For reports on these trips, click here. Trip Findings are generally on Page 2 of the Observer newsletter.
Field trips, Oct 6 through Nov 12, 2008.
Scheduler, Cathie LaZier, 457-6882, empid@earthlink.net Friday, October 10, 8 am till noon Bannister Park Leader:Jack Hiehle, 967-0777 Explore another beautiful area along the American River with Jack.Early fall migrants may be around; some native plants are at their best this time of year, and, as always, you can share in Jack’s knowledge of the natural history of the parkway.Meet Jack in the parking lot at the end of Bannister Road, south off Fair Oaks Blvd., west of Sunrise Blvd. Saturday, October 11, 7:30 am Bodega Bay Leader:Andi Salmi, 691-7216, andisalmi@yahoo.com Join Andi for a full day of birding around Bodega Bay, taking in a variety of habitats.Plan to see waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls and raptors.Bring lunch, water and warm clothes.Meet at the Park & Ride off I-80 in West Sacramento.From Sacramento take the West Capitol Ave. exit.Turn left, and the Park & Ride will be on your immediate left.This is a good trip for beginners and experienced birders alike. Saturday, October 11, 7am 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.It’s wise to check the recorded information a couple of days before to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details, as they sometimes change. Sunday, October 12, 7 am SHARP! Hope Valley – Alpine County - Fall Foliage Birding Leader:Dan Brown, 362-2458, naturestoc@aol.com Autumn Color explodes in mid October at Hope Valley.Join Dan to enjoy the fall foliage and to look for resident and specialty birds that include:Sooty (Blue) Grouse, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Stellar’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Cassin’s Finch.Some of the terrain is hilly, so wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers.A camera is a recommended addition to your pack.Bring water and lunch.FRS radios would also be helpful on this trip.Meet Dan at the north end of the Raley’s parking lot just north of Highway 50 off El Dorado Hills Blvd. (Exit 30B).We will leave at 7 am SHARP! Saturday, October 18, 7am 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, so this is your opportunity to bird there.John has an appreciation of nature on many levels, and a trip with him is always exciting.It’s wise to check the recorded information a couple of days before to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details, as they sometimes change.Arrive a little early, as this trip always leaves promptly. Saturday, October 18, 7:15 am Bobcat Ranch, Yolo County Leader:Maureen Geiger, 444-0804mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net This wonderful 7,000-acre property recently purchased by Audubon California is currently open to the public solely for docent-led trips.Join Maureen and Vance Russell, Director of the Landowner Stewardship Program for Audubon California, for our first visit to this area and see the local and wintering bird species as well as learn about the restoration efforts taking place.This outing will involve moderate hiking on fairly level ground and should last until early-to mid-afternoon.Bring liquids and lunch.Meet at the Park & Ride in West Sacramento no later than 7:15 am.Alternate meeting place is Steady Eddy’s at 5 E. Main Street, next to the parking lot at the intersection of Main and Railroad in Winters by 8 am sharp.To reach the Park & Ride, from I-80, take the West Capitol Avenue exit; turn left at the light and left into the lot. Sunday, October 19, 7:30 am Solano Lake/Putah Creek Leader: Mark Martucci, 833-6722,matuchbirdman@yahoo.com The Lake is a good area for wintering ducks including possible Barrow’s Goldeneye and Hooded Mergansers. Phainopeplas are possible, and Pileated Woodpeckers have been found in the area several times during the last year. A drive up Putah Creek may turn up wintering passerines as well. There is a $5 per car fee at the Lake Solano campground. Bring lunch and liquids and meet Mark at the Park & Ride in West Sacramento.From I-80 take the West Capitol Ave. exit; turn left at the light; then left again into the lot.Plan on a trip lasting into the afternoon. Sunday, October 19 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. Wednesday, October 22, 8 am till noon William PondPark, American River Parkway Leader:Jack Hiehle, 967-0777 Join Jack for this walk to check out both the river and the small lake, as well as the developed park area.A variety of birds may be present, and Jack will point out some of the local plants and share information about their use by Native Americans.Meet him just outside the park entrance at the end of Arden Way.This trip is a great one for beginners. Saturday, October 25, 8 am till noon Shadow Glen/Snowberry Creek Leader:Lea Landry, 638-1141,llandry@softcom.net This morning walk will include riparian habitat, ridge trails and a good view of Lake Natoma.Lea will be looking for both woodland birds and waterfowl.There may be some short steep climbs on the trail, and if the rains come it may be muddy, so wear appropriate footwear.Bring liquids and snacks if you wish.Lea usually finds a nice variety of birds on this trip, which is suitable for both beginning and experienced birders.Meet Lea in the parking lot of the Snowberry Creek Equestrian Staging area, ¼ mile east on Main, from where Main and Sunset Avenues meet in Orangevale. Sunday, October 26, 7 am SHARP Calaveras Big Trees State Park Leader:Cathie LaZier, 457-6882, empid@earthlink.net We’ll take a leisurely walk on the one mile loop trail through the North Grove of Giant Sequoias, enjoying dogwood, hazelnut, and big leaf maple in fall color.Hoped-for birds include White-headed Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.Stellar’s Jay and Douglas Squirrel are a certainty.Afterwards we’ll picnic at the meadow, so bring a lunch and liquids, and we’ll make a short stop at the visitor center before an optional short afternoon hike.Meet Cathie at the Starbucks in the Raley’s Shopping Center in the 8300 block of Folsom Blvd. (between Watt and Howe), to LEAVE at 7 a.m. SHARP.Or meet in the large visitor’s day parking lot at Calaveras between 9 and 9:30.There is an entrance fee to the park.This trip is suitable for beginners. Tuesday, October 28, 8 am Cosumnes River Preserve Boardwalk / Isenberg Crane Preserve Leader:Dan Tankersley, 359-2829, dtankers@winfirst.com Join Dan to look for wintering ducks, including Gadwall, Northern Shovelers, teal and wigeon.In shallow water there may be shorebirds, such as dowitchers, sandpipers, yellowlegs, Dunlin, and maybe some surprises.The first of the wintering Sandhill Cranes will be back, and the usual herons and egrets will be around.The boardwalk is also a good place to look for the noisy but hard-to-see Marsh Wren.Meet Dan at the Nugget Market at 8 am.Going south on I-5, take the Florin Road West exit; go west to the first signal light, (Greenhaven Drive), and make a U-turn.The parking area for the market will be on the right.This trip will end by noon.Bring spotting scopes if you have them.This is a great trip for both beginners and more experienced birders.
Saturday, November 1, 8 am Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Leader:Andi Salmi, 691-7216, andisalmi@yahoo.com Andi will be looking for the early flocks of ducks and geese that winter in the valley or are feeding 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.Take I-5 north toward Woodland; exit at Road 102 and turn right into the Jack-in-the-Box parking lot to meet Andi.FRS radios are helpful on this trip.
Sunday, November 2, 8 am PST (Daylight Savings Time ends, set your clock back 1 hour) Yolo Basin Wildlife Area Leader:Marlene Ishihara, 635-9758, IshiM2000@aol.com 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 andwaterfowl as well. Raptors such as peregrine falcon are possible also. From Sacramento, take I-80 west, and take the first exit at the west end of the Yolo Causeway. Turn right at the stop sign, go under the freeway, make a left onto the levee, then drop down into the Wildlife Area. The trip will begin at the first parking lot (Lot A, on your left) at the beginning of the auto tour. Scopes are helpful on this trip, which is a good trip for both beginners and more experienced birders. Wednesday, November 5, 8 am till noon Old Fair Oaks Bridge Leader:Jack Hiehle, 967-0777 Jack knows this area well, and always finds 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. Thursday, November 6, 7:30 am in Davis Lake Solano & Putah Creek - A Yolo Audubon Trip Leader: Sami LaRocca, (530) 908-0288, Sami182@wavecable.com On this trip we’ll go to Lake Solano where Yolo County borders Solano County, to check for birds during the transition time of late fall to early winter.Bird sightings may include residents such as Osprey, Phainopepla, Wood Duck and varied woodpeckers; expected wintering species such as goldeneye, mergansers and Bufflehead may have arrived.There could be some surprises like Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Golden Eagle.After checking the lake we’ll drive up Hwy 128 as far as Monticello Dam.One stop will include the bridge to check for the American Dipper that has wintered there for the last four years. Meet at the Marketplace Shopping Center (near Big 5 Sporting Goods, 1301 W. Covell in Davis, just east of Hwy 113) at 7:30 am.We’ll plan on getting back to Davis about 2 pm.All levels of birders are welcome.Bring water, snacks/lunch and binoculars.A $5 fee per car will be needed for parking at the picnic grounds. Saturday, November 8, 8 am Riverbend Park, (formerly Goethe Park) Leader:Cathie LaZier, 457-6882, empid@earthlink.net Meet Cathie at the first parking lot on the right past the entrance kiosk for this morning walk.We’ll look for resident birds and wintering species in the oak woodland and on the river.This walk will end before noon and is a good trip for beginners.This park is at the end of Rod Beaudry Drive, off Folsom Blvd.From Hwy 50 take the Bradshaw exit; go north to Folsom Blvd., east to Rod Beaudry Drive and turn left.There is a $5 park entrance fee; if you want to carpool into the park meet Cathie about 10 minutes earlier behind the pizza place on the northeast corner of Folsom and Rod Beaudry Drive. Saturday, Novenber 8, 7am 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.It’s wise to check the recorded information a couple of days before to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details, as they sometimes change.
Sunday, November 9, 7:30 am Spenceville Wildlife Area Leader:Richard Barbieri, 966-4603, offleash56@yahoo.com This scenic recreational area of rolling hillsides, streams, reservoirs and ponds offers a variety of wildlife.Join Richard as he searches this foothill area for wintering waterfowl, raptors and passerine species.The trip involves moderate hiking; wear appropriate footwear and layered clothing.Bring lunch, plenty of water, and dress for changeable weather.Meet Richard at Brookfield’s restaurant parking lot in Roseville.Take Eureka Road exit off I-80; go right on Eureka and first left at the stoplight (Taylor Road).The restaurant is located behind the Shell gas station. Wednesday, November 12, 7:30 am Sacramento Old City Cemetery, Broadway and Riverside Blvd. Leader:Maureen Geiger, 444-0804, mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net Discover the variety of birds that live in and migrate through this historic city cemetery near the heart of downtown Sacramento.This walking tour is perfect for beginning birders.Meet Maureen at the cemetery’s main gate at Broadway and 10th Street.Visitors may park in the lot across from the 10th Street gate and meet inside the cemetery entrance.This will be a short walk, 1 – 2 hours.The tour is a public service of the Old City Cemetery Committee and is offered under the auspices of the Division of History & Science of the City of Sacramento.Call or email Maureen if you have questions.
