Sat. May 23 10am-4pm

This enormous state wildlife preserve (over 10,000 acres) near Fairfield is renowned for a great variety of birds and wildlife, with grasslands, marshes and wetlands that stretch for miles to the distant hills. To the south, far beyond the marshes, majestic Mt. Diablo rises above the horizon. Raptors and hawks of all kinds and songbirds such as Loggerhead shrikes, meadowlarks, Red-wing and Brewer’s blackbirds, are fairly common. Our first stop will be Rush Ranch (see www.solanolandtrust.org for more info), a complex of old-fashioned farm buildings with horses, corrals, steers and a massive old red barn. It is also home to several kinds of owls (Barn, Horned and Burrowing), which can usually be found with a little searching. White-tailed kites, Kestrels, herons, egrets and songbirds are present in the fields, marshes and groves of trees. We will then explore Grizzly Island after lunch to see some of these exciting birds, and we’ll search for the giant Tule Elk herd. Bring lunch and drinks. Allow an hour plus from the East Bay; take 80 to 12 (east), and enter the preserve in four miles (a right turn) at Grizzly Island Road. Meet at Rush Ranch, which is the first right (1-2 miles) after the turn from 12, enter on the right down the driveway, meet at the parking lot by the big old Red Barn, maybe 200 yards ahead. Great opportunities for landscape and wildlife photography.