Field Trips, February 23 - March 23, 2008
Schedulers:
through March 9, Richard Barbieri, 966-4603, offleash56@yahoo.com
after March 10, Mark Martucci, 722-6098, matuchbirdman@yahoo.com
Saturday, February 23, 7am
Mystery Trip
Leader: Scott Hoppe, 835-8471, shoppe01@earthlink.net
Join Scott for this mystery trip and be prepared for a full day of birding. Scott will be monitoring reports and planning an exciting day, with an interesting variety of birds. Bring lunch, liquids, layered clothing suitable to the season, and scopes and FRS radios if you have them. Meet Scott at 7 a.m. at the West Sacramento Park & Ride. Take the West Capitol exit off I-80; turn left at the light and left again into the Park & Ride lot.
Sunday, February 24, 7:30am
Solano Lake/Putah Creek Area
Leader: Cliff Hawley, 300-2495, yellowhammerca@gmail.com
Solano Lake is a great place to look for ducks this time of year and Cliff is an excellent birder who knows this area well. He will also lead the group along Putah Creek and up to Monticello Dam. Putah Creek is one of the most reliable areas to find Hooded Mergansers. Other possible species include Purple Finch, Common Merganser, Dipper, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hairy Woodpecker, Phainopepla and Canyon Wren. This trip will last into early afternoon, so bring a lunch and liquids. Scopes will also be helpful. Meet Cliff at the Park & Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento. Take the West Capitol Avenue exit; turn left at the light, then left again into the Park & Ride lot.
Saturday, March 1, 8am-Noon
Bushy Lake/Cal Expo Floodplain
Leader: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804. mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
Join Maureen in enjoying some of the birds that live along this section of the American River Parkway. River Otters and beavers are a possibility as well. This will be about a 4 mile walk and will end near lunch time. Bring water and appropriate footgear as it may be muddy. Meet at the parking area at the south end of Ethan Way, just south of where Hurley Way goes into Gate 12 of Cal Expo.
Sunday, March 2, 8am
Schollenberger Park & Petaluma Adobe State Park
Leader: Mark Martucci, 833-6722, matuchbirdman@yahoo.com
We’ll start the morning at Schollenberger, where it’s possible to find Blue-winged Teal, a variety of shorebirds, Common Yellowthroat, and the occasional rail. Then we’ll drive a short distance to Petaluma Adobe, where we’ll bird the fields, bushes and trees for a variety of passerine birds. Possibilities are Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Hutton’s Vireo, among others. Bring lunch and liquids and layered clothing. There is a minimal per person fee at Petaluma Adobe. Meet Mark at 8 a.m. at the Park & Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento. Take the West Capitol Avenue exit; turn left at the light, then left again into the Park & Ride lot. This is a great trip for both beginning and more experienced birders.
Thursday, March 6, 8 am till noon
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
Leader: Jack Hiehle, 967-0777
Meet Jack in the nature center parking lot in Ancil Hoffman Park for a 4 hour walk on the trails winding through the oak woodland and down to the river. This is an excellent birding area and Jack will be looking for nesting birds and early blooming plants.
Saturday, March 8, early morning
River Walk Bird Count
Cosumnes River Preserve Recorded Information, 684-2816
Meet at the Visitor Center on Franklin Blvd. south of Twin Cities Road, for this monthly birding census trip. It’s a great birding area, always full of surprises, and joining the group trip is a good way to find out what’s happening at the preserve. This walk covers about four miles, and, at a leisurely pace, should take approximately five hours, so be sure to bring a lunch and liquids. You must check the recorded information a day or two before to confirm the date (it’s sometimes changed) and get the exact meeting time and any other updated details.
Sunday, March 9, 7am to Noon
Folsom Lake, Beek's Bight Area
Chris Conard 362-5942, conardc@gmail.com
Be prepared for a four-mile walk along a rolling trail in the oak-covered hills and granite outcrops of Folsom Lake. Among the rocks near the lake shore we should find many Rock Wrens and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. We'll have a fair chance at California Thrasher and Canyon Wren. Purple Finches can be numerous. On the lake, we'll look for loons, grebes and other waterbirds. The woods should be alive with the songs of Bewick's Wrens and other resident breeders. Meet across from the Folsom Outlets in the parking lot behind Burger King near the Circle K on Iron Point Rd. From Hwy 50, exit at Folsom Blvd and go north. Make the first right on Iron Point, then a right into the parking lot. Steady rain cancels.
Saturday, March 15
Bird & Breakfast Fund Raiser
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
Join Sacramento Audubon leaders for a birding walk followed by a nice breakfast. This fund raiser is always fun and supports educational work by the American River Natural History Assoc. See sign-up information in related article in this issue, or phone the Nature Center at 489-4918.
Sunday, March 16, 8am
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
Leaders: Carla Barbaro, 486-1198, cbarbaro@comcast.net
and Cathie LaZier, 457-6882, empid@earthlink.net
This area of the parkway is excellent for birding and Cathie and Carla will be looking for early nesting birds and returning migrants, as well as early blooming wildflowers, on this morning walk. The trip will end by noon. This is a very good trip for beginners, as well as more experienced birders. Meet in the Nature Center parking lot in Ancil Hoffman Park.
Sunday, March 16
Habitat Improvement Work Day
Leader: Jack Hiehle, 967-0777
Help Jack restore native vegetation along the American River Parkway. Tasks vary from month to month, so call Jack for details and meeting time, usually early morning.
Tuesday, March 18, 8 till noon
Sailor Bar Area
Leader: Jack Hiehle, 967-0777
Meet Jack at the end of Emperor Street to explore the plants, birds and animals of this riparian corridor along the American River Parkway. From Winding Way, turn south on Kenneth, then east on Emperor Street to the end.
Saturday, March, 22, 7:30am
Lynch Canyon, Solano County
Leader: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804, mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
This newly-opened, 1,039-acre park off I-80 in Solano County consists of rolling hills with stands of native oak, buckeye and bay trees, small riparian corridors and panoramic vistas. It’s a great place to spend the morning. Join Maureen in looking for wintering raptors, sparrows and other passerines along the trail and ducks and shorebirds at the reservoir. Golden Eagles are regular visitors here. This trip, a new destination for Sacramento Audubon, will end mid-day with an optional picnic lunch at tables near the park entrance. Be prepared for muddy trails. Meet in the Park & Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento. Take the West Capitol exit; turn left at the light, then left again into the Park & Ride lot.
Sunday, March 23, 8am
Sailor Bar, American River Parkway
Leader: Mark Martucci, 833-6722, matuchbirdman@yahoo.com
Join Mark for a morning walk checking out the resident birds, and looking for early nesters and migrants. Sailor Bar is at the south end of Illinois Avenue, off Winding Way, just west of Hazel. There is a $5 per car entrance fee. Meet Mark at the boat launch parking area at the very end of the entrance road. This is a great trip for beginning birders. | |
