Matt Tarlach
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 — Black Diamond Mines
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve X45P+PP, Antioch, CA, United StatesBlack Diamond Mines Thursday, April 13, 8 AM to 1 PM Black Diamond Mines is a wonderful, varied habitat but the centerpiece of this trip is a vigorous climb up through Canyon Wren habitat. Other woodland and grassland birds are also likely. Tricky footing through the wren's rocky habitat, and no guarantees on finding them. […]
MDAS Field Trip — Outer Point Reyes
Bear Valley Visitor Center 25RX+CV, Inverness, CA, United StatesOuter Point Reyes Saturday, June 3, 8:30 AM to 3 PM 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 on the registration page (image by Beth Branthaver). MDAS tries to visit at least twice a year. On this trip […]
MDAS Field Trip — Jewel Lake, Tilden Park
Jewel Lake, Tilden Nature Area, California 600 Canon Dr, Berkeley, CA 94708, Berkeley, CA, United StatesJewel Lake, Tilden Park Thursday, August 31, 7:30 AM - 11 AM Our traditional first field trip of fall - a short walk along Wildcat Creek and around Jewel Lake in Tilden Park. Possible highlights include fall warblers, Red-Breasted and Pygmy Nuthatch, Pacific Wren and maybe a Varied Thrush. This trip is suitable for beginners. […]
MDAS Field Trip — Raptor Migration at Hawk Hill
Hawk Hill Conzelman Road, Sausalito, California 94965 Conzelman Road, Sausalito, United StatesHawk Hill in the Marin Headlands is one of the best spots in the entire US to see raptors during the fall migration! We'll also have stunning views of the Golden Gate, San Francisco, and the Pacific Ocean. We'll meet at the parking lot at Hawk Hill at 10:30am. From there it's a short walk […]
MDAS Field Trip — Outer Point Reyes
Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center 1 Drake Beach Rd, Inverness, CA, United StatesOuter Point Reyes is a wonderful place for fall migrants, many of them Eastern passerine vagrants. You never know who'll turn up...sightings in past years have included Blackburnians and Blackpolls; Chestnut-sided, Connecticut, Black-and-white, Magnolia, Prothonotary, Yellow-throated, and Black-throated Blues...and that's just the warblers. We've also seen Yellow-green, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, Orchard Orioles, Ovenbirds, American […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesSunday October 29, 8:30-10:30AM and Wednesday November 1, 8:30-10:30AM Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek is an underrated birding spot, home to dozens of resident species and attracting many migrants as well! We'll meet at the overlook of the Natural Lake, on the west side of North San Carlos Drive about 100 yards beyond the […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesSunday October 29, 8:30-10:30AM and Wednesday November 1, 8:30-10:30AM Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek is an underrated birding spot, home to dozens of resident species and attracting many migrants as well! We'll meet at the overlook of the Natural Lake, on the west side of North San Carlos Drive about 100 yards beyond the […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesA casual walk for birders of all experience levels, and especially beginners! Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 8:30 - 10:30am Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek is an underrated birding spot, home to dozens of resident species and attracting many migrants as well! We'll meet at the overlook of the Natural Lake, west of North San […]
MDBA Field Trip — Mt. View Sanitary and McNabney Marsh
Mountain View Sanitary District 3800 Arthur Rd, Martinez, CA, United StatesWe'll begin by scanning McNabney Marsh from the viewing platform, then head over to Moorhen Marsh at Mt. View Sanitary District---one of the first water treatment facilities in the US to be developed as bird habitat. We expect to see a variety of waterbirds at these locations, from grebes and ducks to waders and peeps. […]
Introducing the Birds of Heather Farm
Heather Farm Park 301 N San Carlos Dr, Walnut Creek, CA, United StatesThis event, which I'll try to hold monthly, is a casual bird walk meant to be especially beginner friendly. These walks will be promoted beyond MDBA, at Walnut Creek City Parks and Wild Birds Unlimited. Signups are limited to 10 to ensure beginners can receive personal attention. Experienced birders from MDBA don't need to sign […]
MDBA Field Trip — Black Diamond Mines
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve X45P+PP, Antioch, CA, United StatesThis trip includes a vigorous climb up a steep trail with an elevation gain of several hundred feet. Why? Because the location offers the best chance in our MDBA territory to see and hear Canyon Wrens! The trail is rocky, and footing can be tricky. Be advised! There is no guarantee on finding the wrens […]
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 — 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]