Field Trips for November 11- 30, 2009.
Scheduler - Maureen Geiger, 444-0804 mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
Friday, November 13, 8am-11am
Fair Oaks Bridge
Leader: Jack Hiehle, 967-0777
Jack knows this area well and knows where to find the interesting birds and plants on this morning nature walk. Meet at the north end of the old Fair Oaks Bridge. From the intersection of Fair Oaks and Sunrise, go east on Fair Oaks. When Fair Oaks turns left, continue straight ahead on Bridge Street. This is an excellent trip for beginners.
Saturday, November 14, 6:15am
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 is a great birding area, always full of surprises, and joining the group is a good way to find out what’s happening and to hone your birding skills. This walk covers about four miles at a leisurely pace and takes approximately five hours, so bring lunch and liquids. Be sure to check the recorded information a day or two before for exact meeting time and updates.
Saturday, November 14, 7:30am
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 residents such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, towhees, wrens, bluebirds and marsh birds, as well as wintering sparrows, thrushes and other visitors. River otters are a possibility. Meet at 7:30 at the Bella Bru restaurant in the Raley’s shopping center on El Dorado Hills Boulevard just off Highway 50; the group will leave for the trail at 7:45 am sharp. Alternate meeting is on Silva Valley Parkway, immediately east of Serrano Parkway by 8am.
Sunday, November 15, 8am
Folsom Lake State Park near Beek’s Bight
Leader: Sandra Beseler, 782-3055 ssbeseler@yahoo.com
This morning walk near Folsom Lake will be appropriate for families and beginners alike. Join Sandra in finding wintering, migrating and resident birds such as Phainopepla, Western Bluebird, and Wild Turkeys in this oak woodlands area. Meet at Twin Rocks and Boulder Staging Area. From Hwy 50 east, take Folsom Blvd. Exit and head east. This turns into Auburn-Folsom Road. Go about 10 miles (past Douglas Blvd) and make a right onto Twin Rocks Road. Continue to the end of the road where it meets Boulder Road and park at the staging area. From Hwy 80 east, exit on Douglas Blvd. and head east. Make a left at Auburn-Folsom Road, go about 2 miles and make a right on Twin Rocks Road. Bring liquids and be prepared to walk until late morning.
Sunday, November 15, 8-11am
Effie Yeaw Nature Center - Habitat Improvement
Leader: Jack Hiehle, 967-0777
Join Jack and other nature lovers to assist with habitat restoration at this lovely nature area. Possible tasks include weed removal, pond clean-up, erecting fencing around oak trees for protection, and checking bird nest boxes.
Tuesday, November 17, 7:45am
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Dan Tankersley, 606-6518 dtankers@winfirst.com
The Colusa NWR is another of the great Central Valley locations to view large waterfowl concentrations. There will be many duck species and plenty of Snow, Ross's and Greater White-fronted Geese. This refuge often provides an opportunity to view the elgasi race of the Greater White-fronted Goose. Eurasian Wigeon is often seen here. We can expect many raptors with the possibility of Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. We will spend a good amount of time on the main viewing platform, and then take an easy walk on a level trail through a riparian forest next to the main viewing pond. We will then take the short auto tour and finish our outing with a return visit to the platform. Be prepared for cold and damp weather. Weather permitting, there should be ample photo ops. If you have these items, bring your scope and FRS radio. Meet Dan at the Bel Air shopping center on Arena Blvd. From Sacramento, take I-5 north to Arena Blvd., go west (left) over the freeway. Take the first left, Duckhorn Rd., and then turn right into the parking area. We will meet on the north side of the parking lot between Wells Fargo and Golden 1. Bring snacks and liquids as the trip will end in the late morning to early afternoon. We will leave at 8:00am SHARP. Rain and/or high wind cancels.
Tuesday, November 17, 8-11am
Effie Yeaw Nature Center
Leader: Jack Hiehle, 967-0777
Meet Jack in the Nature Center parking lot in Ancil Hoffman Park for a 3 hour walk on the trails which wind through the oak woodland and down to the American River. This is an excellent birding area, and Jack will also share his knowledge of the native and non-native plants and trees of this parkway area. A great trip for beginners and more experienced birders alike.
Thursday-Monday, November 19-23
Central Valley Birding Symposium 2009
Contact: Frances Oliver, 209/369-2010 hummer52@sbcglobal.net
Join others from near and far and enjoy the company of great birders and naturalists such as raptor expert Bill Clark, evening programs on Yellow-billed Cuckoos and “The Magic of Birding,” and the ever popular “stump the experts” panel. Field trips visit surrounding hot spots to celebrate the diversity of birds wintering in the Central Valley, and workshops provide in-depth information on a wide variety of topics. Check the schedule of field trips and programs at www.cvbs.org and register by email or phone with Frances Oliver.
Saturday, November 21, 2pm till dark
Sandhill Cranes and Other Wintering Birds of the Sacramento Valley
A Save Our Sandhill Cranes-sponsored trip
Coordinator: Mike Savino, 446-1392
Sandhill Cranes are the focus of this trip but ducks, swans and geese, as well as shorebirds, feed in the flooded fields and marshy areas of the delta, and hawks patrol overhead. Meet at the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center parking lot at 2 p.m. for a short introduction to crane behavior and biology by Paul Tebbel, then 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 Staten Island, to see flocks of cranes fly in to roost for the night. Dress for changeable weather; bring binoculars, scopes and FRS radios if you have them. 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.
Saturday, November 21, 5:45am
Tall Forest Bird Count - Cosumnes River Preserve
Recorded Information: 684-2816
Meet at the Farm Center Gate at the intersection of Desmond and Bruceville Roads, ON TIME, to join this monthly bird count. Usually led by John Trochet, this area is normally closed to the public, so this is your opportunity to bird there. John has an appreciation of nature on many levels, and a trip with him is always informative. You must check the recorded information a day or two ahead to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details. Arrive a little early, as this trip leaves promptly.
Sunday, November 22, 7:30am
Solano Lake/Monticello Dam
Leader: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804 mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
The varied habitats of Putah Creek, Solano Lake and the Monticello Dam Overlook can produce many different species of birds. On this trip, we will look for winter passerines, including Phainopepla, Western Bluebird and Say’s Phoebe in the hills; Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser and Osprey at Putah Creek pull-outs; possible Canyon and Rock Wrens, White-throated Swifts and Peregrine Falcon at the Dam Overlook; and American Dipper at the bridge. Lake Solano often produces large numbers of wintering ducks plus other shorebirds. We will stop at Solano Lake County Park (where there is a day-use fee) to look for Pileated and other woodpeckers. Bring, lunch and water and if possible, scopes and FRS radios. This trip will last to mid-afternoon. Meet Maureen at the Park & 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. Car pooling is strongly advised, due to limited access at stops and the distance traveled. An alternative meeting site is Steady Eddie’s on the east side of the downtown Winters parking lot at 5 E. Main Street. We will leave Winters by 8:30. Contact Maureen for more information.
Saturday, November 28, 8am
American River between Howe and Watt
Leader: Dan Kopp, 213-2791 rey-ality@hotmail.com
Join Dan at his favorite spot along the Parkway in search of our wintering birds, and get to know an area he knows well. Although Dan birds this spot almost daily, he has rarely seen other birders and is eager to share his knowledge of this oasis behind his home. Last year this area produced a Palm Warbler and a California Thrasher; the former is not likely to be seen at this time of year, but he will work the area well to locate any goodies in hopes of finding them for the group, such as a White-throated Sparrow which he has found the last three years. There are well worn trails and some that require a little more work, so depending on everyone's ability, he will decide how strenuous the walk will be in the morning. The trip will last until lunch time. From Hwy. 50, take the Howe Avenue exit and head north; from Howe, take the first exit before the bridge. To do this, you will need to be in the right-most lane. Cross La Riviera Drive and enter the Howe Avenue Access to the American River. There is a fee to park in the lot, or parking is available on La Riviera Drive.
Sunday, November 29, 8am
Road 113, Robinson Road & Birds Landing Area
Leader: Tim Fitzer, 870-5207 spskua2@comcast.net
This is a great area for wintering Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, Prairie Falcons, Merlins, curlews, possible Mountain Plovers, shrikes, and other interesting birds. Bring liquids, lunch, warm clothes, spotting scopes, and FRS radios if possible. Meet at the West Capitol Ave. exit Park & Ride. This trip will last into the afternoon.
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