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WINTER 2010
Note: Trip reports for each of the above outings will
be posted on this site before the next class meeting.
Alviso / Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Ponds (Santa Clara County)
Saturday, January 09, 08:00 am (1/2 Day)
This will be a two-stage trip. For the first part we will visit the large salt pond A16 near the Environmental Education Center (EEC). There we may scope the water and search for Waterfowl and Gulls. The second part will be a trip to the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Ponds where we will search for many of the same targets. Eurasian Wigeon and Blue-winged Teals are strong possibilities. Lunch: We will separate at lunch and go our own ways, but just in case we bird past noon, bring some food... Directions to Alviso EEC : From Hwy 237 East, take the North First Street exit and wind your way past the Jubillee Christan Center along Disk Drive and into the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Preserve. Drive time: Approximately 30 minutes from Palo Alto.
Gray Lodge/Sacramento River NWR Weekend! (Butte/Glenn Counties)
Saturday + Sunday , January 16+17, 7:00 am (Weekend)
(All Day, Friday and Saturday night hotel recommended. Won't that be fun!!)
These north valley stops are often wonderful in winter for Waterfowl and Raptors. As well as the full complement of Waterfowl, (including possible Tundra Swans) I'm hoping for a big Raptor sweep that could include Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk and Merlin. If our luck holds, we may also encounter American Bittern. Uncommon Passerine targets include Yellow-headed Blackbird and Northern Shrike. For this full day and a half of birding we visit two beautiful areas. I suggest making reservations at a hotel for both Friday and Saturday evenings so you won't be exhausted for the long drive home. Bring food and water and dress in layers. Cricket and I will be staying at the Best Western Bonanza Inn, located at: 1001 Clark Avenue, Yuba City, California, United States, 95991-3314 Phone: 530-674-8824 or Toll Free: 800-562-5706 Fax: 530-674-0563
Directions to Yuba City hotel: There are various ways to get to I-5 of course, and the best way for you do it depends on where you begin. However you choose, if you leave on Friday afternoon, as we will, keep in mind that traffic may be bad in places. Assuming you find your way to I-5, merge onto I-5 toward Sacramento and continue north. Take the Hwy 99 after Sacramento. Eventually, it will branch off again and become Hwy 70. Drive north on Hwy 70 toward Yuba City/Marysville. Merge onto Hwy 20 toward Yuba City (west, I believe) and then turn right onto Clark Avenue. End at the hotel. For those who arrive in time, we may want to have dinner together at the Thai restaurant we enjoyed last year. It's called "Sopa" and is located on Plumas Avenue. Tel: 530.790.7672. We should get a head count early afternoon and call in a reservation from the road. My cell phone is 650.868.4922 but coverage in the valley is not certain.
Directions to the Gray Lodge preserve from Yuba City: We will caravan to our first destination, Gray Lodge WA at 7:15 Saturday morning. Those who are lodging elsewhere should plan on meeting us at the check in station around 7:45 where we will begin birding along the entrance road. From the hotel, drive 9.5 miles north on Hwy 99 to Pennington Road in Live Oak then drive 8 miles west (Pennington Road makes many turns, eventually becoming North Butte Road) to Almond Orchard Road. Go north 1.7 miles on Almond Orchard (which changes its name to Pennington Road as it crosses the county line) to the entrance of Gray Lodge Wildlife Area on the left. If you are very late, and find no trace of our group at the station, continue into the preserve where we will probably find our birding the marsh trail from Lot 14. Depending on how our day goes, we may also explore some nearby areas for Swans, possibly even Trumpeter, before returning to the hotel and having our group dinner. The Italian restaurant is called "Salute" and is located on Plumas Road. Tel: 530.674.9180. We should get a head count early afternoon and call in a reservation from the road.
On Sunday morning, we can make a quick tour of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge headquarters before returning home early afternoon. We can caravan from the hotel begining at 7:15 or so and arrive around 8:00.
Directions to the Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve from Yuba City: We will caravan to the preserve at 7:15 Sunday morning. Those who are lodging elsewhere should plan on meeting us at the main parking area where we will gather before taking the auto loop. A little informationa bout the reserve and its many other sections, can be found at: http://www.fws.gov/sacramentovalleyrefuges/sac.htm Drive north on Hwy 99 to 162 (also called the Butte City Hwy) and turn left. Follow this west toward Hwy I-5. Look also for Z-Road on your right, which is a great place to look for Swans if time allows. At some point you will see 162 turn north, but do not turn here. Instead, continue driving west and the road will change names to Riz Road. Turn left on 99W, which is a frontage road before I-5. The reserve will be on your left and is well marked. Cross the train tracks, pay at the kiosk and continue to the first parking lot where we will begin our tour.
Meals: Friday night will be independent. Saturday breakfast will be independent. Saturday lunch will be a picnic on the preserve. Bring food. We will have a group dinner on Saturday night at a nearby restaurant. Sunday breakfast will be independent. Sunday lunch will be a picnic on the preserve.
Drive time: You don't want to know...
Panoche Valley (San Benito and Fresno Counties)
Saturday, January 23, 8:00 am (Full Day)
This area is a famous winter destination for birders looking for uncommon species. Expected species include Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Rock Wren and Lark Sparrow. Rare possibilities include Mountain Plover, Long-eared Owl, Sage Thrasher, Mountain Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, Lewis's Woodpecker and Greater Roadrunner. Expect a full day of birding caravan style so bring food, water and dress in layers. Bathroom facilities are extremely "boot camp" and there is a fair amount of roadside birding. Directions: Take Hwy 101 south past Morgan Hill and Gilroy to SR 25 and exit east. Proceed on SR 25 through Hollister (the road makes several turns as it leads through town, and even acquires street names in places. Just follow the SR 25 signs though town) On the right side, you will eventually find a large Safeway at an intersection with a gas station. Please fill up here, use the restroom, make any last minute purches and continue south on SR 25 to the tiny town of Paicines. We will meet at 8:00 am a few hundred yarrds south of the junction of SR 25 and J1. This is the gravel turnout overlooking the reservoir (where there are NO restrooms). Directions: Take Hag lunch. We will eat at the Panoche Inn. Drive time: 2.0 hours from from Palo Alto to the rendez vous. Please bring radios and await further instructions at the junction. Bring food and water. This will be a long full day with many possible birds!
Lodi/Stockton Highlights (San Joaquin)
Saturday, January 30, 8:00 am (Full Day)
We will debut these central valley locations this term, searching the beautiful Mokulumne River Fish Installation (a Salmon hatchery) for Waterbirds such as Common Mergnaser, Wood Duck and American Dipper. The many oaks with festooned with mistletoe also provide perches for uncommon Phainopepla and Lewis's Woodpecker. If we're lucky, we may have Bald Eagle and Osprey over the dam. After securing this picturesque area, we will visit the wide open ranchlands in search of Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks. Horned Larks, Mountain Bluebirds and Rock Wren are also possible. For those interested, we can end the day along Staten Island Road to admire hundreds of Tundra Swans, Cackling Geese and Sandhill Cranes as they gather for the night in the flooded fields. Directions: From Hwy 99 at Lodi, drive east on Hwy 12 through the towns of Lokford and Clements for approximately 3.5 miles, and then turn left on McIntire Rd. Continue driving north on McIntire for approximately 1.3 miles to the entrance to the Day Use Area. Park in first lot on left. Lunch: This is a full day. Bring plenty of food and a full tank of gas. Drive time: 2.0 hours from Palo Alto.
Cascade/Phipp's Ranch (Marin County)
Saturday, February 06, 8:00 am (2/3 Day)
We will visit two lovely coast side farms today, both of which have a history of hosting some unusual birds, especially during migration. Although winter is upon us, the habitat found in these locations is perfect for something we haven't seen yet. Cascade Ranch in particular, with its piles of insect-attracting field cuttings. Wintering Warblers and Sparrows should be scrutinized for surprises, as well as Raptors overhead and Gulls and offshore divers at Gazos Creek State Beach. Phipp's ranch will be a similar habitat, but with more opportunities to get beneath the canopy over the creek. Directions: Take Hwy 1 south from the junction with Hwy 92 and drive 23 miles to the Gazos Creek State Beach Parking lot. We will meet here, consolidate cars and caravan to the ranch. Lunch: Bring lunch. Drive time: 1.0 hour from Palo Alto.
Bodega Bay (Sonoma County)
Saturday, February 20, 8:00 am (Full Day)
We will begin by scanning the bay from the Tides restaurant dock. Loons, Grebes and Waterfowl of various kinds are possible, but we often get Peregrine Falcon, Osprey and a few species of Gull from here as well. We'll work our way up the bay toward the famous "Hole in the Head" and the spectacular coastal overlook. The rock jetty at the harbor mouth has traditionally hosted hundreds of roosting Gulls and Cormorants, Turnstones, Surfbirds and Tattler, as well as the occasional Rock Sanpiper. A seawatch seems in order because there is a possibility of Alcids or Tubenoses if our scopes are ready. Directions: TBA Lunch: Yes! This is a full day, so bring food. Drive time: 2.5 hours from Palo Alto.
Ed Levin County Park (Santa Clara County)
Saturday, February 27, 8:00 am (1/2 Day)
Our exact rendez vous depends on weather. If it has not rained recently we will meet at the eucalyptus grove parking lot in Moon Glow. With luck we may find some interesting Passerines in the eucalytus grove, but we also work small po. Directions: TBA Lunch: Always a good idea to bring snacks, but this trip is going to end around lunch, at which time we will go our own ways. Drive time: 30 minutes from Palo Alto.
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