MDAS Field Trip — East Contra Costa County
Big Break Regional Shoreline 69 Big Break Road, Oakley, CA, United StatesEast Contra Costa County Wednesday, January 11, 9 AM - 1 PM We will be birding at Big Break/Delta Science Center, Iron House Sanitary, and possibly other places in East Contra Costa. Usually good for waterfowl, raptors and some passerines. Dress warmly, bring lunch and drinks. Rating: Category 1-Easy Elevation change: N/A Leader: Paul Schorr, […]
MDAS Field Trip — Lake Merritt and Arrowhead Marsh at High Tide
Lake Merritt 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA, United StatesLake Merritt, and Arrowhead Marsh at High Tide Saturday, January 21, 8:30am-1pm We should find a good variety of wintering ducks and gulls at Lake Merritt, before driving to Arrowhead Marsh at around 9:45 AM. The rising tide should flush out rails that are usually hard to see. The area is also good for shorebirds, […]
MDAS Field Trip — Martinez Waterfront Birds
Waterbird Regional Preserve, Martinez 2701 Waterfront Rd., Martinez, CA, United StatesBirding the Martinez Waterfront Wednesday, January 25, 9 AM-2 PM We will be birding waterfront areas in the Martinez area, looking for shorebirds, waders, waterfowl, gulls, raptors and others. Dress warmly, bring a lunch and drinks. These areas may include Waterbird Preserve, TransMontaigne Pipeline, Mococo Marsh and Martinez Regional Shoreline. Hike Rating: Category 1--Easy Elevation […]
MDAS Field Trip — Putah Creek — Rescheduled!
Putah Creek Road 3836 Putah Creek Rd, Winters, CA, United StatesPutah Creek Saturday, January 26, 9 AM - 2 PM (Rescheduled from January 7) This is a great chance to see birds and ducks along Putah Creek and Lake Solano. Possible target birds include Osprey, Lewis's Woodpecker, Phainopepla, Barrow's Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser. Dress warmly; this is a cold, windy area. Bring lunch. Exact itinerary […]
MDAS Field Trip — Putah Creek — Rescheduled!
Putah Creek Road 3836 Putah Creek Rd, Winters, CA, United StatesPutah Creek Saturday, January 26, 9 AM - 2 PM (Rescheduled from January 7) This is a great chance to see birds and ducks along Putah Creek and Lake Solano. Possible target birds include Osprey, Lewis's Woodpecker, Phainopepla, Barrow's Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser. Dress warmly; this is a cold, windy area. Bring lunch. Exact itinerary […]
MDAS Field Trip — Solano County Raptors — Rescheduled!
McDonald's Suisun City 109 Sunset Center, Siusun City, CA, United StatesSolano County Raptors Saturday, January 28, 9:00 am to mid-afternoon (Rescheduled from December 10) This trip features wintering birds on the edge of the Central Valley. Ferruginous Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks are special targets, and Prairie Falcon and Burrowing Owls are possible. Grassland birds and blackbirds, and ducks and shorebirds at Jepson Prairie (if there […]
Monthly Program: February 2023
Zoom CA, United StatesA 27 Year Wildflower Journey: The Making of Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change Rob Badger and Nita Winter Rob Badger and Nita Winter take you behind the scenes on their 27-year journey photographing wildflowers throughout California and the West. It began in 1992 when they discovered and fell in love with […]
MDAS Field Trip — Thornton Area/Cosumnes Preserve
Westgate Landing Regional Park 4GF5+HP, Terminous, CA, United StatesBirding Cosumnes Preserve and the Thornton Area Saturday, February 4, 8:45 AM-2 PM Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes, hawks and grassland birds. Trip will go in light rain. Bring lunch and a beverage. If questions, call the leader. Hike rating: 1 - Easy. Elevation change: Minor Distance: Depending on the route decided. Co-Leaders: Ethan Chickering, 925-890-3833 […]
MDAS Field Trip — Shollenberger Park/Ellis Creek — Rescheduled!
Shollenberger Park 1400 Cader Lane, Petaluma, CA, United StatesShollenberger Park/Ellis Creek, Petaluma Saturday, February 11, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (Rescheduled from January 14) Both sites are good for wintering waders, shorebirds, waterfowl and a few raptors. Hike rating: 2 - moderate Elevation change: minor Meet: Access point to Shollenberger Park behind the Point Blue parking lot. Leader: Sandy Ritchie (925) 381-2514 Directions: […]
MDAS Field Trip — Bodega Bay
Porto Bodega Marina Porto Bodega Marina, Bodega Bay, CA, United StatesBodega Bay Saturday, February 18, 9:30-3:00 Both sites are good for wintering waders, shorebirds, waterfowl and a few raptors. Hike rating: 1-Easy Elevation change: N/A Meet: Porto Bodega Marina, https://goo.gl/maps/SxWebctFy9ZDyUqP6 Leader: Maureen Lahiff, , 510-484-6529 Directions: Take US 101 north to Petaluma. Exit at Washington and head SW. Washington becomes Bodega Ave, which becomes Petaluma-Valley Ford Rd, […]
MDAS Field Trip — Sunol Regional Park — CANCELLED
Sunol Regional Park 1895 Geary Road, Sunol, CA, United StatesTHIS TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2023 due to potentially hazardous road and trail conditions after the recent torrential rains. We hope to go birding at Sunol next year. Sunol Regional Park Tuesday, February 21 8:30 AM -12:30 PMGolden Eagles and other raptors, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Dipper, and Canyon and Rock Wrens are possible. NOTE: The […]
MDAS Field Trip — Walnut Creek Parks
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesWalnut Creek Parks Wednesday, February 22, 8:30 AM-1 PM Starting in Heather Farm Park, we will walk around the large, mostly natural pond, birding along the way. We will visit one or two other parks within the city, to be determined the day of the trip. Rating: Category 2-Moderate Elevation change: None Leader: Hugh Harvey Meet: The […]
MDAS Field Trip — Los Banos/Panoche Valley
McDonald's Gustine 430 1st Ave, Gustine, CA, United StatesLos Banos/Panoche Valley Saturday/Sunday, February 25-26 Both sites are good for wintering waders, shorebirds, waterfowl and a few raptors. NOTE: The planned itinerary for this trip has been impacted by our recent heavy rains. Registration will not open until two weeks before, when we may have a better handle on conditions. Hike rating: 1-Easy Elevation […]
MDAS Field Trip — Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Fairfield, CA, United StatesGrizzly Island Refuge Tuesday, February 28th, 9 AM-1 PM Grizzly Island provides habitat for more than 200 species of birds and is home to a variety of threatened or endangered wildlife and plants. Our trip will begin at the Refuge Headquarters and continue for about 7 ½ miles along Grizzly Island Road, which is unpaved […]
Monthly Program: March 2023
McHale Room of the Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, United StatesNative Bird Connections Jenny Papka The birds and people of Native Bird Connections offer experiences that go beyond the ordinary. From school programs tailored to the national standards to presentations for seniors, scouts and special interest groups, they strive to immerse the audience in an intimate view of a wild bird's behavior, life choices and […]
MDAS Field Trip — Contra Loma Regional Park
Contra Loma Reservoir 1200 Frederickson Ln, Antioch, CA, United StatesContra Loma Regional Park Wednesday, March 8, 8:30 AM -3 PM Leader: Paul Schorr, 925-998-0070 We will be birding the reservoir, Loma Island and surrounding grassland areas. Expected species include waterfowl, woodland, riparian/marsh, shore and grassland birds. Dress appropriately, bring lunch and drinks. Rating: Category 1-Easy Elevation change: N/A Leader: Paul Schorr, 925-998-0070 Meet: Contra Loma Regional Park--Channel Point […]
MDAS Field Trip — Mt. View Sanitary and McNabney Marsh
Mountain View Sanitary District 3800 Arthur Rd, Martinez, CA, United StatesMt. View Sanitary and McNabney Marsh Tuesday March 14, 9 AM to 1pm Starting at the Mt. View Sanitation District Administration Building, we will spend most of our outing walking around the several large ponds that make up Moorhen Marsh. Parking is free, and there are restrooms at the beginning of the walk. Winter birding […]
MDAS Field Trip — Valle Vista
Valle Vista RVC6+WQ, Moraga, CA, United StatesValle Vista Friday, March 17, 8 AM-Noon A walk through various habitats at the EBMUD property will allow us to see 50-60 species. If you have one, bring your EBMUD pass. This property is at the upstream end of the Upper San Leandro Reservoir. If it has been raining, the first part could be a […]
MDAS Field Trip — North Briones
Briones Regional Park (North) XV37+VX, Martinez, CA, United StatesNorth Briones Tuesday April 4, 8:30 - Noon This walk begins in oak woodlands with lots of spring wildflowers and birds. We then continue through grasslands ending at Sindicich Lagoons. We return the way we came, making about a 3 miles round trip with some climbing. Bring liquids & a snack if you wish. Rating: […]
MDAS Field Trip — Orinda Connector Trail
Orinda Connector trail VQXQ+XR, Orinda, CA, United StatesOrinda Connector Trail Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM A walk through an EBMUD property, requires a trail permit. If you have one bring it with you. We walk downhill to San Pablo Creek, then toward the face of Briones Dam. Wood Ducks are hard to find but some spring birds will […]