Listed below are the upcoming trips you are
more than
welcome to join!
What is the benefit to going out on a Let's Go Birding adventure?
Trips are designed for the beginning to intermediate adult birders. This non-intimidating group environment provides educational benefits to the birder that is trying to learn habitat variations, migration patterns, species identification and species locations.
Safety - Some people do not feel comfortable birding the open spaces alone. Birding trips provide the opportunity to bird places you have never been to before and with other people that share your interest. Besides, its a lot of fun!
Carpooling - In order to do our part
to lessen environmental impact, Let's Go Birding provides carpooling. Arrangements are made so that drivers are available if you wish to carpool. This means you can bird locations you may not wish to drive to yourself!
Optics - When birding in groups you have a chance to learn about the binocular models and spotting scopes currently available on the market. You can play with other people's optics before you have to make the big decision to upgrade your own birding equipment.
You get out of the house - Everyone has the best of intentions, but often left to our own devices we don't get around to doing some of the things we should. When you sign up for a
Let's Go Birding adventure it motivates you to get out the door and enjoy some wildlife!
Everything is done for you - Participants receive a map of the area they'll bird that day. This means you can find your way back again. A species check-off list & final trip report are also provided. Destinations, bathroom stops, timing and lunch spots are all planned out for you!
Size is important - When birding, the size of the group can hinder a shy bird, but at other times the more eyes the better. When birding in a group this needs to be considered - not too big, not too small. Let's Go Birding trips average 12 friendly people. Trips are considered full at 20.
Money well spent - Portions of your trip fee go back into the environment. Let's Go Birding supports both national & local environmental organizations. Trip fees average about $4.00 an hour. Not sure you can get a cup of coffee for that anymore!
Even if you have a minimal of bird watching experience I invite you to sign up for any of the trips below. Simply
e-mail to sign up or give me a call 408-656-7524. Afterwards you'll receive
confirmation & additional details. Participants will be asked to sign a waiver before each trip.
For an additional $5, you can "rent" a pair of binoculars for the day. And I guarantee,
seeing birds through high quality optics will add to your birding
experience.
|
 The group enjoying Sunol
image by Lisa Myers
 Western Bluebird Male
image by Tom Grey
Sandhill Cranes
image by Rob Pavey
|
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
|
West coast birding at Moss Landing, Moon Glow Dairy and more....
Looking for fall migrating species - |
$35
|
South of Santa Cruz and north of Monterey is a fall migration hot spot which includes Moss Landing & surrounding areas. We'll head out this way and stop at all the hot spots found along the coast. We'll be looking for migrants making their way south. We never know what we'll find as eastern species can get off course on their journey south. Its a wonderful time to get some life birds. We'll stop at the area hot spots from Moon Glow Dairy to the Salinas River mouth. Checking out the ocean surf can also reveal some great birds.
|
Saturday October 4, 2008
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
|
Stinson Beach, Bolinas Lagoon and Hawk Hill
We'll be in the middle of the fall migration!
|
$35
|
Hawk Hill - Point Reyes is a fall migration hot spot. Many vagrant birds can be found during this time of year as they work their way to southern latitudes for the winter. Let's Go Birding will take advantage of this annual event and head up to the southern area of Point Reyes. We'll bird the areas around Stinson Beach and the Bolinas Lagoon. As the day heats up we'll also stop at Hawk Hill on our way back south to see what kind of raptors are being counted. During this peak of the hawk migration time frame, and on a clear day, hundreds of raptors are observed flying over Hawk Hill each day. We'll see what birds are being counted.
|
Saturday, October 11, 2008
7:00 AM - late afternon
|
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Annual Fundraising Event!
The "Gallinago Go Go's" are off to San Benito County to find 100 species
|
min $100
donation |
PLEASE HELP THE GALLINAGO GO GO'S MATCH A GENEROUS PLEDGE OF $3,000! I am proud to be able to once again lead a team to fundraise for this years California Fall Challenge. This year the Go Go's have the opportunity to match a generous pledge up to $3,000. Thus mean with YOUR help we can EASILY raise $6,000!!! This is the annual fundraiser for the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. This year the Gallinago Go Go's are heading south to San Benito County to get our minimum 100 species! All the money received for this day goes to the fundraiser. To learn more about how you can fundraise just send me an email. The top fundraiser can win an African Safari with Rockjumper tours!
To sign up for the Go Go's or to learn of other guided trips simply call the observatory office 408.946.6548 or email Outreach@sfbbo.org . Additional details will be provided to you. On this daythe Go Go's will stop at the Paicines Reservoir to look for fall ducks and Bald Eagles and continue on down to the areas around the Pinnacles National Monument. Working against time we'll head into the high desert of Panoche Valley. October is a bit early for some of the wintering species but it's still a super place to find Greater Roadrunners, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, Rock Wrens, sparrows and so much more. Please plan to join in the adventure, I guarantee a day filled with good people, fun times, outdoor beauty, outstanding birds AND you'll be doing something great for yourself and the bird world!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT SUPPORTED THE GALLINAGO GO GO's. The team was able to Raise $8,000 for the California Fall Challenge.
|
CHANGED to Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
|
Sandhill Cranes and Raptors of San Joaquin County
Two fantastic groups of birds in one trip!
|
$35 |
Our first big storm of the season arrvied on Saturday, November 1, so Let's Go Birding changed this trip to Sunday the 2nd. On this day we'll travel to many of the areas of San Joaquin County to find the species that winter here. We'll start the day a little later as we plan to bird into the sunset. We'll start our birding on the eastern edge of this county as we look for the many different hawks, falcons and eagles that come to the open fields to spend their winter - (Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon) will all be on our list. This is also a good day to find waterfowl, bitterns and shorebirds. After birding for raptors in the dry open county we'll spend time with the Sandhill Cranes that prefer to forage in the area's wet rice fields.They spend this season feeding in the open fields of California's protected wild lands and farm lands. We'll bird into the sunset because the waterfowl and cranes return to night roosts for their evening and it can be a most unforgettable experience to witness.
|
Sunday November 16, 2008
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
|
Wait and see what great species are being posted!
This trip will be designed around November reports of some great birds.
|
$35
|
This day was scheduled to take advantage of whatever great birds were being reported. As the date neared there was nothing too unusual being seen, so we headed out to the Merced NWR to experience all the wintering waterfowl that were back in the area. We birded along the many great roads that lead into the refuge stopping all along the way.
|
December Birding weekend
Dec. 6 & 7, 2008
|
A new adventure planned for Madera and Fresno County hot spots!
Come have a fantastic weekend. TRIP IS FULL.
|
FULL
|
This will be the 5th year in a row that Let's Go Birding will be leading a first weekend of December birding adventure and I am very excited to head us out to Madera and Fresno Counties. The Central Valley is full of bird life at this time of year and we'll be spending the weekend smack dab in the mid point for the state. On Saturday our destination will be Hensley Lake located in the Sierra foothills of Madera County east of Chowchilla. During the winter this lake is home to waterfowl and numbers of Bald Eagles. One the way we'll stop at the Los Banos Wildlife Management areas and many wonderful Central Valley back roads as we look for wintering Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, Lewis' Woodpeckers and Mountain Bluebirds, just to name a few. On Saturday night we'll stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Madera and find a restaurant for dinner. Sunday breakfast is included and afterwards we'll hit a few area hot spots before we head home via the Mendota Wildlife Area where we plan to find Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese and other great species not found in the Bay Area. Your hotel arrangement and snacks are included. Trip fills at 18 plus 2 leaders.
For singles sharing a room (two queen beds) please plan for $145 per person. For couples sharing a room it will be $280 for the both of you. For a single wanting their own room please plan for $200. Carpooling is provided and your lunches, dinner and gas contribution are separate. More details are available upon request.
|
Wednesday, December 28
7:00 PM to midnight
|
Let's Go Birding is throwing a fun filled New Year's Eve party!
Plan to spend your New Year's Eve with some great folks and have a wonderful time.
|
$50 per
person
|
Yes, Let's Go Birding is organizing a 2009 New Year's Eve party and you are invited. It has been one heck of a year so let us start 2009 with a great party! The celebration will include appetizers, buffet dinner, bird challenges, prizes and lots of fun. There will also be an open bar as drinks are not included. The party will be held at Campbell's beautiful Pruneyard Plaza Hotel. We'll have a private banquet room to ourselves where we can visit with others and test your birding knowledge. Bird ID challeges, trivia, and bird calls will all be a part of the evening. It is all in the name of fun, and prizes will be awarded. You can come by yourself or bring a friend, dress up or come casual. The Pruneyard Plaza Hotel is offering a special rate for Let's Go Birding guests who would like to spend the evening in the hotel. So mark your calendar and plan to come celebrate the New Year with us becuse it takes you to help make the party.
RSVP to reserve your spot at the party!
|
Sunday, January 11
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
|
The Let's Go Birding Annual Duck Hunt
Our search for as many Anseriformes as possible!
|
$30
|
Duck Hunt - This is a much anticipated annual event. A day for learninig our ducks and finding as many different species as possible. As usual, it will be one packed day as we travel throughout the San Francisco Bay Area looking for as many species of ducks as possible. It becomes a fun challenge as each new species brings a cheer from the group. It is only during the winter that so many different species of ducks come to winter here, so now is the time to go find them. To find all the different ducks we'll be stopping at several different habitats as we add dabbling ducks, diving ducks, fresh water and salt water ducks to the list. Don't worry, we'll also take note of all the other, non-duck species that come our way. Here's the goal - Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail. Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Green-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Ruddy Duck, Surf Scoter, White Winged Scoter and Harlequin. Last year we found 19 different species. You up for the challenge?
|
Additional trips will be added shortly
|
|
|
Another Janurary trip will soon be added. Thanks for checking.
|
|
| |
|
