Point Reyes - Fish Docks, Lighthouse & Beaches
September 4th
8:30AM - Mid Afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin

September provides the most birding surprises in Marin as many juvenile birds make their first migration west and south without the aid of google maps. Western migrants such as Townsends, Hermit and Black-throated Gray Warblers may be in the Point Reyes Tree islands with rarer eastern species. Western Tanagers may share a tree with a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Drake’s Bay begins to harbor large numbers of wintering species like scoters, loons, terns and gulls. A Wandering Tattler may join Black Turnstones, sanderlings and Godwits along the shores. This is a good time and place to witness Parasitic Jaegers harassing Elegant Terns to try to snitch a captured fish.

The Point Reyes Lighthouse sits well out into the Pacific Ocean so some pelagic birds like Shearwaters may be seen from the comfort of the shore. Peregrine Falcons are often seen, especially on mornings when the fog hides the coast, and migrating land birds may be hunted out over the ocean. The point with its few Monterey Cypress can then be a life saving vision to them.

Limit of 15 participants. All participants must be vaccinated. CLICK HERE to register for this field trip. There will be NO waiting lists at this time. 

DIRECTIONS: Meet at 8:30 at the Fish Docks parking lot on the outer point. Take Sir Francis Drake thru Inverness toward the Light House. Left turn to the FISH DOCKS just after Ranch A (The Nunes Ranch) and one mile before the Lighthouse. Carpool if possible, be vaccinated and allow 1.5 hour from the San Rafael area.

October 2nd: 8:30AM - Mid Afternoon
Birding with Jim White and Bob Battagin

Abbott’s 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 3 miles (some in sand) and Jim likes to do a full 5 mile loop. So 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.

We have tried to show people 200 species each year and this year’s late start makes that goal a very big challenge. To help bolster our lists, 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.

Tickets will be available on September 23rd at 8AM. There is a limit of 15 participants for this trip. No waiting list at this time, and no drop-ins allowed.

All participants must be fully vaccinated.

CLICK HERE to register for this field trip

Saturday, October 9th
9AM - 12PM
Birding with Rich Cimino & Janet Bodle 

It’s always an exciting time to birdwatch at Olompali State Historic Park! October can bring fall surprises. This year, with the fires in the northern part of the state, Olompali Park may become home to species typically not seen in the park seeking shelter. Beginning and experienced birders are invited to join leaders Rich Cimino and Janet Bodle to bird the park. We will walk the old ranch road to the park’s reservoir. We hope to see a wide variety of species that thrive in the park’s oak savanna and open grasslands. The field trip will start at 9 AM meeting in the front of the visitor center.

DIRECTIONS: Exit Hwy 101 at Atherton Ave/San Marin Dr in Novato. Follow the signs to Olompali State Historic Park. A right turn onto the Old Redwood Hwy frontage road will take you to the park. There is an $8 parking fee. Recently the park gates have been opening by 8:30AM.

Tickets will be available on September 30th at 8AM. There is a limit of 10 participants for this trip. No waiting list at this time, and no drop-ins allowed.

All participants must be fully vaccinated.

CLICK HERE to register for this field trip.

Wednesday, October 20th
7:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Birding with William Legge and David Wiechers

Join William and David for one of their fall migration field trips at Rodeo Lagoon. This is their longtime “patch,” which never seems to disappoint birders with daily variations in species seen and unusual sightings. On this particular trip, our group will be targeting Parasitic Jaeger, migrating shorebirds, warblers, early winter wildfowl and passerine migrants.
We will begin the morning with a Sea Watch 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 October 11 at 8:00 AM. There is a limit of 12 participants for this trip. There will not be a waiting list, and no drop-ins allowed.

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.

Click HERE to register for this field trip.