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. 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 – 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 the 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. The SF Botanical Garden now charges $7/person if you are not a SF resident or a Botanical Garden member. Please bring identification for residency and membership status.
Coastal San Francisco
Saturday, September 11, 8 a.m.
Dan Murphy, murphsf@comcast.net, 415.564.0074
Meet in the parking lot between South Lake and Middle Lake in Golden Gate Park. It is just past the second stop sign on Chain of Lakes Dr. from the intersection of 41st and Lincoln. From Kennedy Dr., turn left at Chain of Lakes Dr., and drive just past the lake to the left. We will bird the Chain of Lakes, then drive to Lands End, Lake Merced, and other western San Francisco birding spots in a search of early fall migrants. In the past we have seen a large variety of migrating flycatchers, vireos, warblers, sparrows, and finches. We may see early hawk migration as well. We plan to end the day between 2 and 3 p.m. at Lake Merced. Wear layers for variable coastal weather. Bring lunch and liquids. Since we will not finish the trip where we start, it would be best to make carpool arrangements with that in mind.
Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trips
September 13, 17, 18, 19, 28; October 2, 10, 11, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Debi Shearwater and Shearwater Journeys leaders, debi@shearwaterjourneys.com
These seabird trips offered by Shearwater Journeys are aboard the new Captain Pete and leave from the Huck Finn Center, Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay. Some excellent sightings were made in 2009, including a Short-tailed Albatross and White-chinned Petrel (second record for North America, first live sighting). It is expected that these trips will be very popular. Half Moon Bay is easy to reach from San Francisco, the East Bay, or Silicon Valley. We may be able to reach seabirds such as storm-petrel flocks more easily than from other ports. For general trip reports, go www.shearwaterjourneys.com and click on Trip Reports, or see the blog www.shearwaterjourneysblogspot.com.
Cost is $128 for GGA members (nonrefundable), $148 for nonmembers. To make reservations, please send payment to Debi Shearwater, PO Box 190, Hollister, CA 95024.
Corona Heights
San Francisco
Friday, September 17, 8 – 10 a.m.
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.
Bike Trip — Hayward Regional Shoreline
Alameda County
Saturday, September 18, 8 a.m.
Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com
Meet at the San Leandro BART station following the 7:55 a.m. arrival of the train from Richmond. We’ll ride 2.5 miles to the trailhead via Williams St. (bike lanes) or meet at 8:30 a.m. at the end of Monarch Bay Dr. adjacent to the trailhead. This trip lasts into the afternoon.
We will go south on the SF Bay Trail from the San Leandro Marina to the Hayward shoreline and the Interpretive Center, making about a 20-mile round-trip. High tide is 9:16 a.m., and shorebirds should be flushed in by the tide. Some parts of the trails are paved; others easily negotiable. Dress for variable weather. Bicycle helmet required. Bring lunch and liquids. Rain cancels. Reservations are not necessary, but an email or phone call is appreciated.
Car: From I-880 in San Leandro, take the Marina Blvd. exit west. In 1.4 miles, turn left onto Monarch Bay Dr. Go to the end to the last parking lot at San Leandro Marina Park.
BART: From San Leandro BART, go south about 1 block to Williams (bicycle lanes) and turn right; go about 3 miles to end and turn left, continuing onto Monarch Bay Dr. and to end. Allow time to get your BART ticket processed and your bicycle to the platform.
BART schedules: www.transitinfo.org. SF Bay Trail: http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov. East Bay Regional Park District: www.ebparks.org.
Lincoln Park
San Francisco
Sunday, September 19, 8 – 11 a.m.
David Armstrong, darmstrong99@yahoo.com
Meet on Merrie Way, the parking lot up the hill from the Cliff House, for this walking tour of some of San Francisco’s finest fall birding locations. We will cover about 3 miles of varied terrain (with some short climbs/stairs) in search of migrants and vagrants. Trip is limited to 20 people. Contact the leader via email to reserve your place.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
Oakland
Wednesday, September 22, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Hilary Powers, 510.834.1066, hilary@powersedit.com; Ruth Tobey, 510.528.2093, ruthtobey@gmail.com
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. The lake will be fairly quiet, but residents such as woodpeckers and herons should be out in force, and the earliest winter migrants should be making an appearance.
Take the 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into the park on Perkins. Best parking is at boathouse lot near 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.
Jewel Lake
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
Friday, October 1, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Leader TBD
Monthly first Friday trips at Tilden. 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. Phila Rogers has been leading the trips, but a different leader will be on the October trip.
Butterfly Walk
UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley
Saturday, October 2, 3 p.m.
Sal Levinson, sal.levinson@gmail.com
Meet just inside the garden entrance. We will walk through the garden in search of host plants to such butterflies as skippers, buckeyes, blues, pipevine swallowtail, and mylitta crescent. Bring binoculars (close focusing are best) and a field guide if you have one. Rain cancels. The garden charges a fee to nonmembers. Please RSVP to Sal if you plan to attend.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Sunday, October 3, 8 – 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 the 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. The SF Botanical Garden now charges $7/person if you are not a SF resident or a Botanical Garden member. Please bring identification for residency and membership status.
Corona Heights
San Francisco
Friday, October 15, 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 hilltop scrub and south cliff.
Bike Trip — Millbrae to Foster City
San Mateo County
Saturday, October 23, 8:45 a.m.
Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com
Meet at the Millbrae BART Station at 8:45 a.m. at Rollins Rd. and Millbrae Ave. East Bay BART riders passing through MacArthur BART will take the 7:34 a.m. train for SFO/Millbrae. The trip will follow the SF Bay Trail from Millbrae to Foster City (about 7 miles) and continue around Foster City (about 6.5 miles). Return will be from the Belmont Caltrain station. Caltrain is on an hourly schedule on weekends; it departs Belmont Station northbound at 1:48 p.m. and arrives at Millbrae at 2:08 p.m.
The mostly flat route is on the SF Bay Trail and other bike paths, mostly paved, some on bike lanes and some on city streets. Dress for variable weather. Bicycle helmet required. Bring lunch and liquids. Rain cancels. Reservations are not necessary, but an email or phone call is appreciated.
Car: From San Francisco, take US 101 south about 12 miles. Take exit 420 for Millbrae Ave. and turn right at E. Millbrae Ave., then right at N. Rollins Rd. to the parking lot for Millbrae BART. BART schedules: www.transitinfo.org. SF Bay Trail: http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
Oakland
Wednesday, October 27, 9:30 a.m. – noon
Hilary Powers, 510.834.1066, hilary@powersedit.com; Ruth Tobey, 510.528.2093, ruthtobey@gmail.com
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. The lake will be fairly quiet, but residents such as woodpeckers and herons should be out in force, and the earliest winter migrants should be making an appearance.
Take the 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into the park on Perkins. Best parking is at boathouse lot near 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.
Bird Walk for Beginners and Children at Aquatic Park
San Francisco
Sunday, October 31, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Carol Kiser, Carol_Kiser@nps.gov
Park Ranger Carol Kiser will teach you how to locate and identify some common water and land birds during this easy stroll along the Aquatic Park shoreline in San Francisco.
Bring binoculars and bird books if you have them. Wear sunblock and a hat, and dress in layers. Carol Kiser is park ranger of many years at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and have been leading bird walks since approximately 1990. Parking at aquatic park: there is free four-hour parking at the foot of Van Ness Avenue and there are parking garages in Ghirardelli Square on Beach Street and at the Anchorage Mall on Beach near Leavenworth.
San Francisco Bay with Dolphin Charters
Saturday, November 20, 9:45 – 4 p.m.
GGA leader Eddie Bartley
Meet at the Berkeley Marina by 9:45 a.m. for departure at 10 a.m. to see the San Francisco Bay by boat. The largest and one of the most important estuaries along the Pacific Flyway is right in our own backyard. We will cruise San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay waters, home to thousands of wintering birds. Passing Alcatraz, we’ll head toward Point Bonita, where we will tour the southern edge of the Marin Headlands and, weather permitting, travel under the Golden Gate Bridge to the point. Then we’ll head to the shore of Angel Island, under the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge, past the Marin Islands and the Brothers and Sisters islands, to Red Rock, and back down along the Richmond shoreline. Many of these areas can be seen only by boat. In addition to wintering ducks, loons, grebes, and gulls, we expect to see resident cormorants, pelicans, and murres, as well as seals and sea lions feeding and basking and, with luck, an occasional porpoise. Dress in layers. Bring binoculars, liquids, and lunch.
Trip is limited to 32 people. Cost is $85 for GGA members, $95 for nonmembers. Reserve by contacting Stephanie Strait, GGA Office Manager, 510.843.2222 or ggas@goldengateaudubon.org. Payment must be received by October 15.
