Field Trips, February 2012
Scheduler Richard Barbieri, 761-1124, offleash56@yahoo.com
Saturday, February 4, 7am to noon
Pine Hill Preserve
Leader: Chris Conard 203-1610 conardc@gmail.com
The Pine Hill Preserve near Cameron Park is made up of several habitat blocks to protect rare plants (pinehillpreserve.org). The habitat is a mix of oak woodland and chaparral, and with that comes a suite of birds a little different than those found on the Valley floor. If it is a sunny day, we may be treated to singing California Thrasher, Bewick's Wren, and possibly Sage Sparrow. Plan for up to three miles of walking with moderately steep grades to Pine Hill. Depending on rainfall prior to the trip, the Cameron Park unit may be a little muddy (red mud), or we might avoid it if too muddy. Steady rain cancels. Meet in the Raley’s parking lot in El Dorado Hills. From Hwy 50 east take Exit #30B; turn right on El Dorado Hills Blvd. and go north under the freeway to the shopping center on your right. Meet at the far north end of the parking lot.
Sunday, February 5, 8am
Birding Yolo County
Leader: Scott Hoppe, 835-8471 shoppe01@surewest.net
Join Scott in this birding trip exploring Yolo County. This is an incredibly diverse area, and we will be visiting many of the "hotspots". Expect to see many wetland birds, as well as raptors and passerines. And Scott can help with those difficult Gull ID challenges. Scopes and FRS radios are helpful on this trip. Meet Scott at the Park & Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento. From Sacramento, take the West Capitol Ave. Exit #81; turn left at the light and then left again into the Park & Ride lot.
Saturday, February 11, 8am
Buck’s Creek Trail/Serrano Parkway, El Dorado Hills
Leader: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804 mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
Join Maureen for a leisurely walk through this riparian habitat and look for resident birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, towhees, wrens, bluebirds and marsh birds, as well as possible winter warblers and sparrows. River otters are a possibility. Last year a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker showed up! Meet for coffee at 7:30 in the coffee shop inside the Raley’s supermarket in the shopping center on El Dorado Hills Boulevard just off Highway 50. From Hwy 50 east take Exit #30B; turn right on El Dorado Hills Blvd. and go north under the freeway to the Raley’s shopping center on your right. The group will leave for birding by 8am sharp.
Sunday, February 12, 7:30am
Yuba County Wetlands
Leader: Richard Barbieri, 966-4603 offleash56@yahoo.com
Streams and rivers draining from the foothills to the valley and farmers’ irrigation help to create these wetlands and winter habitat on surrounding properties. Join Richard on a trip to one of his favorite places to bird while he looks for ducks, geese, shorebirds, and birds of prey. Meet Richard at the Brookfield’s Restaurant parking lot, 1817 Taylor Road, in Roseville. From Sacramento on I-80, take the Eureka Road exit (105A) and follow straight through the first stop light at Eureka Road and you’ll be on Taylor Road. Brookfield’s will be on your left behind the Shell gas station. Bring lunch, layered clothes, and scopes and FRS radios if you have them.
Wednesday, February 15, 8am
The Best of Both Sides - River Bend Park and William Pond Park
Leader: Cathie LaZier, 457-6882 empid@earthlink.net
Meet Cathie at the main River Bend parking lot near the bike bridge. (Follow the main road into the park; after you cross the bike trail (stop sign) go about ½ mile and turn left at the sign “rafting exit, main picnic area” and continue on the road to the large parking area). For the first half of the walk we’ll bird across the bridge into William Pond Park, going downstream along the backwaters of the river and checking out the fishing pond. Then we’ll recross the river and go upstream into the oak woodland area. We’ll finish before noon, and since our cars will be at the developed portion of the park you may want to bring snacks to enjoy at one of the picnic tables at the end of the trip. As always, this is a great trip for beginners. From Folsom Blvd., between Bradshaw and Mather Field Road, take Rod Beaudry Drive north into the park, (formerly called Goethe Park). If you come from the William Pond side look for us on the bridge. A Sac County Park Pass or $5 entry fee is required for all vehicles.
February 17 through 20
Great Backyard Bird Count www.birdsource.org/gbbc
Count birds for 15 minutes or more in your backyard or other favorite birding locale; then post your results online and see what’s happening in your area and across the country. It’s fun for all ages and skill levels. Check the website for more information.
Saturday, February 18
Family Friendly Trip
Leader: Sandra Beseler
Location to be determined.
These family trips require pre-registration and fill up quickly. Register for trips by contacting Maureen Geiger, at mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net, or 444-0804.
February 18, 19 & 20, President’s Day Weekend
Eureka/Arcata area
Leaders, Dan Brown 362-2458, naturestoc@aol,com
Joe Ceriani, joeceriani@usmessage.net
Please mark your calendars and join Dan and Joe for 3 days of birding along California’s North coast. We will be birding some of the traditional spots in the Eureka and Arcata areas and possibly some of Joe’s new favorite spots. Please contact Dan or Joe for further details.
Saturday, February 25, 8:30am
Winter Raptors and Waterfowl - Gray Lodge and Sutter Buttes area
Leader: Don Schmoldt, 739-6465 Bajaowl@gmail.com
Meet at 08:30 at the gas station/market at the corner of Hwy 20 and Acacia Road, approximately 7 miles west of Yuba City. To reach Yuba City drive north on I-5 and SR-99, then west on Hwy 20. Hard rain cancels. In the morning we will drive around Sutter Buttes on Pass Road, West Butte Road and North Butte Road looking for raptors (Golden Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and Merlin are possible, as well as Mountain Bluebird and Lewis' Woodpecker). We will have lunch at Gray Lodge and spend the afternoon walking the trails and driving around the tour loop looking for Blue-winged Teal and Eurasian Wigeon, and to enjoy the winter waterfowl show. Bring water, snacks and lunch. There is a port-a-potty at the gas station, but there are NO other restrooms on this trip until we get to Gray Lodge! There is a $4.00 per person fee at Gray Lodge, and you will need exact change for the iron ranger.
Saturday, February 25, 3:30pm
Sandhill Cranes and Other Wintering Birds of the Sacramento Valley
A Save Our Sandhill Cranes-sponsored trip
Coordinator: Mike Savino, 446-1392
This is the last weekend of the Sandhill Crane trips, before they begin their migration. Meet at the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center deck at 3:30 p.m. to hear a brief presentation of Sandhill Crane behavior, biology and status. Then we’ll stroll the boardwalk in the Lost Slough Wetlands, enjoying views of the cranes, wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Afterwards, we’ll drive along Desmond Road and possibly to Woodbridge Road or Staten Island, to see flocks of cranes fly in to roost for the night. Dress for changeable weather and bring binoculars. Scopes are helpful. From Sacramento, take I-5 south to Twin Cities Road; go left (east) to the stop sign at Franklin Blvd.; turn right (south) on Franklin and, driving through the Preserve, watch for the Visitor Center parking lot on your left. Further directions and maps are available at www.cosumnes.org. This is a great trip for beginners.
Sunday, February 26 7am – mid afternoon
Northern San Joaquin County
Leader: Linda Pittman, 715-1876 pittmanl@frontiernet.net
Join Linda for a visit to diverse habitats in northern San Joaquin County. The Mokelumne River Day Use area and fish hatchery below Camanche Dam is a mix of oak woodland, riverine, and riparian habitat. This area has recently hosted Bald Eagle, Lewis’s Woodpeckers and American Dipper. Flood and Waverly Roads are excellent for raptors and other open country birds. Be prepared for about a mile of walking. Bring lunch, layered clothes, and scopes and FRS radios if you have them. Meet at the Raley’s Shopping Center on Twin Cities Road just east of Hwy 99 in Galt near the It’s A Grind Coffee Shop (10420 Twin Cities Rd). This trip is good for both beginners and more experienced birders.
Sunday, February 26, 3:30pm
Sandhill Cranes and Other Wintering Birds of the Sacramento Valley
A Save Our Sandhill Cranes-sponsored trip
Coordinator: Mike Savino, 446-1392
This is the last Sandhill Crane trip of the season, so if you haven’t been to see them this year, be sure to join this trip. See details for Feb. 25th.
Tuesday, February 28, 9am
Yolo Wildlife Area
Leader: Marlene Ishihara, 635-9758 IshiM2000@comcast.net
Join Marlene in this great area 10 minutes from downtown Sacramento. Depending on the extent of flooded fields on the auto tour route, there may be good numbers of shorebirds and waterfowl and possible raptors such as Peregrine Falcon. From Sacramento, take I-80 west, take the first exit (#78) at the west end of the Yolo Causeway. Turn right at the stop sign, go under the freeway, make a left up onto the levee, then drop down into the Wildlife Area. The trip begins at the first parking lot (Lot A), on your left. Scopes and FRS radios are helpful on this trip which is good for both beginners and more experienced birders. Note: trip will be canceled if bypass is closed due to flooding.
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