Join one of our many free field trips led by a very experienced leader. You do not have to be a member to participate, although we are sure you will want to join us to support these popular activities.

Please carpool if possible. Bring binoculars, field guides, layered clothing, snack, and fluids.

Field trip leaders - please use this participant sign-in sheet (PDF).

September  October  November  December  January  

Arastradero OSP
Saturday September 4 8:00 AM
Leader: Rich Page (408) 377-1092. Half day. Woodland and grassland species as well as a good assortment of raptors. Trip involves two miles of moderately strenuous walking. Rain cancels. From I-280 take Page Mill Rd west. After approx. 1/2 mile, turn right on Arastradero Rd. Meet in parking lot about 1/2 mile on right.

Alum Rock Park
Sunday September 5 8:00 AM (Half Day)
Leader: Jim Johnson, (408) 996-3506. Half day. Moderately strenuous 3 to 4 mile walk looking for resident breeding 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.

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).

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.

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.

Meet at Terminal Way at end of San Antonio Rd. north off Hwy 101 in Mountain View.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Meet at Terminal Way at end of San Antonio Rd. north off Hwy 101 in Mountain View.

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.

"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.

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.

Meet at Terminal Way at end of San Antonio Rd. north off Hwy 101 in Mountain View.

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.

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
The PACBC will be held on Monday, December 20th this year. This count, centered in Palo Alto and stretching from the bay to Skyline Drive, is a great way to bird with old and new friends while collecting data for the National Audubon Society. We are always looking for new birders of all levels of experience, and as always welcome back dedicated counters from prior years.

If you are returning and wish to count in the same area, please contact your region coordinator. If you aren't sure who that is, let me know. Anyone new to this count can contact me and I will place you in an area where you can be most helpful. Please consider joining us for a few hours or a full day, and if possible join us in the evening as we tally our results.

Jack Cole; 408-996-0434; Snoyowl@Yahoo.com

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.