Central Contra Costa County Christmas Bird Count
Hold the date for the Central Contra Costa County Christmas Bird Count, a tradition going back to 1955! Species and total numbers of birds within this count circle will be censused. To participate in field trips led by experienced birders on this special occasion, or to tally birds at your yard/feeder if you live within […]
East County Christmas Bird Count
Hold the date for the 20th annual East Contra Costa County Christmas Bird Count! Species and total numbers of birds within this count circle will be censused. To participate in field trips led by experienced birders on this special occasion, or to tally birds at your yard/feeder if you live within the count circle, contact […]
Sacramento Refuges
Sunvalley Mall 1 Sunvalley Mall Rd, Concord, CA, United StatesThis full-day field trip will include visits to several wonderful wildlife refuges in the Sacramento Valley, highlighting Sacramento and Colusa NWR’s. Collectively these sanctuaries are home to tens of thousands of wintering ducks, geese and swans. Carpool leaves Sunvalley Mall at 7 AM, or meet the group at 8:15 AM at the I-5 North Dunnigan […]
Southeast Solano County Raptors and More
McDonald's Suisun City 109 Sunset Center, Siusun City, CA, United StatesWe will search the grasslands of southeast Solano County for raptors and other birds not common south of the Sacramento River channel, including Rough-Legged Hawk and the elusive Mountain Plover. Carpool leaves Sunvalley at 7:15 AM. Or, meet the leader at 8 AM at Suisun City McDonald’s. Take I-680 north, cross bridge to Benicia and […]
Monthly Program: January 2020
The Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesBirding info: Mt. Diablo Audubon Society Vice-President Jerry Britten will report highlights of the 2019 Christmas Bird Counts. Main Program: Feathers and Flight: A Journey to the New World Tropics Masked Trogon. Photo by Benjamin Jacobs-Schwartz International bird guide, naturalist and wildlife photographer, Benny Jacobs-Schwartz will share his dazzling bird photos, captivating videos, and animated […]
Putah Creek
Sunvalley Mall 1 Sunvalley Mall Rd, Concord, CA, United StatesPutah Creek is usually reliable for Phainopepla, Lewis's Woodpecker and Hooded Merganser, as well as possibly Barrow's Goldeneye. Carpool leaves Sunvalley at 8:00 AM. Meet at 8:45 AM at the intersection of Cherry Glen and Pleasants Valley Roads, approximately 1 mile north from I-80, west of Vacaville. Dress warmly; this can be a cold, windy […]
Colusa Wildlife Refuge (Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk Series)
Wild Birds Unlimited, Pleasant Hill 692 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA, United StatesA long journey, but well worth it. Visitors report snow geese, bald eagles, white faced ibis, herons, pintails, teals, northern shovelers, and other ducks, white pelicans, grebes, ring necked pheasants, horned owls, kites, and many other raptors. Eurasian wigeons are often seen, and in the past there have even been reports of the elusive falcated […]
East Contra Costa County
Big Break Regional Shoreline 69 Big Break Road, Oakley, CA, United StatesWe will look for wintering birds at Big Break, Iron House Sanitary, and several other spots in the eastern portion of our county. Carpool leaves Sunvalley at 8:15 AM. Or, meet at Big Break at 9:00 AM. From Central Contra Costa, take Highway 4 toward Stockton/Pittsburg, after Antioch take right Exit 30 toward CA-160/Sacramento/Rio Vista […]
Lake Merritt /Arrowhead Marsh—High Tide
We should find a good variety of wintering ducks and gulls at Lake Merritt. Then we will then drive to Arrowhead Marsh for the high tide around 11:15 AM; the rising tide should flush out rails. The area is also good for shorebirds and more wintering ducks on the estuary. A visit to Garretson Point […]
Shollenberger Park/Ellis Creek
Shollenberger Park 1400 Cader Lane, Petaluma, CA, United StatesBoth sites are good for wintering waders, shorebirds, waterfowl and a few raptors.Carpool leaves Sunvalley parking lot at 7:30 AM. Take I-680 across the Benicia Bridge. Go west on I-780 to I-80 towards Sacramento, exit to SR 37. Follow SR 37 to Lakeville Road, then turn right. Before reaching Petaluma, look for the water recycling […]
Cranes & Geese at Staten Island – 1st YBC field trip of 2020
Pittsburg Bay Point Bart Station 2393+2V, Pittsburg, CA, United StatesThe first MDAS Young Birders field trip of the New Year will be to the well known crane and waterfowl wintering site of Staten Island, in the center of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, on Saturday January 25th. If we're lucky we'll be able to see hundreds, and maybe even thousands of cranes, geese and other […]
Martinez Waterfront Birds
Waterbird Regional Preserve, Martinez 2701 Waterfront Rd., Martinez, CA, United StatesWe will visit several areas along the Martinez shoreline. Meet at 9 AM in the Waterbird Regional Preserve parking lot. From I-680, exit for Waterfront Road; when driving north, this is the last exit before the Benicia Bridge. Go east about ½ mile and turn right onto Waterbird Way. Go around the corner to the […]
Contra Loma reservoir (Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk Series)
Wild Birds Unlimited, Pleasant Hill 692 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA, United StatesAn easy winter 3 mile stroll looking for common gallinules, green herons, soras, as well as red-shouldered hawks, harriers and other raptors. Leave at 8:00 am from the Wild Birds Unlimited parking lot returning approximately noon. Carpooling encouraged. Parking $5.00. Wear layers and bring rain gear. Leader: Kevin Hintsa, 925-798-0303. Category 1. Donation to MDAS […]
Thornton Area/Cosumnes Preserve
Westgate Landing Regional Park 4GF5+HP, Terminous, CA, United StatesWe will look for Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes, hawks and grassland birds. Carpool leaves Sunvalley at 8 AM. Meet at 8:45 AM in Westgate Landing Park at end of Glascock Road. Take SR 4 to Antioch Bridge, go north on SR 160 along river to Rio Vista bridge. Turn right on SR 12 for 11.5 […]
Monthly Program: February 2020
The Camellia Room at The Gardens at Heather Farm 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesBirding info: The Peregrine Team in Pine Canyon, an all-volunteer natural history education team, has just begun its sixth season helping to monitor this beautiful apex predator nesting on the western edge of Mount Diablo State Park. You’ll hear an update of last season from a core team member, Wally De Young, and see his […]
Bodega Bay
Tides Restaurant Bodega Bay 835Bay Highway, Bodega Bay, CA, United StatesBodega Bay is a premier location for wintering shorebirds, loons, gulls, cormorants and waterfowl. The carpool leaves Sunvalley at 7:30 am. We will meet at the Tides Restaurant on water side of Highway 1 in Bodega at 9:15 AM. Take I-680 across the Benicia Bridge. Go west on I-780 to I-80 towards Sacramento, exit to […]
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Fairfield, CA, United StatesThe California Department of Fish and Game’s Grizzly Island Wildlife Area is in the heart of the 84,000-acre Suisun Marsh, the largest contiguous estuarine marsh in the United States. Grizzly Island provides habitat for more than 200 species of birds and is home to a variety of threatened or endangered wildlife and plants, including a […]
Sunol Regional Park
Sunol Regional Park 1895 Geary Road, Sunol, CA, United StatesCarpool leaves at 7:30 AM from Sycamore Valley Road Park and Ride lot in Danville. Meet at 8:00 AM in the first parking lot on the left, Sunol Regional Park. Go south on I-680 to Calaveras Road. Go left under I-680 and drive 4 miles south on Calaveras; turn left on Geary Road and go […]
Los Banos/Panoche Valley – 2 Days
Sycamore Valley Park & Ride R265+W9, Danville, CA, United StatesOn Saturday we will leave from Sycamore Valley Road Park & Ride at 6:30 AM or meet at McDonald’s in Gustine at 8 AM. We will bird Santa Fe Grade Road, together with the San Luis and Merced Wildlife Refuges and should see a full range of waterfowl and raptors. On Sunday we will bird […]
YBC Eagle Quest at Brushy Peak
Brushy Peak Preserve 2234 Laughlin Rd, Livermore, United StatesOur next field trip will be to Brushy Peak Regional Preserve near Livermore, where we'll look for, among other things, golden eagles. This area has one of the highest concentrations of golden eagles in the world, and when we feel the wind and see all the squirrels out there, you'll know why. But, the wind […]