Bike Trip: Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Santa Clara County
Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com
Saturday, July 24
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Santa Clara/Great America Capitol Corridor Train Station or at 9:10 a.m. at the trailhead. The ride from the station to Alviso County Park follows a trail and city streets. From Alviso we will ride on streets to Disk Dr. to look for Burrowing Owls, then go to the NWR visitor center, make a circuit of the unpaved trail around the marsh, and return to Alviso County Park. Last year, we found Black Skimmers and both Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes in the marsh and quite a few swallows at the county park. Approximate distance is 15 miles. Trip concludes about noon. Bicycle helmet required. Bring lunch and liquids. Dress in layers. Rain cancels. Leaders usually arrive by public transit, so delays are possible. It is advisable to call or email for cell phone number and indicate how you are arriving.
Transit: Capitol Corridor Train #723 leaves from Emeryville (EMY) at 7:20 a.m. We will return on Train #734 from Santa Clara (GAC) at 1:02 p.m. (next train is #736 at 2:32 p.m.). Arrive at the station well in advance to purchase your ticket and get on the platform; senior fares at a discount of 15 percent are available for those 62 and over. Contact Kathy if you want to participate in a 10-ride ticket from Emeryville. Car: Take I-880 south to San Jose, then Hwy 237 west. Go 2.2 miles and take the N. First St. exit. Turn right on N. First, which in about 1 mile becomes Taylor St. In one block, turn right on Gold St., then left on Elizabeth St. and right on Hope St. and continue to Alviso County Park and the trailhead parking for the NWR in Alviso. Transit information: www.transitinfo.org.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
Oakland, Alameda County
Wednesday, July 28, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Hilary Powers, 510.834.1066, hilary@powersedit.com; Ruth Tobey, 510.528.2093, ruthtobey@earthlink.net
Meet at the large spherical cage near the Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue. We will bird around there, then go up the garden path toward Children’s Fairyland or walk down the lake toward Embarcadero, after which we will cover what we missed. Summer is a quiet time at Lake Merritt, but there is always something worth watching.
Take the 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into park on Perkins. Best parking is at the boathouse lot near the spherical cage. Entry (via Bellevue near Children’s Fairyland) is probably free on weekday mornings, but will be $3 if the kiosk is occupied when you arrive.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Sunday, August 1, 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Alan Ridley, allanrid@pacbell.net; Helen McKenna, 415.566.3241; Ginny Marshall, Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com
Meet at the front gate of garden in Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way. This delightful section of the park has several micro-habitats that attract an array of resident, migrant, and vagrant birds. This monthly trip is oriented toward helping beginning birders develop their skills in spotting and identifying birds.
Bike Trip: Quarry Lakes, Alameda Creek, Coyote Hills
Alameda County
Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com
Saturday, August 7
Meet at 8:20 a.m. on the east side of the Fremont BART Station in the parking lot. We will return to BART at approximately 3 p.m. We’ll see birds from the time we step off the BART train, and they vary with the riparian, marsh, and bayside habitats. Total distance is about 24 miles, mostly on paved bike trails, with almost no uphill. Bicycle helmet required. Bring lunch and liquids. Dress in layers. Rain cancels. Reservations are not necessary, but an email or phone call is appreciated.
Transit: The Fremont train passes through the MacArthur station at 7:34 p.m. Allow time to process your ticket and get your bike to the platform. Car: Take I-880 to Fremont, then the Mowry Ave. exit east toward central Fremont. Go 2.3 miles on Mowry Ave. The BART parking lot is on the east side of the station past Civic Center Dr. Transit information: www.transitinfo.org. East Bay Regional Park District: www.ebparks.org.
Corona Heights
San Francisco
Friday, August 20, 8 – 10 a.m.
Charles Hibbard; Brian Fitch; Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com (leaders will vary by month)
Meet in front of the Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, at the end of Museum Way off Roosevelt. We will enjoy views of the city and bay as we circle Corona Heights, checking the east canyon woodland and north forest for residents and migrants, as well as monitoring the hilltop scrub and south cliff.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
Oakland, Alameda County
Wednesday, August 25, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Hilary Powers, 510.834.1066, hilary@powersedit.com; Ruth Tobey, 510.528.2093, ruthtobey@earthlink.net
Meet at the large spherical cage near the Nature Center at Perkins and Bellevue. We will bird around there, then go up the garden path toward Children’s Fairyland or walk down the lake toward Embarcadero, after which we will cover what we missed. Summer is a quiet time at Lake Merritt, but there is always something worth watching.
Take the 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into park on Perkins. Best parking is at the boathouse lot near the spherical cage. Entry (via Bellevue near Children’s Fairyland) is probably free on weekday mornings, but will be $3 if the kiosk is occupied when you arrive.
Snag Lake Backpack Trip
Friday – Monday, August 27 – 30
Robin Pulich; David Rice, 510.527.7210, drice2@comcast.net
Join David and Robin on this annual camping and birding trip. We will backpack 3 miles to Snag Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park and spend three nights in primitive camping by a stream near a large meadow. We should see flocks of mixed warblers and other songbirds, plus resident birds of the mountains, Bald Eagles, and migrating shorebirds. We will be above 6,000 feet. To avoid impact on the fragile habitat, the trip is limited to 10 people. Participants are responsible for their own gear and food; some shared meals can be arranged. Contact David Rice to reserve a space.
Jewel Lake
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
Friday, September 3, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Phila Rogers, 510.848.9156, philajane6@yahoo.com
We continue our monthly first Friday trips at Tilden Park. Meet at the parking lot at the north end of Central Park Dr. for a 1-mile, 2-hour-plus stroll through this lush riparian area.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Sunday, September 5, 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Alan Ridley, allanrid@pacbell.net; Helen McKenna, 415.566.3241; Ginny Marshall, Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com
Meet at the front gate of garden in Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way. This delightful section of the park has several micro-habitats that attract an array of resident, migrant, and vagrant birds. This monthly trip is oriented toward helping beginning birders develop their skills in spotting and identifying birds.
