FIELD TRIPS APRIL 9 THROUGH MAY 13, 2012
SCHEDULER CARLA BARBARO, cbarbaro@comcast.net, (916-717-8808)
Tuesday, April 10, 7 am
Sweetwater Creek
Join Mark and Tim to look for singing Yellow-breasted Chats, Lazuli Bunting, Wrentits, California Thrashers, migrating hummingbirds, and colorful warblers. Meet them at the Bella Bru in the shopping center on the northeast corner of El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Highway 50, (Exit #30B; turn right on El Dorado Hills Blvd. and go north under the freeway to the shopping center on your right.) This will be a half day trip and is a good one for beginners.
Saturday, April 14, 7am - 11:30am
Pine Hill Preserve Birding
Leader: Chris Conard
Pre-registration is required through Pine Hill Preserve
The preserve was established to protect rare native plants in El Dorado County that occur only on gabbro soils. It stretches from Folsom Lake in the north to Hwy 50 in the south and contains more than 4,000 acres. We plan to visit newly acquired land in Kanaka Valley, with a mix of oak woodland and chaparral. Last year we saw California Thrashers, Sage Sparrows, migrating warblers, and great views of the Sierra. Be prepared for 2-3 miles of moderate walking.
Sunday, April 15, 8:00am
Lincoln in Spring
Leader: John York, 409-9276 sunofyork@att.net
Meet in Raley's parking lot in Lincoln, off 65 and Sterling Parkway. I will be in the Sterling Cafe getting breakfast and we will head off for various areas around Lincoln at 8:00 AM. We will hit some of the usual hotspots, but will also be looking for the influx of spring birds and local nesters that will be arriving around that time. We will explore some grassland areas for local raptors, waders and little guys as well. Bring lunch and scopes if you have them.
Thursday, April 19, 8am
Beek's Bight, Folsom Lake
Leader: Margaret Martin, 599-0181 martinmargaret@hotmail.com
Join Margaret for a leisurely 2-3 mile walk. A variety of warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Lazuli Bunting, California Thrasher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rock Wren, Wrentit, and Phainopepla are all possibilities. For carpooling into the park and on to Beek's Bight, meet Margaret at the Granite Bay Raley's shopping center parking lot on the northwest corner of Douglas Blvd. and Auburn-Folsom Rd. (in the area near the Animal Hospital and Goodwill). This trip will continue into the afternoon, so bring lunch and water. This is a great trip for beginning birders.
Saturday, April 21, 7:30am-noon
Michigan Bar/Latrobe Roads
Join Maureen in this foothills area as she looks for Lawrence’s Goldfinches, Horned Larks, Western Bluebirds, Turkeys, raptors and possible Grasshopper Sparrows. These rolling grasslands are scattered with stands of native oaks and are also home to White-breasted Nuthatches and other oak woodlands birds. The roads are not good, and 4-wheel drive is required. Meet in the Raley’s shopping center at 8391 Folsom Boulevard (between Howe Avenue and Watt Avenue). Park on the south side of the Raley’s lot facing Folsom Boulevard near the Carl’s Junior.
Saturday, April 21
Family Friendly Trip
Maidu Park, Roseville
These monthly birding and nature walks are specifically geared to and appropriate for families and children. There is a trip limit to ensure a quality experience for all. Register for trips by contacting Maureen Geiger, at mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net, or 444-0804.
Sunday, April 22 , 7:30 am
Sweetwater Creek
At this favorite spring hotspot you should find wild flowers in bloom and hear the song of the Yellow-breasted Chat. Richard will scout for Lazuli Buntings, Wrentits, California Thrashers, migrating hummingbirds, and colorful warblers. Meet Richard at the Bella Bru in the shopping center on the northeast corner of El Dorado Hills Blvd. and Highway 50. This will be a half day trip and is a good one for beginners.
Saturday, April 28, 7:30am
Mather Field Park
Mather Lake is one of Wayne's favorite birding locations. The lake and its surrounding grasslands host a wide variety of birds. Great-tailed Grackle and Yellow-headed Blackbirds both nest at the lake. Meet Wayne in the parking lot of Mather Regional Park at the corner of Douglas Road and Eagle's Nest Road. A Sac County Park Pass or $5 entry fee is required for all vehicles. This is a great trip for beginning birders.
Sunday, April 29, 7:30am to 3 pm
Birding Sutter Buttes
Address: 5141 Moddison Ave., Sacramento, CA 95819
Join Don in birding on private lands in the Sutter Buttes’ interior. Access into the Buttes is coordinated by the Middle Mountain Foundation (MMF) a private non-profit organization that works with private landowners to protect the land and natural resources of the Buttes. Cost is $30/person, with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 people/group. Please send checks payable to Middle Mountain Foundation to Don at the above address. Include your phone number and email. Folks will be added to the participant list on a “first come-first serve” basis. Meet near the big fountain in the Featherdown Shopping Center in Yuba City. From Sacramento, take I-5 to Hwy 99 north to Yuba City. In Yuba City, turn left (west) onto Hwy 20 and drive about 0.25 – 0.5-mile to Stabler Lane. Turn right onto Stabler and go about 0.25-mile (past Poole Blvd), and turn left, just past McDonalds, into the shopping center. The fountain is near Roundtable Pizza. Look for Don’s red Toyota 4-Runner with plates “BAJAOWL”. Expect moderate to easy hiking (some short steep climbs) and poison oak. Bring lunch and water. Spring migrants and summer resident birds should be providing a good show, and hopeful highlights include Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Rock and Canyon Wren. With luck we may find a rattlesnake or two. Heavy rain cancels.
Saturday, May 5, 7am
Driver’s Flat, Auburn State Recreation Area
We will be exploring the beautiful canyon of the Middle Fork of the American River off Foresthill Road to look for spring migrants and resident breeding birds. This is Scott's favorite 'secret' birding spot. Possibilities include several species of flycatcher, including Gray, Hammond's and Pacific-slope; Hutton's, Cassin's and Warbling Vireos; up to 7 species of warbler; Black-headed Grosbeak; Lazuli Bunting and Bullock's Oriole. Walking will be up to a mile at a time with moderate inclines. This trip will end mid-day, but plan to lunch on the banks of the river. Meet at the Horseshoe Bar Road Park & Ride in Loomis, Exit 110 off I-80 at 7 am. NOTE: there is now a $10 per car parking fee at Driver’s Flat.
Sunday, May 6, 7am
Spenceville WLR
This scenic recreational area of rolling hillsides, streams, reservoirs and ponds offers a variety of wildlife. This trip will include several short hikes over uneven terrain. Possible birds include Yellow-breasted Chat, Lewis’s Woodpecker, warblers and more. Bring lunch, plenty of water, and dress for changeable weather. Meet Richard at the Brookfield’s Restaurant parking lot, 1817 Taylor Road, in Roseville. From Sacramento on I-80, take the Eureka Road offramp (Exit 105A) and continue straight through the signal light at Eureka Road and you’ll be on Taylor Road. Turn left just past the Shell Station. Brookfield’s is behind Shell.
Wednesday, May 9, 7:30am
Bushy Lake, Cal Expo Floodplain
Meet Darrell in the cul-de-sac at the south end of Ethan Way, just south of where Hurley Way goes into Gate 12 of Cal Expo. Darrell will be looking for a variety of resident species and Wood Ducks are a good possibility on the lake. This will be a 1 to 2 mile hike that will take 2 to 3 hours. Bring water and sunscreen. This is a great trip for beginners.
Saturday, May 12, 8am
William Pond Park
Meet Cathie along the first parking area just past the entrance kiosk. We’ll walk down to some different spots on the river, where wrens and towhees call from the bushes. We’ll check out the heron rookery, then look at the pond area for Red-winged Blackbirds and Green Heron. California Quail, Western Bluebirds Western Kingbirds and Ash-throated Flycatchers may be found in the park area. Trip will end before noon. A Sac County Park Pass or $5 entry fee is required for all vehicles. From the intersection of Fair Oaks and Arden, follow Arden east and it runs into the park. This is an excellent trip for beginners.
Sunday, May 13, 6am
Sand Creek Road
Join Tim and Mark for a trip to Arbuckle and then up Sand Creek Road. Target birds include Sage Sparrow, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Western Kingbird, Roadrunner, Western Screech Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Mountain Quail, and other migrants. The road can be rough and all wheel drive is recommended. Bring a lunch and liquids and be prepared for an afternoon return. We will meet at the Woodland Jack-in-the-Box. Take 1-5 north toward Woodland; exit at County Road 102 (#536); turn right (north) on 102 and turn right into the Jack-in-the-Box parking lot. FRS radios are helpful on this trip.