Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands
2024-09-11 07:30 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
7:30/8:15 AM to noon **See start time locations below
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on September 1st at 8 AM.
Join William and David for this third fall migration field trip at Rodeo Lagoon. This is their long-time “patch,” which never seems to disappoint birders with daily variations in species and a good chance of an unusual sighting. On this trip, our group will be targeting Parasitic Jaeger, migrating shorebirds and scarcer migrant passerines. We will begin the morning with a Sea Watch from Rodeo Beach at 7:30 AM. Those arriving later may join us at 8:15 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you to the Headlands Center for the Arts for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
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 Rd to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end. Meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach or join MAS birders with scopes along the nearby beach area.

Vagrancy in Birds
2024-09-12 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, September 12th
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Daniel Edelstein
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic: Do you chase rare birds that accidentally occur in our area outside of their normal migration range? If so, you enjoy finding vagrant birds, a phenomenon many Marin County birders pursue at the Outer Point within Point Reyes National Seashore and other California coastal areas. This presentation will highlight the reasons for vagrancy in birds, noting how birds navigate during migration and reasons for their orientation errors that result in their unexpected presence primarily from mid-August through October in west Marin County. In addition, the discovery of vagrancy at the Outer Point by Rich Stallcup and David DeSante will be discussed, along with the role vagrancy may play in colonization and eventual speciation of birds.
Speaker Bio: Daniel Edelstein is a freelance Consulting Biologist (who is a Certified Wildlife Biologist Asc.) who has led birding tours for more than 25 years and presented public birding presentations in more than 20 states. Daniel’s web site — WarblerWatch.com — hosts several birding handouts (via the “Birding Links” pulldown menu) and his warbler-centric blog — WarblerWatch.blogspot.com— has hosted warbler articles and photo quizzes since 2007. He has also taught diverse adult birding classes since 2003 at Merritt College in Oakland, CA and for the Pt. Reyes Nat. Seashore Assn., Marin Audubon, and Golden Gate Bird Alliance.

Vaux's Swifts at McNear Brick and Block
2024-09-13 18:00 - 20:00
Friday, September 13th, 2024
6:00 to 7:40 PM depending on the weather
Birding with Rich Cimino
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration is required for this trip. Registration opens September 3rd at 8AM.
Join other MAS members for an evening opportunity to witness Vaux’s Swifts during their fall migration through Marin, which occurs in September and October. Dan McNear of McNear Brick & Block has kindly allowed Marin Audubon to access this remarkable site where decommissioned smokestacks provide an important communal roosting place for the swifts.
Watching thousands of swifts as they descend into the stacks just before night- fall is an unforgettable sight. At the peak of migration, as many as 19,000 swifts have been counted in one evening. However, keep in mind that the number of swifts varies greatly from night to night and can range from a few hundred to thousands. Like everything else in birding, there are no guarantees!
Sunset on the evening of our visit will be at 7:09 PM, so plan on arriving on time to be ready. If the weather on the day of our trip is particularly cool or windy, the swifts are likely to enter the stacks early, so plan accordingly. Bring scopes, binoculars, and, if desired, folding chairs for your seating comfort. It can be chilly at dusk. Please stay with our group and do not enter any of the private areas on the property. Use soft voices and be sure to respect the privacy of local residents.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 take the Central San Rafael exit. Head east on Third St./Point San Pedro Rd for about 3.5 miles. The brickyard will be on the right. The address is 1 McNear Brickyard Rd. Park as close to the San Pedro Road entrance as possible. Please do not drive to or park near the closed gate.

Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Cypress Grove Research Center
2024-09-17 08:00 - 11:00
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Birding with David Lumpkin
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration is required. Registration opens September 7th at 8AM.
Join avian ecologist David Lumpkin, for a field trip to his work location, Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Cypress Grove Research Center. All levels of birding enthusiasts are welcome on this easy two-mile walk.
Sightings on our walk to and along Tomales Bay at this time of year may include ocean birds if conditions are right (Jaegar’s come down the bay chasing the migrating terns around then), the occasional vagrant passerine, and an influx of interior breeders not seen in the summer. Other migrating shorebirds and waterbirds may be seen as well as the usual mix of coastal prairie species. Rain does not cancel.
Directions: Address for Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Cypress Grove Research Center is 20545 State Hwy 1, Marshall, CA 94940
Going north on Hwy 1, look for a green metal gate (which will be left open) on the Tomales Bay side and a Cypress Grove sign. The gate is roughly a 1/2-mile north of Hog Island Oysters in Marshall (and the turnoff to the Marshall-Petaluma Rd.) and well before Nick’s Cove. Drive down the dirt road to where it splits, bear left, and park at the visitor parking lot.

Black Mountain Ranch Bird Walk - CANCELED
2024-09-18 08:30 - 11:00
This trip has been canceled. We will notify you if/when it is rescheduled. Sorry for the inconvenience!

The Ponds at Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District
2024-10-03 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, October 3, 2024
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Birding with Mark Clark
All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors, rails and swallows. With fall migration underway, shorebirds are arriving from their nesting grounds and we are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroom in the parking area for public use.

Abbotts Lagoon and the Inverness Tennis Area - Birding in Marin
2024-10-05 08:30 - 15:30
Birding in Marin – Series 9, Trip 10
Saturday, October 5th, 2024
8:30 AM to mid-afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on September 26th at 8:00 AM.
Abbotts Lagoon on the Pacific Coast in the Point Reyes National Seashore is one of Marin’s premier birding locations, sporting an eBird sum of 283 species. Fall migration south along the coast brings many birds to this area. Some that we hope to see include Ferruginous Hawk, Baird’s and Pectoral Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalaropes, Lapland Longspur, Horned Lark and Pipits. Hundreds of ducks of a dozen species, geese, herons, Peregrines and Ospreys are also likely visitors. Plus, you get some exercise; out and back is about 2 miles (some in sand). Pack a lunch for a picnic on the beach and bring a couple of layers for the fresh ocean air and help us spot a rarity.
After leaving Abbotts Lagoon, we plan to stop along Tomales Bay near the Inverness Tennis club to look for Pine and Alder woodland birds. A surprising number of species have been seen here and there is a nice little beach where we usually find several kinds of gulls.
DIRECTIONS: From Point Reyes Station on Highway 1 go just south of town, right turn onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd, follow that thru Inverness up over Inverness ridge into the Point Reyes National Seashore then go north on Pierce Point Road. The Abbotts Lagoon parking lot is on the left, in about 3 miles. Car Pool if you can, allow 1.5 hours from San Rafael.

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands | October
2024-10-09 07:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
7:30/8:15 AM to noon **Note start times below
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on September 29 at 8 AM
Join William and David for this fourth fall migration field trip at Rodeo Lagoon. This is their long-time “patch,” which never seems to disappoint birders with daily variations in species and a good chance of an unusual sighting. On this trip, our group will be targeting scarcer passerines and other mid-fall migrants. We will begin the morning with a Sea Watch from Rodeo Beach at 7:30 AM. Those arriving later may join us at 8:15 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you to the Headlands Center for the Arts for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
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 Rd to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end. Meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach or join MAS birders with scopes along the nearby beach area.

Raptor Quest: Chasing America's Raptors
2024-10-10 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, October 10th
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Scott Harris (Author & Photographer)
Register HERE For this Speaker Series
Scott Harris will be discussing his book “Raptor Quest: Chasing America’s Raptors”, which documents his 17-month adventure tracking 53 raptor species across 34 states in the US, from the common (Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons) to the rare (Bat Falcon, Steller’s Sea Eagle and Eurasian Eagle Owl). He will share photographs and stories of the many species he encountered; and relate stories of the places and various individuals he met along the way, including adventures, mid-adventures, successes and failures.
Scott is a wildlife photographer, author and speaker, who moved to South Carolina from southern California in 2020, when he first started birding, a hobby he never imagined himself participating in, but now can’t imagine living without. While in California, he had a syndicated newspaper column and two weekly radio shows and has authored over fifty books, mostly Westerns and Children’s books, and has just returned from safari in Africa.
Photo: Bald Eagle by Scott Harris
Next Speaker – Thursday, November 14, 2024
Josiah Clark – Christmas Bird Count

OVERNIGHT TRIP - Gray Lodge Wildlife Area and Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
2024-10-29 12:00 - 2024-10-30 15:00
OVERNIGHT TRIP – Tuesday, October 29, 2024 to Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Birding with Wildlife Naturalist Lori Grieves (Grey Lodge) and a member of Friends of Sacramento NWR (Colusa)
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration is required. Registration opens on October 19 at 8 AM. Participant limit is 15.
This trip is Accessible! Gray Lodge Wildlife Area has paved trails and an auto trail. For mobile birders it has two blinds and 150 acres of hiking trails.
Gray Lodge is about 60 miles north of Sacramento and is known for its winter migratory waterfowl including sand hill cranes, snow geese, and all manner of ducks.
We will meet at the Rail House Pub in Gridley at 12:00 PM for a meal before traveling to Grey Lodge Wildlife Area in Parking Lot 14 for a tour at 2 PM. The tradition is to stay for the sunset and watch the migrators take off for another night of flight.
Then we will continue West and South to Colusa for approximately a half hour to our overnight at a local motel.
Suggested accommodations, the Riverside Inn or the River Valley Lodge.
In the morning, we will explore Colusa NWR, part of the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge Complex. There is an auto trail and a short, level trail to viewing areas. In the afternoon, some birders may also want to explore Delevan NWR, about a 12 minute drive, or the Sacramento River NWR (25 minutes).
For more information or if you are interested in carpooling to the field trip, please contact Field Trip Coordinator, Alison Pence: smcbc.marinaudubon@gmail.com

Las Gallinas and Hamilton Wetlands - Birding in Marin - Season 9, Trip 11
2024-11-02 08:30 - 15:00
Birding in Marin, Season 9 – Trip 11
Saturday, November 2, 2024
8:30 AM to mid afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration will be open starting on October 23 at 8 AM.
Join Jim and Bob on an easy, birdy walk of 1.5 miles around the Las Gallinas ponds where we are likely to see 10 species of ducks, five of herons, five of raptors, five of sparrows and some rails like Ridgway’s, Sora, and Virginia with Gallinules, coots, swans and geese!
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.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 0.5 miles, immediately after crossing the RR tracks, left turn and follow the road another 0.5 mile 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 Dr and turn right. Go east to Hanger Ave and park along the levee behind Hanger 7.

Rodeo Lagoon - Marin Headlands | November
2024-11-06 07:30 - 12:00
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
7:30/8:15 AM to noon **Note start times below
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on October 27 at 8 AM
Join William and David for this fifth fall migration field trip at Rodeo Lagoon. This is their long-time “patch,” which never seems to disappoint birders with daily variations in species and a good chance of an unusual sighting. On this trip, our group will be targeting scarcer passerines and other mid-fall migrants. We will begin the morning with a Sea Watch from Rodeo Beach at 7:30 AM. Those arriving later may join us at 8:15 AM for a circuit of the lagoon. A brief mid-morning ‘coffee-stop’ is planned at Headlands Center for the Arts and it would be appreciated if participants come willing to contribute via the onsite ‘tip-jar’ as a thank you to the Headlands Center for the Arts for accommodating our group. This field trip is less suitable for beginners.
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 Rd to the Rodeo Lagoon Parking Lot at the end. Meet by the bridge over the channel to the beach or join MAS birders with scopes along the nearby beach area.

The Ponds at Las Gallinas Sanitary District - San Rafael
2024-11-07 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, November 7, 2024
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
All participants are welcome to join this trip
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors and Rails. Ducks are now arriving, we are seeing teals, pintails, and shovelers. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroom in the parking area for public use.

Christmas Bird Count
2024-11-14 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, November 14, 2024
7:00PM – 9:00PM
Speaker: Josiah Clark
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Josiah will speak to us about the upcoming Christmas Bird Count (CBC), the annual early-winter bird census conducted in December. Josiah will be discussing counting strategies and best practices for counting birds and covering areas on the count, including the virtues of the count circle, methods for preventing undercounting, tips on note taking and how good CBC coverage and data collecting habits set the stage for increasing numbers of detections and the accuracy of counts. He will also discuss strategies for promoting the CBC and attracting younger birders.
Speaker Bio:
Josiah Clark grew up steeped in the natural history of the Bay Area, where he has been birding for more than 20 years. Some of his defining 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 runs Habitat Potential, dedicated to interpreting, preserving, and creating productive wildlife habitats in the Bay Area human landscape.

Next Speaker – Thursday, December 12, 2024
Colombia: South America’s Birding Mecca
Speaker: Benny Jacobs-Schwartz

Blackie's Pasture -Tiburon
2024-11-16 09:00 - 12:00
Saturday, November 16, 2024
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Birding with Lisa Hug
Register HERE for this field trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on November 6 at 8 AM.
This field trip is an eBird workshop for those participating in the CBC in Marin County. We will start our walk on Tiburon’s Old Rail Trail, making observations using eBird. We will see waterfowl and shorebirds in the estuary as well as upland suburban residents. Tiburon is a count area on the South Marin CBC coming up on December 28. Experienced birders and Christmas Count leaders as well as eBird newbies can enjoy counting and compiling together in an informal and fun setting.
Directions: From Tiburon Blvd. take a right on “Blackie’s Pasture”. There is plenty of parking and facilities. Meet at the Harvey Rogers Garden at the Old Rail Trail trailhead.

OVERNIGHT TRIP - San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area & Merced Wildlife Refuge
2024-11-16 10:00 - 2024-11-17 17:00
OVERNIGHT TRIP
Saturday, November 16, 2024
10:00 AM to early evening
Sunday, November 17, 2024
8:30 AM to mid-afternoon
Register HERE for this field trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on November 7 at 8 AM.
We will explore the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation area with John Fulton, an experienced birder from Stanislaus Audubon. At 4 PM we will move on to Merced NWR for a walk with the Park Naturalist who is also giving a Sandhill Crane Fly- In Presentation to the public at 5. We will be staying overnight in Merced. Sunday morning will find us back at the Reserves for more birding!
San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area is about a 3 hour drive from San Rafael. We will meet at 10 AM on November 16 at the Recreation Area parking lot on CA-33, one half mile north of CA-152.
For further information, contact Field Trip Coordinator Alison Pence, alipence9@gmail.com

Tennessee Valley Trail
2024-11-23 08:30 - 14:00
Wednesday, November 23, 2024
8:30 AM – after lunch
Birding with Durrell Kapan
Register HERE for this field trip
Registration required for this trip. Registration opens on November 13 at 8 AM
This field trip is a workshop for those participating in the CBC in Marin County. We will start with an eBird refresher based on the MAS November 14 Speaker Series program and then practice taking data to the beach and back. Time permitting, we will climb to the coastal battery for a sea watch and sit, rest, and have a snack or sandwich. This will be great scouting for the CBC!
Don’t forget to be prepared for all weather—bring warm layers, a light rain shell, and sunscreen!
Meeting place: Tennessee Valley Parking Lot
701 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley

The Ponds at Las Gallinas Sanitary District - San Rafael
2024-12-05 08:30 - 12:00
Thursday, December 5, 2024
8:30 AM to noon
Birding with Mark Clark
All participants are welcome to join this trip.
We welcome bird enthusiasts of all levels, especially beginning birders, to join leader Mark Clark on our monthly walk around the ponds at Las Gallinas. On our search we’ll be looking for waterfowl, waders, songbirds, raptors and rails. Ducks are now arriving, we are seeing teals, pintails, and shovelers. We are likely to spot some interesting species, so come assist in our search.
The packed dirt paths around the ponds are wide, flat and easy to navigate. Heavy rain cancels
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101, exit at Smith Ranch Rd. Drive east on Smith Ranch Rd. toward McInnis Park. Turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks and drive about 0.5 mile through the LGVSD gates and into the parking lot at the end of the road. Meet the group by the bridge just past the parking lot. There is a portable restroom in the parking area for public use.

Bahia, Horseshoe Pond and Rush Creek
2024-12-07 08:30 - 16:00
Birding in Marin, Season 9 – Trip 12
Saturday, December 7, 2024
8:30 AM to mid afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
Register HERE for this field trip
Registration is required and opens November 27 at 8 AM
MAS acquired and restored to tidal action the diked bay lands around the residential Bahia neighborhood. As the ebbing tide exposes the mudflats thousands of shore- birds 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 Hwy 101 to Bahia, also saved from development by MAS, holds Oak Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hutton’s Vireo, at least four woodpecker species and many sparrows in the winter.
Horseshoe Pond (Homeowners Lagoon) at the southeast 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 look at the nearby Rush Creek area from the Airport Rd which parallels Hwy 101 north of Atherton.
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.

Stafford Lake - Novato
2024-12-07 09:00 - 13:00
9 AM to 1 PM
Birding with Bob Atwood
No registration or participant limit for this trip.
Located west of Novato, Stafford Lake is a beautiful but less-birded area that is productive for waterfowl and raptors. Stafford Lake has had approximately 172 species of birds spotted at it through the years. 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. Rain cancels.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 in Novato, take the exit for San Marin Dr 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.

Colombia: South America’s Birding Mecca
2024-12-12 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Speaker: Benny Jacobs-Schwartz
More information coming soon!

Colombia: South America’s Birding Capital
2024-12-12 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, December 12, 2024
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Speaker; Benny Jacobs-Schwartz
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Get ready for a dive into South America’s birdiest country! Together we’ll explore Colombia’s unique ecology, breathtaking scenery, and unparalleled avian diversity! Colombia holds the record with nearly 2,000 bird species and an impressive 80 endemics!
During our time together, we’ll discuss what has given rise to such incredible diversity. Topics include the country’s five regions, how the Andes Mountain Range formed into three distinct cordilleras, the importance of the mighty Rio Magdalena, and national conservation successes. From sloth-eating Harpy Eagles to shy antpittas, and menageries of colorful tanagers and hummingbirds, Colombia’s astonishing diversity will leave you wanting more!
Speaker Bio:
Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus). With a background in biology, ecology, and outdoor education, Benny has worked for over 13 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide. Benny offers guided birding outings in Southern California and small-group birding tours to his favorite tropical locales like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Benny is a passionate educator and photographer, specializing in birds! Benny is active on social media where he creates fun, educational videos and posts to inspire others about the natural world with the goal of getting folks to put down their phones and pick up their Binos.
Next Speaker: Migratory Shorebirds
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Speaker: Matt Reiter (Point Blue)

Cheap Thrills CBC
2024-12-14
Covering North Marin and extending into Southern Sonoma County.
Contact Susan Kelly: cheepthrills@icloud.com

Olompali State Historic Park
2024-12-15 09:00 - 12:30
Sunday, December 15, 2024
9 AM to 12:30 PM
Birding with Rich Cimino (Yellowbilled Tours) and Evan Weissman (Olompali State Historic Park)
No registration or participant limit for this trip
Join us to admire the winter birds of Olompali State Historic Park in Novato. We’ll explore grassland, savannah, and riparian habitats, as well as the remnants of the 150-year-old Victorian garden. Expect to see and hear overwintering birds such as kinglets, warblers, sparrows, and maybe a Red-breasted Sapsucker or Say’s Phoebe, as well as year-round residents including six woodpecker species, raptors, and quail.
We’ll walk at a fairly slow pace, about 1.5 miles roundtrip, on wide gravel and dirt trails, with moderate slope in portions. Bring binoculars if you have them; we’ll also have a few to loan. Rain cancels.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at 9 AM in the Olompali State Historic Park parking lot. There is no charge for the trip, but parking is $8, payable by cash, check, or via smartphone with QR code at the parking lot. No fee is charged if you borrow a free State Park pass from your local public library.

Point Reyes CBC
2024-12-19
Point Reyes CBC covering West Marin including Tomales Bay and the Point Reyes National Seashore. Register HERE and to get more information on the count and dinner.

Southern Marin CBC
2024-12-28
South Marin CBC covering much of East Marin and extending west as far as Bolinas and Stinson Beach. Contact: Alison Pence: smcbc.marinaudubon@gmail.com
Please fill out THIS FORM to volunteer for the Southern Marin Bird Count. Please email Alison Pence if you are willing to carpool.

Las Gallinas Sanitary District & Hamilton Wetlands
2025-01-04 08:30 - 15:00
Birding in Marin, Season 10 – Trip 1
Saturday, January 4, 2025
8:30 AM to mid afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required. Registration opens at 8 AM on December 26
Bob and I are leading our Birding in Marin monthly first Saturday field trips for the tenth season sponsored by the MAS. Please join us as we go birding with a goal of finding and sharing 100 species at two of our prime wintering habitats for ducks, shorebirds, raptors and sparrows. Las Gallinas is a great example of generating wildlife habitat with ample human access. This will be a 2 mile walk over a wide, flat packed dirt walkway with plenty of scope views to share closeups.
The Hamilton wetlands have been restored with intelligence, sensitivity, and precision. The birds and wildlife have appreciated this and come back in numbers that we expect to share. The walk is flat over a wide, mostly paved walkway, accessible via a ramp.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 in northern San Rafael take Smith Ranch Road east about a mile, just crossing the tracks turn left and park in 1/2 mile near the east end. Meet at Las Gallinas VSD parking lot.

Migratory Shore Bird Project: Connecting Communities of the Americas through Research for Conservation
2025-01-09 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday, January 9, 2025
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Speaker: Matthew Reiter – Point Blue Conservation Science
Register HERE for this Speaker Series
Topic:
Shorebirds are some of the most migratory species on the planet. However, their populations in the Western Hemisphere have been declining over the past 40 years. To better understand what is driving changes in shorebird populations and to turn data into knowledge and then conservation action, in 2011 Point Blue and partners launched a coordinated research, monitoring and conservation network for shorebirds in the Pacific Americas Flyway. The Migratory Shorebird Project is now a network of over 50 partners in 13 countries from Canada to Chile working together to study shorebirds and shorebird habitats and to implement conservation actions at scales that are relevant for these long-distance travelers.
Speaker Bio:
As a Research Director and quantitative ecologist with Point Blue Conservation Science, Dr. Matt Reiter’s work focuses on the ecology and conservation of migratory waterbirds and their wetland habitats in order to understand the impacts of threats such as habitat loss and climate change across broad migratory landscapes. Matt received an M.S. (2006) and Ph.D. (2009) in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Minnesota and has been at Point Blue since 2009.
Next Speaker:
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Bay Area Wildlife: An Irreverent Guide
Speaker: Jeff Miller

Skagg's Island Road
2025-01-10 10:00 - 13:30
Friday, January 10, 2025
10 AM to 1:30 PM
Birding with Daniel Edelstein
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required. Registration opens at 8 AM on December 31, 2024
Daniel invites you to discover the joy of a wilderness-like paradise — Skaggs Island Road — that often attracts dozens of shorebird and duck family members, in addition to uncommon, visiting non-breeding raptors such as Rough-legged Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Merlin (along with sightings of White-tailed Kite and other raptor species). Skaggs Island Road has flat, level hiking for no more than 1.5 miles; bring your lunch, we’ll eat at the bridge approximately 0.6 mile from the parking area at Hwy 37.
DIRECTIONS: Closed to the public, Skaggs Island Road is accessed by meeting our group in the parking area adjacent to Hwy 37 (approximately 3 miles east of Reclamation Rd and 2 miles east of the Hwy 121/Sears Point Raceway intersection (at the stoplight). We’ll meet on the north side of Hwy 37 where it intersects with Skaggs Island Road. Here’s a map link that shows where we’ll meet: https://bit.ly/3YYIJeg. Please be careful turning into this road when coming from Marin County. Oncoming traffic is often heavy.

Sausalito, Strawberry Point - Mill Valley
2025-02-01 08:30 - 15:30
Birding in Marin, Season 10 – Trip 2
Saturday, February 1, 2025
8:30 AM to mid afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin
Register HERE for this Field Trip
Registration required. Registration opens at 8 AM on January 22
We get a fine view of the San Francisco Bay waters from the small park at Harbor Point and the nearby rocky shoreline. Some grebes, loons, gulls, cormorants and a few shorebirds are often visible. We hope for Black Turnstones and a Spotted Sandpiper.
We will walk or take the short drive to see if Sausalito’s Yellow Crowned Night Heron has returned for another winter, usually offering a direct comparison to our Black-crowned Night Heron.
We then intend to drive the 2 miles to Fort Baker under the West end of the Golden Gate Bridge to see birds in the active bay mouth and the calmer Coast Guard boat harbor. We wonder if the Wandering Tattler will be spending another winter on the breakwater.
Bring lunch for a quick break for our final stop at Strawberry Point, a rather new development with a fine public path along the Richardson Bay shore. This portion of San Francisco Bay is protected from boating, hunting and fishing, so many diving ducks spend some of the winter there. If the herring are running this can be an active space.
DIRECTIONS: Meet at 8:30 at the bay end of Harbor Drive. From Bridgeway in North Sausalito take Harbor Drive to the ample parking lot at its bay end.
