non freezing winter weather and many diverse habitats the CBC, Christmas Bird Counts, show this to be most specie rich, birdiest, area in Southern Marin county. These habitats include ocean, beaches, rocky shores, a large lagoon with acres of mudflats, Douglas Fir and Redwood forests, Alder riparian, parking lots, residential and more. The CBC data show an average of over 125 specie winter in this area. Plus many of these birds, like ducks, gulls and shorebirds, are rather easy to see as they float about on the water or walk along the shores. Can we find 100 specie today?

Thanks can given today to the founders of Marin Audubon and some conservation minded elders for the parks, open space, public access, and wildlife habitats in much of the country around Bolinas Lagoon. Dr Martin Griffith was instrumental in saving Bolinas harbor from a hotel and yacht club destination and is commemorated at the heron and egret rookery that we will pass along the east side of the lagoon.

So start your year list if you haven’t already. Bob is adept with ebird and will help by providing a list of the birds that we encounter today. We strive to help all of our participants to see or hear all of the birds but that is a goal, not quite reality. Let’s go birding!

DIRECTIONS: Meet at 8:30 AM at the Stinson Beach Parking Lot

Saturday Jan. 15, 2022
9:00 AM to noon
With Bryan Flaig 

Limit of 15 fully vaccinated participants for this trip. Registration for the Corte Madera trip will be open starting on January 5 at 8:00 AM. There will not be a waiting list. CLICK HERE to register for this field trip. 

This trip is perfect for beginning birders looking to learn how to identify waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as experienced birders interested in honing their skills

Corte Madera Ecological Reserve contains a variety of birding habitats, like tidal ponds, pickleweed marshes and a high tide refuge purchased by Marin Audubon in 2016. Much of the area has undergone extensive restoration for rare and endangered saltmarsh species.

On this field trip, we will hike a short distance to explore the marsh at high tide, searching for elusive Ridgway’s Rails and seasonal migrants. Later, we will walk to the shorebird overlook on the west side of the tidal pond, spending the majority of our time observing the wide variety of ducks, gulls, and wading shorebirds that frequent the area in winter. Expect high tide around 9am.

Bryan Flaig has been monitoring bird activity at Corte Madera Marsh nearly every week since 2019 and recently completed Golden Gate Audubon’s Master Birding Program.

Restrooms are available at nearby stores, but not on the marsh. Bring binoculars, scopes, layers, water, and snacks. Plan for a 1.5 to 2 mile walk on flat terrain. Light rain does not cancel the trip.

DIRECTIONS: Corte Madera Ecological Reserve is located behind Trader Joe’s in Corte Madera. Meet in the parking lot behind the store, accessed by the driveway on the southside of World Market. 

Saturday, February 5th
8:30 AM - mid afternoon
Birding with Jim White & Bob Battagin

There is a limit of 15 fully vaccinated participants for this trip. Registration for the Sausalito/Tiburon trip will be open starting on January 26 at 8:00 AM. There will not be a waiting list.   

Sign up on TicketBud HERE

We are going to explore the bay from the Sausalito waterfront to the Golden Gate and Richardson’s Bay, around to Strawberry Point and finally on to Blacky’s pasture in Tiburon. Many ducks, loons and grebes winter on the bay waters and we may find close comparative looks at similar specie pairs like Eared and Horned or Clark’s and Western Grebes, Red-throated Loons, Pacific and Common Loons, and Greater or Lesser Scaup. We are likely to find some shorebirds too, perhaps a Spotted Sandpiper or a rather rare Wandering Tattler.

Herring runs happen around this time of year and if we are lucky they will still be numerous and they lay large numbers of eggs that they stick to eel grass that birds especially gulls love. The roe are fancied by some diners and there is a purse seining fleet hungry for profit. The Dept. of Fish and Game is trying to maintain a sustainable catch. Last year near this time I think that 10 specie of gulls were located. So brush up on your gull IDs and join Bob and I along the shore.

Directions: Meet at the east end of Harbor Drive in Sausalito. Handicap Accessible. We will park where the birding is close, near level and smooth. Thanks to enlightened development planning, Harbor Drive and the rather posh Strawberry spit have fine public shoreline paths.

Sunday, February 6, 2022
(Super Bowl Sunday)
8:15 AM to 4:30 PM
Boat leaves from and returns to the Antioch Marina
With David Wimpfheimer 

Online registration for this trip will begin on January 5, 2022. The cost will be $125 per person. The trip limit is 25 fully vaccinated participants.

Register for this field trip HERE

Join us aboard Dolphin Charters’ River Dolphin for a wonderful day of exploring the richness of the California Delta with naturalist David Wimpfheimer as our guide. Ronn Patterson, a Bay Area historian and naturalist, is captain of the River Dolphin and owner of Dolphin Charters. The boat is very comfortable, and the outer decks provide views over the levees of the amazing array of birds found in the Delta during the winter. 

This rich area hosts a wide variety of raptors including Swainson’s Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, and Great Horned Owls. Large numbers of shorebirds, Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, Snow, Canada and White- fronted Geese, ducks, as well as gulls, terns, bitterns and passerines make this cruise a highlight for birders. Uncommon mammals such as beaver, river otter, and mink often add interest to the cruise. We also will learn about the history, ecology and politics of the levees and the Delta as we travel through its meandering channels. 

There will be a waiting list. To assure a spot for yourself, we recommend booking your space asap as this is always a popular trip.  Those confirmed on the trip will receive directions to the Antioch Marina and other instructions the week before the trip. 

Saturday February 19, 2022
9:00 AM to noon
Birding with Bryan Flaig 

Limit of 15 fully vaccinated participants for this trip. Registration for the Corte Madera trip will be open starting on February 9 at 8:00 AM. There will not be a waiting list.

Please register for this field trip HERE 

This trip is perfect for beginning birders looking to learn how to identify waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as experienced birders interested in honing their skills

Corte Madera Ecological Reserve contains a variety of birding habitats, like tidal ponds, pickleweed marshes and a high tide refuge purchased by Marin Audubon in 2016. Much of the area has undergone extensive restoration for rare and endangered saltmarsh species. 

On this field trip, we will hike a short distance to explore the marsh at high tide, searching for elusive Ridgway’s Rails and seasonal migrants. Later, we will walk to the shorebird overlook on the west side of the tidal pond, spending the majority of our time observing the wide variety of ducks, gulls, and wading shorebirds that frequent the area in winter. 

Bryan Flaig has been monitoring bird activity at Corte Madera Marsh nearly every week since 2019 and recently completed Golden Gate Audubon’s Master Birding Program. 

Restrooms are available at nearby stores, but not on the marsh. Bring binoculars, scopes, layers, water, and snacks. Plan for a 1.5 to 2 mile walk on flat terrain. Light rain does not cancel the trip. 

DIRECTIONS: Corte Madera Ecological Reserve is located behind Trader Joe’s in Corte Madera. Meet in the parking lot behind the store, accessed by the driveway on the southside of World Market. 

Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
Saturday - 3/5/2022
8:30 AM to mid-afternoon
Register for this field trip HERE

Limit of 15 fully vaccinated participants for this trip. Registration for the Nicasio/Tomales Bay trip will be open starting on February 23 at 8:00 AM. There will not be a waiting list.

The rolling hills of central Marin are covered with pastures, horse ranches, forested ridges, homes, reservoirs and occupied by many interesting birds. We will look for them in and around Nicasio and along the nearby stream before heading 3 miles north to see what is on and around Nicasio Reservoir. This is Bob’s birding “patch” and he has found both Bald and Golden Eagles recently with a nice array of other birds in this vicinity.

We expect to travel the few miles to Point Reyes Station for a lunch break or picnic. In the afternoon we will explore the south end Tomales Bay. Then, as time allows, we can explore the eastern edge of Tomales Bay along Highway 1, which supports a winter population of thousands of ducks, geese and shorebirds. We might travel 10 miles north to see if an Eagle’s nest is having success. Heavy Rain cancels.

Directions: Meet at the ball field in Nicasio
From Hwy 101 in north San Rafael take Lucas Valley road west 10.3 miles then right turn onto Nicasio Valley road for 0.5 miles and park near the baseball field, the center of town.
For GPS use 1 Old Rancheria Rd Nicasio, the address for the Rancho Nicasio Restaurants.

Saturday March 12, 2022
9:00 AM to noon
Birding Bryan Flaig
CLICK HERE to register for this field trip 

Limit of 15 fully vaccinated participants for this trip. Registration for the Corte Madera trip will be open starting on March 4 at 8:00 AM. There will not be a waiting list.

This trip is perfect for beginning birders looking to learn how to identify waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as experienced birders interested in honing their skills

Corte Madera Ecological Reserve contains a variety of birding habitats, like tidal ponds, pickleweed marshes and a high tide refuge purchased by Marin Audubon in 2016. Much of the area has undergone extensive restoration for rare and endangered saltmarsh species. 

On this field trip, we will hike a short distance to explore the marsh at high tide, searching for elusive Ridgway’s Rails and seasonal migrants. Later, we will walk to the shorebird overlook on the west side of the tidal pond, spending the majority of our time observing the wide variety of ducks, gulls, and wading shorebirds that frequent the area in winter. 

Restrooms are available at nearby stores, but not on the marsh. Bring binoculars, scopes, layers, water, and snacks. Plan for a 1.5 to 2 mile walk on flat terrain. Light rain does not cancel the trip. 

DIRECTIONS: Corte Madera Ecological Reserve is located behind Trader Joe’s in Corte Madera. Meet in the parking lot behind the store, accessed by the driveway on the southside of World Market. 

Saturday, April 2, 2022
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
8:30 AM to mid afternoon
Register for this field trip HERE 

Registration for this trip opens at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, March 23. 8:00 AM. Limit of 15 fully vaccinated participants for this trip. There will not be a waiting list.

Mount Tamalpais, rising like an icon above Marin, hosts some birds uncommonly seen in the rest of the county such as Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Purple Finch, Red Crossbill, and in the winter 1or 2 Townsend’s Solitaire. About twenty years ago our friend Dave MacKenzie discovered a TOSO feeding on mistletoe berries in some Sargent Cypress trees along the trail to Barth’s retreat and the bird or its children have returned every year since! But the trail, built by the CCC, California Conservation Corp, back in the 1930s has not withstood the test of time quite as well. So, if you are up for a vigorous though short (3.5mi) hike, join us to see what we can find.

After our lunch break back at Rock Springs with fine picnic Tables and a restroom, we intend to drive down to sea level to look at the Corte Madeira marshes. This area is very birdy so depending on the tidal height we expect to see a lot of birds there. Wintering shorebirds are gearing up for the return to their arctic nesting grounds so we may be able to see why how Black-bellied Plovers got their name. As the shorebirds molt into their breeding plumage, if we are diligent, we might even be able to tell the two Dowitcher species apart.

Directions: Meet at Rock Springs at 8:30. From Highway 1 in Stinson Beach or up 3.3mi from Tam Junction, take Panoramic Drive to it’s crest then go uphill 1 mile on Pantoll Road to the Rock Springs parking lot.