Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park, Oakland, Alameda County
Wednesday, May 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. We’ll be seeing the last of the winter ducks and with luck a few Eared and Horned Grebes in their party plumage, plus the ongoing cormorant rookery and perhaps a woodpecker or three in the park.
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 $2 if the kiosk is occupied when you arrive (which it probably will be). Buy a 2-hour ticket and try to park in the boathouse lot, where no one checks how long cars are parked.
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, San Francisco
Friday, May 31 (also June 28), 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Carlo Arreglo, 415.533.7081, arregloc@gmail.com
Experience North Beach and Telegraph Hill in a different way in this walk for birders of all ages and levels. Beginners are especially welcome! We’ll start at the Coit Tower parking lot and make our way around Telegraph Hill, including a descent and ascent of the Greenwich and Filbert Steps. We’ll look for resident and migratory birds while taking in some great views of two stunning bridges.
Meet 8:30 a.m. at the Coit Tower parking lot. You can park your vehicle here or look for street parking. Alternatively, the 39 Coit bus stops at Coit Tower.
June trips
Mosquito Ridge Rd., Placer County
Saturday, June 1, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Rusty Scalf, rscalf@sonic.net;
Steve and Carol Lombardi, hotrock175@gmail.com, cell 925/785-0130
We’ll bird Mosquito Ridge Rd. from Foresthill (3,200′ elevation) to French Meadows Reservoir (5,800′ elevation), a drive of about 40 miles that transects several habitats including chaparral, pine-oak woodland, and montane forest.
We’ll take a break and do a short hike at the half-way point, the beautiful Big Trees grove, the most northerly stand of giant sequoias. At French Meadows Reservoir, we’ll eat a snack and then turn around and owl our way back down the road. We hope to hear (and perhaps see) Flammulated Owl, which breeds here. The varied habitat should provide lots of species, and breeding activity should be energetic.
Mosquito Ridge Rd. starts in the town of Foresthill, 20 miles (a 30 min. drive) from Auburn and 130 miles (about 2 hours) from Berkeley. There is no gas or food after Foresthill, so participants should be self-sufficient. There will be a couple of restroom stops along the way. This trip will be mainly car-birding, with some moderate walking.
Participation is by sign-up. Carpooling along Mosquito Ridge Rd. will be mandatory because we need to limit the number of cars for safety reasons. Please don’t sign up if you’re not willing to carpool during the birding portion of the trip.
Contact Steve to be put on the list. We will provide meeting and trip details to confirmed participants.
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Sunday, June 2, 8 – 10:30 a.m.
Ginny Marshall, ginnybirder@sbcglobal. net; Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com; Alan Ridley, allanrid@pacbell.net; Helen McKenna, 415.566.3241 (Leaders vary by month.)
Meet at the front gate of the garden in Golden Gate Park, 9th Ave. at Lincoln Way.
The garden 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. The garden charges $7/person if you are not an SF resident or garden member. Bring identification for residency and membership status.
Tilden Park, Berkeley
Tuesday, June 4, 8:00 PM
Rusty Scalf, rscalf@sonic.net; Phila Rogers
Dusk Birdsong. Join us for dusk birdsong at Tilden Park Regional Park. Dawn chorus is much talked about, but birds sing in the evening as well. The star of this show will probably be Swainson’s Thrush though others sing well into in the evening. Once light fails we might hear an owl. Please park in the parking lot at the end of Canon Drive since the steel gate is closed at dusk. Canon Dr. is the northmost road into Tilden off the Grizzly Peak/Wildcat Canyon intersection. Google map link: http://goo.gl/maps/EuLHs. Directions: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/maps
First Friday Birdwalk at Tilden Nature Area.
Friday, June 7, 8:30 – 11:30
Alan Kaplan (510) 526-7609 or LNKPLN@earthlink.net
Meet in the Tilden Nature Area parking lot (in front of the EEC and Little Farm). We’ll continue learning how birds learn songs. Restrooms and water at the start and mid-way. Moderate pace on flat ground, some switchbacks on trail.
Aquatic Park and Waterfront, San Francisco
Saturday, June 8, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Carol Kiser, 415.447.5000
On this walk for children and beginners, and all others, we will look for resident and migrating birds. Meet at the entrance to the Hyde Street Pier at Hyde and Jefferson on the western border of Fisherman’s Wharf. Nearby parking is at the foot of Van Ness Ave. (free for 4 hours), Ghirardelli Square, and the Anchorage.
Second Friday Birdwalk, EBMUD Inspiration Trail
June 14, 2013, 8:30-11:30
Alan Kaplan (510) 526-7609 or LNKPLN@earthlink.net
Meet at Inspiration Point off Wildcat Canyon Road in Tilden Regional Park.
We’ll walk down the nearby EBMUD Inspiration Trail. Birders with EBMUD permits please bring them. Restrooms at start; bring water. This trail is easy down and a small climb back up to the parking lot. Directions at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/maps.
Corona Heights, San Francisco
Friday, June 21, 8 – 10 a.m.
Brian Fitch; Dominik Mosur, polskatata@yahoo.com (Leaders 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, June 26, 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. Settling down into summer, enlivened by the cormorant rookery and the first several (hundred) Canada Geese arriving for the annual molt party – but the lake is always lovely, and who knows? the new mudflats may have begun to attract some shore birds.
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 $2 if the kiosk is occupied when you arrive (which it probably will be). Buy a 2-hour ticket and try to park in the boathouse lot, where no one checks how long cars are parked.
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, San Francisco
Friday, June 28, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Carlo Arreglo, 415.533.7081, arregloc@gmail.com
Experience North Beach and Telegraph Hill in a different way in this walk for birders of all ages and levels. Beginners are especially welcome! We’ll start at the Coit Tower parking lot and make our way around Telegraph Hill, including a descent and ascent of the Greenwich and Filbert Steps. We’ll look for resident and migratory birds while taking in some great views of two stunning bridges.
Meet 8:30 a.m. at the Coit Tower parking lot. You can park your vehicle here or look for street parking. Alternatively, the 39 Coit bus stops at Coit Tower.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Friday-Sunday, June 28-30
Leaders: Dan and Joan Murphy (415) 564-0074, Preferred means of communicating is by e-mail murphsf@comcast.net
Join Dan and Joan on the annual GGAS family camping excursion to Lassen. In past years we have seen Black Swift, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Bluebird, Calliope Hummingbird, Black-backed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker and many of the flycatchers, warblers and finches that breed in the mountains.
FRIDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS we will meet at the Manzanita Lake Campground store at 6:30 a.m. We will bird around the lake for 2-3 hours, return to camp for breakfast, then rendezvous again at the store at 10:30 a.m. for another outing.
FRIDAY we will take a leisurely hike of 3 to 5 miles on one of Lassen’s beautiful trails. We may climb as much as 700′. Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch and liquids. Suntan lotion, a hat, mosquito repellent and warm clothing may also be necessary.
SUNDAY we will drive through the park (if the road is open), making frequent stops for birding. We usually stop birding and head for home or camp after lunch at Summit Lake Campground.
On SATURDAY, campers will meet by the camp store at 7:30 a.m. and caravan north to Burney Falls, Fall River Valley and Baum Lake. Those staying at the Hat Creek Resort can meet us at around 8:00 a.m. at the Vista Point about 12 miles north of Lassen on Hwys. 44 & 89. Bring lunch and liquids. Since this is a long and tiring day we suggest joining us for dinner at a local restaurant (if one is available) or for a picnic dinner. We’ll allow time to make a food and gas run into Burney.
SNEAK PREVIEW: On Thursday night join us for an hour or so to watch the goings on at the abandoned beaver pond at Hat Lake. From Manzanita Lake drive south into the park for about 12 miles. Park in the lot to the left just beyond the hairpin turn at Hat Lake. We’ll be there around 7 p.m. to see the wildlife that uses the beaver pond. Please don’t slam car doors or make excessive noise since that can scare the wildlife we hope to see. We’ll leave early enough to watch the Common Nighthawks over Manzanita Lake. Bring mosquito repellent, a warm jacket and a flashlight for when you get back to your camp or cabin.
Please contact us by e-mail or phone to let us know if you are planning to attend. We will know our campsite number by then, so we’ll let you know. We may have to cut off attendance if the group is larger than in past years.
DIRECTIONS: From the Bay Area drive north on I-5 to its junction with Hwy. 44 in Redding. Go east on Hwy. 44 to the northwest entrance of Lassen. Camping facilities are available at the Manzanita Lake Campground. Loops A and C by reservation only, loops B and D on a first-come-first-served basis. Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov or by calling 877.444.6777.
Lodging is available about 15 mi. north of the park at Hat Creek Resort, Old Station [530] 335-7121. Other information can be obtained from the park headquarters, Mineral, CA 96063. [$ at Lassen and Burney Falls]
For carpool availability please check the carpool Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GGACarPool/
Future Months
Shearwater Journeys Summer and Fall Pelagic Trips
Discounts to GGAS Members
Many of these trips fill up in advance – plan ahead!
SEASONS of the FARALLONES ISLANDS: AUG 4 & OCT 20
A pelagic trip to the Farallones Islands is like no other. On offer are two very different pelagic trips; Aug 4 will witness the largest breeding seabird colony on the West coast, south of Alaska. In addition to a large variety of nesting birds, the delightful tufted puffin will be our main target. If conditions all, we will venture beyond the islands to edge of the Continental Shelf in search of albatrosses. The Oct 20 trip will focus on seeing the endangered great white shark, specifically. Early August is the optimum time to see nesting seabirds, and late October is the best time to hope to see great white sharks. We will, of course, see other wildlife, including whales. Note that landing on the islands is not possible. Please book early, as these trips sell out, well in advance by several months every year. Reservations: Please send your check or money order, including the name, address, phone/email of each person booking to: Shearwater Journeys, POB 190, Hollister, CA 95024. Fee: Aug 4: $145 GGAS members; $167 non-members; Oct 20: $173 GGAS members; $196 non-members, not including any fuel surcharge. Parking is $2/person. All discounted rates are non-refundable/non-transferable. Questions, email: debi@shearwaterjourneys.com.
HALF MOON BAY PELAGIC TRIPS: JUL 27, 28; AUG 11, 17, 18, 25, 31; SEP 1, 8, 9, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29; OCT 6, 27
Easy to reach from the Bay Area, Half Moon Bay trips have become very popular. Early dates may find the elusive Cook’s Petrel as well as flocks of storm-petrels. This is the peak time of year for seabirding. Endangered marbled murrelets are found on nearly all of these trips. Fee: $155 GGAS members; $186 non-members, not including any fuel surcharge. Parking is free. Discounted rates are non-refundable/non-transferable. For reservations, see above, Shearwater Journeys.
BODEGA BAY PELAGIC TRIPS: AUG 30. SEP 20, OCT 18
No other place in North America has recorded more rare and mega-rare seabirds than trips departing from Bodega Bay. Highlight of the 2012 was a Hawaiian Petrel. Often huge rafts of storm-petrels are found, including ashy, black, fork-tailed, Wilson’s, Leach’s, and sometimes, least. Be there, when the next rarity shows up! Fee: $173 GGAS members; $198 non-members, not including any fuel surcharge. Parking is free. Discounted rates are non-refundable/non-transferable. Parking is free. For reservations, see above, Shearwater Journeys.
MONTEREY BAY: AUG 9, 16, 23; SEP 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 27; OCT 5, 13, 25
Far and away the “classic” West Coast seabirding location, Monterey Bay is a great choice during fall migration. The Monterey Submarine Canyon bisects the bay. Its deep, nutrient-rich waters provide food for marine creatures from Cassin’s Auklets to Blue Whales. Fee: $125 GGAS members; $154 non-members, not including fuel surcharge. Discounted rates are non-refundable/non-transferable. Parking: $5-7. For reservations, see above, Shearwater Journeys.
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Carpooling and Other Field Trip Resources
If you are going on a field trip, would you welcome company? Do you have room in your car to take other birders? To help find a ride or offer a ride, sign up with GGA’s carpool group at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/GGACarPool. When you sign up, you answer a few simple questions, then receive a confirming e-mail. Once you are a member, you post messages under “Need Ride” or “Offer Ride,” along with the destination and date. The more birders who sign up, the more useful the group will be. Birders are encouraged to help the driver with expenses by contributing to the cost of fuel and bridge tolls.
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Field Trip E-newsletter
Would you like to get a list of field trips sent to your email Inbox each month? Contact the Golden Gate Audubon office at ggas@goldengateaudubon.org and ask to receive the Field Trips e-newsletter. Include your name, plus (for our records) your postal address.
