Fri.-Sun. June 6-8, 2014

When you visit the Sierras you understand why John Muir devoted his life to them: these great forests, pure rivers, lakes and soaring peaks are a revelation. Our headquarters for this summer weekend getaway will be the Sierra Valley, 25 miles north of Lake Tahoe. It is a vast and wild landscape dotted with little villages like Portola, Blairsden and Sierraville. The valley’s wetlands and forests provide homes to a extraordinary variety of birds, butterflies, wildflowers, trees and mammals. We will visit Lake Davis, the valley marshes, the Feather River, Yuba Pass, Plumas-Eureka State Park and other locations. Likely birds will 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. Songbirds include flycatchers, finches, swallows, nuthatches and thrushes. We typically see 80-100 species. The trip begins at noon Friday in Sierraville on Hwy 89 and ends Sunday at noon. Tour cost does not include accommodations, meals or transportation. Lodging, directions and birding information provided at registration.