For this trip, we’ll be taking a leisurely sunset walk around the lagoon and shoreline of Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. This flat, unpaved trail meanders through a habitat mosaic of urban parkland, saltmarsh, and seashore. It’s a good outing for beginner birders to see a diverse mix of common northern California species at fairly close range.

We’ll be walking the trail during an incoming mid-tide, which hopefully will push some shorebird species and seagoing ducks closer to the trail. We’ll see! This is usually a good spot for Marsh Wren, Black-necked Stilt, and Black-crowned Night-Heron regardless of tidal condition.

Bathrooms, water fountains, and parking are plentiful, but it may be colder at the shoreline than it is inland. Dress in layers just in case.

Trail Rating: 1 – Easy. Mostly level paths, up to 1 mile walking
Leader: Elisa Fernandes-McDade ()
Meeting Point: 87 N Court St, Martinez, CA 94553. (The first parking lot on the right on N Court St.)
Directions: Take the I-680 north toward Sacramento. Take Exit 56, Waterfront Rd. toward Marina Vista Rd. Turn left onto Waterfront Rd. and continue onto Marina Vista Ave. Turn right onto Ferry St. Then, turn right onto Joe DiMaggio Dr. Then, turn left onto N Court St. The Meeting Point is the first big parking lot on the right.

This trip is limited to 12 participants.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunset-bird-walk-on-the-martinez-shoreline-tickets-1324625413269

(Photo of Black-crowned Night Heron by Warren Regelmann)