Mount Diablo Bird Alliance

MDBA Field Trip -- Brannan Island & Delta Rookery
2026-05-01 08:30 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Brannan Island State Recreation Area, 17645 CA-160, Rio Vista, CA, 94571
We’ll start at the entrance to Brannan Island SRA, in the parking lot east side of Hwy 160. Pay the entrance fee at the station or by envelope if no one’s there, $10 or $9 for seniors. Note that most public libraries have a pass you can check out that allows free day use parking. Western Kingbird, Western Bluebird and Bullock’s Oriole have been seen there, plus raptors. Then we’ll drive to the site of a rookery where, in past years, several species of heron and egret have nested, along with cormorants. There are picnic tables from which you can enjoy the rookery while having a snack. This trip is good for beginners.
Hike Rating: 1, Easy. A few walks on level trails adding up to probably less than a mile.
Elevation change: N/A
Leader: Mona Lange, 510-414-2959
Meet: Brannan Island State Recreation Area. GPS: 38.11017164265391, -121.6966400433512
Directions: Central Contra Cost take Hwy 4 towards Antioch. Where the highway forks take Hwy 160 north over the Antioch Bridge (toll). After crossing the bridge, continue about 7 miles to Brannan Island. The park entrance is on your right, 1/4 mile after crossing 3-Mile Slough. Meet at the parking lot, 200 yards east of Hwy 160.
This field trip is limited to 12 participants. Register HERE:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-brannan-island-delta-rookery-tickets-1985233802745
(Image of Great Blue Heron by Warren Regelmann)

MDBA Field Trip -- West Briones Regional Park
2026-05-05 08:30 - 13:00 | Bear Creek Staging Area Briones, Bear Creek Staging Area, 16 Bear Creek Rd, Lafayette, CA, 94549, United States
A 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.
There’s a nice picnic area here so consider bringing lunch and staying a while. It might get warm before our walk is done, so bring sufficient water.
Leader: Cheryl Abel
Rating: Category 2–moderate hiking over dirt and gravel trails with mild slopes.
Elevation change: 200 feet
Meet: Bear Creek Staging Area parking lot
Directions: From SR 24 in Orinda, drive north on Camino Pablo about 2.25 miles, turn right on Bear Creek Road, continue for 4.5 miles to park entrance. Drive to farthest parking lot on the right.
This field trip is limited to 15 participants. Participants must acknowledge the MDBA Liability Waiver (available during registration). Register HERE:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-west-briones-regional-park-tickets-1985181520367
(Lazuli Bunting photo by Jerry Britten)

MDBA Field Trip -- East Contra Costa County
2026-05-07 08:00 - 13:00 | Big Break Regional Shoreline, 69 Big Break Road, Oakley, CA, 94561, United States
Note: this itinerary is subject to change, as migrating birds arrive and opportunities appear. Watch the May Quail, and your email in the days before the outing, for possible updates.
We plan to meet at Big Break/Delta Science Center. After birding there we’ll drive to Marsh Creek Trail and, if time permits, Bethel Island. These locations are usually good for waterfowl, raptors and some passerines not easily found elsewhere in the county.
It may get hot by mid-day.
Hike Rating: 1-Easy
Elevation change: N/A
Leaders: Randy Huey, 925-518-8439
Meet: Big Break parking lot in Oakley at 8 AM
Directions: Take Highway 4 east toward Stockton/Pittsburg, after Antioch take right Exit 30 toward CA-160/Sacramento/Rio Vista. Take Exit 1A, East 18th/Main Street, turn right at the bottom of the exit onto Main Street, proceed east a little over 1 mile, then turn left onto Big Break Road. Turn into Big Break Regional Shoreline/Delta Science Center just past the last houses on the right.
This field trip is limited to 20 participants. Register HERE:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birding-eastern-contra-costa-county-tickets-1985236060498
(Photo: Western Kingbird by Mona Lange)
