Albany Shoreline
Come out to the Albany shoreline to see what waterbirds and shorebirds are overwintering, and hopefully find a Burrowing Owl too! Returning birders, newcomers and all levels of experience welcome! For a sense of how this walk goes, here's a blog from 2019: https://goldengateaudubon.org/blog-posts/albany-mudflats-mclaughlin-eastshore-state-park-albany-bulb/ We'll meet 2 hours after (a fairly high) high tide for ... Read more
Berkeley Aquatic Park
All are welcome and LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folks are especially invited to a participatory field trip. We all benefit when anyone shares their observations, knowledge and enthusiasm. There should be large birds that can be seen without binoculars, including migratory and winter water birds. We will likely discover land birds by sight and ear too. ... Read more
Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve (San Francisco)
We’ll cover about two miles with significant climbing on mostly well-graded trails with some rocky spots and exposed roots (sutrostewards.org/trail-map) in the UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve. The preserve is a 61-acre remnant of more than 2000 acres of eucalyptus trees planted by Adolf Sutro. We will be looking and listening for birds and ... Read more
Coyote Creek Lagoon (Fremont)
Part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR. Late November should provide lots of shorebirds, rails, waterfowl, and land birds, and maybe a few raptors. We will walk about 3.0 miles total on both wide, flat trails on the levee and some narrower trails through the marsh. The only benches are a short distance ... Read more
VALLE VISTA EBMUD WATERSHED
Birding in the Moraga area on level trails and fire roads owned by East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). This area features a variety of habitats: chaparral and scrub, grassland, pine-oak woodland, marsh, and the top of the reservoir. Likely birds include raptors, sparrows, California Thrasher, nuthatches, wrens, and the shy Wood Ducks. We will ... Read more
American Canyon Wetlands (Napa)
Come explore this wonderful area with me. We’ll stroll along a flat, easy 2 to 2.5 miles around Napa River wetlands with bordering woodland and grassland to see ducks, shorebirds, waders (including more Black-crowned Night Herons than you can count), raptors, woodpeckers, wintering sparrows and more. Check out the birds you may see at eBird ... Read more
Miller-Knox Shoreline Park (Richmond)
Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline is truly one of the gems of the East Bay. Along the shoreline, beautiful views of the Bay complement the opportunity to see a variety of waterbirds. As you head inland, you pass through open fields, dense scrub, and then up into the rolling hills, some of which are blanketed in forest. ... Read more
Fort Mason (San Francisco)
Meet in front of the Community Garden to explore several different habitats in this compact part of GGNRA. Although migration is over, there are a number of wintering species at Fort Mason, and the species count in November can be as high as 50. We'll explore Aquatic Park for returning ducks, grebes and loons. We'll ... Read more
Dotson Family Marsh and Giant Marsh (Contra Costa County)
At Dotson Family Marsh, we are likely to see sparrows and Western Meadowlarks in the grassland areas, as well as shorebirds feeding on the mudflat as the tide goes out. At the Giant Marsh, we will look for birds on the shoreline, in San Pablo Bay and in the upland eucalyptus groves. We will be ... Read more
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park (Oakland)
We're into the peak season at Lake Merritt - just about everybody arrived; nobody departed. This is probably your best chance of seeing Barrow's Goldeneyes on the trip. No promises, but they tend to show up near the islands first, then move down toward Laney College, where we don't go.... MASKS REQUIRED FOR THIS FIELD ... Read more
Aquatic Park (Berkeley)
Celebrate Buy Nothing Day by collecting bird sightings! All are welcome but LGBTQ+ and BIPOC folks are especially invited to a participatory field trip. We all benefit when anyone shares their observations, knowledge and enthusiasm. There should be large birds that can be seen without binoculars, including migratory and winter water birds. We will likely ... Read more
Garretson Point/Arrowhead Marsh (MLK Shoreline)
This is a great place to see at least some of the birds fairly close up, and a rewarding place to bird for both beginners and experienced folks. It’s a great place for families, as they can easily leave the trip at any time the kids (or adults) have had enough for the day. Bring ... Read more