Trip Leader(s): Joseph Zeno & William Legge

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 . 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 . 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.

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 . 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.

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 scoter–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.

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 . 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. We’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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.