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SPRING 2008
Note: Trip reports for each of the above outings will
be posted on this site before the next class meeting.
Stevens Creek Park/Picchetti Winery (Santa Clara County)
Saturday, April 05, 08:00 am (1/2 Day)
The habitat ranges from lush riparian, to coniferous and eucalyptus. Besides a few lingering winter Sparrows, we will also search for spring migrants including colorful Warblers, Vireos, Orioles and Grosbeaks. We may even find Western Tanager! The lush riparian habitat should provide ample opportunity to practicing song recognition. Directions: From Hwy 280 take Foothill/Grant, exiting south onto Foothill. This becomes Stevens Canyon Road after crossing Stevens Creek Blvd. The northernmost entrance to the park is well marked at approximately 2 miles south of Hwy 280. There is a parking permit machine in the lot. We will meet here. Later, after strolling the creekside trails, we may relocate our cars to the upper lot, and after that perhaps on the reservoir overlook. Lunch: With luck, we will have lunch at Picchetti Winery and share a little of their fermented grape juice product! After which, some may wish to continue birding in the preserve, at the reservoir, or up hill toward Skyline. Drive time: 1/2 hour from Palo Alto.
Sunol Regional Wilderness (Alameda County)
Saturday, April 19, 8:00 am (1/2 Day)
Riparian woodland is bordered by vast grassy hillsides. Numerous sycamore trees line the rushing stream and are filled with chattering Bullock's Orioles, Warbling Vireos and Orange-crowned Warblers. With luck, we may find Cassin's Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher or Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Golden Eagles nest in the cliffs, and Common Merganser are occasionally found along the creek. If we keep our eyes open, we may even see Yellow-billed Magpie on the hillsides. It's not impossible to find Lawrence's Goldfinch here, as well as Lazuli Bunting, but it may be a little early for that much blue. On our way home, we may continue along Calaras Road, search for nesting Bald Eagles on the reservoir, and perhaps even stop in at Ed Levin. Directions: Take Hwy 237 through Milpitas and take Hwy 680 North to Calaveras Road. Turn right onto Calaveras and follow the signs south to the entrance to the park (left on Geary Road). Lunch: We will eat at the picnic tables beneath the sycamores. Drive time: 1 hour from Palo Alto.
SCVAS Birdathon (Santa Clara County)
Saturday, April 26, 5:00 am (All day)
Owling efforts will begin Friday night April 25th along various Skyline and Page Mill stops, afterwhich we will sleep for several hours. The day portion of tour begins at 5:00am on April 26th at Smith Creek above Grant Park on Mount Hamilton Road. The rest of the day has yet to be decided but will be posted soon. Count on our team of ten birders trying to beat last year's total of 140 species. Who knows... we might just do it!
If you would like to support our "Team DeDUCKtions" on April 26, we have an incredible "challenge grant" from Leonie Batkin, who will match each dollar contributed up to a total of $5,000. That means your pledge will be matched!! Help us meet that goal by pledging your support now! There's NO better way of making your dollars count and helping the educational programs at SCVAS. Please contact the chapter at (408) 252-3747 to be a part of our team, or simply make a pledge!
Gilroy Hot Springs (Santa Clara County)
May 06, 8:00 am (2/3 Day)
This lovely roadside birding trail takes us through a lush riparian habitat in the Gilroy hills which provides nesting habitat for Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Black-throated Gray and MacGillivray's Warbler (we should be prepared to identify these species by voice...) Other species to look for include Lark and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. Recently, one of our group found Northern Pygmy Owl here as well, so we'll certainly search for that! Along the way home, we can search for Western Kingbird in the open areas along Jameson Road. Directions: Take Hwy 101 south toward Gilroy. Exit at Leavesley Road and go east 1.5 miles. Turn lefto onto New Avenue then right oto Roop Road. The name changes to Gilroy Hot Springs Road (GHSR) at Coyote Reservoir. GHSR follows 5 miles of creekside to a bridge barrier where it stops. We will meet BEFORE this at Hunting Hollow about .6 miles from Canada Road. Lunch: Please bring a bag lunch. We will eat somewhere in the preserve. Drive time: 45 minutes from Palo Alto.
Fremont Peak State Park (San Benito County)
Saturday, May 10, 8:00 am (1/2 Day)
This location promises to be a great spring stop for Passerines. Golden Eagle nest in the rocky cliffs as do Rock Wren. We can expect several Flycatchers here, possibly even Hammond's, so start reviewing those Empids! We've also had Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Black-throated and MacGillivray's Warblers here. The scenery is spectacular and attendees should plan on bringing a picnic lunch for after the walk. The park's website has information as well. Directions: Drive south on Hwy 101 to Hwy 156 toward San Juan Bautista. Look for San Juan Canyon Road (G1) on the right and follow it up the long windy hill to the top where we will meet in the lot. A parking fee will be collected here. Drive time from Palo Alto is about 90 minutes.
Mitchell Canyon (Contra Costa County)
Saturday, May 17, 8:00 am (2/3 Day)
A steep canyon with dense riparian understory leading up to Mount Diablo. Some areas provide dry chaparral hapbitat for Wrentit, while some are more shaded and moist. Spring migrants could include several uncommon Warblers, such as Black-throated Gray, Hermit and MacGillivray's. More common species such as Western Wood Pewee and Olive-sided Flycatcher should be expected. Directions: Take Hwy 680 North to Walnut Creek. Exit on Ygnacio Valley Road (going right, roughly east, watch for Western Kingbirds). Follow Ygnacio Valley Road for 7.5 miles through town toward Clayton. Turn Right on Clayton Road and drive about 1.0 mile. Turn Right on Mitchell Canyon Road and drive about 1.3 miles to the end. Pay your fee and continue into the parking area farther in near the buildings. Lunch: We will eat at the picnic tables beneath the trees located beside the lot. Drive time: 2 hours from Palo Alto.
Del Puerto Canyon/Mines Road (Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda Counties)
Saturday May 31, 8:00 am (Full Day)
This is a vast area for which there is no central destination, but a checklist of birds for the Alameda County portion is available on line. Another checklist for the Del Puerto Canyon portion is also available. Combined, it covers much of our tour and looks like we have quite a few possible species to search for. This is the seminal spring birding trip for Bay Area birders! We will conduct this trip as a caravan, making stops as birds and habitat present themselves. Bathroom facilities are infrequent at best. Birds we will look for include Lewis' Woodpecker, Western Kingbird, Rock and Canyon Wrens, Phainopepla, Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Lawrence's Goldfinch. Directions: Take I-580 east over the Altamont Pass to I-5. Go south on I-5 to the Patterson exit. Go west (right) to Del Puerto Canyon Road. Meet at the first pull out on Del Puerto Canyon Road at 8:00 (this is where we located Grasshopper Sparrow and Blue Grosbeak before). Lunch: We will probably eat our picnic lunch at Frank Raines Regional Park. If not there, somewhere nice... Drive time: Almost 2 hours from Palo Alto.
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