FIELD TRIPS FOR DECEMBER 27 -JANUARY 19, 2008
SCHEDULER: TIM FITZER, 870-5207, spskua2@comcast.net
Thursday, December 27
Lincoln Christmas Count
Compiler: Ed Pandolfino ERPfromCA@aol.com
Saturday, December 29, 8am
Lincoln Grasslands
Leaders: Tim Fitzer, 870-5207 spskua2@comcast.net
Sheila Martignetti, 488-1768
Tim and Sheila will be checking this Placer County area for the many hawks and water fowl that call this area home during the winter months. They will also be looking for winter rarities that flock with Horned Larks and sparrows in the Brewer Road area. Lunch at the Chamberlain Cemetery will be followed by more birding along the rural roads on the way to Camp Far West Reservoir. Bring lunch, liquids and FRS radios for a full day of birding. Meet Tim and Sheila at the Park & Ride lot on Highway 99 at Elkhorn Blvd., just north of downtown Sacramento and the I-5/99 split. This is a good trip for beginners.
Sunday, December 30
Folsom Christmas Count
Compiler: Chris Conard, (916) 362-5942 conardc@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 1
Angwin Christmas Count
Compiler: Floyd Hayes, (707) 965-7577 floydhayes@yahoo.com
Tuesday, January 1, 8am
Bobelaine Sanctuary Walk
Leader: Brian Gilmore (919) 451-9146
A News Year’s day fresh morning walk rather than sitting around watching television! Join Brian for a stroll through this great riparian habitat. Herons, egrets, cormorants and grebes should be on the water. Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a variety of sparrows will be seen. Take Highway 99 north toward Yuba City; about 2 miles north of the Feather River Bridge turn right on Laurel Avenue. Follow Laurel Avenue to a dead end at the Bobelaine parking lot. Bring liquids and a snack.
Wednesday, January 2, 8am to Noon
Walk Through Goethe Park
Leader: Jack Hiehle (916) 967-0777
Jack will meet people at the end of Arden Way, on the north side of the river. Walking into the William Pond area, he’ll cross the bike bridge into Goethe Park. From the south side of the river you could enter Goethe Park (fee area) and park in the lot nearest the bike bridge; then meet Jack on the bridge. Jack will be looking for mammals and birds along the river and in the park, and he won’t neglect the plants. This is a good trip for beginners; bring liquids and a snack.
Thursday, January 3
Rio Cosumnes Christmas Count
Compiler: Andrew Engilis, Jr., (530) 752-0364 aengilisj@ucdavis.edu
Saturday, January 5, 8am
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Leader: Doug O’Bannion (916) 681-0257
Doug, who is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable birder, will lead you to Gray Lodge, one of California’s best birding areas for thousands of ducks and geese. There is an observation platform and tour route for excellent viewing. After Gray Lodge he will return by way of the west side of the Sutter Buttes. This is a great area for wintering raptors and grassland birds. Bring a lunch, liquids, and FRS radios. Meet at Park and Ride lot on Highway 99 at Elkhorn Blvd., just north of downtown Sacramento and the I-5/99 split.
Sunday, January 6, 7am
Post Christmas Count Coastal Birding Trip
Leaders: Mark Cudney (916) 987-2422 mcudney@aol.com
Tim Fitzer (916) 870-5207 spskua2@comcast.net
This trip could be to Point Reyes, Bodega Bay or both. We will be looking for the rare and vagrant birds seen on various coastal Christmas counts. Be ready for a faster paced trip for the more experienced birder. Bring warm clothes, lunch, liquids and FRS radios for an all day trip. We will meet at the Park and Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento. Take the West Capitol Ave. exit, turn left at the light and then left again into the Park & Ride lot.
Wednesday January 9, 8am
Pleasants Valley Road/Putah Creek (Solano Co.)
Leader: Gary Fregien (916) 708-0636 calaveri@sbcglobal.net
This outing entails driving to the Vacaville area to pick up Pleasants Valley Road, and birding our way up to Hwy. 128 along Putah Creek, Solano Lake and the Monticello Dam Overlook. We will make several stops along Pleasants Valley Rd., looking for winter passerines, including Phainopepla. Along Putah Creek and Solano Lake we should see Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, American Dipper, and Osprey. At the Monticello Dam Overlook, we’ll be watching for Canyon and Rock Wrens, and possibly Peregrine Falcon. Plan on spending 3-4 hours birding, plus driving time. There will be minimal hiking, but dress for winter conditions. Bring along hand held radios, food and water. Our lunch spot will be at Solano Lake County Park, where there is a day-use fee. Meet Gary at the Park & Ride off Mace Blvd. and I-80 in Davis, behind Ikeda’s Market. Car pooling is strongly advised, due to limited access at stops and the distance traveled.
Saturday, January 12
1st Annual Galt Winter Bird Festival
Check out the article in this issue of the Observer, or get information directly from (209) 366-7220, or www.ci.galt.ca.us.
Sunday, January 13, 8am
Robinson Road Area, Birds Landing and Montezuma Hills
Leader: John York (916) 371-2239 sonofyork@earthlink.net
This is a great area for wintering Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, Prairie Falcons, Merlins, Curlews, Mountain Plovers, and other great grassland birds. These are rural, low traffic roads that allow for scoping and studying birds. Bring warm clothes, liquids, lunch and FRS radios. We will meet at the Park and Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento, the last exit before the causeway. Take the West Capitol Ave. exit, turn left at the light and then left again into the Park & Ride lot.
Tuesday, January 15, 7am
Point Reyes Birds and Mammals
Leader: Jack Hiehle (916) 967-0777
This is Jack’s annual trip to Point Reyes to see elephant seals, other mammals, birds and fauna. Be prepared for a full day; bring lunch, liquids, warm clothes and FRS radios. Jack will meet on Fulton Ave just before Fair Oaks Blvd. Call Jack for more details.
Wednesday, January 16, 8am
Tonzi Road (Amador Co.)
Leader: Gary Fregien, 708-0636 calaveri@sbcglobal.net
Join Gary on a road trip to the Sierra foothills in Amador County, along Highway’s 16, 124 & 49. The focus of the trip will be the Tonzi Road area, a back-country road north of Ione. Travel along this route will include some stops and walking short distances. There are an interesting and surprising variety and number of passerines and raptors in this area. There have been a Red-naped Sapsucker, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Western Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, American, Lesser and Lawrence’s Goldfinches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and a variety of flycatchers, sparrows and raptors observed here. Time permitting, this trip may also include stops for waterfowl at ponds near Sutter Creek and Ione. There will be minimal hiking, but dress for winter conditions. Bring along hand held radios, food and water. Meet Gary at the College Greens/Raley’s Shopping Center lot at 8391 Folsom Blvd. Park near the Starbuck’s. This Folsom Blvd. Raley’s is between Jackson Road (Hwy. 16) and Florin-Perkins Road.
Saturday, January 19, 8am
Sacramento Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Lisa Moraga (916) 455-4786 ploverlover@earthlink.net
The Sacramento Wildlife Refuge is home to thousands of wintering ducks and geese which attract Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles. There is a 3.7 mile tour route with a high viewing platform that offers great looks at the many species of waterfowl. This trip will last until mid-afternoon so bring lunch, liquids and warm clothing. On the return trip, Lisa will take Rd.16 looking for sparrows, longspurs, raptors, eagles, owls and Hungarian Kuvas Sheep Dogs. This is a fun day you will not want to miss. If you have FRS radios bring them; they come in handy. We will meet at the Jack-in-the-box parking lot off I-5 north, exit Rd 102 on your right as you approach Woodland. | |
