Birding with Ted

Las Gallinas Wetlands, San Rafael
2015-09-12 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Las Gallinas Wetlands, San Rafael, CA, United States
At Las Gallinas, hundreds of acres of grasslands, ponds and marshes surround a small water treatment facility. The marshes extend for miles, and beyond them a clear view of the beautiful hills of Marin. Acre for acre, it has some of the greatest diversity of birdlife I’ve seen in California. It’s a favorite fall and winter resort for ducks, herons, egrets, shorebirds, raptors and songbirds. Harriers, Red-tails, White-tail kites and up to 10 species of ducks. Not to mention pelicans, grebes, rails — all are found here, and numbers are frequently impressive. Leisurely walking tour around the ponds is about one-two miles. Total species observed usually range from 40 to 50. Great photographic opportunities for waterbirds.

Roman, Medieval & Islamic Art in European Civilization
2015-09-03 14:00 - 16:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Thursday, 2-4pm
We will continue our survey of Western art and civilization with Roman, Medieval and Islamic Art in European Civilization. This course will survey numerous strands of European art and architecture within the context of Western history from ancient classical civilization to late Medieval times. It will examine the art of Rome, Byzantium, the Anglo-Saxons and Celts. The long cultural exchange between Islamic and Christian civilizations in the Mediterranean world will also be explored. The course will conclude with the 12th century renaissance, including Gothic art, the great cathedrals, Provencal civilization, Giotto and Dante.

World Affairs on Film: Documenting Contemporary History
2015-09-03 10:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Thursdays, 10am-12pm
This new course will present documentary films that examine important social, economic and political issues around the world. In the last two decades films such as The Fog of War, Fahrenheit 9/11, An Inconvenient Truth and Enron: the Smartest Guys in the Room have brought complex national and international issues to the attention of millions. In the process they have helped to revolutionize public awareness and attitudes on many aspects of public affairs. This course will allow in-depth discussion and analysis of contemporary issues such as the weapons industry, campaign finance, national security, the Middle East, the environment, immigration and ACA (Obama care). Course includes films, lectures, readings and guest lecturers.

History by Hollywood: Cinematic Visions of the 20th Century
2015-09-02 14:00 - 16:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Wednesday, 2-4pm
The goal of this course is to illuminate recent history by showing films that depict the lives of people caught up in the important events of the 20th century. Through historical dramas and satires such as Gandhi, The Third Man and Dr. Strangelove, major issues of the last century are brought to life. Other film showings will include From Here to Eternity, Bridge on the River Kwai, Casablanca, Karen Silkwood, All the King’s Men and The Young Lions, by directors such as Kubrick, Lean, Zinneman, Reed, Huston, Ford and Welles. Highlighting the drama are stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Joseph Cotton, Orson Welles, Marlon Brando, James Cagney, Ingrid Bergman and Meryl Streep. These cinematic visions allow a fuller interpretation of a century of great innovation, revolution and conflict. Commentary and analysis of the films and their historical context will follow film showings.

Birds of the Bay Area, Fall 2015, Berkeley
2015-09-02 09:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Berkeley Class: Sept. 2 – Nov. 4 (Weds. 9am-12pm)
Meets at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst (at ML King Way), Berkeley
Registration fee is $85 for the whole term and $45 for half term. Individual trips are $30. Register at the website or do so at the first class.
The class meets every Wednesday morning for 10 weeks, with six fieldtrips and four class sessions. Classes will discuss binocular use and techniques of bird identification, observation, behavior and distribution. Fieldtrips to beautiful nature preserves such as Coyote Hills, Arrowhead Marsh, Las Gallinas and the Emeryville Shoreline will provide practical experience in bird observation techniques. Total species observed during the semester usually averages 75-80, with a great variety of raptor, shorebird, wildfowl and songbird species seen. Birds frequently observed include Red-winged Blackbirds, Western bluebirds, Great and Snowy egrets, California quail, Avocets, stilt, Willet, Chestnut-backed chickadee, Red-tailed hawks, White-tailed kites, Bewick’s wren, Yellow-rump Warblers, Nuttall’s and Acorn woodpeckers and Double-crested cormorants, among many others. Class sessions include films, lectures, book reviews and readings, and is designed for beginning and intermediate level students. Car-pooling available for field trips.

Dvorak, Wagner and Stravinski: Twilight of the Romantics & the Modernist Revolution in Music
2015-09-01 14:00 - 16:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Tuesdays, 2-4pm
This course celebrates the music of the late Romantics and early Modernist composers and performers from the mid-19th century to the present. Course topics will include the romantic piano concerto, light opera, musical nationalism, jazz influences, the discovery of Early Music and post-modernist innovators. The music of Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Debussy, Strauss, Wagner, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Ravel, Gershwin and others will be examined in light of 19th and 20th century innovations in technology, science, politics and ideas. Course includes performances on CDs, class recitals, lectures, readings and films.

The Nature of America: Ecology, Wildlife and Conservation
2015-09-01 10:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Tuesdays, 10am-12pm
This new course will survey the history of North America’s wildlife and human ecology from Pleistocene times to the present. Major themes will include: the Ice Age megafauna of woolly mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, giant sloths, bears and condors; pre-Columbian Indian nations; early 19th century biologists and scientists ; recent wildlife extinctions, and the 20th century conservation movement from Teddy Roosevelt to Rachel Carson. It will conclude with current conservation challenges and the growth of new initiatives, groups and strategies. The course will include use of films, lectures, readings, fieldtrips and guest lecturers.

Birds of the Alameda Shoreline & Crab Cove
2015-08-22 09:00 - 12:00
The Alameda shoreline, with miles of sandy white beaches and stunning views of the bay, is one of our local environmental treasures. During the early fall and winter it’s also a magnet for hundreds of shorebirds — Dunlin, godwits, peeps, gulls, curlews, plover, Avocets and stilts, sometimes turnstones and Oystercatchers — totaling thousands of birds. During a morning walk we usually see 40 different shorebirds, egrets, grebes and ducks, sometimes in great numbers. Best of all, it’s part of a relaxing morning of beautiful beaches, salt air and panoramic views of the bay. Too good to be true? Come see for yourself. Good opportunities for bird and marine photography.

Monterey Bay Weekend Tour
2015-08-14 08:00 - 2015-08-16 17:00 | Monterey Bay, Monterey, CA, United States
Known as a world-class destination for wildlife, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and its great panorama of marine life, including birds, sea mammals and migrating whales, is very special, even within California. Due to its unique undersea canyons and conservation programs, the bay teems with life. Many parks, preserves and beaches grace the area, such as Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing, the Salinas and Carmel River estuaries, Pt. Lobos and Julia Pfeiffer State Park, among many. During this exciting weekend we can expect to see Sea otters and Sea Lions as well as pelicans, egrets, raptors, shorebirds, ducks and songbirds. From 70 to 90 species of birds is typical during a weekend. We have also scheduled a three-hour cruise with Monterey Bay Whale Watch for dolphin, whale, Sea otter and pelagic bird viewing. (The cruise is optional, with an additional fee). The tour starts noon Friday at Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing and ends Sunday afternoon in Monterey. Tour fee does not include meals or accommodations. We will stay at the Monterey Bay Lodge, very close to the sea. Information on directions, birdlife and whale-watching cruise will be provided at registration. Many excellent wildlife and bird photography opportunities.

San Pablo Reservoir Tour Orinda (new!)
2015-07-31 09:00 - 12:00 | San Pablo Reservoir, Orinda, CA, United States
In all but name San Pablo Reservoir is one of our most scenic local lakes, surrounded by thousands of acres of deciduous and conifer woodland. Both on land and ‘sea’ this area has an abundance of birds. These include herons, egrets, terns, Acorn and Nuttall’s woodpeckers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, White Pelicans, Western grebes, Osprey, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks. Occasionally we catch a view of the nesting Bald Eagles found here, flying over the reservoir. Woodlands are alive with the sound of warblers, finches, flycatchers, nuthatches, chickadees and titmice, among others. Butterflies frequent the edges of the woodlands, such as skippers, swallowtails, admirals and Painted ladies. This trip is always a favorite East Bay destination for its diversity of sights, sounds and birdlife. Parking fee; walking distance moderate, with some uneven terrain, 1-2 miles. Good woodland photography.

Pescadero Village & San Mateo Coast Birding
2015-07-25 | Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, Pescadero, CA, 94060, United States
The rugged San Mateo coastline, studded with great headlands and huge waves crashing on the beaches, is one of the Bay Area’s most dramatic and beautiful sights. Just south of Half Moon Bay we find Pescadero, a tiny 19th century village “that the decades cannot improve.” Nearby are numerous wonderful coastal birding sites. On our walk along the white sandy beaches we can observe Heerman’s and Western gulls, Western grebes, terns, various shorebirds and possibly Snowy plover. Next stop will be the high rocky headlands, with Brown pelicans, Willets, turnstones and Oystercatchers flying among the sea stacks. We’ll search for Surfbirds and Alcids also. After a visit to the village for lunch and a quick visit to the remarkable Harley Goat Farm (Killdeer, swallows, Red-tails, blackbirds), we’ll head out to the coastal marshes for herons, egrets, ducks, sparrows, harriers and White-tailed kites. This is a visit to a spectacular and rugged coastline and a secluded, historic village, both with great birding opportunities. Moderate walking, spectacular scenery, great ocean photography.

Yosemite, Mono Lake & Eastern Sierras Tour
2015-07-16 - 2015-07-19
Thurs.-Sun. July 16-19
This has become our most popular weekend trip, and no wonder: a vast and ancient lake on the eastern slope of Yosemite, Mono is famous for its unique tufa formations that surround its waters. Snow-capped Sierra peaks, forests, high desert country and volcanic geological features all combine to give a feeling of a vast wilderness. The lake and Eastern Sierra woodlands are a magnet to several hundred bird species, including phalaropes, plovers, grebes, pelicans, swifts, raptors and several species of ducks. Local songbirds include warblers, nuthatches, thrushes, kinglets, woodpeckers, shrikes and flycatchers. Osprey, Mt. Bluebird, Sage Grouse, Black-billed Magpie, Clark’s Nutcracker, Audubon’s warblers, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Townsend’s Solitaire are among a total of 75-80 species usually observed. Our tour begins at Thurs. afternoon at June Lake, south of Lee Vining. Our lodging will be at Boulder Lodge, right on the shores of June Lake. The tour ends Sunday at 1pm. Among many locations we will explore are Mono Lake, the ghost town of Bodie, Bridgeport Reservoir and Lee Vining Canyon. Great opportunities for nature photography. Tour cost does not include accommodations, meals or transportation. Lodging, directions and birding information provided at registration.

Bolinas Lagoon Birding Tour
2015-06-27 09:00 - 16:00
Sat. June 27, 9am-4pm
Simply put, Bolinas and the Marin coast are Bay Area natural and cultural treasures. This West Marin day trip to the secluded village of Bolinas will demonstrate why: the soaring Bolinas Ridge and the pristine Pacific coastline, thick coastal woodlands and the lagoon itself, with Osprey, terns, shorebirds, ducks and grebes swimming and flying over the marshes. After hiking a riparian trail and noting the heron rookery near the village, we’ll stop for lunch at the Coastal Café. In the afternoon we’ll drop by noted local artist Keith Hansen’s studio filled with extraordinary bird paintings. Low to moderate amounts of walking, level terrain. Good nature photography opportunities.

Sierra Nevada/Sierra Valley Weekend Tour
2015-06-05 - 2015-06-07
Fri.-Sun. June 5-7
When you visit the Sierras and see these unspoiled forests, sparkling rivers, lakes and magnificent peaks, you understand John Muir’s inspiration. Our headquarters for this summer weekend will be the Sierra Valley, 25 miles north of Lake Tahoe. It is a vast and wild landscape of forests, lakes, mountains and small villages. The area provides homes for a extraordinary variety of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, wildflowers and giant conifer cathedrals. We will visit Lake Davis, the Iron Bridge marshes, the Feather River, Yuba Pass, Plumas-Eureka State Park and several other locations. Common summer birds include sapsuckers, warblers, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Bald Eagles, Osprey, White Pelicans, Mt. Bluebirds, White-faced Ibis, Sandhill Cranes, Black–billed Magpies, Nighthawks, ducks and hummingbirds. Common songbirds include flycatchers, finches, swallows, nuthatches and thrushes. We typically see 80-100 species over the weekend. The trip begins at noon Friday in Sierraville and ends Sunday at noon. Spectacular nature photography opportunities. Tour cost does not include accommodations, meals or transportation. Lodging, directions and birding information will be provided at registration.

Monterey Bay Weekend Birding Tour
2015-05-15 - 2015-05-17
Fri.-Sun. May 15-17
Even considering the spectacular coastline of California, Monterey and Big Sur stand out. With its unique marine ecology, Monterey Bay has a great concentration of wildlife: birds, overwintering monarch butterflies, sea mammals and migrating whales. Outstanding wildlife locations dot the area: Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing, Salinas and Carmel River estuaries, Pt. Lobos and Julia Pfeiffer State Park, among many. During this exciting weekend we can expect to see Sea otters and Sea Lions as well as pelicans, plovers, herons and egrets, raptors, and many kinds of shorebirds, ducks and songbirds. From 80 to 90 species of birds is typical during a weekend. We meet noon Friday at Elkhorn Slough (at Moss Landing, south of Santa Cruz), and the tour ends Sunday in Monterey. Tour includes half-day bay cruise for whales and pelagic birds (additional). Tour fee does not include meals, accommodations or transportation. We will stay at the Monterey Bay Lodge, not far from the beach. Information on directions and birds will be provided at registration. Many excellent wildlife and bird photography opportunities.

Birds of the Bay Area, Summer, 2015
2015-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Meets at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
(Two sections, Albany and Berkeley)
Berkeley Class: May 13 – July 15 (Weds. 9am-12pm)
Meets at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst (at ML King Way), Berkeley
Registration fee is $85 for the whole term and $45 for half term. Individual trips are $30. Register at the website or do so at the first class.
The class meets every Wednesday morning for 10 weeks, with six fieldtrips and four class sessions. Classes will discuss binocular use and techniques of bird identification, observation, biology, behavior and distribution. Fieldtrips to beautiful nature preserves such as the Hayward Shoreline, Rush Ranch and Temescal Regional Park will provide practical experience in bird observation techniques. Total species observed averages 75, with a great variety of raptor, shorebird, wildfowl and songbird species seen. Birds frequently observed include Red-winged Blackbirds, bluebirds, Great and Snowy egrets, California quail, Avocet, stilt, Willet, Chestnut-backed chickadee, Red-tailed hawks, White-tailed kites, Bewick’s wren, Wilson’s warblers, Nuttall’s and Acorn woodpeckers and Double-crested cormorants, among many. Class includes films, lectures, book reviews and readings, and is designed for beginning and intermediate level students. Car-pooling available for field trips.

Magpies, Orioles and Roadrunners: The Mines Road Tour
2015-05-09 09:00 - 16:00
Sat. May 9, 9am-4pm
Mines Road is a trip through wild and rugged country into the vanished landscape of Alameda County. It begins at the Concannon Winery in Livermore, and winds past sycamore-lined creeks, oak woodlands and chaparral-covered hillsides. It boasts a legendary assortment of birds, including Golden Eagles, Yellow-billed Magpies, Phainopeplas, Roadrunners, Red-shouldered hawks, orioles and Great Horned owls. Even Lawrence’s goldfinches and Lewis’ woodpeckers are possible. Bring drinks or lunch, or buy one at the Junction Café. We expect to see at least 50 species for the day. This tour is primarily roadside birding, with very little walking. Meet at Concannon Winery in Livermore, 9am.

Birds of the Bay Area, Summer, 2015
2015-05-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Albany Senior Center, Masonic and Marin Ave., Albany, CA, United States
Albany Class: May 4 – July 13 (Mon. 9am-12pm)
Meets at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic (near Solano Ave.), Albany
Register at the Albany Senior Center (Masonic and Marin Ave.) or call Robin Mariona, Recreation & Community Services Coordinator, for more information: (510) 524-9124
Email: rmariona@albanyca.org Registration: $85
The class meets Monday mornings for 10 weeks (no class May 25th) with six fieldtrips and four class sessions. The class is designed for beginning and intermediate level birding students, and will discuss binocular use, bird biology, field guides and bird identification/ observation. Fieldtrips to scenic parks and preserves such as Sibley Regional Park, the Martinez Shoreline, Garin Dry Creek and Sunol will provide a great diversity of birdlife and practical experience in techniques of observation. Total species observed usually ranges 70-80, with a great variety of raptors, shorebirds, woodpeckers, wildfowl and songbirds. Birds frequently observed include Pied-billed grebe, Bushtit, House finch, Raven, Red-winged Blackbird, California quail, Avocet, Willet, Chestnut-backed chickadee, Widgeon and Ruddy duck, Red-tailed hawk, White-tailed kites, Bewick’s wren, Great and Snowy Egret, Nuttall’s and Acorn woodpecker, Brown Pelican, Anna’s Hummingbird, Barn, Cliff and Tree swallows, Killdeer, Mallard, Forster’s tern and Great Blue heron. Car-pooling available for field trips.

Las Gallinas Wetlands, San Rafael
2015-04-11 09:00 - 12:00
Sat. April 11, 9am-12pm
At Las Gallinas, hundreds of acres of grasslands, ponds and marshes extend from a small water treatment facility. The marshes recede in all directions for hundreds of yards, and are surrounded by the beautiful hills of Marin. Acre for acre, it has some of the greatest diversity of birdlife I’ve ever seen, a favorite winter and spring resort for ducks, herons, egrets, shorebirds, raptors and songbirds. Harriers, Red-tails, White-tail kites, almost 10 species of ducks, pelicans, grebes, rails — all are found here, and numbers are frequently impressive. Leisurely walking tour around the ponds is about one-two miles. Total species observed usually range from 40 to 50. Great photographic opportunities for waterbirds.

Elkhorn Slough Estuarine Preserve at Moss Landing
2015-04-04 09:00 - 16:00
Sat. April 4, 9am-4pm
Elkhorn Slough, situated in the middle of Monterey Bay near Moss Landing, has a fabled reputation as one of the greatest concentrations of marine mammals (large numbers of Sea otters and Sea Lions) and birdlife anywhere in California. The Elkhorn River mouth and coastline have a great variety of pelicans, ducks, shorebirds and terns, plus raptors, cormorants, grebes and occasionally owls. On one memorable trip we were treated to a Sea Otter mother with a baby nestled on her chest, not fifty feet away. We typically observe fifty species or more bird species. Bring (or buy at Moss Landing) lunch and drinks. Walking is at a casual pace, about two miles. Excellent photo opportunities.

Gray Lodge/Sacramento Refuge Wildfowl Weekend
2015-03-27 - 2015-03-29
Fri.-Sun. March 27-29
This weekend tour of several of the Central Valley’s legendary birding areas should produce great numbers of raptors, ducks, geese, swans, shorebirds, Sandhill cranes and songbirds. More than 300 species of birds and mammals, both resident and migratory, use the refuges of the Sacramento Valley, including almost half of the Pacific flyway’s waterfowl population. Several million ducks and geese migrate through the area during the fall, and many stay to overwinter. The tour will begin at 1pm Friday at the Sacramento NWR and continue Saturday at Gray Lodge. Sunday morning we will visit nearby Colusa refuge and depart by early afternoon. Local accommodations will be in Yuba City. Lodging, directions and birding information provided at registration. Cost does not include transportation, lodging or meals. Great bird photography opportunities.

Bodega Bay Tour, Sonoma Coast
2015-03-21 09:00 - 16:00
Sat. March 21, 9am-4pm
Scenic Bodega Bay, nestled on the Sonoma coast west of Sebastopol, is one of our most exciting local birding locations, designated an IBA (Important Bird Area) by the American Bird Conservancy. The great headlands, coves and marshes surrounding the bay protect great numbers and varieties of birds, such as Peregrine falcons, Brant geese, plovers, loons, shorebirds, songbirds and many species of ducks. Numerous rarities have also turned up here, such as the Emperor Goose and Red-throated Grebe. We will circle the bay, visiting locations such as Bodega Head, Doran Beach, Owl Canyon, Spud Pt. Marina and Hole-in-the-Head. Minimal walking; bring lunch (or purchase one locally) and drinks. Good photographic opportunities. Optional dinner after the tour.

Monterey Bay Weekend Birding Tour
2015-03-13 - 2015-03-15
Fri.-Sun. March 13-15
Even considering the spectacular coastline of California, Monterey and Big Sur stand out. With its unique marine ecology, Monterey Bay has a great concentration of wildlife: birds, overwintering monarch butterflies, sea mammals and migrating whales. Outstanding wildlife locations dot the area: Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing, Salinas and Carmel River estuaries, Pt. Lobos and Julia Pfeiffer State Park, among many. During this exciting weekend we can expect to see Sea otters and Sea Lions as well as pelicans, plovers, herons and egrets, raptors, and many kinds of shorebirds, ducks and songbirds. From 80 to 90 species of birds is typical during a weekend. We meet noon Friday at Elkhorn Slough (at Moss Landing, south of Santa Cruz), and the tour ends Sunday in Monterey. Tour includes half-day bay cruise for whales and pelagic birds (additional). Tour fee does not include meals, accommodations or transportation. We will stay at the Monterey Bay Lodge, not far from the beach. Information on directions and birds will be provided at registration. Many excellent wildlife and bird photography opportunities.

Baylands Preserve Tour, Palo Alto
2015-03-07 09:00 - 12:00
Sat. March 7, 9am-12pm
Home of the secretive Black Rail, this section of Palo Alto shoreline and marshland has some of the greatest concentrations of wildfowl, shorebirds, raptors and waders of any in the Bay Area. Herons and egrets, stilts, Avocets, rails and shorebirds, terns, kites and harriers, Cinnamon and Green-winged teal, Canvasback and Ruddy ducks, among many others, are common from fall to early spring. Occasionally Peregrine falcons grace the skies over the marshes and we find Burrowing owls near the Ground squirrel burrows. Commonly we see more than 40 species in a morning. Easy walking along the trails is slightly more than a mile.

Birds of Sunol & Alameda Creek
2015-03-02 09:00 - 12:00
Sat. May 2, 9am-12pm
Tucked away in southeastern Alameda County, Sunol is one of the wildest and most beautiful of Alameda’s parklands, far from towns and highways. It is also bisected by crystalline Alameda Creek, teeming with songbirds of all kinds, such as phoebes, wrens, orioles, nuthatches, warblers and Western tanagers. High dramatic crags have Golden eagles and falcons soaring overhead. Noisy (and eccentric) Acorn woodpeckers fly among oak woodlands lining the steep hillsides. Along the trails we can encounter Lazuli Buntings, Yellow-billed Magpies, Western bluebirds, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers and many others. One word sums it up: extraordinary. (Parking fee)

Mendocino Seacoast Weekend Tour
2015-02-27 - 2015-03-01
Fri.-Sat. Feb. 27- March 1
Mendocino County is renowned for its great northern seacoast, rural charm and deep wild forests. Rugged headlands are pounded by enormous breakers; unspoiled rivers like the Navarro and Albion meet the sea to create expansive beaches. The town of Mendocino itself appears to be a transplanted New England village. State parks protect the coastline, including McKerricher, Van Damme and Russian Gulch, and are home to many forms of wildlife, birds and marine mammals. Loons, Black oystercatchers and turnstones, together with many species of ducks and songbirds, gulls and cormorants, patrol the oceans and forests. Among the headlands and crashing surf we’ll search for Surfbirds, mergansers and the elusive Harlequin, a spectacular sea duck. Inland, as we search the woodlands for warblers, thrushes and kinglets, we will also note colorful fungi that bring the forest floor to life. Mendocino is part of the heritage of old-time California, a paradise for nature photographers. We will be staying at the Beach House Inn in Ft. Bragg, but nearby there are also many comfortable B&Bs. Transportation, lodging and meals are not included in the tour cost.

Raptors of Panoche Valley & Mercey Hot Springs
2015-02-21 09:00 - 16:00
Sat. Feb. 21, 9am-4pm (NEW)
Deep in the inner coastal range 20 miles south-west of Los Banos, lies Panoche Valley. This very wild and scenic country is home to many varieties of exciting birds, including Golden Eagles, Prairie falcons, bluebirds, Rock and Canyon wrens, Lawrence’s goldfinches, Chukars (large colorful partridges) and Mountain plover. Our destination on this tour is Mercey Hot Springs, a resort known for its Long-eared and Barn owls. The $30 resort day-use fee (additional) includes optional hot-tub or heated pool break. Bring lunch, drinks and a full tank of gas. Overnight accommodations at the resort are usually available to extend your stay. Nearby are Mission San Juan Bautista and Pinnacles National Park (home to California condors), both also wonderful places to visit. Good opportunities for nature and bird photography.

Birds of the Alameda Shoreline and Crab Cove
2015-01-31 09:00 - 12:00
Sat. Jan. 31, 2015, 9am-12pm
The Alameda shoreline, with miles of sandy white beaches and stunning views of the bay, is one of our local environmental treasures. During the fall and winter it is also a magnet for hundreds of shorebirds — dunlin, godwits, peeps, curlews, plover, avocets and stilts, with lesser numbers of turnstones and oystercatchers — totaling thousands of birds. During a morning walk we usually see over 40 different species of shorebirds, egrets, grebes and ducks, sometimes in great numbers. Best of all, it’s part of a relaxing morning of beautiful beaches, salt air and panoramic views of the bay. Too good to be true? Come see for yourself. Good opportunities for bird and marine photography.

San Luis/Merced National Wildlife Refuge Tour
2015-01-17 09:00 - 16:00
Sat. Jan. 17, 9am-4pm
This large wildlife preserve in the San Joaquin Valley totals more than 50,000 acres of marshes and riparian woodlands, and provides one of the greatest wildlife spectacles still found in California. In the winter, the marshes hold countless thousands of geese, raptors, ibis, ducks and great flocks of shorebirds, all in constant motion. Sandhill cranes give their long trumpeting calls as they fly overhead, and thousands of Snow geese suddenly fly up from the ponds. Great Horned owls sit silently in the willows. Over the course of the day, we usually observe fifty or more species of birds, and occasionally mammals such as otters, elk or deer. Bring lunch and drinks; tour is mostly by car, with minimal walking. Outstanding opportunities for bird photography.

San Joaquin Valley Birding Tour
2014-12-26 08:00 - 2014-12-28 17:00
Fri.-Sun. Dec. 26-28, 2014
The great complex of San Joaquin wildlife refuges near Los Banos, including Merced, West Bear Creek, Kesterson and San Luis, comprise over 50,000 acres of wetlands, teeming with migratory birds. They are the winter quarters for tens of thousands of raptors, ducks, egrets and shorebirds. Sandhill Cranes, Snow and Ross’ geese, Ferruginous hawks, Cinnamon and Green-wing Teal, Great Horned Owls, Boat-tail Grackles, Water Pipits and Bald eagles are only a few of the many species. Mammals also make their homes here, such as Coyotes, cottontails, river otter and Tule Elk. Typically we see 80-90 bird species at these refuges, some in the thousands. The tour begins at noon Friday at the Merced Refuge, continues Saturday at Los Banos and Sunday morning we’ll search for the Tule Elk at San Luis. En route we’ll stop at refuge HQ near Los Banos, not far from our hotel. This classic valley wildlife tour will provide wonderful photographic and birding opportunities. Lodging, directions and birding information provided at registration. Cost does not include transportation, lodging or meals.
