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Field Trip Kid Friendly

Lake Alamaden & Los Alamitos Creek Trail
Saturday September 11 8:00 AM (Half Day)
Leader: Janna Pauser (408) 569-9264. Expect about 3 miles of easy walking. We will bird the lake and the trail upstream looking for waterfowl, raptors, and a wide variety of riparian birds. Hoped for species include Western Tanager and Yellow Warbler with possible Willow Flycatcher and Nutmeg Mannikin. Lunch optional; rain cancels. Meet at the bathrooms (blue building) near the east entrance to Almaden Lake Park (note: parking is free on Winfield Blvd). From Highway 85 take Almaden Expressway south, turn left on Coleman Road and then right on Winfield Blvd.

Ogier Ponds
Sunday September 12 8:00 AM
Leader: Kirsten Holmquist, (408) 747-0988. Half Day. Rain cancels. From Hwy. 101 in Morgan Hill take Cochrane Rd. west to Monterey Hwy., turn right, go north 2.6 miles, turn right towards the Model Airplane Park (street is unnamed). Follow the road for 1/4 mile and park in the gravel lot at the first bend in road (meet at the gate if the entrance is locked).

Eve Case Bird Discussion Group
Tuesday September 14 9:30 AM
Location: Home of Pat Dubois, 17150 Buena Vista Ave, Los Gatos, (408) 395-4264.
Topic: Sooty Shearwater More...

"Farallon Islands Natural History" with Peter White
Wednesday September 15 Doors open 7:30PM; Program 8:00PM.
Location: Palo Alto Arts Center, Newell & Embarcadero Rds
Cost: Free
Twenty-seven miles west of the Golden Gate are the Farallon Islands. In season, these granite outcrops host the largest seabird breeding colony in the contiguous United States when 300,000 birds of twelve species gather on the islands to nest. In addition, the islands serve as a breeding or hauling out site for five species of pinniped. Join us as Pete, author of The Farallon Islands, Sentinels at the Golden Gate, discusses the islands? human and natural history. More...

Moss Landing & Elkhorn Slough
Wednesday September 15 8:30 AM
Leader: Todd Newberry (831) 426-8741. Half Day. Highlights: gulls, terns, ducks, shorebirds, raptors. Bring snacks, water. ?Note: this is the THIRD Wednesday in September. Meet at Jetty Rd and Hwy 1 just north of Moss Landing.

Cavity Nesters Recovery Program Year-End Meeting
Thursday September 16 7:00 PM
Location: McClellan Ranch Park, Cupertino.
Volunteer nest box monitors review the nesting season and share nest box monitoring results and stories. A casual, fun opportunity to laugh, commiserate, and get to know your fellow monitors. Please try and have your data submitted to the website before the meeting, if at all possible, but logging into your CNRP account on the CNRP Data Site. If you have any questions, contact the SCVAS Programs Coordinator at programs@scvas.org.

Point Reyes
Saturday September 18 9:00 AM
Location: Drake's Beach parking area
Leader: Peter LaTourrette (650) 961-2741 Full Day. Our annual trip to the west coast's most active vagrant trap, where birds and the weather are always exciting and unpredictable! Bring lunch, liquids, a full tank of gas, and be ready for fog, wind, sun and lots of difficult to ID birds. From Hwy 1 in Marin Co. take Sir Francis Drake Blvd west approx 14 miles, turn left to Drake's Beach, meet in parking area. Be prepared to carpool from Drakes Beach.

Charleston Slough
Sunday September 19 9:00 AM (half day)
Leader: Allen Royer (408) 288-7768. Trip for beginning birders but all are encouraged to attend. Bring your spotting scope and a friend! RC.

Sixth Annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival
Thursday September 23 through Sunday, Sept 26th.
Location: Watsonville, CA
Always fun, always new, always exciting! More...

"Shorebirds of San Francisco Bay" with Bob Power.
Friday September 24 9:00AM - 2:00PM
Location: Hayward Regional Shoreline, Winton Ave Staging Area,
Cost: $25 members; $30 non-members
From instantly identifiable to perpetually perplexing, we'll look at the common and uncommon shorebirds of the San Francisco Bay, spending more time on the trickier sandpipers and dowitchers whose basic plumage causes moaning and groaning. The field trip will be a leisurely and flat stroll to Oro Loma Marsh, where we'll be putting our identification skills to work.

Sunnyvale Baylands Park
Saturday September 25 7:30 AM
Leader: Pat Kenny (408) 725-0468.? There will not be much walking in this field trip as we will instead concentrate on checking and re-checking the trees in a few spots in the park that can be productive for fall migrants. From Hwy 237 take the Lawrence Expwy./Caribbean Dr. exit toward Caribbean Dr.? Turn right into the park at the first stoplight on Caribbean Dr. north of Hwy 237.? Meet in the first parking lot to the right of the entrance kiosk (Note: a $6.00?parking fee may be required).??

Coyote Hills Regional Park
Sunday September 26 8:30 AM
Leader: Frank Vanslager (650) 961-1505. Half Day. Lunch optional; rain cancels. Take Hwy 84 (Dumbarton Bridge) east to Newark. Exit right at Thornton, then go left on overpass. As Thornton becomes Paseo Padre, turn left at Patterson Ranch/Commerce Rd. into park. Meet at far end of Quarry parking lot located on the left, 1/4 mile past park entrance. Entrance fee required.

Moss Landing & Vicinity
Saturday October 2 8:00 AM
Leader: Todd Newberry (831) 426-8741. Half day. Weather conditions can be highly variable so dress in layers, bring lunch and liquids.? Highlights: Shorebirds, waterfowl and early migrants. Meet in the parking lot north of the Elkhorn Slough Bridge just off Hwy 1 in Moss Landing at the Sea Harvest Restaurant.

Windy Hills OSP
Sunday October 3 8:00 AM
Leader: Kirsten Holmquist, (408) 747-0988. Half day. Rain cancels. Meet in the parking lot at Sausal Pond edge of the preserve. From I-280 in Portola Valley take Alpine Rd. south (toward hills) about 2.9 miles to the first stop sign, Portola Rd, turn right and go 0.8 miles to the parking lot on the left side of the road just past The Sequoias.

City of Sunnyvale Landfill
Wednesday October 6 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Leader: Freddy Howell, Allen Royer, and/or Elaine Gould. Contact organizer Silviana Ruiz (408) 730-7545 to attend. Birding geared toward beginners. Bring binoculars; loaners also available. Rain cancels. Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant, junction of Borregas and Caribbean. Meet at Trailhead at north end.

The Bay Area Bird Photographers Meeting
Wednesday October 6 7:30-9PM
Location: Lucy Evans Baylands Interpretive Center on East Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto
"Bay Area Birds" by Ron Fredrick

2775 Embarcadero Rd. From 101, take Embarcadero Rd going East (towards the Baylands). At the stop sign at the very end of Embarcadero, take a left (staying on Embarcadero). The Interpretive Center is on the left along the jetty path after the Duck Pond. Parking is on Embarcadero, in the lot on the right (just as the road bends again).

Carmel River
Saturday October 9 8:00 AM
Leader: Kathy Parker, (408) 358-2832. Half Day plus. Bring lunch and liquids or buy food at the meeting place. Temperatures vary, so bring extra layers of clothing. Rubber boots optional (there may be puddles in the riverbed). Take Hwy 1 south to Carmel, turn left at Rio Rd., and then immediately turn right into the Crossroads Shopping Center. Meet near the back of the shopping center (southwest corner) near Safeway and the river.

SCVAS Movie Matinee at the Tech.
Saturday October 9 Doors open 1:15PM; Movie begins 1:45PM; Social mixer 4:15PM.
Location: San Jose Tech Museum - large group meeting room.
RSVP requested at 408-252-3747. Join SCVAS as we view SCVAS' own Burrowing Owl documentary "Reversing the Trend" and the sleeper hit "Ghost Bird". Please go to the Tech Museum's Website for directions. More...

Ogier Ponds
Sunday October 10 8:00 AM
Leader: Rich Page (408) 377-1092. Half Day. Rain cancels. From Hwy. 101 in Morgan Hill take Cochrane Rd. west to Monterey Hwy., turn right, go north 2.6 miles, turn right towards the Model Airplane Park (street is unnamed). Follow the road for 1/4 mile and park in the gravel lot at the first bend in road (meet at the gate if the entrance is locked).

Eve Case Bird Discussion Group
Tuesday October 12 9:30 AM
Location: Home of Pat Dubois, 17150 Buena Vista Ave, Los Gatos, (408) 395-4264.
Topic: Black-capped Vireo. More...

Elkhorn Slough & Vicinity
Saturday October 16 8:00 AM
Leader: Rick Fournier (831) 633-0572; Awarbler@aol.com Half day plus. With fall in hand we will bird the Elkhorn Slough environs for seasonal and regional specialties as well as reported vagrants. Plan on birding through lunch (stopping at Phil's Snack Shack) and finishing up early afternoon. Weather conditions can be highly variable, dress in layers, bring food and liquids. Meet in the parking lot just north of Elkhorn Slough Bridge just off Hwy 1 in Moss Landing, at the Sea Harvest Restaurant.

Charleston Slough
Sunday October 17 9:00 AM (half day)
Leader: Allen Royer (408) 288-7768. Trip for beginning birders but all are encouraged to attend. Bring your spotting scope and a friend! RC.

"Cavity Nesting Birds: One Person Can Make a Difference" with Steve Simmons
Wednesday October 20 Doors open 7:30PM; Program 8:00PM.
Cost: Free
Leader: Palo Alto Arts Center, Newell & Embarcadero Rds For over 35 years, Steve has been banding a variety of species of local birds (such as Barn Owls, Wood Ducks and American Kestrels) and installing and monitoring nest boxes in the Merced area. As he notes, "to date I have had over 69,000 Wood Duck ducklings hatch out of my boxes." Not to mention banding over 30,000 birds! During this presentation, he will share some of the joys, frustrations, and amazing photographs from his many years of grassroots conservation efforts. More...

Ogier Ponds & Coyote Valley
Wednesday October 20 8:30 AM
Leader: Janna Pauser (408) 569-9264. We'll survey the ponds for ducks and migrants then look for hawks in Coyote Valley. Bring snacks, water. Note: this is the THIRD Wednesday in October. From Hwy 101 in Morgan Hill take Cochrane Rd. west to Monterey Hwy, turn right, go north 2.6 miles, turn right towards Model Airplane Park (unofficially Tailspin Rd.) Follow road for 1/2 mile, park in gravel lot at first bend in road.

California Bluebird Recovery Program (CBRP) Workshop
Wednesday October 20 2:30PM - 4:30PM
Location: McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan Rd, Cupertino
Cost: Free.
All monitors and coordinators are invited to attend. We'll be joined by Steve Simmons, 38 year veteran of bird banding and nest box monitoring in Merced County, as he shares his techniques, protocols, successes and lessons learned. He currently monitors 850 nest boxes for a wide variety of species. RSVP required at (408) 252-3740 or programs@scvas.org. Directions to the park can be found by clicking here. More...

19th Annual Wildlife Education Day
Saturday October 23 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Location: McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan Rd, Cupertino
Families are invited to join SCVAS and over a dozen other environmental organizations to celebrate nature and wildlife. There will be live animals, educational presentations, a poster contest, and many hands-on activities, including nestbox and bird feeder building.

Get directions and more information about the day, plus see pictures from past events, by clicking here. Or to see this year's flyer, click here.

For "Early Birds," we'll have a guided shorebird walk at the Charleston Slough in Mountain View's Baylands at 8AM. Following the walk, participants will caravan to Wildlife Education Day festivities in Cupertino. RSVP is required for the walk only. (408) 252-3740 or programs@scvas.org More...

"Early Bird" Shorebird walk
Saturday October 23 8:00 - 10:00 AM
Location: Charleston Slough
As a part of our Wildlife Education Day, come join us on this kids-and-families field trip to explore the wonders of the San Francisco Bay Lands. Led by experienced birders, this is a great opportunity to learn about the birds that live in our diminishing wetlands. Afterwards, we encourage all participants to join us at McClellan Ranch for the 19th Annual Wildlife Education Day! Binoculars and field guides available for use upon request. RSVP is required. Call (408) 252-3740 or email programs@scvas.org.

To get to Charleston Slough from the South Bay-- -Take 101 N (or 85 N to 101 N) to Mountain View - Exit San Antonio Rd., and go RIGHT off the freeway towards the Bay - Follow San Antonio until it dead ends at Terminal Blvd. - Park in the available spaces and meet at the trailhead on the corner of San Antonio and Terminal.

From the North Bay-- -Take 101 S to Mountain View - Exit San Antonio Rd. NORTH, and go towards the Bay - Follow San Antonio until it dead ends at Terminal Blvd. - Park in the available spaces and meet at the trailhead on the corner of San Antonio and Terminal

Local Hot Spots
Saturday October 23 7:30 AM
Leader: Bob Reiling (408) 253-7527. Half day - Note Early Start! A chance to visit some of the local hot spots you hear about and, we hope, to see some "good" birds. We'll meet at the Alviso Marina. From Hwy. 237 in San Jose take Gold St. north to the end of the street, bear left on Elizabeth St. and then right on Hope St. to the Marina parking lot.

Hawk Hill/Marin Headlands
Sunday October 24 9:00 AM
Leader: Nick Yatsko (408) 891-3187. Full Day. Highlights: Migrating raptors including the possibility of seeing a rare Broadwing Hawk. Weather conditions can be highly variable, dress in layers, bring lunch and liquids. NOTE: This will be our only field trip to Hawk Hill/Marin Headlands this fall. Heavy fog will likely cancel this trip. Please call Nick to confirm the meeting place due to uncertainty of scheduled work that will close the primary Hawk viewing site. If Hawk Hill is open to the public (see note above) then go north on Hwy. 101, after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge exit just past the Vista Point, cross under Hwy 101 and turn right just before entrance back onto Hwy. 101 south. Drive up hill to the highest point and park. Meet at the parking area or at the Hawk watch on top of the hill.?

Grant Ranch County Park
Saturday October 30 8:30 AM (Half day)
Leader: Alan Thomas (408) 265-9286. Fresh water ducks, oak woodland birds and possible Golden Eagle. A Park entrance fee will be required for the last half of the trip. This will be a moderate 2 mile walk. Lunch optional; rain cancels. From I-680 take Alum Rock Ave. northeast, turn right on Hamilton Rd. and go approximately 9 miles to the park.? Meet at Grant Lake (aka Hall's Valley Lake) parking lot, which is the first parking lot on the left side of the road (do not enter the Main Park Entrance on the right).

Sunnyvale Water Treatment Facility
Sunday October 31 8:30 AM
Leader: Frank Vanslager, (650) 961-1505. Half Day. This is a great place to study ducks. Trip is fairly easy but a long walk is possible. Scopes are highly recommended. From Hwy 101 take Hwy 237 east, exit North on Caribbean Dr, turn right on Borregas Ave, then left into the parking area.

"Winter Birding California's Central Valley" with Lisa Myer.
Monday November 1 & 11/8, 11/15 (classes); Sat's 11/6 & 11/13 (field trips)
Location: McClellan Ranch Park, Cupertino (classes); Local & Central Valley Hot Spots (field trips).
Cost: $70/members; $80/non-members.
Winter is a spectacular time of year to be a California birder and the Central Valley provides valuable habitat for the millions of birds that migrate here each fall. More...

City of Sunnyvale Landfill
Wednesday November 3 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Leader: Freddy Howell, Allen Royer and/or Elaine Gould. Contact organizer Silviana Ruiz (408) 730-7545 to attend. Birding geared toward beginners. Bring binoculars; loaners also available. Rain cancels. Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant, junction of Borregas and Caribbean. Meet at Trailhead at north end.

Alum Rock Park
Saturday November 6 8:00 AM
Leader: Rich Page (408) 377-1092. Half Day. Expect a moderately strenuous 3-4 mile walk, looking for resident birds (possible Rufous-Crowned Sparrow, and American Dipper if we are lucky), migrants and early wintering birds. Possible entrance fee. Lunch optional; rain cancels. Fom Hwy 101 or I-680 take McKee Rd northeast toward hills then left on Toyon Ave, right on Penitencia Creek Rd. Continue into park (drive under bridge) to far end of upper-most parking lot.

Charleston Slough
Sunday November 7 9:00 AM (half day)
Leader: Dick Stovel (650) 856-6105. Trip for beginning birders but all are encouraged to attend. Bring your spotting scope and a friend! Rain cancels.. NOTE: Daylight savings time change for 2010 - fall back or be an hour early for this trip!

14th Annual Central Valley Birding Symposium
Thursday November 18 through Sunday, Nov 21st.
Location: Stockton, CA - at the Hilton Stockton.
Well worth the drive - this symposium is sure to please! More...

City of Sunnyvale Landfill
Wednesday December 1 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Leader: Freddy Howell, Allen Royer and/or Elaine Gould. Contact organizer Silviana Ruiz (408) 730-7545 to attend. Birding geared toward beginners. Bring binoculars; loaners also available. Rain cancels. Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant, junction of Borregas and Caribbean. Meet at Trailhead at north end.

Holiday Open House
Saturday December 4 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: McClellan Ranch Park, Cupertino (22221 McClellan Rd.)
Join SCVAS to celebrate the holiday season. Meet the staff, learn about our conservation efforts and education programs, or just come to enjoy a cozy "fire", the birds at our feeders and so much more! You can get that holiday shopping done at the Nature Shop, where there'll be holiday bargains galore and a special one-day discount. We'll even have a special feathered guest to brighten the festivities! All proceeds go to our Education and Conservation programs. For additional information, contact the SCVAS office at (408) 252-3747.

San Jose Christmas Bird Count
Sunday December 19 all day
Leader: Kirsten Holmquist, 408-747-0988, kirsten.holmquist@comcast.net Yes, it is almost that time of year again when supposedly mature adults scramble around madly counting birds for fun and glory.

The San Jose Christmas Bird Count will be held this year on Sunday, December 19th. Birders of all experience levels are welcome and needed. Bird identification skills are great but other skills are important too, such as: 1) spotter, able to point and say "Bird!" and 2) tally-man, able to make small marks on increasingly grubby bits of paper. We have such a diversity of habitats that there is something for everyone's pleasure. If you prefer shoreline, oak woodlands, lake-side, or riparian, we can accommodate you. So, come have fun and contribute to an important, on-going biological census.

The countdown dinner will review all birds seen for the day. The Leininger Center in Kelley Park is the host location. There is a $5 charge to cover the cost of the national CBC result publication. If you are interested in participating in the count, please contact Kirsten Holmquist before December 3 at 408.747.0988 or via email at kirsten.holmquist@comcast.net.

Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count
Monday December 20 All Day
Birders of all ages and abilities are invited and encouraged to participate in this CBC, even if only for a few hours. The Christmas Bird Count is a highlight of the Audubon year: you don't want to miss it! Contact Jack Cole at (408) 996-0434 or snoyowl@yahoo.com More...

Calero-Morgan Hill Christmas Bird Count
Sunday December 26 All Day
Leader: Ann Verdi. The Calero-Morgan Hill Christmas Bird Count will take place this year on Sunday, Dec 26. Of our four local counts, this inland count is the only one that takes place in the southern part of Santa Clara County. The circle includes the Diablo Range foothills in the east to portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the west with valleys, parks, riparian corridors, and reservoirs in between the two ranges. Some specific areas of interest include a riparian stretch of Coyote Creek (including Ogier Ponds), Almaden Lake Park, Santa Clara Valley Water District Headquarters, Santa Teresa County Park, Quicksilver County Park, Mt Umunhum, Edenvale Garden Park, Guadalupe Oak Grove Park, Coyote Valley, and inland reservoirs including Almaden, Calero, Chesbro, and a portion of Anderson Reservoir. While the purpose of the CBC is to census all our wintering and resident birds, some special birds found on previous counts have included Red-throated Loon, Snow Goose, Greater Roadrunner, Rufous Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, American Redstart, and Black-headed Grosbeak. If you're interested in this South County adventure, I can be contacted by email wodu10@aol.com or by phone 408-266-5108..

Mount Hamilton Christmas Bird Count
Sunday January 2 All day
Mark your calendars! This spectacular count circle includes Mt. Hamilton and the San Antonio Valley. Interested count leaders should contact me as soon as possible with your availability: Bob Hirt (Compiler), 408-821-2732 (cell); 10325 Dempster Avenue, Cupertino, CA.