Birding
MDBA Field Trip — Mitchell Canyon
Mitchell Canyon 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton, CA, United StatesWe will walk into Mitchell Canyon on the lower slopes of Mount Diablo State Park. Many spring birds are possible here, warblers, hummingbirds, flycatchers, gnatcatchers and more. Spring flowers may still be blooming. This is a good trip for beginners. Trail Rating: Category 3. 3+ miles on a potentially hot, dusty trail. Elevation change: up […]
MDBA Field Trip — Pine Canyon
Diablo Foothills Regional Park Trailhead Parking 1700 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut CreekThis field trip is especially good for beginning birders! Pine Canyon, which includes the Castle Rock EBRPD recreational area, and the Diablo Foothills Regional Park just beyond, provides rich habitat and resources for spring migrants passing through, as well as for many returning and nesting summer residents. We should expect to find nesting pairs of […]
MDBA Field Trip — Del Puerto Canyon
Del Puerto Canyon Rd & Diablo Grande Pkwy Del Puerto Canyon Rd, Patterson, CA, United StatesAs we drive through Del Puerto Canyon, on the east side of the Diablo Range, we'll be looking for Canyon Wren, Costa’s Hummingbird, Greater Roadrunner, and other goodies. It can get very warm! Bring lunch and plenty of liquids as this trip takes us further from conveniences that most of our outings. Carpool leaves from […]
MDBA Field Trip — Putah Creek at Pedrick Rd.
Putah Creek Parking Lot Putah Creek Parking Lot, Davis, CAThis delightful, fairly short stretch of Putah Creek (~3/4 miles), can be very productive during Spring migration. It's a fairly easy walk through lovely riparian right down in the creek bed. And the occasional sandy stretch will often host several species of birds bathing in the shallows. Expect to find a nice selection of warblers: […]
MDBA Field Trip — Lagoon Valley & Pena Adobe — NEW TRIP!
Peña Adobe Regional Park 4699 Peña Adobe Rd., Vacaville, CAWe will first bird at Pena Adobe Park, located off I-80 just west of Vacaville. Pena Adobe is a historic park with well established trees, including an orange tree planted as early as the1860s. Birds we've seen here include Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush and Black-headed Grosbeak. After exploring Pena Adobe we'll drive to Lagoon Valley […]
MDBA Field Trip — West Briones Regional Park
Bear Creek Staging Area Briones Bear Creek Staging Area, 16 Bear Creek Rd, Lafayette, CA, United StatesA visit to the west entrance of Briones Regional Park in the spring offers views of spring wildflowers and spring birds. Lazuli Buntings are often present, along with flycatchers, vireos, and many other species. Bring water and snacks. It might be warm by mid-day. Rating: Category 2 - moderate hiking over dirt and gravel trails […]
MDBA Field Trip — East Contra Costa County
Marsh Creek Regional Trail Trailhead X8R3+9H, Oakley, CA, United StatesNote the early starting time: we start this trip early as the location can become very hot by mid-day. We will walk part of the Marsh Creek Trail, and then visit Piper Slough north of Bethel Island. Other locations are possible. Target birds include: Blue Grosbeak, Hooded Oriole, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Swainson’s Hawk, Yellow-billed Magpie and […]
MDBA Field Trip — Outer Point Reyes
Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center 1 Drake Beach Rd, Inverness, CA, United StatesPoint Reyes is one of the premiere birding locations in Northern California, a great spot to find rarities during migration---like the Prairie Warbler pictured above (image by Beth Branthaver). MDBA tries to visit at least twice a year. On our late-spring trip we hope to see northbound migrants as well as resident birds in their […]
MDAS Field Trip — Outer Point Reyes
Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center 1 Drake Beach Rd, Inverness, CA, United StatesSign up HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/outer-point-reyes-registration-989723909857 Point Reyes is one of the premiere birding locations in Northern California, a great spot to find rarities during migration---like the Prairie Warbler pictured above (image by Beth Branthaver). Our exact itinerary will depend on weather, but we'll probably visit the lighthouse overlook and the "fish docks" area. After lunch we […]
MDAS Field Trip — Tilden Nature Area & Jewel Lake
Jewel Lake, Tilden Nature Area, California 600 Canon Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708, Berkeley, CA, United StatesSign up HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jewel-lake-tilden-nature-area-berkeley-tickets-989729386237 A walk along Wildcat Creek and around Jewel Lake in Tilden Park. We'll get started early, as it can get hot by mid-day at this time of year. Target birds include Brown Creeper, Red-Breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, and with luck Pacific Wren. Migrating birds are a possibility. This trip is suitable […]
MDAS Field Trip — Mt. Wanda
Mount Wanda Trailhead XVQ9+QW, Martinez, CA, United StatesSign up HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-mt-wanda-john-muir-nhs-martinez-tickets-989719737377 This hike is especially good for beginning birders! We'll walk through oak woodlands and oak savannah habitats, climbing uphill on a rugged fire road with one steep section. Then we'll walk a single track trail back to the fire road, about 2.5 miles total. We should have excellent views of Acorn […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesThe Natural Area at Heather Farm is an underrated birding site. It is possible to see five species of heron one day, and on the next five species of sparrow. Common Gallinule and Sora are frequently reported, along with wintering ducks and migrating passerines. All told, over 200 species have been recorded at Heather Farm […]
MDAS Field Trip — Birding by Bike at Clifton Court Forebay
Clifton Court Forebay Clifton Court Rd., Discovery Bay, CASign up HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-by-bike-at-clifton-court-forebay-tickets-989733488507 Have a bicycle, e-bike or scooter, and like to bird? Join MDBA at Clifton Court Reservoir in eastern Contra Costa County, where we will do an out-and-back biking/birding trip of approximately 10 miles on a flat, paved levee road to see a myriad of bird species. Those who are equipped for […]
MDAS Field Trip — Vaux’s Swifts at McNear Brickyard, San Rafael
McNear Brickyard 1 McNear Brickyard Rd., San Rafael, CASign up HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vauxs-swifts-tickets-989735384177 Leader: Maureen Lahiff, , 510.484.6529 Vaux's Swifts migrate south along the Pacific Americas Flyway each fall, and one of their few known stopping points in Northern California is McNear Brick and Block in San Rafael. At sunset on many September and October evenings as many as 20,000 swifts mass and fly […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesHeather Farm Park in Walnut Creek is an underrated birding spot, home to dozens of resident species. We'll hope to see some migrating birds as well! We'll meet at the overlook of the Natural Lake, west of North San Carlos Drive, about 100 yards beyond the community center. Meeting point GPS: 37.921260813409184, -122.04358260674651 At 8:00AM […]
MDAS Field Trip — Alameda Hotspots
Alameda has several good spots for shorebirds. We'll probably visit Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, Ballena Bay, and Crab Cove, with the exact itinerary to be determined. Meeting point will be in Alameda; registered attendees will be notified of the exact starting point and other details by email, a day or two before the trip. Register […]
MDBA Field Trip — Mt. View Sanitary and McNabney Marsh
Mountain View Sanitary District 3800 Arthur Rd, Martinez, CA, United StatesIn winter McNabney Marsh, aka Waterbird Regional Preserve, hosts many species of ducks, shorebirds and waterbirds. Marsh passerines and raptors might also be present. We'll meet at the observation deck off of Arthur Road, and scan the marsh with our scopes. After that we'll move the cars a short distance and take a walk around […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesThis trip is especially good for beginners! Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek is an underrated birding spot, home to dozens of resident species. We'll hope to see some winter visitors as well! We'll meet at the overlook of the Natural Lake, west of North San Carlos Drive, about 100 yards beyond the community center. […]
MDBA Field Trip — Lodi Lake & Woodbridge Preserve
Lodi Lake 1101 W. Turner Rd, Lodi, CA, United StatesWe'll bird first at Lodi Lake and its riparian area alongside the Mokelumne River. Plan to see waterfowl and many bird species including Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwing, Herons, Warblers and Wood Duck. (We've had Varied Thrush in the past but cannot guarantee!) From Lodi Lake we'll move on to Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, where we'll […]
MDBA Field Trip — Palo Alto Baylands/Charleston Slough
Terminal Boulevard Terminal Boulevard, Mountain View, CA, United StatesWe see a variety of birds on the water on this trip that is only about a 55 minute drive from Walnut Creek. It is exciting to be on the largest tract of undisturbed marshland remaining in the San Francisco Bay. Locations include Charleston Slough, Shoreline Lake, Palo Alto Baylands, and Redwood Shores. Hike Rating: […]