For reports on these trips, click here. Trip Findings are generally on Page 2 of the Observer newsletter. ___________________________________________________________
Trips for Oct 13 - Nov 11, 2007. Scheduler Cathie LaZier, 457-6882, empid@earthlink.net
Saturday, October 13, 7 a.m. SHARP! Hope Valley – Alpine County Fall Foliage Birding Leader:Lisa Moraga Home, 455-4786, Cell, 671-4642 ploverlover@earthlink.net Autumn Color explodes in mid October at Hope Valley.A camera is a recommended addition to your pack.Join Lisa as we 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.The Valley is relatively flat; however, some of the terrain is hilly, so wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers.Bring water and lunch.We will meet at the northeast corner of Hwy 50 & El Dorado Hills Blvd. (exit 30B), at 7 a.m. SHARP!From there we will try to carpool to Hwy 88 via Fiddletown/Shake Ridge Road.For those who would like to meet us in Hope Valley, we will meet at the Hope Valley Wildlife Area parking lot on the north side of Hwy 88 before the junction with Hwy 89, between 9-9:30 a.m. Delorme Northern California Atlas Grid #90, 1B, 1C.FRS radios would be helpful on this trip. Sunday, October 14, 8 a.m. Bobelaine Sanctuary Leader:Carla Barbaro, 486-1198, cbarbaro@comcast.net Join Carla for a morning autumn walk through this great riparian habitat.Herons, egrets, cormorants and grebes should be on the water, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a variety of sparrows will be settling in for the winter.The sycamore and wild grape should give us some fall color as well.Take Highway 99 north toward Yuba City; about 2 miles north of the Feather River Bridge turn right on Laurel Avenue and follow it to a dead end at the Bobelaine parking lot.Bring liquids, and a snack if you wish. Saturday, October 20, 8 a.m. 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. Saturday, October 20, Very Early 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.You must check the recorded information a day or two previously to get the exact meeting time and any other updated details.Arrive a little early, as this trip always leaves promptly. Sunday, October 21, 8 a.m. Gristmill Recreation Area, American River Parkway Leader:Mark Martucci, 722-6098, matuchbirdman@yahoo.com Join Mark to explore this section of the American River, checking for possible late migrants and the many different bird species which winter here.From Highway 50 take the Bradshaw exit; go north on Bradshaw to Folsom Blvd.; go left (west) on Folsom Blvd., then right onto Butterfield.Turn right on Linda Rio and right again on Mira Del Rio.In about 50 yards turn left into the Gristmill Recreation Area.There is a $4 per car parkway entrance fee, or you may also park along Mira Del Rio and walk into the park. Sunday, October 21 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, October 23, 7 a.m. Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary and Sutter Basin Leader:Sami LaRocca, (530) 908-0288 Sami182@charter.net This is another Yolo Audubon field trip, which Sami would like to offer to Sacramento Audubon participants as well.Bobelaine is a rare remnant of the riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side of rivers in the great Central Valley of California.Early morning is the best time to check out resident raptors, woodpeckers and passerines.Sami plans to work on identifying juvenile birds and ducks in eclipse plumage.Sami will lead you through the oak woodland habitat to an overlook where the Bear River runs into the Feather River.On the return trip she plans to drive through the Sutter Bypass and along a levy to add a few more birds to the day’s list.Meet Sami at the Park & Ride on the northeast corner of Mace Blvd. and Highway 80, behind Ikeda’s market.Bring water, snacks, lunch and hiking shoes.All levels of birders welcome; some loaner binoculars will be available.Sami plans to return by early afternoon.Sacramento participants may wish to phone Sami and arrange to meet her at the Bobelaine Sanctuary.Note:High winds or heavy rain cancels the trip.
Wednesday, October 24, 8 a.m. till noon William Pond Park, 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. Thursday, October 25, 8 a.m. Yolo Basin Wildlife Area Leader:Dan Tankersley, 359-2829, dtankers@winfirst.com Meet Dan in the first parking lot (on your left) at the beginning of the auto tour.We’ll set up scopes and bird for awhile so bring coffee and a breakfast snack to enjoy while we check out the newly arrived waterfowl and shorebirds.Then we’ll drive the auto tour loop, stopping to scope any likely areas.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.Bring scopes and FRS radios if you have them.Trip will last approximately 3 hours.This is a good trip for both beginners and more experienced birders. Saturday, October 27, 8 a.m. Yolo Basin Wildlife Area Leader: Maureen Geiger, 444-0804, mkgeiger@sbcglobal.net Join Maureen in this great area 10 minutes from downtown Sacramento. Depending on the extent of flooded fields, there may be good numbers of shorebirds and possible waterfowl 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 (on your left) at the beginning of the auto tour. FRS radios are especially useful on this trip. Sunday, October 28, 7 a.m. 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 and 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 30, 8 a.m. 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.Goethe 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 $4 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, November 3, 8 a.m. 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.Note:the duck stamps mentioned in the newsletter write-up are available for purchase here.Now is a good time to buy them and support our environment! Sunday, November 4, 8 a.m. REMEMBER CHANGE TO STANDARD TIME!CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR. Sandhill Cranes and Other Wintering Birds of the Sacramento Valley A "Save Our Sandhill Cranes" sponsored trip Co-coordinator: Mike Savino, 446-1392 Sandhill Cranes are the focus of this trip, but the experienced birding leaders will also help you identify the waterfowl and shorebirds that winter here. A variety of ducks and geese, as well as shorebirds, feed in the flooded fields and marshy areas of the delta. Meet at the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center parking lot, where we will stroll the boardwalk in the Lost Slough Wetlands, then drive out along Desmond Road and Woodbridge Road searching for cranes. Optional lunch at Wimpy's afterwards with SOS Cranes board members for further discussions. Dress for changeable weather; bring 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, or the recorded info line at 684-2816.This is a great trip for beginners. Thursday, November 8, 8 a.m. 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.An excellent trip for beginners. Thursday, November 8, 8 a.m. Lake Solano Park & Campground Leader:Dan Tankersley, 359-2829, dtankers@winfirst.com Bring lunch and liquids for this trip which will last into mid-afternoon.Target birds are Phainopepla and Barrow’s Goldeneye, and Dan will find many other species as well.On the return to Sacramento we may drive the roads north of Davis looking for wintering raptors, or do the auto tour loop at the Yolo Basin Wildlife Area to view the waterfowl.It could be muddy if we’ve had recent rains; wear appropriate footwear.There is a $5 parking fee at the Lake Solano area.Meet Dan at the Park & Ride off Mace Blvd and I-80 in Davis, behind Ikeda’s Market. Saturday, November 10 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 get the exact meeting time and any other updated details. Sunday, November 11, 7:30 a.m. 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.
