Field Trips, November-December, 2010
Scheduler: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804, mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
NEW – Family Friendly Trip!!!
Saturday, November 13, 8:30-11:00am
Folsom Lake State Park near Beek’s Bight
Leader: Sandra Beseler, 580-8398 ssbeseler@yahoo.com
This morning walk near Folsom Lake will be specifically geared to and appropriate for families and children. 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 for a nice walk. Sandra will have a few extra pairs of binoculars for children to use.
Saturday, November 13, 6:35am
River Walk Bird Count - Cosumnes River Preserve
Recorded Information, 684-2816 or www.cosumnes.org
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 website activity schedule a day or two before for exact meeting time and possible updates.
Saturday November 13, 9AM
DFG Swan Tour
Details here.
Sunday, November 14, 8am
Yolo Wildlife Area
Leader: Marlene Ishihara, 635-9758 ishiM2000@comcast.net
Join Marlene in this great area just 10 minutes from downtown. Depending on the extent of flooded fields on the auto tour route, there may be good numbers of shorebirds and waterfowl and raptors including possible Peregrine Falcon. This is a good trip for both beginners and experienced birders. Bring scopes and FRS radios if you have them. . From Sacramento, take I-80 west, take the first exit (#78, E. Chiles/Rd. 32A) 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.
Tuesday, November 16, 7:45am
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Dan Tankersley, 606-6518 dtankers@winfirst.com
The Colusa NWR is another great location in the Central Valley to view large waterfowl concentrations. There will be many duck species and plenty of Snow, Ross's and Greater White-fronted Geese as well as other wetland birds. This refuge often provides an opportunity to view the elgasi race of the Greater White-fronted Goose. Eurasian Wigeon is often seen here as well. 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. Scopes and FRS radios will be helpful on this trip. Meet Dan at the Mace Blvd. Park & Ride at 7:45 A.M. From Sacramento, take I-80 to west to Mace Blvd. (Exit #75); turn right (north) and then right again to the Park & Ride behind Ikeda’s Market. We will meet on the south side of the parking lot in the row nearest the big round water tank. Rain, strong wind, or thick fog cancels. Bring snacks and liquids as the trip will end in the very late morning to very early afternoon. We will leave the meeting area at 8:00 A.M. sharp.
Thursday-Monday, November 18-21
Central Valley Birding Symposium 2010
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 Jon Dunn and Joe Morlan presenting workshops on sparrow and shorebird ID plus others on varied subjects such as digiscoping and bird sketching. Excellent presenters will speak on “The Owls and Woodpeckers of the West” and “California’s Threatened and Endangered Birds,” and the ever popular “stump the experts” bird ID panel will be fun and interesting. Field trips visit surrounding hot spots to celebrate the diversity of birds wintering in the Central Valley. Check the schedule of field trips and programs at www.cvbs.org and register by email or phone with Frances Oliver.
Friday, November 19, 6:25am
Tall Forest Bird Count - Cosumnes River Preserve
Recorded Information: 684-2816 or www.cosumnes.org
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 website activity schedule a day or two ahead to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details. Arrive a little early, as this trip always leaves promptly.
Saturday, November 20, 7:30am
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Leaders: Carla Barbaro, 717-8808 and Mark Cudney, 987-2422, mcudney@aol.com
Join Carla and Mark for a tour of this prime wintering area for ducks and geese. After Gray Lodge, we will take the route back around the west side of the Sutter Buttes. This area is great for raptors and grassland birds including wintering sparrows. Bing lunch, liquids, warm clothing and FRS radios. Meet in 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.
Saturday November 20, 9AM
DFG Swan Tour
Details here.
Sunday, November 21, 8:00am
Upper Sunrise Area, American River Parkway
Leader: Wayne Blunk, 876-0457 Wayne.blunk@gmail.com
Wayne will lead you on a morning walk to this great spot along the American River Parkway. You will see a nice variety of resident and wintering birds and maybe some surprises. Take South Bridge Road off of Sunrise just south of the Sunrise Bridge. Pass through the kiosk to the stop sign at bottom of the hill. Turn right at the stop sign and make an immediate left. Park in the first parking lot on the left. A Sacramento County Park Pass or $5 entry fee is required for all vehicles. This is a good trip for both beginners and more experienced birders.
Saturday, November 27, 8am
Pleasants Valley Rd./Putah Creek (Solano Co.)
Leader: Gary Fregien, 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, then Putah Creek, Solano Lake and the Monticello Dam Overlook. We will make several stops along Pleasants Valley Rd., looking for migrating passerines, including Phainopepla, Western Bluebird and Say’s Phoebe. Along Putah Creek and Solano Lake we may see Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, American Dipper, and Osprey. At the Monticello Dam Overlook, we’ll be watching and listening for Canyon and Rock Wrens, and possibly Peregrine Falcon. Plan to spend 3-4 hours birding, plus driving time getting there and back. There will be minimal hiking, but dress for seasonal 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. We’ll also look for Pileated Woodpecker and owls here. Meet Gary 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. Car pooling is strongly advised due to limited access at stops and the distance traveled.
Saturday, November 27, 3:30pm
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 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; 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.
Sunday, November 28, 8am
Lincoln Grasslands
Leaders: Tim Fitzer, 870-5207 spskua2@comcast.net
Mark Martucci, 833-6722 matuchbirdman@yahoo.com
Tim and Mark will be checking this Placer County area for the many wintering hawks and sparrows 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. Birding and lunch at the Chamberlain Cemetery will be followed by more birding along the rural roads on the way to Camp Far West Reservoir. Meet Tim and Mark 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. Bring lunch, scopes and FRS radios if you have them.
Sunday, November 28, 3:30 pm
Sandhill Cranes and Other Wintering Birds of the Sacramento Valley
A Save Our Sandhill Cranes-sponsored trip
Coordinator: Mike Savino, 446-1392
See description for Saturday, November 27, above
Saturday, December 4
American River Natural History Association Annual Animal and Bird Count
Compiler: Lea Landry, 638-1141 llandry@softcom.net
Join Lea and other volunteers to assist with this annual count of birds and other creatures along the American River Parkway sponsored by the American River Natural History Association (ARNHA). Results of this count are important to future planning for the Parkway, and the goal is to have 11 teams of two or more persons each. The count differs from other Christmas Counts in that teams count species rather than total numbers of each species. Contact Lea for details, team assignments, and meeting and compilation locations.
Sunday, December 5, 8am
Paradise Beach/ American River
Leader: Dan Kopp, 213-2791 rey_ality@hotmail.com
Dan lives near the American river, birds here often, and knows this area well. Join him in exploring the rich riparian habitat along the Parkway. This area is dominated by cottonwoods, alder, box elder and willows, with a few oaks, a combination which often turns up excellent wintering birds, plus the usual residents found on the Parkway. Dan is a great birder and is good with beginners and experienced birders alike. This trip will involve walking on well-defined trails and will last until late morning. Meet Dan at Glen Hall Park at the corner of Carlson Drive and Sandburg.
Wednesday, December 8, 8am-Noon
Wetlands and Waterfowl Tour II
Leader: Roger Jones, 875-9174 jonesro@sacsewer.com
Tour one of the seasonal or permanent wetland areas within the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District Bufferlands in Elk Grove. The Wetlands and Waterfowl Tour offers a chance to see many bird and mammal species including waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, beavers and coyotes. Tour participants will enjoy a short walk guided by a Bufferlands staff wildlife biologist who will explain current wildlife management and habitat restoration techniques. Space is limited. The meeting location is weather-dependent, so please contact Roger Jones during the week preceding the event for exact meeting location and directions.
Saturday, December 11, 8am
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Leader: Andi Salmi, 691-7216 andisalmi@yahoo.com
Andi will be looking for the great flocks of ducks and geese that winter in the valley or stop to feed on their way further south. There is a 3.7 mile driving route and a great viewing platform as well. This trip will last into early afternoon, so bring lunch, drinks and warm clothes. This is a good trip for newer birders and experienced birders alike. FRS radios are helpful on this trip. Meet 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. Please note there is a fee for each vehicle at the refuge: either $3 for a day pass, or a $12 Refuge Annual Pass.
Saturday, December 11, 7am
River Walk Bird Count - Cosumnes River Preserve
Recorded Information, 684-2816 or www.cosumnes.org
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 website activity schedule a day or two before for exact meeting time and possible updates.
Sunday, December 12, 7:30am
Jepson Prairie/Wilcox Ranch
Leaders: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804 mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net
Ken Poerner, 707-580-6277 kenpoe@sbcglobal.net
The Jepson Prairie south of Dixon is well known for the magic of its vernal pools in late spring but less so for the wintering raptors and shorebirds which arrive in good numbers by this date. Join Maureen and Ken in exploring the Prairie and the Wilcox Ranch, property owned by the Solano Land Trust not normally open to the public. They will also explore the Barker and Calhoun Sloughs and the legendary Robinson-Flannery Roads in search of Mountain Plovers, shrikes, falcons, eagles and other wintering raptors. Time permitting, they will cross Hwy. 12 and check the Collinsville area for shorebirds and waterfowl. This trip will last into early afternoon, so bring lunch and liquids. FRS radios will be useful. Meet Maureen at the Park & Ride in West Sacramento. From Sacramento, take the West Capitol Ave. exit. Turn left, and the Park & Ride will be on your immediate left. Or meet at the entrance to Jepson Prairie at Cook Lane and Hwy. 113 south of Dixon BY 8am.
Sunday, December 12, 6:30am
Tall Forest Bird Count - Cosumnes River Preserve
Recorded Information: 684-2816 ore www.cosumnes.org
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 website activity schedule a day or two ahead to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details. Arrive a little early, as this trip always leaves promptly.
Saturday, December 18
Woodfords Christmas Count
Coordinator: Tim Fitzer, 870-5207 spskua2@comcast.net
Sunday, December 19, 9am
East Lawn Cemetery
Leader: Mary Beth Metcalf, 456-7382
Join Mary Beth for a 2-3 hour slow-paced walk through East Lawn cemetery where one can spot many of the common wintering species. Sometimes there will be less common finds such as red-breasted sapsuckers or golden-crowned kinglets, and some years there have been red-breasted nuthatches as well. Meet Mary Beth at the entrance gate at 43rd Street and Folsom Boulevard. There is street parking on 42nd and 43rd streets.
Saturday, December 25, 3:30pm
Christmas with the Cranes!
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 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; 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.
Sunday, December 26
Sacramento Christmas Count
Compiler: Mark Cudney, 987-2422 mcudney@aol.com
Sunday, December 26, 3:30PM
Sandhill Cranes and Other Wintering Birds of the Sacramento Valley
A Save Our Sandhill Cranes-sponsored trip
Too much turkey? Try cranes instead! If you’re not doing the Sacramento Christmas Count, (and you should be!), get out in the fresh air and enjoy the wintering waterbirds. All information the same as Dec. 25th trip.
Sunday, January 2
Folsom Christmas Count
Compiler: Chris Conard, 203-1610 conardc@gmail.com
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