Marin Audubon Society

Hummingbirds at Home
2020-09-05 19:00 - 20:00 UTC | Zoom Event, CA, United States
Join us for a Zoom event…

Spring Bird Songs with Lisa Hug (3 Classes) - Registration Now Open
2020-07-23 07:30 - 11:30, 2020-07-16 07:30 - 11:30, 2020-07-09 07:30 - 11:30 | Five Brooks / Big Rock / Mount Burdell, United States
Five Brooks – Thursday, May 7, 2020
Big Rock – Thursday, May 14, 2020
Mount Burdell – Thursday, May 21, 2020
7:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Spring is the best time of year to hear and learn bird songs. Males are full of hormones and bursting with song. Many neo-tropical migrants are returning and vying for mates and territories. It is a very exciting time of year, so even if you dislike getting up early, it might be worth your while to join one or more of these classes. Participants will be asked to stay quiet to enable us to listen to the myriad of bird sounds. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring layered clothing, water, binoculars, field guides, and snacks.
There will be a $10 fee for each class, or you may enroll at the first class for all three sessions at a discounted price of $25. We will collect payment at the beginning of each class and request payment by check or exact amount of cash. Each class will be limited to 15 participants. To sign up for one or more of these classes, email Jeanine Starritt at jeanineis@comcast.net. Be sure to include the name(s) of the session(s) you wish to join and your phone number. Participants will be contacted to confirm registration, and a wait list will be created if registration exceeds available space. Please be sure to notify us if you are unable to attend as planned.
[ PAYPAL BUTTONS FOR EACH CLASS AND FOR SERIES ]
Directions to Five Brooks: From Fairfax, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd approximately 15 miles. Turn left on Highway 1. Turn right at Five Brooks in 3.5 miles. We will meet at the Five Brooks parking area. Restrooms available.
Directions to Big Rock Trailhead to Loma Alta Trail: From Highway 101 in San Rafael, take the exit for Lucas Valley Road west approximately 5.5 miles (look for the big rock on the left). The trailhead is on the south side of Lucas Valley Road. No restrooms available.
Directions to Mount Burdell: Take Highway 101 to Novato. Exit at San Marin Drive/Atherton Avenue. At the end of the exit ramp, turn west (left) on San Marin Drive. Go approximately 2 miles and turn right on San Andreas Drive. Park on the street near the end of the road. No restrooms available.

American Canyon Wetlands with Lucas & Mark Stephenson
2020-07-09 08:30 - 13:30 | CA, United States
Napa County
Saturday, May 9, 2020
8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Youth Birder Lucas Stephenson will lead this fun trip to the American Canyon Wetlands that hosts species from the unique habitats found in American Canyon: Grassy Fields and Eucalyptus Groves, to the Tidal Mudflats and the Bay. The Wetlands are home to a diverse number of birds from Merlins and Peregrine Falcons, to Burrowing Owls, Marsh Wrens, Sora and Virginia Rails, migrating Black-bellied Plovers, Long-billed Curlews, Barrow’s Golden Eyes, and possibly even a Long-tailed Duck! Last year with Lucas, our group spotted an impressive 88 species! As per usual with Lucas and his Dad, we will be on the lookout for new local species of interest.
This trip will involve a 1½ – 2-mile level, paved walk out to the Bay and back. For those wishing to find Burrowing Owls, we may hike an extra mile around the landfill where Lucas has spotted up to 4 owls at one time. Participants may wish to picnic afterward at tables near the parking lot. The trip will be cancelled only in the event of heavy rain.
Directions: From San Rafael, take Highway 101 North to Highway 37 East, to Highway 29 North. Exit at Rio Del Mar (at the 7-Eleven and opposite the Holiday Inn Express). Take an immediate right before the 7-Eleven onto Eucalyptus Drive and follow it to the end where there is a parking lot for American Canyon Wetlands and the Bay Trail.

Best of Mitchell Canyon with Bruce Mast
2020-07-02 08:00 - 12:00 | Mitchell Canyon, CA, United States
Contra Costa County
Saturday, May 2, 2020
8 AM to 12 Noon
Mitchell Canyon, on Mount Diablo’s northern flank is one of the best examples of mid-elevation riparian habitat in the East Bay. Along with numerous avian residents, spring brings an assortment of neotropical migrants including warblers, vireos, flycatchers, tanagers, grosbeaks, and hummingbirds. The canyon is also famous for its spring butterflies and wildflowers, including the rare endemic Mount Diablo globe lily (also called fairy lantern).
Join us for a spring birding walk along Mitchell Canyon and Red Road trails. We will walk about 4 miles through oak savannah, mixed woodland, riparian habitats, and a little way up into chaparral/sage scrub. The route has some ups and downs and a total elevation increase of up to 500 feet, depending on how far up Red Road Trail we go.
Meet at the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center at 8 AM. We will bird until noon. You may wish to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy back at the Visitor Center. Please bring binoculars and water, and a hat/sunscreen, as needed.
Directions: The address for the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center is 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton, CA 94517. There are several possible routes to our destination. Check your GPS app for the latest traffic conditions and allow plenty of time for your drive.

Sierra Valley Overnight Trip with Rich Cimino - MAS Chapter Supporting Membership Required
2020-06-25 17:00 - 2020-06-27 17:00 | Sierra Valley, CA, United States
Location: Highway 89 North of Truckee
Trip Leader(s): Rich Cimino
Start Date: Thursday, June 25, 2020
End Date: Saturday, June 27, 2020
Start Time: [not specified]
End Time: [not specified]
Description: REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 2. The valley floor of this popular Sierra birding destination is covered with sagebrush scrub, broken by freshwater marshes, grasslands and riparian woodland. On Friday we will bird the valley floor and western portion of Sierra Valley where the headwaters of the Feather River support freshwater marshes. The western edge of the valley is made up of coniferous forest and chaparral. On Saturday morning we will bird the Yuba Pass area, which is high Alpine habitat. This portion of the trip requires walking for three hours while we bird.
For a list of birds seen in this Important Bird Area (IBA), check out both Plumas and Sierra County checklists at:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1007569?m=6&yr=last10&changeDate=Set https://ebird.org/hotspot/L109258?m=6&yr=last10&changeDate=Set
Many of the birds on these lists will be present at the time of our visit.
This popular trip will fill quickly, so sign up right away if you are interested in joining our group. The trip will be limited to 15 participants. When reserving your lodging, be mindful of the distance you’ll need to travel to meet the group each morning in Sierraville. Although there is no charge, you must be a Chapter Supporting Member of Marin Audubon to participate. To sign up for the trip, email Jeanine Starritt at jeanineis@comcast.net. Be sure to provide your name(s), email address and phone number. If you are not yet a Marin Audubon Chapter Supporting Member, please sign up at www.marinaudubon.org prior to registering for this trip.
Participants will be responsible for their own lodging or camping arrangements in the Sierraville, Truckee or Portola areas. Plan to arrive in the area on the evening of June 25. Those confirmed on the trip will receive additional information and instructions prior to the trip.

Habitat Potential with Josiah Clark
2020-06-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom, CA, United States
Speaker: Josiah Clark
Host: Doug Waterman
Start Date: Thursday, June 11, 2020
Start Time: 7:30 PM
End Time: 9:00 PM
Description: An online Zoom meeting, this presentation will note dozens of bird and plant species, focusing on important resources that provide for local birds and wildlife. Josiah will share conservation related information on the limiting factors of vulnerable and declining groups, including cup-nesting songbirds, precocial young and birds of open habitats. This presentation aims to help naturalists both find more species and become more informed conservation advocates. Consulting ecologist Josiah Clark grew up steeped in the natural history of the Bay Area, where he has been birding for more than 20 years. Defining moments of birding experiences include: observation and mist-netting on Southeast Farallon Island; extensive travel, study, and tour leading in Latin America; and a 24 hour birding and bicycling marathon in Marin County during which he spotted 158 species. Josiah owns Natures Acres Nursery and Habitat Potential Consulting. Both are dedicated to interpreting, preserving, and creating productive wildlife habitats in the human landscape. We will post the link to the Zoom meeting in early June.

Marin Audubon Speakers Series with Nora Livingston on Zoom Thursday May 14, 2020 at 7:30pm PDT
2020-05-14 19:30 | Zoom, CA, United States
The Marin Audubon May Speaker Series meeting, “Mono Lake; A Simple Ecosystem With a Complex History” by Nora Livingston, is going ahead as a ZOOM Teleconference at the regularly scheduled meeting time, May 14 at 7:30pm PDT.
Access the Zoom meeting at this link, and use this meeting number, and password.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4912821528?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 491 282 15288
Password: [REDACTED]
Join naturalist Nora Livingston for a talk about Mono Lake, one of California’s best birding spots, to learn about the natural, cultural, and political history of the lake and what birds you might expect to see there. Nora will share current news about the lake and about the exciting natural history programs she leads in the summer.
Nora Livingston is the Mono Lake Committee’s Lead Naturalist Guide. She leads natural history field seminars, custom birding and ecology trips at Mono Lake, and co-organizes the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua. Nora spent 8 years as a field ornithologist in many supreme California locations including the Farallon Islands, Santa Cruz Island, Point Reyes, and the Eastern Sierra before switching to interpretation to share her knowledge about birds and Mono Lake with visitors from around the world.
Another way to access the meeting is via
One tap mobile + 16699006833,,4912821528#,,1#,685200# US (San Jose)â€¨+12532158782,,4912821528#,,1#,685200# US (Tacoma)

CANCELLED - Why Birds Sing and Other Wonders of Animal Communication
2020-03-12 19:30 - 21:00 | CA, United States
Speaker: Greg Budney
Host: Doug Waterman
Start Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
Start Time: 7:30 PM
End Time: 9:00 PM
This presentation explains the basics of how and why birds vocalize (as well as other animals) and features many interesting and astonishing examples (including a humorous Common Loon recording) and explores a range of behaviors from courtship to warning signals. Greg is the retired former Audio Curator of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, the world’s largest collection of wildlife sound recordings. He is also an experienced bird sound recordist and has produced numerous audio guides to sounds of birds of the Americas. He has trained hundreds of biologists and citizen scientists in techniques for capturing the sounds of wildlife for research, conservation, and education. Photo of Greg Budney with parabola was taken by Eduardo Inigo Elias.

Stafford Lake
2020-03-07 09:00 - 12:00 | CA, United States
Location: Novato, CA
Trip Leader(s): Bob Atwood
Start Date: Saturday, March 7, 2020
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Located west of Novato, Stafford Lake is a beautiful but less birded area that is productive for waterfowl and raptors. Approximately 172 species of birds have been spotted at Stafford Lake throughout the years with our group likely to see a considerable variety of the resident as well as wintering birds. The county park has facilities and plenty of parking. The mostly level terrain and water views make for pleasant birding as we walk around a portion of the lake and the surrounding area. Heavy rain cancels. DIRECTIONS: From Highway 101 in Novato, take the exit for San Marin Drive west 2.9 miles. Turn right onto Novato Blvd. and follow for 2.6 miles. The park is on the left. Turn left after the gatehouse and travel to the parking lot. Entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. If you have a Marin County library card, you can check out a free library park pass from any Marin County Free Library.

Pacheco Pond
2020-03-05 08:30 - 12:00 | CA, United States
Location: Novato, CA
Trip Leader(s): Bob and Sande Chilvers
Start Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Start Time: 8:30 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Join us again at Pacheco Pond where we’ll be watching for signs of resident breeding birds beginning the nesting season. There aren’t many eBird reports from Pacheco Pond for this time of year, so help us fill in the gaps in our knowledge and compile a day list to be shared online. Pacheco Pond doesnâ€™t have the glamour of many of our Marin birding locations, but it does have the distinction of being “the best publicly accessible freshwater’ish pond in Novato with adjacency to other bird-rich areas.” (Thank you, Jack Gedney.) The area provides habitat for a variety of ducks, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Gallinule, Sora, and Virginia Rail. The adjacent non-native eucalyptus provides additional habitat for both songbirds, egrets, and a number of raptors including Peregrine Falcon. Thank you, Bob and Sande, for continuing as our competent and friendly guides on this popular monthly walk. We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels and help each other to find and identify the birds. The area around Pacheco Pond is mostly flat, but we will be walking across some rocky, uneven surfaces. Dress in layers and bring binoculars, scopes, and water. Heavy rain cancels. DIRECTIONS: Take the Bel Marin Keys Blvd exit from Highway 101. Travel east on Bel Marin Keys Blvd for 2 miles passing through a commercial industrial section until arriving at a small parking area on the right, which faces the pond. We will meet in the parking area and walk to the trail a short distance up the road.

Rodeo Lagoon
2020-02-26 07:30 - 12:00 | CA, United States
Location: Marin Headlands
Trip Leader(s): William Legge & David Wiechers
Start Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Start Time: 7:30 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Description: This trip launches our new program featuring eight field trips to Rodeo Lagoon. These trips will focus on migration with four monthly field trips planned for the spring migration and four for the autumn migration. On this date William and David promise to assist with gull identification, which proves challenging for many birders. We will also be targeting migrant ducks, grebes, loons, gulls, and wintering passerines such as Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, and Say’s Phoebe. Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:30 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. 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.

Presidio and Crissy Lagoon
2020-02-22 08:00 - 15:00 | CA, United States
Location: San Francisco, CA Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Trip Leader(s): Juan Garcia
Start Date: Saturday, February 22, 2020
Start Time: 8:00 AM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Description: Within the range of a moderate walk, several extensive habitat restorations can be seen up close, with several more works-in-progress. Here’s an opportunity to celebrate these vital projects and contemplate their success. Beginning at Inspiration Point, we’ll slowly wind our way down Tennessee Hollow, with its carefully restored riparian and grassland habitat, and hold a sit-spot at El Polin Spring, looking for visiting warblers, among others. Next, we’ll trace the path to lower Tennessee Hollow, which affords good views of slow-flowing and pooling sections. We’ll proceed to Crissy Lagoon via the now well-known Tunnel Tops, which will soon form an extension of the native plant corridor. The Lagoon itself offers habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl, as well as a good mixed gull flock. We’ll walk the circuit of the Lagoon, stalking warblers in the willows and seed eaters foraging on Crissy Field. A small nature reserve on the beach side protects habitat for sparrows, phoebes, and a small wintering group of Snowy Plover. We’ll end with telescopic views of San Francisco Bay, with its loons, grebes, cormorants, terns, scoters, and so on. Restrooms and drinking water will be accessible at several points, but you should bring snacks and or lunch. As usual in the Bay Area, wear layered warmth and bring sun protection. A birding scope will be provided, but please bring binoculars. Meet at 8 AM at Inspiration Point
Link: https://www.predisio.gov/places/inspiration-point-overlook

Birding Eastern Yolo County
2020-02-17 08:30 - 15:30 | CA, United States
Location: Davis, CA
Trip Leader(s): John Klobas & Sarah Brooks
Start Date: Monday, February 17, 2020
Start Time: 8:30 AM
End Time: 3:30 PM
Description: The low lying agricultural fields, ponds, and refuges of eastern Yolo County are the focus of this trip. In February, bird diversity and numbers are at their wintertime peak, and we will seek the spectacle of those numbers. Burrowing owls are among the most threatened of California’s owls. We will look for this small, ground dwelling owl in the Davis area before heading to West Sacramento’s Bridgeway Pond. Sandwiched between a suburb, mega warehouses, and the deep-water shipping channel, this pond is the winter home of Blue-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal, Sora, raptors, and perhaps some diving ducks as well. This pond was the home for several months of last year’s mega rarity, a male Garganey duck, which was seen by a few members of the trip last February, a week before it was positively identified. Next we will seek habitat for Wood Ducks near the Sacramento River. Wood Ducks, usually a restive, shy species, are not as skittish here as they are in hunting areas. Our location for lunch is weather dependent, but the afternoon will find us heading back towards Davis, finishing our day at the Vic Fazio Wildlife Area (Yolo Bypass) where we will enjoy the waterfowl and water bird spectacle. In the event of flooding in the Bypass, we will bird other areas around Davis. Directions: We will meet in Davis in the El Macero Center (Nugget Market and Starbucks) to organize the day and introduce the itinerary. Exit I-80 at Mace Blvd. in Davis, turn left on the frontage road, then a quick right to Mace Blvd., then an immediate right into the El Macero parking lot. We’ll be in between Nugget Market and Starbucks. Please carpool if at all possible. A smaller number of cars allows us to be much more opportunistic and lessens our carbon footprint. Allow 2 hours for an early morning winter drive to Davis from most North Bay locations. Heavy rain cancels. Dress in layers. Include rain gear. Binoculars are a must and bring a scope if you have one. This is a car-oriented trip with minimal walking. Wear shoes that can withstand muddy conditions. Bring lunch, snacks, and drinks. Nugget is a full-service market that opens at 7 AM. Let’s go birding!

Nicasio Reservoir
2020-02-15 08:30 - 15:00 | CA, United States
Location: Nicasio, CA
Trip Leader(s): Jim White & Bob Battagin
Start Date: Saturday, February 15, 2020
Start Time: 8:30 AM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Description: We will meet at the backstop to the baseball field in the small West Marin hamlet of Nicasio. This is Bob’s home “patch” where the riparian, open field, and wooded habitats are good for a nice variety of sparrows, gleaners, and woodpeckers. From town we’ll head over to nearby Nicasio Reservoir and make several stops along the shoreline. Many water bird species hang out there while raptors grace the sky, and who knows what will be flitting around in the willows and shrubs that line the shore? In the afternoon we are likely to explore along the northern shoreline of Tomales Bay. Heavy rain cancels. Early Birds will meet at the entrance to Roy’s Redwoods on Nicasio Valley Road for a short walk through bay, redwood, oak, and madrone habitats in search of Pileated Woodpecker and other forest denizens. DIRECTIONS: From Highway 101 take the Lucas Valley Road exit. Turn left on Lucas Valley Road and continue approximately 10.3 miles. Keep right on Nicasio Valley Road for 0.5 mile to the town of Nicasio. The baseball field is in the center of town. For GPS, use 1 Old Rancheria Road, Nicasio, the address for the Rancho Nicasio Restaurant.

Birding the Northwest Passage - Trip Rescheduled for February 13, 2020
2020-02-13 09:30 - 15:30 | CA, United States
Location: Tomales, Lawson’s Landing, and Chileno Valley
Trip Leader(s): David Wimpfheimer
Start Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 3:30 PM
Description: This annual winter trip repeats David’s popular guided explorations of the less familiar habitats in Marin near the town of Tomales. We will meet at the Tomales Bakery, and our itinerary for the day will cover coastal and interior habitats. Our first destination will be Lawson’s Landing, a private resort near the mouth of Tomales Bay. Loons, grebes (including Red-necked Grebe), ducks, and Brant can be quite numerous here. Shorebirds are diverse here as well. After birding the coast, the rest of the day may be spent covering the open grasslands, wetlands, and forests of this part of Marin. Raptor sightings may include Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawk, Golden Eagle, and Merlin, and, if we are lucky, we may spot the now uncommon-in-Marin Loggerhead Shrike. Meet at the Tomales Bakery at 9:00 AM. Plan on arriving early to sample the delicious pastries. If the bakery is closed, the deli nearby has a nice variety of food and beverages. Check your map for your best route to Tomales. You can head west from Highway 101 at Old Redwood Highway in Petaluma or from Novato at San Marin Drive. The address of the bakery is 27000 Highway 1, Tomales. Allow about an hour from Marin. Light rain will not cancel this trip, but a heavy storm will.

Iconic Tower, Iconic Bird: Peregrines on the Campanile
2020-02-13 07:30 - 09:30 | CA, United States
Speaker: Allen Fish
Host: Doug Waterman
Start Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Start Time: 7:30 PM
End Time: 9:30 PM
Description: As Peregrine Falcons have recovered from endangered status in the 1990s-2000s, they have often been found nesting on bridges and skyscrapers. For the last two nesting seasons, a Peregrine Falcon pair has taken up residence on the Campanile on the UC Berkeley campus, fledging two chicks in 2017, and three in 2018. A team of citizen scientists led by UC Berkeley’s Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ) in cooperation with the East Bay Regional Park District and the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, has monitored the Peregrines, enhancing their nest-site, watching for threats, and serving as an information source for captivated CAL falcon-spotters. In 2019, the Cal Peregrine Team is working on getting a web-cam erected on the tower to deepen our knowledge of these urban Peregrines, and to widen interest in these charismatic falcons via the web.
Beyond their sheer magnetism – the athletic hunting flights of the adults and the clumsy antics of the fledglings – the Peregrines are a profound reminder of the ornithologists of a generation ago who walked a tight-rope between science and conservation activism to bring this species back from the edge of extinction. One of their critical conservation tools? The well-kept and meticulously-labelled egg collections of natural history museums, including our own Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (ggro.org) since its founding in the mid-1980s, Allen Fish earned his bachelor’s degree at UC Davis, then returned to teach Raptor Biology there in the 2000s. He was honored with the Maurice Broun Award for achievements in raptor biology in 2003, and the Bay Nature Environmental Educator Award in 2015. A fourth-generation Berkeleyan with deep CAL roots, Fish lives near campus with his wife Allison Pennell, their two kids and a coonhound.
Photo by Doug Bell

Skaggs Island - Registration Required
2020-02-10 10:00 - 14:00 | Skaggs Island, CA, United States
Location: Skaggs Island
Trip Leader(s): Daniel Edelstein
Start Date: Monday, February 10, 2020
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 2:00 PM
Description: Join Avian Biologist and Birding Guide, Daniel Edelstein, for this special opportunity to visit Skaggs Island, a rich winter birding location not generally accessible to the public. The island was formerly home to a naval facility but is now part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It often attracts uncommon visiting, non-breeding season raptors such as Rough-legged Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Merlin along with White-tailed Kite, and other raptors in addition to diverse shorebirds, waders, and ducks. This will be our second winter field trip to Skaggs Island. The first is scheduled on January 28, 2020 with Murray Berner (see alternate trip descriptionl). This second trip will not include a visit to Hudeman Slough. If you would like to participate in one of these trips, please contact Jeanine Starritt at jeanineis@comcast.net. Be sure to specify whether you wish to participate in the January 28 or February 10 field trip and include the names of the people who will be attending with you. Meet on Skaggs Island Road after turning onto it from Highway 37. Weâ€™ll carpool through the locked gate far into the heavenly solitude and bird-filled environs of this amazing birding venue. Heavy rain cancels. Directions: Take Highway 101 North to Highway 37. At the intersection with SR 121 (Sears Point), continue straight on Highway 37 for approximately 4 miles to Skaggs Island Road. Please be careful crossing Highway 37 to turn onto this road because oncoming traffic is often heavy.

Beaches of Northwest Marin
2020-02-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Point Reyes National Seashore, 1 Bear Valley Visitor Center Access Road, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956, United States
Location: Point Reyes National Seashore
Trip Leader(s): Derek Lecy & Bob Atwood
Start Date: Saturday, February 8, 2020
Start Time: 9:00 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Start the day with Derek and Bob at Kehoe Beach followed by a midday caravan to McClures Beach. The coastal California subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow (Z. I. nuttalli) start to sing more vigorously in January, so we should be able to hear them well as we walk through the coastal scrub habitat to these beaches. Other species on our way to the beaches include Wrentit, Peregrine Falcon, and other raptors such as Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, and with luck, a Bald Eagle. On the beaches, a search of the gull flocks should be fun, and a good variety of wintering gulls is expected. We will take a long look out at sea as well in an attempt to try and find all three species of scoterâ€“Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter, and Surf Scoter. Both beaches can be one of the more reliable places in the county to encounter Black Scoter. We will keep our eyes open for a Harlequin Duck or any alcids flying out on the ocean as well. Participants should wear sturdy, waterproof shoes and warm clothing. Light rain or fog is a strong possibility. Expect to walk a quarter mile to each beach with a total of 2 miles of hiking on this trip. Bring lunch as we will break between locations for a quick lunch. High tide looks to be around 11 AM, which may impact our beach access at McClures (which we visit second), but we can always scope from above the beach or figure something out. Bring a scope if you have one. Heavy rain cancels. Directions: We will meet at the Kehoe Beach Parking area. From San Anselmo, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd to Olema. From Olema, continue north on Hwy 1 (SFDB), take the second left turn (SFDB west), continue through Inverness, turn right (north) onto Pierce Point Road, and drive approximately 4.6 miles to Kehoe Beach.

SOLD OUT - Sacramento Delta Boat Trip
2020-02-02 08:00 - 16:30 | Antioch Marina, 5 Marina Plz, Antioch, CA, 94509
Location: Boat leaves from and returns to the Anioch Marina
Trip Leader(s): David Wimpfheimer
Start Date: Sunday, February 2, 2020
Start Time: 8:15 AM
End Time: 4:30 PM
Description: 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.
The cost will be $110 per person for Marin Audubon Chapter Supporting Members and $145 for all others. If you are not yet a Marin Audubon Chapter Supporting Member, please sign up now at www.marinaudubon.org to enjoy the reduced cost of this trip. Online registration is now closed. If you wish to be placed on a wait list, contact Jeanine Starritt at jeanineis@comcast.net. Include the name, email address and phone number of each possible participant.
Those confirmed on the trip will receive directions to the Antioch Marina and other instructions the week before the trip.

Skaggs Island and Hudeman Slough - Registration Closed
2020-01-28 09:15 - 14:00 | CA, United States
Location: Sonoma County
Trip Leader(s): Murray Berner
Start Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Start Time: 9:15 AM
End Time: 2:00 PM
Description: Trip full. Wait list only. Space available on February 10 trip.
Skaggs Island is part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The area is not open to the general public and requires special permission to access, which will be granted to Marin Audubon with our guide, Murray Berner. Because of the high level of interest in this area, we are requiring advance registration for this trip, which will begin on Monday, December 23, 2019. Registration will be limited to 25 people.
If you would like to participate in one of these trips, please contact Jeanine Starritt at jeanineis@comcast.net. Be sure to specify whether you wish to participate in the January 28 or February 10 field trip and include the names of people who will be attending with you.
A second trip is scheduled for Monday, Feb 10 (see alternate trip description. To sign up for this January 28 trip, contact Jeanine Starritt at jeanineis@comcast.net. Be sure to include the names of the people who will be attending with you. Jeanine will confirm your registration via email.
Our leader, Murray Berner, has been a longtime field trip leader for Napa Solano Audubon and is the author of the Solano County Breeding Bird Atlas. Our visit will coincide with the peak season for raptors. In previous years our group has spotted Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and Burrowing Owl, plus dozens of kites and harriers. Songbirds flock in the former residential area, harassed by Merlin and Accipiter.
Please arrive promptly at the south entrance to Skaggs Island off of Hwy 37. Those arriving late may find themselves locked out! We will travel by car across the island, stopping to bird along the way, and depart through the north gate at approximately 1 PM. From this point interested birders may continue with the group to Hudeman Slough where we will bird on foot. Dress in layers and sturdy shoes and bring lunch and water. Heavy rain cancels.
Directions: Take Hwy 101 north to Hwy 37 East. At the intersection with SR 121 (Sonoma Raceway), continue straight on Hwy 37 for 3.8 miles and turn left at Skaggs Island Road. No restrooms available.

Save the Date: January 2020 Field Trips
2020-01-26 08:00 - 12:00, 2020-01-25 08:00 - 12:00, 2020-01-22 08:00 - 12:00, 2020-01-20 08:00 - 12:00, 2020-01-18 08:00 - 12:00 | CA, United States
January 11 San Joaquin National Wildlife Refuge With Ruthie Rudesill
January 16 Birding the Northwest Passage With David Wimpfheimer
January 18 Bolinas With Jim White & Bob Battagin
January 20 Loch Lomond Yacht Harbor With Jim White
January 22 Corte Madera Ecological Preserve (CMER) With Rich Cimino
January 25 Western Yolo County With John Klobas
January 26 Rodeo Lagoon With Joseph Zeno & William Legge
January 28 Skaggs Island With Murray Berner Registration Opens December 23, 2019
February 2 Boat Trip: Sacramento Delta Boat Trip With David Wimpfheimer Registration Opens December 9, 2019

Rodeo Lagoon
2020-01-26 07:30 - 12:00 | CA, United States
Location: Marin Headlands
Trip Leader(s): Joseph Zeno & William Legge
Start Date: Sunday, January 26, 2020
Start Time: 7:30 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Description: This month’s trip will be led by youth birder Joseph Zeno and Rodeo Lagoon veteran William Legge. Joseph is a student at Terra Linda High School and an active member of the Bay Area Chapter of the California Young Birders Club. He is skilled at both identifying and photographing birds. William, of course, we know from previous field trips and recognize him as an expert at this location. We will be targeting migrant ducks, grebes, loons, gulls, and wintering passerines such as Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, and Sayâ€™s Phoebe. Join us for a Sea Watch at 7:30 AM or arrive later at 8:30 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. 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.

Birding Western Yolo County
2020-01-25 08:00 - 15:00 | CA, United States
Location: Beginning in Winters
Trip Leader(s): John Klobas & Sarah Brooks
Start Date: Saturday, January 25, 2020
Start Time: 8:00 AM
End Time: 3:00 PM
Description: Located within a one and one-half hour drive of many North Bay locations, Yolo County offers diverse habitats ranging from Coast Range mountains to near sea level agricultural lands of the Sacramento Valley. This one-day trip will visit prime birding sites in western Yolo County during the height of winter bird diversity and numbers. We will meet in Winters where we will introduce our itinerary for the day and our target birds for the morning at Lake Solano Park. This park straddles both Yolo and Solano counties along Putah Creek at the base of the Coast Range. We will bird both outside and inside the park ($6/car day use fee) and, weather permitting, have lunch there, as well. Specialties here include Hooded Merganser, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Phainopepla, Wood Duck, various raptors, perhaps even Pileated and Lewisâ€™s Woodpecker. After lunch we will walk along Putah Creek watching for both water and land birds. The day will conclude with a stop at a raptor hot spot near Woodland where overwintering specialties may include Ferruginous Hawk among several raptor species. The companion trip to this day features eastern Yolo County and is scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2020. This trip begins in Davis. Directions: We will meet at Rotary Park located at Main and Railroad Streets in Winters. From Marin take Highway 101 North to Highway 37. Then exit onto Highway I-80 East. In approximately 22 miles, take Exit 56 at Vacaville to merge onto I-505 North toward Redding. Take the Highway 128 exit (west toward Lake Berryessa) from Highway I-505. Take a left over the freeway, then stay on Highway 128 until the light at Railroad Avenue. Turn left (south), travel 2 blocks to the intersection of Railroad and Main. Rotary Park is at the south side of this intersection. We will meet at the gazebo in the park.

Corte Madera Ecological Reserve (CMER)
2020-01-22 09:30 - 12:00 | Corte Madera Ecological Reserve (CMER), CA, United States
Location: Corte Madera Creek
Trip Leader(s): Rich Cimino
Start Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Purchased in 2016 by Marin Audubon, this important bayland property has undergone extensive restoration work in subsequent years thanks to the hard work of Marin Audubon Society board members, hired restoration specialists, and volunteers. The area is now a restored marsh that supports an important population of Ridgway’s Rails and other special status species and includes a newly created high tide refuge habitat where volunteers have planted 16,200 native plants. Regularly scheduled workdays are held here for those who might like to help with the continuing restoration work, but on this particular day, we will join Rich for a tour of the area with a focus on BIRDS! Recently Rich began visiting the area regularly and will share his discoveries with us. Species we may see are ducks, long-legged waders, shorebirds, rails, plovers, kites, osprey, sparrows and meadow larks. No restrooms are available here. Bring binoculars, scopes, layers, water, and snacks. Heavy rain cancels. Directions: CMER is located behind Trader Joe’s at the eastern end of Industrial Way in Corte Madera. Meet and park behind Trader Joe’s.
