Birding with Ted

Klamath Refuge Fall Weekend Tour
2015-10-29 08:00 - 2015-11-01 17:00 UTC | Klamath Refuge, tule lake, CA, United States
For wilderness and wildlife this one can’t be beat! In a nutshell, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds, wildfowl and raptors pass through the Klamath Basin on the California-Oregon border every fall. The refuge, a series of lakes, forests and marshes totaling thousands of acres, is surrounded by wild and rugged country. To top it off, the 12,000- foot snow-capped peak of Mt. Shasta rises above the horizon to the south! All in all, it is one of the greatest spectacles of migrating birds on the West Coast. They include Sandhill cranes, Snow and White-fronted geese, shorebirds, Tundra swans, Gray Jays, ducks of every description, Bald Eagles, several species of owls and many kinds of songbirds. Each day will provide new refuges and opportunities to view wildlife. Typically we observe between 30-40 species per day, 75-85 total. Walking is minimal, on level terrain. A resort in nearby Klamath Falls, Oregon, will provide our accommodations. Tour begins Thurs. afternoon after check-in, and continues through noon Sunday. From the Bay Area drive time is about 6-7 hours, and car-pooling is recommended. Amtrak service to Klamath Falls and van transportation on site is available. Lodging and travel information provided at time of registration. Tour cost does not include transportation, lodging or meals. Spectacular wildfowl, wilderness and landscape photography.

Davis Raptor Center, Winters & Lake Solano
2015-11-07 | UC Davis Raptor Center, 1340 Equine Ln., Davis, CA, 95616, United States
This day tour of the central valley will feature a wide variety of birds, beginning with the UC Davis Raptor Center. We’ll search for ducks, raptors, woodpeckers and flycatchers along Putah Creek before viewing the many species of raptors and owls at the center. These frequently include Golden eagles, Swainson’s Hawks, Great Horned and Screech owls. After a refreshing lunch at the little town of Winters, we’ll head off to nearby Lake Solano. This woodland lake typically has a great variety of songbirds, woodpeckers and ducks in the fall. Several species of mergansers, Bufflehead, Wood ducks, teal, goldeneye, Widgeon and several others swim over the placid lake’s surface, together with grebes, cormorants, geese, herons and egrets. Woodpeckers include sapsuckers, Nuttall’s, Flickers, Downies and frequently Lewis’. Wild peacocks, with their shrill calls, also enliven the scene. Occasionally we spot Phainopeplas and (rarely) the elusive Pygmy owl. The lake is surrounded by oak woodlands and scenic hills, making the location idyllic for birding, picnics and kayaking. A total of 40-50 different species is our usual count. This is one of our most delightful tours, not to be missed! Great water bird and landscape photography.

Hayward Hills & Garin Creek Tour (New!)
2015-11-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Garin Dry Creek Regional Park, 1320 Garin Ave, Hayward, CA, 94544, United States
This wild and open expanse of East Bay hills is part of Garin Dry Creek regional park, high above the city of Hayward. Our bracing tour will also include riparian groves and oak woodlands, additional habitats for many varieties of songbirds. Fall warblers, kinglets, finches and thrushes fly or sulk within the woody thickets of trees. Flying in circles overhead or sitting as silent sentinels watching our peregrinations, Kestrels, Red-shoulder and Red-tail hawks await our discovery. Western bluebirds may hover or cavort over the grasslands. Occasionally we spy relative rarities, such as the Loggerhead shrike, or the striking, stripe-headed Lark sparrow. Ducks and grebes are also possibilities in a nearby secluded woodland pond, such as Ring-necks, Mallards and Pied-billeds. Altogether, this tour will be a fine fall morning full of woodland birds.

Merced/San Joaquin Valley Birding Tour
2015-11-20 08:00 - 2015-11-22 17:00 | Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Merced, CA, United States
The complex of wildlife refuges near Los Banos and Merced in the Central Valley (two hours south of the East Bay) comprise over 50,000 acres of preserved wetlands and grasslands. They are one of the few remaining places to see California wildlife and birds in their original splendor prior to Anglo settlement 200 years ago. Refuges such as Merced, West Bear Creek, San Luis and Kesterson are the winter quarters for tens of thousands of ducks, raptors and shorebirds, which include Sandhill Cranes, Snow and Ross’ geese, Ferruginous hawks, Cinnamon and Green-wing Teal, Great Horned owls, Boat-tail Grackles, Water pipits and Bald eagles. 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 over the weekend, some in the thousands. The tour begins at noon Friday at the Merced Refuge, continues Saturday at Los Banos and Sunday morning we’ll visit the Tule Elk at San Luis. En route we’ll stop at refuge HQ near Los Banos, not far from our hotel, to view their graphic displays, maps and specimens. This classic valley wildlife tour will provide wonderful photographic and birding opportunities. Lodging, directions and birding information provided at registration. Tour cost does not include lodging or meals.

Rush Ranch Raptor Rapture (New!)
2015-12-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, 2548 Grizzly Island Rd., Suisun City, CA, 94585, United States
Tucked away among the sloughs and grasslands of Grizzly Island Wildlife Area near Fairfield is the 2,000 acre Rush Ranch Open Space preserve. It is a mosaic of 19th century barns, farm equipment and horse corrals, part of the frontier heritage of northern California. In the fall and winter, it is home and hunting ground to many varieties of raptors, such as Red-tailed hawks, Golden eagles, Northern Harriers, Kites and Kestrels. Owls are also partial to these endless acres of grasslands, including the Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing and Short-eared. Singing Western meadowlarks and Loggerhead shrikes add to the exciting possibilities on this late fall morning. If you’re partial to wide open spaces and large wing-swept birds, this is sure to become a rapturous holiday memory! Moderate walking distance, good wildlife photo ops.

San Luis/Merced National Wildlife Refuge
2015-12-12 | Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Merced, CA, United States
This great wildlife preserve in the San Joaquin Valley, two hours south of the East Bay, totals more than 50,000 acres of marshes and riparian woodlands. It also 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; thousands of Snow geese suddenly rise up with a great honking and clattering of wings. We see Great Horned owls sitting silently in the willows. Over the course of the day, we usually observe fifty or more species of birds, and occasionally mammals such as otter, elk, cottontails or deer. Bring lunch and drinks; tour is mostly by car, with minimal walking. Outstanding opportunities for bird photography.

Bolinas Lagoon and Marin Coast Tour
2016-02-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Bolinas Lagoon, CA, United States
Well-known to nature lovers, the Marin coast is one of the Bay Area’s natural and cultural treasures. This 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, harriers, terns, shorebirds, ducks and grebes swimming and flying over the marshes. After walking a riparian trail alive with songbirds and noting the heron rookery near the village, we’ll stop for lunch at the Coastal Café. Later 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 and landscape photography opportunities.

San Luis/Merced National Wildlife Refuge Tour
2016-02-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Merced National Wildlife Refuge, 7376 Wolfsen Rd, Merced, CA, 95341, United States
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. This profusion of wildlife is one that greeted early explorers of California almost 200 years ago. Thousands of wildfowl, from Bufflehead to Snow geese to Tundra swans, dabble and swim through the ponds. Sandhill cranes in large numbers, as well as numerous varieties of shorebirds, wade through the marshes. Raptors abound, including Great Horned owls, Marsh harriers and Kestrels, and even Bald eagles occasionally make an appearance. And in the afternoon we’ll visit refuge headquarters to see herds of the magnificent Tule elk. Fifty to sixty bird species are usually observed during the day. Bring lunch and drinks; tour is mostly by car, with minimal walking. Outstanding wildlife and bird photography opportunities.

Davis Raptor Center, Winters & Lake Solano
2016-03-19 09:00 - 16:00 | California Raptor Center, 1340 Equine Ln, Davis, 95616, United States
This day tour will highlight several beautiful locations, a charming valley town and a great variety of birds. We’ll start at the UC Davis Raptor Center south of Sacramento in the morning for ducks, raptors and woodpeckers along Putah Creek. At the center we frequently see Golden eagles, Red-shouldered and Swainson’s Hawks, Great Horned and Screech owls, among others. After lunch at the historic little town of Winters, we’ll head off to nearby Lake Solano. Surrounded by stunningly beautiful hill country, this woodedlake has a great variety of songbirds, woodpeckers and ducks in the spring. Commonly found species include mergansers, Bufflehead, Wood ducks, teal, goldeneye and Widgeon, together with grebes, cormorants, geese, herons and egrets. Woodpeckers include sapsuckers, Nuttall’s, Flickers, Downies and occasionally Lewis’. Totals for the day usually total 40-50 different species. Opportunities for great water bird and landscape photography.

Mt. Diablo: Monarch of the East Bay
2016-03-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Mt. Diablo, Mount Diablo State Park, Clayton, 94507, United States
At 3,800 feet, Mt. Diablo sits in solitary splendor at the center of Contra Costa county, monarch of all it surveys. It is equally visible for miles in all directions, throughout the delta, Marin, Alameda and Solano Counties. Parts of 40 counties can be seen from its summit, as well as, on a clear day, the Sierra Nevada! This great mountain is a remarkable geological feature of the Diablo Range, with many bird and wildlife species and unique wildflowers in addition to its spectacular views. On this morning tour we will explore the mountain’s birdlife, woodlands and wildflowers on the way to the summit, where numerous exhibits explain the mountain’s history and geology. Birds of all kinds, such as Acorn woodpeckers, Peregrine falcons, bluebirds, warblers, nuthatches, Cliff and Barn swallows, Red-tailed hawks and Golden eagles may be seen on its slopes and woodlands. Remarkable landscape photography opportunities. Park entrance fee.

Condor Quest at Pinnacles National Park
2016-04-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Pinnacles National Park, 5000 California 146, Paicines, CA, 95043, United States
Casting large shadows over the rugged landscape of the Pinnacles are the legendary California Condors! These immense but shy scavengers, among the largest of North America, soar through the mountain air with a wingspan of nearly 10 feet! The Pinnacles, south of Hollister, are one of the few places in northern California where these great “flying coffee tables” can still be seen. This newly-created 23,000 acre national park is composed of rugged volcanic peaks with chaparral-dotted hillsides, oak woodlands and riparian corridors. The park teems with many birds in addition to the Condors (the checklist includes 181 species observed), including falcons, quail, hummingbirds, finches, blackbirds and woodpeckers. Spring wildflowers and butterflies will add extra sparkle to the countryside. We will meet at the Visitor’s Center at the Eastern entrance. Relaxed hiking on level or low-grade trails. Great opportunities for landscape photography. Bring lunch and plenty of drinks; parking fee.

Rush Ranch Owl Prowl
2016-04-30 10:00 - 13:00 | Rush Ranch, 3521 Grizzly Island Rd, Suisun City, CA, 94585, United States
We return to early frontier California at Rush Ranch, part of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area near Fairfield. This is a Gold Rush-era farm complete with horse corrals, set within 2,000 acres of grasslands and marshes. The land has been preserved for the public by the Solano Land Trust. Sweeping to the horizon in all directions, the grasslands are also the hunting ground of numerous kinds of owls, such as the Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing and Short-eared. Raptors include Red-tailed hawks, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite and Kestrels, among others. We listen to the music of singing meadowlarks as we walk the fields, and occasionally glimpse Loggerhead shrikes on the fence lines. So if you’re partial to wide open spaces and large wing-swept birds, this trip is sure to become a “rapturous” memory! Moderate walking, good landscape photo ops.

Eagles, Magpies & Roadrunners: A Mines Road Journey
2016-05-07 09:00 - 16:00 | CA
A tour of Mines Road (south of Livermore) is a trip into the nearly forgotten 19th-century world of the Bay Area. Mines Road begins near Murrieta’s Well winery, where we hope to find Great Horned owls, White-tailed kites, Yellow-billed magpies and Acorn woodpeckers. And it wanders for many miles past cattle ranches, creeks with great twisted sycamores, grazing horses, pine and oak woodlands and chaparral-covered hillsides. It is wild and beautiful country, with a legendary assortment of birds. Among the 50 or so species we usually see are Golden Eagles, Phainopeplas, Red-shouldered Hawks, Cliff swallows, Roadrunners, orioles and Lewis’ woodpeckers. We’ll navigate the serpentine road 30 miles through the hills to the Junction Café, delighting in the ever-changing landscape. Joining our function at the Junction will be bikers, birders, wrens, hummingbirds and goldfinches (Lawrence’s!) Bring drinks and lunch, or buy one there. This is an all-day tour, primarily roadside birding, with little walking, although we will make many stops. Make sure you have a full tank of gas for the roundtrip journey!

Sunol: Alameda’s Hidden Wilderness
2016-05-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Sunol Regional Park, Sunol, CA, CA, United States
Far from the hustle and bustle of Alameda’s cities and highways is Sunol Regional Park, perhaps the most beautiful and wild of the county’s parklands. Covered in oak woodlands, surrounded by high crags and bisected by Alameda Creek, it is home to a great variety of birds, butterflies and wildlife. As we walk through the thick riparian woodlands, we hear the wacky cackling of Acorn woodpeckers, and can note flycatchers, nuthatches, warblers and wrens flitting through the trees. On the hillsides several kinds of swallows cut their graceful patterns in the sky, accompanied by Western bluebirds and noisy Ravens. Occasionally we may surprise a flock of turkeys, led by a large Tom in majestic display. And soaring in the big open sky are Golden eagles, Red-tails and White-tailed Kites. Only one word sums up this secluded natural treasure: extraordinary! Great landscape photography opportunities.(Parking fee)

Sierra Valley Weekend Birding Tour and Class
2016-06-09 08:00 - 2016-06-12 17:00 | Unnamed Venue, Sierraville, CA, 96126, United States
For John Muir the Sierras were the peak experience of California wilderness. These great forests of pine and fir, pure streams and rivers, mountain lakes and soaring peaks are a revelation of the nature of American wilderness. Our headquarters for these natural history weekends will be the Sierra Valley, an area about 25 miles north of Lake Tahoe. The area’s grasslands, lakes and forests provide homes to a extraordinary variety of birds, butterflies, wildflowers and small mammals. We will visit nearby Lake Davis, the Sierra Valley marshes, the Feather River, Yuba Pass, Plumas-Eureka State Park and other locations. In this spectacular setting we expect to see between 80-100 species of birds, including sapsuckers and other woodpeckers, numerous warblers, kinglets, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Osprey, White Pelicans, Mt. Bluebirds, White-faced Ibis, Sandhill Cranes, Black–billed Magpies, Nighthawks, Clark’s Nutcrackers, ducks, hummingbirds and many other songbirds. The weekend trip begins at noon Thursday in Sierraville and ends Sunday at noon in Portola. I will provide a list of local accommodations for your stay. We typically visit two locations per day, break for lunch and share dinner in the evenings. Lodging and most meals are not included in the tour price. (The tour may be taken together with a class on Sierra birds and ecology meeting May 18 and 25 in Berkeley. The class is included in the tour price.)

Monterey Bay Weekend Birding and Coast Tour
2016-06-23 08:00 - 2016-06-26 17:00 | Monterey Bay, Monterey, CA, United States
Monterey Bay is renowned as one of the most scenic areas of the central California coastline, with an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. This wildlife includes an endless wealth of birds, Sea otters and migrating whales. Outstanding beaches, headlands and state parks dot the area: Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing, the Salinas and Carmel River estuaries, Monterey beach, Pt. Lobos and Julia Pfeiffer State Park in nearby Big Sur, 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. Eighty to ninety different species of birds, some in great numbers, is typical during a weekend. We meet noon Thurs. at Elkhorn Slough (at Moss Landing, south of Santa Cruz), and the tour ends Sunday in Monterey. It includes a half-day bay cruise for whales and pelagic birds Friday (additional fee). Lodging and most meals are not included in the tour price. We will stay at the Monterey Bay Lodge, very close to the Monterey beachfront. Information on directions and birds will be provided at registration. Excellent wildlife and bird photography opportunities.

Yosemite, Mono Lake & Eastern Sierras Tour
2016-07-28 08:00 - 2016-07-31 17:00 | June Lake, June Lake, CA, 93529, United States
This has become one of our most popular weekend tours, 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 80-90 species frequently observed. Our tour begins at Thurs. afternoon at June Lake, south of Lee Vining on 395. 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 Tuolomne Meadows, Mono Lake, the ghost town of Bodie, Bridgeport Reservoir and Lee Vining Canyon. Great opportunities for nature and landscape photography. Tour cost does not include lodging or meals. Information on directions, birding resources and other information will be provided at registration.

The Nature of America: Ecology, Wildlife and Conservation
2016-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Tuesdays, 10am-12pm
This new course surveys the history of North America’s wildlife and human ecology from ancient times to the present. Major themes this semester will include: endangered wildlife, early 19th century biologists and scientists such as Audubon, Wilson, Gray and Bartram; major eco-regions such as Alaska, California and the Southwest; the birth of the conservation movement and the lives of Muir, Roosevelt, Brower, Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson. It will conclude with current environmental challenges (global warming, human population increase, resource management) and the explosive growth of new conservation initiatives, organizations and strategies. The course will include use of films, lectures, readings, fieldtrips and guest lecturers.

Music of the 20th Century: The Modernist Revolution from Stravinski to Glass
2016-09-06 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 20th century Modernist composers and performers from the late 19th century to the present. Course topics will include musical nationalism, jazz and pop influences, minimalism, the Early Music revival and post-modernist innovators. Great performances by Rubenstein, Toscanini, Landowska, Gould, Rachmaninoff, Casals and Rostropovich will be highlighted. The lives and music of Strauss, Resphigi, Elgar, Reich, Stravinsky, Ravel, Bartok, Gershwin, Cage, Glass and others will be examined in light of 20th century innovations in technology, science, politics and ideas. Course includes performances on CDs, class recitals, lectures, readings and films.

Birds of the Bay Area Fall 2016
2016-09-07 09:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Registration fee is $90 for the whole term and $45 for a half term. Individual trips are $30. Register online or contact me.
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 Berkeley-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 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.

History by Hollywood: Cinematic Visions of the 20th Century
2016-09-07 14:00 - 16:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Wednesdays, 2-4pm
This class examines 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, Paths of Glory and Dr. Strangelove, major issues of the last century are brought to life. This semester films will include Karen Silkwood, On the Waterfront, The Graduate, 81/2, Chinatown, Apocalypse Now and Annie Hall, by directors such as Kubrick, Kazan, Fellini, Huston and Allen. The films also highlight the performances of stars such as Mastroianni, Nicholson, Keaton, Brando and Streep. The films interpret recent history and promote class discussion about the last century, a period of great innovation, revolution and conflict. Discussion, commentary and analysis of the films and their historical context will follow film showings.

The Art of the Documentary: Contemporary History on Film
2016-09-08 10:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Thursdays, 10am-12pm
This course presents 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, Waiting for Superman, 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 increase public awareness and attitudes on important issues in the news. Film topics this semester will include issues such as the weapons industry, campaign finance, national security, the Middle East, the environment, immigration and health care. Course format includes films, lectures, readings and guest lecturers.

Renaissance Art in European Civilization
2016-09-08 14:00 - 16:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Thursday, 2-4pm
This course surveys the development of new traditions in European art, architecture and civilization from the late Medieval to the mid-Renaissance (1300-1550) in Burgundy, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. It will examine the lives, work and historical background of artists such as Da Vinci, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Michelangelo, Durer, Bosch, Breughel and the van Eyck brothers. Class format includes films, readings, class discussion, lectures and fieldtrips.

Birds of the Alameda Shoreline and Crab Cove
2016-10-08 09:00 - 12:00 | CA
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.

Bolinas Lagoon and Marin Coast Tour
2016-10-22 10:00 - 16:00 | Bolinas Lagoon, CA, United States
Well-known to nature lovers, the Marin coast is one of the Bay Area’s natural and cultural treasures. This 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, harriers, terns, shorebirds, ducks and grebes swimming and flying over the marshes. After walking a riparian trail alive with songbirds and noting the heron rookery near the village, we’ll stop for lunch at the Coastal Café. Later we’ll drop by noted local artist Keith Hansen’s studio filled with extraordinary bird paintings. Moderate amounts of walking, level terrain. Great nature and landscape photography opportunities.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge Tour
2016-11-05 10:00 - 16:00 | Merced National Wildlife Refuge, Merced, CA, United States
This 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. This profusion of wildlife is one that greeted early explorers of California almost 200 years ago. Thousands of wildfowl, from Bufflehead to Snow geese to Tundra swans, dabble and swim through the ponds. Sandhill cranes in large numbers, as well as numerous varieties of shorebirds, wade through the marshes. Raptors abound, including Great Horned owls, Marsh harriers and Kestrels, and even Bald eagles occasionally make an appearance. And in the afternoon we’ll visit refuge headquarters to see herds of the magnificent Tule elk. Fifty to sixty bird species are usually observed during the day. Bring lunch and drinks; tour is mostly by car, with minimal walking. Outstanding wildlife and bird photography opportunities.

Rush Ranch Owl Prowl new!
2016-11-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Rush Ranch, 3521 Grizzly Island Rd, Suisun City, CA, 94585, United States
We return to early frontier California at Rush Ranch, part of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area near Fairfield. This is a Gold Rush-era farm complete with horse corrals and old barns, set within 2,000 acres of grasslands and marshes. The land has been preserved for the public by the Solano Land Trust. Sweeping to the horizon in all directions, the grasslands are the hunting ground of many owls, such as the Great Horned, Barn, Burrowing and Short-eared. Raptors include Red-tailed hawks, harriers, White-tailed Kite and Kestrels, among others. We listen to the music of singing meadowlarks as we walk the fields, and occasionally glimpse Loggerhead shrikes on the fence lines. So if you’re partial to wide open spaces and large wing-swept predatory birds, this trip is sure to become a “rapturous” memory! Moderate walking, good genre and landscape photography.

Las Gallinas Wetlands, San Rafael
2016-12-03 09:00 - 12:00 | Las Gallinas Wetlands, San Rafael, CA, United States
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 shorebirds of all kinds.

Davis Raptor Center, Winters & Lake Solano
2016-12-10 10:00 - 16:00 | UC Davis Raptor Center, 1340 Equine Ln., Davis, CA, 95616, United States
This tour will highlight several beautiful locations: Winters, a charming valley town, the Davis Raptor center and Lake Solano. We’ll start at the Davis Raptor Center south of Sacramento in the morning for ducks, raptors and woodpeckers along Putah Creek. At the center we frequently see Golden eagles, Red-shouldered and Swainson’s Hawks, Great Horned and Screech owls, among others. After lunch at the historic little town of Winters, we’ll head off to nearby Lake Solano. Surrounded by stunningly beautiful hill country, this woodedlake has a great variety of songbirds, woodpeckers and ducks in the spring. Commonly found species include mergansers, Bufflehead, Wood ducks, teal, goldeneye and Widgeon, together with grebes, cormorants, geese, herons and egrets. Woodpeckers usually include sapsuckers, Nuttall’s, Flickers, Downies and occasionally Lewis’. We usually spy a total of 40-50 different species. Great water bird and landscape photography.

Birds of the Bay Area: Winter 2017
2017-01-04 09:00 - 12:00 | North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Registration fee is $95 for the whole term and $50 for a half term. Individual trips are $30. Register online or contact me.
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 parks and shorelines such as Pt. Molate, Coyote Hills, Garin Dry Creek/Hayward Hills, Arrowhead Marsh and the Hayward Shoreline will provide practical experience in bird observation techniques. Total species observed during the semester usually averages 90-100, with a great variety of raptor, shorebird, wildfowl and songbirds seen. Birds frequently observed include Western, Horned and Eared grebes, Cinnamon and Green-winged teal, Canvasback, Widgeon, Bufflehead and Lesser Scaup ducks, Avocets, stilts, Great Blue Herons, Black-bellied plover, Anna’s hummingbirds, Chestnut-backed chickadee, Red-tailed hawks, White-tailed kites, Say’s phoebe, Bewick’s wren, Western bluebirds, Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s Warblers, Nuttall’s and Acorn woodpeckers and Double-crested cormorants, among many. Class sessions include films, lectures, book reviews and readings, and encourages students at all levels of birding experience. Car-pooling available for field trips.
