Field Trips

Please note that this trip will not depart from Stockton, but will instead meet approximately 100 miles to the north in the vicinity of the refuge. The exact meeting location will be provided after registering for the trip.

Jon Dunn will host attendees for a full day exploring the waterfowl and wintering passerines at the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. Jon will be paying particular attention to geese, with the goal of identifying the shy Tule Goose subspecies of Greater White-fronted Goose. The latest research on their life history makes them an intriguing candidate for a split. Birding will be from the platform at the first parking lot, then by carpool along the refuge loop. Radios will assist with communication, and you should bring a scope if possible. If time allows, we may visit additional locations in the vicinity.

Native Land: Patwin
County: Colusa
Meeting Time: 8:00am in the vicinity of the refuge to be provided
Drive Distance: to: 110 miles + during: 3 miles + from: 110 miles = total: 223 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car; observation deck is accessible
Restrooms: pit toilets (accessible) available at the refuge entrance
Additional Fees: $125 donation that will benefit the Club’s Youth Scholarship and Publication funds

This trip will visit ricelands in the southern Sacramento Valley to enjoy a spectacle of wintering waterfowl. When conditions are right, you can see spectacular numbers of swans, geese, and other waterbirds. Raptor numbers and diversity are often quite good as well. We will start with a private farm tour, joined by the rice farmer and a representative from the rice industry who will introduce their various conservation programs supporting waterfowl, shorebirds, and endangered fish species. Following the farm tour we will drive among flooded ricelands that we’ve scouted in search of more birds!

Native Land: Nisenan
County: Sacramento and Sutter counties
Departure Time: 7:00am please note this is a new start time
Drive Distance: to/from: 55 miles + 50 during = total: 160 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car
Restrooms: at the meeting location before the farm tour

Jon Dunn will host attendees to some of Sacramento County’s best birding spots. Waterfowl and sparrows will be abundant at Cosumnes River Preserve. The east county grasslands provide wonderful chances for raptors, Lewis’s Woodpeckers, and Mountain Bluebirds. At Nimbus Fish Hatchery, we will have a chance to study gulls and diving ducks along the American River. If time allows, we may visit additional locations in the area. Meet at 5:45am in the hotel lobby for a 6:00am departure.

Native Land: Nisenan, Miwok
County: Sacramento
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to: 30 miles + during: 60 miles + from: 60 miles = total: 150 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car; some areas have places to sit
Restrooms: available at Cosumnes and near the hatchery
Additional Fees: $125 donation that will benefit the Club’s Youth Scholarship and Publication funds

Once farmland, the state’s largest riparian floodplain restoration project at the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers took 10 years to complete and opened as California’s newest state park in June of this year. This is a special chance to explore 5 miles of the park’s trails, which are currently only open for guided tours. This will be our first trip to the park, but we expect to encounter a nice selection of riparian songbirds, such as wrens, sparrows, and finches. We will be joined by a park interpreter that will share the park’s history and features alongside our birding.

Native Land: gathering and meeting land for Northern Yokut, Valley Miwok, Coastal Miwok, and Sierra Mewuk; includes a Native Use Garden
County: Stanislaus
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 40 miles = total: 80 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; trails are not accessible
Restrooms: available at the parking lot

This field trip will focus on the grasslands, oak savanna, and foothill reservoirs of Eastern Stanislaus County. After regrouping in Waterford, we will visit the Basso Bridge Fishing Access along the Tuolumne River to look for valley wintering riparian and wetland birds such as Phainopepla, Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-throated Sparrow, and others. Next we’ll head over to scope Dawson Lake, home to a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors, keeping an eye out for Hooded Mergansers, Wilson’s Snipe, and Bald Eagles. Finally, we will traverse Cooperstown Road on a slow drive through the grasslands, savanna, and blue oak woodlands along the extreme east end of the county where we hope to find Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Mountain Bluebirds, Vesper Sparrows, Burrowing Owls, and Ferruginous Hawks.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts, Miwok
County: Stanislaus
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to: 50 miles + during: 30 miles + from: 70 miles = total: 150 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car; some areas have places to sit
Restrooms: available at the meeting spot in Waterford, porta-potty at one stop, no additional facilities available

Merced National Wildlife Refuge hosts staggering numbers of wintering waterfowl and Sandhill Cranes, as well as shorebirds, marsh birds, songbirds, and raptors. We will drive the refuge’s auto loop, stopping at observation platforms where we can get out and set up scopes to view the spectacle. We will also explore the short trails along the route on foot. Depending on pre-trip scouting, we may visit additional sites in the vicinity, as this trip has historically encountered rare species, such as Ruff, Eastern Phoebe, and Swamp Sparrow.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: Merced
Departure Time: 5:30am
Drive Distance: to: 85 miles + during: 5 miles + from: 85 miles = total: 175 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car; some areas have places to sit
Restrooms: available at the refuge visitor center

This scenic foothill reservoir is normally closed to the public during the winter months, but we are fortunate to be able to offer this 4-hour boat tour led by a ranger from the East Bay Municipal Utilities District. Eagles, Ospreys, and winter waterfowl are expected. It can be chilly out on the water, so come prepared with enough layers.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Amador/Calaveras
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 45 miles = total: 90 miles
Mobility Rating: please ask for details
Restrooms: available at the boat launch

Oak Grove Park in Ripon is a 55-acre undeveloped remnant of riparian forest and riparian oak woodland on the north bank of the Stanislaus River at the southern edge of San Joaquin County. The park contains some excellent habitat, and the black currant, raspberries, elderberries, wild grape, and naturalized black mulberries provide an abundant food source for both resident and migratory species alike. Although the trails are level, they are not all well-maintained, so there may be a bit of bushwhacking, stepping over logs, ducking under branches, etc. If it rains, the trails may be muddy. The adjacent treatment plant consists of 15 acres of treatment ponds and 40 acres of accessible (on foot) disposal ponds. A Pacific Golden-Plover has been found here in past winters, and a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, waders, and gulls is expected.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 30 miles = total: 60 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car
Restrooms: available at the park in Ripon where we stop for lunch in between locations

Visit an area with limited public access to see the fruits of more than 35 years of habitat restoration. The total property is 3500 acres, with the wastewater treatment plant in the middle, surrounded by an open space buffer called the Bufferlands. We will visit restored and remnant habitats, including tule and cattail marsh, managed seasonal wetlands, riparian forest, oak forests with trees more than 200 years old, and grasslands to find a high diversity of species. The wastewater ponds can harbor a good diversity of shorebirds and other waterbirds. This tour provides an excellent chance to look for rails, raptors, including Burrowing Owls, winter songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. We will visit several sites, with short to moderate walks at each.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Sacramento
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 36 miles = total: 72 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car; includes dirt and gravel roads, mowed paths, and potentially muddy terrain
Restrooms: at the meeting location, with a mid-day opportunity, and a porta-potty in the field

East of Stockton, in the low foothills of Calaveras County, lies the Salt Spring Valley. Due to the variety of habitats visited, a nice selection of birds can be found. Expected birds will include good numbers and variety of raptors and waterfowl. Raptors usually include Bald and Golden eagles, Ferruginous and Rough-legged hawks, and Prairie Falcon. Waterfowl will include a mix of geese, dabbling and diving ducks, mergansers, grebes, shorebirds, herons, gallinules, and coots. The ranch is also good for Lewis’s Woodpecker and Phainopepla.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts, Miwok
County: Calaveras
Departure Time: 5:30am
Drive Distance: to: 44 miles + during: 30 miles + from: 44 miles = total: 118 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: available at Copperopolis on the way in and out, otherwise no facilities available

The San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge is located west of Modesto within the historic floodplain of the confluences of the San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne rivers. Refuge lands consist of oak-cottonwood-willow riparian forest, pastures, agricultural fields, and wetlands. The refuge has an approved refuge boundary of 12,877 acres with over 1,900 acres of pristine riparian woodlands and 800 acres of newly restored riparian woodland. It is the primary wintering site of 98% of the Aleutian Canada Geese that winter in the Valley (October—April), plus it is a major wintering/migration area for Lesser and Greater Sandhill Cranes, Cackling Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese. The refuge’s riparian forest provides important migration and breeding habitat for Neotropical migratory land birds including the most recent celebrity, Least Bell’s Vireo. We should expect to get close to 100 species on this trip.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: Stanislaus
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 33 miles = total: 66 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; accessibility varies by route, please ask for details
Restrooms: facilities only available mid–late morning

Cosumnes River Preserve is a conservation success story that boasts some of the finest valley oak riparian forest in California, in addition to oak savanna, agricultural fields, managed wetlands, and tidally influenced marsh. If conditions allow, you will have the opportunity to choose your own adventure for the day. The Tall Forest route visits a closed portion of the preserve, along with the Accidental Forest, so named for the trees that sprang up following a natural levee breach. This route involves navigating narrow trails and rubber boots are encouraged, but the birding can be rewarding with a better chance of Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Hutton’s Vireo, Wrentit, or unexpected rarities. The River Walk route includes trails that are flatter, unobstructed, and sample more habitats. This route will also visit the Lost Slough Boardwalk with a chance for Sora and Virginia Rail. Both routes also include wetlands along Desmond Road and by “The Barn,” which is not regularly open to the public. Both routes will traverse 4–5 miles, and participants can expect to see Sandhill Cranes, as well as a diversity of waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Sacramento
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 30 miles = total: 60 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; accessibility varies by route, please ask for details
Restrooms: available at meeting spot and on the way out; no facilities along the Tall Forest route

Join us for a full day of exploring the under-birded heart of Yolo County. We’ll start at the south end of the Capay Valley, where Cache Creek leaves the edge of Blue Ridge and flows into the Sacramento Valley. As a result of restoration, two parks along the creek, Capay Open Space Park, and Cache Creek Nature Preserve, offer varied habitats for wildlife including oak savanna, riparian and grasslands. Capay Open Space Park is a good spot to look for California Thrashers and sparrows. Heading east, we will stop at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve, a former gravel mining site to check the pond for waterfowl, waders, and rails, and the riparian area for winter passerines. In Woodland, we will walk the evaporation ponds at the Woodland/Davis Water Pollution Control Facility and scope the North Pond for waterfowl, shorebirds, and gulls. Anything can show up in these ponds! If there is time, we will head south to a nearby area known for high raptor diversity and numbers. Possible raptors include Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, and Prairie Falcon. This trip should produce a high number of species as well as many educational opportunities. Bring lunch, snacks, and water.

Native Land: Patwin
County: Yolo
Departure Time: 5:30am
Drive Distance: to: 90 miles + during: 25 miles + from: 60 miles = total: 175 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding out of the car; some areas have places to sit
Restrooms: facilities at the first two locations

The grasslands and farmlands between Dixon and Rio Vista provide some of the best open country birding in the Central Valley, though some are eyeing this area to develop a new city. Target species include Mountain Plover and numerous raptors: Ferruginous and Rough-legged hawks, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, and both eagles are possible. This is also one of the best areas for the regionally declining Long-billed Curlew, Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike, and Tricolored Blackbird. The sheep paddocks of the Montezuma Hills harbor a large wintering flock of the California threatened Tricolored Blackbird. Scattered wetlands harbor waterfowl and forested patches shelter songbirds. Much of the birding will be along lightly traveled roads.

Native Land: Miwok, Patwin
County: Solano
Departure Time: 6:00am
Drive Distance: to: 35 miles + during: 20 miles + from: 35 miles = total: 90 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car
Restrooms: available in Rio Vista, then no facilities available

A gem of the Central Valley, the Sutter Buttes are not accessible without special permission. A guide from Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes will lead our group on a hike through the grasslands and oak savanna of a private working ranch. The time of year will limit the diversity of birds, but it will be a good opportunity to enjoy this special place and for those working on their Sutter County bird lists. There are good opportunities for Golden Eagle and other raptors, Rock Wren, Phainopepla, and wintering songbirds. Irruptive species like Lewis’s Woodpecker and Mountain Bluebird are possible.

Native Land: Nisenan, Patwin
County: Sutter
Departure Time: 5:30am
Drive Distance: to: 86 miles + during: 22 miles + from: 86 miles = total: 194 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: at meeting location and portable available at start of the hike
Additional Fees: $35 as a donation to Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes

East of Sacramento in the foothills of Amador County, numerous ponds, a large reservoir, fields, riparian woodlands, and oak savanna harbor a high diversity of birds. We will visit several hotspots to see waterfowl, grebes, pelicans, and eagles. In the past, rare wintering species have included Red-naped Sapsucker, Pacific Loon, Iceland Gull, Tundra Swan, Burrowing Owl, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Green-winged Teal, and Black-and-white Warbler. We will visit Camanche Reservoir, the Ione area, and numerous ponds in between. This area provides a great opportunity to see many birds for your Amador County list. Driving time is about 60 minutes each way.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Amador
Departure Time: 6:30am
Drive Distance: to: 40 miles + during: 15 miles + from: 42 miles = total: 97 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car
Restrooms: available at the reservoir, then limited availability
Additional Fees: $12 fee per vehicle at Camanche Reservoir

The Black Hole is a balanced, sustainable wetland habitat created by Dino Cortopassi beginning in 1992. The property lies at the northwest end of W. Woodbridge Rd., Lodi. The habitat was created entirely with private money and has restricted access. The total property is 750 acres; however, only the west section of the Black Hole will be birded on this field trip. eBird shows the Black Hole West as a Restricted Hotspot with 129 bird species listed. The Black Hole was created as a duck club and was lightly hunted by family and friends of Dino in the early years. However, over the past 5-10 years it has been managed completely as habitat for the breeding and foraging of birds. The habitat is truly unique and must be seen to be fully appreciated. One can expect to see many Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese species, shorebirds, raptors, and winter songbirds on the field trip.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 20 miles = total: 40 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: no facilities available

Join us for a rare opportunity to visit a site in the Delta prior to the initiation of restoration work. Located at the southern end of the Yolo Bypass at the confluence of Cache Slough, Steamboat Slough, and the Sacramento River, this 350-acre site consists of former agricultural fields that are currently managed as waterfowl habitat in the winter and cattle grazing in the spring and summer. The site supports approximately 80 acres of aquatic habitats that include emergent marsh, riparian, seasonal wetlands, and open water. We can expect to encounter a variety of wintering waterfowl along with raptors and songbirds as we walk 1-2 miles along unpaved levees and the interior property. Participants should be prepared for the possibility of muddy conditions (bring a pair of muck boots just in case). A representative of the firm undertaking the restoration work will join us to describe the site’s future reconnection to tidal flows that will benefit endangered fish species and tidal marsh birds.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Solano
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 30 miles = total: 60 miles
Mobility Rating: Most or all birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain; bring a pair of muck boots if possible
Restrooms: no facilities available

Located along the Stanislaus River, which marks the border between San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, Caswell Memorial State Park includes one of the finest examples of closed-canopy Valley Oak riparian forest in the Central Valley, a habitat type that has been nearly extirpated by agricultural and urban development. Caswell is an excellent spot for both resident and wintering woodland birds of the Central Valley including Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, warblers, sparrows, and finches.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:30am
Drive Distance: to/from: 28 miles = total: 56 miles
Mobility Rating: Most or all birding requires being out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: available in all parking lots
Additional Fees: $10 fee per vehicle (free with state pass)

Cosumnes River Preserve is a conservation success story that boasts some of the finest valley oak riparian forest in California in addition to oak savanna, agricultural fields, managed wetlands, and tidally influenced marsh. This trip samples these habitats and includes trails that are flat and relatively unobstructed. Along the River Walk there is a chance for Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Hutton’s Vireo, and Wrentit. If there is time, the Lost Slough Boardwalk provides an opportunity for Sora and Virginia Rail. The trip will traverse 4–5 miles, and participants can expect to see Sandhill Cranes, as well as a diversity of waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds.
Native Land: Miwok
County: Sacramento
Departure Time: 6:30am
Drive Distance: to/from: 30 miles = total: 60 miles
Mobility Rating: Most or all birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: facilities available

The Flood/Waverly rangelands in eastern San Joaquin County are a “Raptor Wonderland” in winter. Birds likely to be seen include Ferruginous and Rough-legged hawks, perhaps a Prairie Falcon or Merlin. Eagles, owls, and numerous other raptors are possible. Other birds may include Long-billed Curlews, Loggerhead Shrikes, Mountain Bluebirds, and perhaps gulls near the landfill.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 6:30am
Drive Distance: to: 18 miles + during: 15 miles + from: 26 miles = total: 59 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car
Restrooms: available at Linden on the way in, otherwise no facilities available

A 40-acre oak riparian jewel along the Mokelumne River near downtown Lodi. Maintained trails make for very easy walking. It is a great spot for wintering passerines such as Varied Thrush, Pacific Wren, and Golden-crowned Kinglet. It is a good vagrant trap, with some of the rarest birds in the county historically found here.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 18 miles = total: 36 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; most areas suitable for wheelchairs & scooters and have places to sit
Restrooms: available, including accessible

Just 10 minutes from the hotel, this park is set in an attractive oak grove with a 10-acre lake. Acorn Woodpeckers abound, and there will be a nice mix of regular oak woodland species, native and introduced waterfowl on the lake, and maybe a surprise or two.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts, Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:45am
Drive Distance: to/from: 6 miles = total: 12 miles
Mobility Rating: walking up to two miles on flat, paved and dirt roads, dirt tracks, and lawns
Restrooms: available at park
Additional Fees: $6 per vehicle entrance fee

The 9,200-acre Staten Ranch on Staten Island is a Nature Conservancy property that is still actively farmed, but also managed for wildlife. The farm’s corn and wheat fields are flooded in winter to provide critical habitat for Sandhill Cranes and other waterfowl. This is a great location to see Sandhill Cranes, Aleutian Cackling Geese, and a nice mix of waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to: 22 miles + during: 12 miles + from: 22 miles = total: 56 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car
Restrooms: no facilities available

The large oaks, elms, and other trees in this historic cemetery host an interesting variety of wintering and migrating thrushes, warblers, sparrows, and woodpeckers, among others. Even when the birding is slow, visitors can enjoy a relaxing stroll through California history.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:45am
Drive Distance: to/from: 4 miles = total: 8 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; some areas suitable for wheelchairs & scooters
Restrooms: no facilities available

These small settling ponds are near the intersection of I-5 and Hwy 12. Highly productive over the years, they are one of the best spots to see Pacific Golden-Plover locally if they are around. When the conditions are right, they can attract good numbers of other shorebirds as well as gulls, terns and ducks.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 11 miles = total: 22 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car
Restrooms: no facilities available

This wilderness area (open on selected weekends only) consists of lush riparian woodlands nestled along the south bank of the Mokelumne River in the town of Woodbridge. Dirt trails meander throughout the park. It is a great spot for wintering passerines such as Varied Thrush, Pacific Wren, and residents like Wrentit. This is a good vagrant trap, very similar to Lodi Lake, only wilder.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 7:00am
Drive Distance: to/from: 18 miles = total: 36 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: no facilities available

This winery is located on a seldom traveled section of E. Woodbridge Road six miles east of Lodi. It was built in 2007 on a beautiful piece of property bordered by the Mokelumne River on the south. Twenty acres of untouched woodlands bisect the property, separating the upland vineyards from those in the bottomland. Trails pass through a variety of habitats: vineyards, a nature area, a dense patch of cottonwood and willows, along the Mokelumne River, and two meadows. Along the way, you will notice numerous nesting boxes that the owner, Tom Hoffman, has built. Over the last 5-6 years, David Yee has regularly led monthly field trips to this area and has steadily built up a checklist of birds. Following the trip, you may choose to enjoy a wine tasting on the patio.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 22 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; some areas suitable for wheelchairs & scooters
Restrooms: available at the tasting room

Starting out in northeastern Alameda County, we will bird roadside agricultural fields looking for raptors, Long-billed Curlews and possible shorebirds. We will then continue to the Mountain House area for hawks, eagles, possible Prairie Falcon, and Burrowing Owl. We will move on to Clifton Court Forebay in Contra Costa County where we will need scopes to scan for ducks, gulls, cormorants, possible Peregrine Falcon and Merlin. Our last stop is Bethany Reservoir to use the restrooms and search for sparrows, warblers, and possibly wintering Swainson’s Hawk. From the parking lot, we’ll scan the reservoir for ducks, gull species, Golden Eagle and possible Ferruginous Hawk. Note: the field trip finishes at Bethany Reservoir. The field trip leader will get the group back to Hwy 580/205.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: Alameda and Contra Costa
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 30 miles + during: 22 miles = total: 52 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car; some areas suitable for wheelchairs & scooters
Restrooms: Portables available at the forebay and restrooms available at Bethany Reservoir.
Additional fees: $10 fee per vehicle, only by using the Yodel app (free with state park pass)

Cosumnes River Preserve is a conservation success story that boasts some of the finest valley oak riparian forest in California in addition to oak savanna, agricultural fields, managed wetlands, and tidally influenced marsh. This trip samples these habitats and includes trails that are flat and relatively unobstructed. Along the River Walk there is a chance for Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, Hutton’s Vireo, and Wrentit. If there is time, the Lost Slough Boardwalk provides an opportunity for Sora and Virginia Rail. The trip will traverse 4–5 miles, and participants can expect to see Sandhill Cranes, as well as a diversity of waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Sacramento
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 30 miles
Mobility Rating: Most or all birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: facilities available

The Flood/Waverly rangelands in eastern San Joaquin County are a “Raptor Wonderland” in winter. Birds likely to be seen include Ferruginous and Rough-legged hawks, perhaps a Prairie Falcon or Merlin. Eagles, owls, and numerous other raptors are possible. Other birds to be looked for include Long-billed Curlews, Loggerhead Shrikes, Mountain Bluebirds and perhaps gulls near the landfill.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 18 miles + during: 15 miles = total: 33 miles
Mobility Rating: Most birding in & around the car
Restrooms: available at Linden on the way in, otherwise no facilities available

Curious about gardening for birds and pollinators? Gardening in the Central Valley can be a challenge, from hot and dry in the summer to cold and damp in the winter, but we will visit three successful examples. We will start at the Stockton Garden Club’s certified wildlife and pollinator community garden. A member of the garden club will show us the garden’s features (and hopefully their resident Great Horned Owls). Next, we will visit a water-wise and California native plant garden at a home in central Stockton. This small pollinator garden has over 60 species of native plants and has attracted over 70 species of birds including an impressive list of rarities, including Canada Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Evening Grosbeak, and most recently, a male Broad-billed Hummingbird. Finally, we will take a short jaunt up to Lodi to check out a garden that went from simple grass to a pleasing hybrid of drought tolerant natives and non-natives. It continues to be a work in progress, and you never quite know what you might find tucked away in this neighborhood yard.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts, Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: total: 17 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; some areas suitable for wheelchairs & scooters and have places to sit
Restrooms: available

Slow down before you head home on Sunday by joining Paul Miller for a mindful birding experience at the Lodi Lake Wilderness Area. From Paul, “Mindful birding is a term used for focusing more on spatial awareness of our bird related surroundings, rather than specifically on bird identification and documenting the species and quantity of birds. It’s more like the birding we do while we are having lunch out in nature than when we are actively looking or listening for birds to list. We will begin the trip with a short centering exercise followed by both walking and sitting mindful birding activities. This trip should also provide excellent opportunities for photography. I hope you join me on this unconventional birding experience with our magnificent birds.” Please bring a small folding chair or blanket.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 18 miles
Mobility Rating: accessible for walkers and wheelchairs; handicapped parking available
Restrooms: available, including accessible

This is a small, delightful riparian oak woodland along the banks of the Mokelumne River northeast of Lodi. Expect mergansers, sparrows, warblers, and an occasional Osprey or eagle. There are maintained trails in this area leading from the parking lot to the river and riparian forest.

Native Land: Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 32 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; some areas suitable for wheelchairs & scooters and have places to sit
Restrooms: pit toilets available, including accessible

This consists of 15 acres of treatment ponds and 40 acres of accessible (on foot) disposal ponds just north of riparian habitat along the Stanislaus River. A Pacific Golden-Plover was found there last spring, and a variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, waders, and gulls is expected.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 30 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car
Restrooms: no facilities available

Visit an area with limited public access to see the fruits of more than 35 years of habitat restoration. The total property is 3500 acres, with the wastewater treatment plant in the middle, surrounded by an open space buffer called the Bufferlands. We will visit restored and remnant habitats, including tule and cattail marsh, managed seasonal wetlands, riparian forest, oak forests with trees more than 200 years old, and grasslands to find a high diversity of species. The wastewater ponds can harbor a good diversity of shorebirds and other waterbirds. This tour provides an excellent chance to look for rails, raptors, including Burrowing Owls, winter songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. We will visit several sites, with short to moderate walks at each. This will be a shorter version of Friday’s tour, but we will visit the most productive locations.

Native Land: Miwok
County: Sacramento
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 36 miles
Mobility Rating: Birding both in & out of the car; includes dirt and gravel roads, mowed paths, and potentially/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: at the meeting location, with a mid-day opportunity, and a porta-potty in the field

Located on the south side of Dry Creek in far northern San Joaquin County, the Waldo Holt Preserve includes 80 acres currently undergoing restoration to riparian woodland habitat. The preserve is not open to the public, and the plantings of elderberry, valley oak, and wild rose have grown rapidly since our first visit in 2023. We are especially pleased the preserve has been named in memory of Waldo Holt, a longtime Conservation Chair for San Joaquin Audubon Society and member of the Central Valley Bird Club. Waldo loved all birds but was especially active in the preservation of Swainson’s Hawks. On this trip, we expect to encounter a nice selection of riparian songbirds, such as wrens, sparrows, and finches.

Native Land: Northern Valley Yokuts, Miwok
County: San Joaquin
Departure Time: 8:00am
Drive Distance: to: 6 miles
Mobility Rating: All birding out of the car; includes rough and/or muddy terrain
Restrooms: no facilities available