Merced and San Luis National Wildlife Refuges
Merced County
Tuesday, March 2, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Bob Lewis, Bob@wingbeats.org, 510.845.5001
We will meet at Merced National Wildlife Refuge and continue on to San Luis National Refuge, looking for Sandhill Cranes, Snow and Ross’s Geese and other waterfowl, and raptors, along with Tule Elk. We may make other stops in the area. Bring lunch and a walkie-talkie if you have one. Allow about 2.5 hours’ driving time from Berkeley. Trip is limited to 30 participants; contact the leader to reserve a space. Carpooling is advisable.
From I-5, exit at Los Banos/Hwy. 152 east and take Hwy. 152 into Los Banos. Turn left on Mercey Springs Rd., go about 3 miles, and turn right on Henry Miller Rd. Continue for about 7 miles to Turner Island Rd. (four-way stop) and turn left. After 5.25 miles, turn right onto Sand Slough Rd., which curves to the left and becomes Nickel Rd. After about 1 mile, the road makes a sharp right and becomes Sandy Mush Rd. Continue for about 3.5 miles to refuge entrance on right (south) side of road.
Jewel Lake
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
Friday, March 5, 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. Winter birds are still present, and resident birds are beginning to sing their spring songs.
Golden Gate Park and Lands End
San Francisco
Saturday, March 6, 8 a.m.
Harry Fuller, anzatowhee@yahoo.com
Meet at the north end of North Lake in Golden Gate Park, accessed where 45th Ave. enters the park at Fulton. We’ll bird the park’s western end and also the Lands End area. We should find plenty of wintering birds and year-round residents, as well as some early spring returnees such as Allen’s Hummingbird.
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
Richmond, Contra Costa County
Sunday March 7, 9 a.m. – noon
Rusty Scalf, rscalf@sonic.net
Point Isabel provides rich birding opportunities, particularly when year-round residents are joined by migrating field birds and shorebirds.
From I-580 or I-80, take Central Ave. west to Rydin Rd. Turn right on Rydin and continue to the parking lot.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Golden Gate Park
Sunday, March 7, 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, 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.
Las Gallinas Water Treatment Facility
Marin County
Wednesday, March 10, 9 a.m. – noon
Bob Lewis, Bob@wingbeats.org, 510.845.5001
Waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, and passerines—Las Gallinas is always an interesting place, with chances to see otters and coyotes as well as birds. The walk is level, along the pond levees, and many birds are close and easily seen. This is a good beginning walk and also offers a wide variety of species.
Take Hwy. 101 north through San Rafael and exit at Smith Ranch Rd. (also marked for Lucas Valley Rd.). Turn right (east) onto Smith Ranch Rd. and continue toward the park at end of road. Turn left at the small sign for Las Gallinas and wildlife viewing and go to the end to the parking lot and restrooms.
Bike Trip: Quarry Lakes, Alameda Creek, and Coyote Hills
Fremont, Alameda County
Saturday, March 13
Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com
Meet at 9 a.m. on the east side of the Fremont BART station in the parking lot. Trip ends at BART between 3 and 4 p.m. We will see birds from the time we step off the BART train and will experience various habitats: riparian, marsh, and bayside. Total distance is 24–30 miles, mostly on paved bike trails. Bicycle helmet required. Bring lunch and liquids for a picnic at Coyote Hills. Dress for variable weather. Rain cancels. Reservations are not necessary, but an email or phone call is appreciated.
From I-880, take the Mowry Ave. exit east for 2.3 miles toward central Fremont. The Fremont BART parking lot is on the east side of the station past Civic Center Dr.
Corona Heights
San Francisco
Friday, March 19, 8 – 10 a.m.
Charles Hibbard; Brian Fitch; Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com
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.
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Fremont, Alameda County
Sunday, March 21, 9 a.m. – noon
Anne Hoff, anne2210@sbcglobal.net
Catch the wintering waterfowl and shorebirds before they depart for the summer and see whether some early spring migrants are back and staking out their territories. Will the Great Horned Owls again nest in Hoot Hollow? Will the Rock Wrens hang around? Will we see more than 10 species of ducks? We’ll go find out. Heavy rain cancels.
From I-880, take Hwy. 84 toward the Dumbarton Bridge. Exit on Paseo Padre Pkwy. and go north 1.1 miles to Patterson Ranch Rd. Turn left, drive into the park, and stop at the farthest parking lot next to the visitor’s center. Parking is $5; bring exact change.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
Oakland, Alameda County
Wednesday, March 24, 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. This is the beginning of spring at Lake Merritt. Come see the regular visitors and, with luck, a few surprises, too.
Take the 12, N, or NL bus to Grand and Perkins, and walk into the park on Perkins. Best parking is at the boathouse lot near the spherical cage. Entry (via Bellevue near Children’s Fairyland) is free on weekdays.
Bike Trip: American River Trail
Saturday – Sunday, March 27 – 28
Kathy Jarrett, 510.547.1233, kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com
This trip follows the fairly flat, 23-mile American River Trail between Sacramento and Folsom, which is rich in birdlife. Many birds can also be seen from the train, especially through Suisun Marsh. Meet on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Emeryville Amtrak Station; the train arrives in Sacramento at 9:20 a.m. The trail begins at Discovery Park, about 2 miles from the Sacramento station. Trail access is easy from the station through Old Sacramento to the river and then to the park. We will stay overnight at the Larkspur Landing Hotel in Folsom (participants must make their own reservations). On Sunday, we’ll start from the Iron Point Light Rail Station in Folsom at 8:30 a.m. and return to the Bay Area via Amtrak from Sacramento at about 3:30 p.m., arriving in Emeryville at about 5:15 p.m. It is possible to make a one-day trip by driving to Folsom and using the Sacramento Light Rail system. Allow 2.5 hours to drive from the East Bay to Folsom. Recent riding experience is a must to ensure the stamina necessary for such a long ride. Trip is limited to 12 participants. Reservations are required; contact the leader.