Owling in Garin Regional Park

  February 2 3 4 5 and 6 5:30pm - 7pm Leader: Bob Toleno RSVP: [email protected]    Though highly sought after owls are often the most difficult birds for us to see for the obvious reason that most are typically only out after dark. On this trip we'll take a short walk (le......More

  February 2 3 4 5 and 6 5:30pm - 7pm Leader: Bob Toleno RSVP: [email protected]    Though highly sought after owls are often the most difficult birds for us to see for the obvious reason that most are typically only out after dark. On this trip we'll take a short walk (less than a mile over mostly flat ground) into Garin Regional Park with the primary goal of finding Western Screech-Owls and getting a flashlight on them so all participants can get a look. February is when they're starting their nesting cycle so they should be active and vocal as soon as it gets dark. We will likely also hear Great Horned and American Barn Owls. These trips will be limited to only eight participants per outing.  You must RSVP to [email protected] and specify which date you would like to go. Try to have a back-up date in mind also in case the date you choose is already full. The meeting location and directions will be provided via email before the trip. If all trips fill up there will be a waiting list. Any rain or wind at all will cancel an outing though I will do my best to reschedule cancelled trips if possible. 

Owling in Garin Regional Park

Owling in Garin Regional Park

  February 2 3 4 5 and 6 5:30pm - 7pm Leader: Bob Toleno RSVP: [email protected]    Though highly sought after owls are often the most difficult birds for us to see for the obvious reason that most are typically only out after dark. On this trip we'll take a short walk (le......More

  February 2 3 4 5 and 6 5:30pm - 7pm Leader: Bob Toleno RSVP: [email protected]    Though highly sought after owls are often the most difficult birds for us to see for the obvious reason that most are typically only out after dark. On this trip we'll take a short walk (less than a mile over mostly flat ground) into Garin Regional Park with the primary goal of finding Western Screech-Owls and getting a flashlight on them so all participants can get a look. February is when they're starting their nesting cycle so they should be active and vocal as soon as it gets dark. We will likely also hear Great Horned and American Barn Owls. These trips will be limited to only eight participants per outing.  You must RSVP to [email protected] and specify which date you would like to go. Try to have a back-up date in mind also in case the date you choose is already full. The meeting location and directions will be provided via email before the trip. If all trips fill up there will be a waiting list. Any rain or wind at all will cancel an outing though I will do my best to reschedule cancelled trips if possible. 

Owling in Garin Regional Park

Owling in Garin Regional Park

  February 2 3 4 5 and 6 5:30pm - 7pm Leader: Bob Toleno RSVP: [email protected]    Though highly sought after owls are often the most difficult birds for us to see for the obvious reason that most are typically only out after dark. On this trip we'll take a short walk (le......More

  February 2 3 4 5 and 6 5:30pm - 7pm Leader: Bob Toleno RSVP: [email protected]    Though highly sought after owls are often the most difficult birds for us to see for the obvious reason that most are typically only out after dark. On this trip we'll take a short walk (less than a mile over mostly flat ground) into Garin Regional Park with the primary goal of finding Western Screech-Owls and getting a flashlight on them so all participants can get a look. February is when they're starting their nesting cycle so they should be active and vocal as soon as it gets dark. We will likely also hear Great Horned and American Barn Owls. These trips will be limited to only eight participants per outing.  You must RSVP to [email protected] and specify which date you would like to go. Try to have a back-up date in mind also in case the date you choose is already full. The meeting location and directions will be provided via email before the trip. If all trips fill up there will be a waiting list. Any rain or wind at all will cancel an outing though I will do my best to reschedule cancelled trips if possible. 

Owling in Garin Regional Park

Shadow Cliffs

  Sunday February 8 9:00am – noon  Leaders: Kathy Robertson & Karen Kramer  [email protected]    Join us at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area to explore the lake levees and marsh for wintering waterfowl Common Gallinules egrets herons and grebes. Osprey are found a......More

  Sunday February 8 9:00am – noon  Leaders: Kathy Robertson & Karen Kramer  [email protected]    Join us at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area to explore the lake levees and marsh for wintering waterfowl Common Gallinules egrets herons and grebes. Osprey are found around the lake and ponds while the trees hold woodpeckers and nuthatches. Notable sightings in past years included Bald Eagle Golden Eagle Great-tailed Grackle California Thrasher Common Loon Common and Hooded Merganser Wilson's Snipe and Peregrine Falcon. Wide level trails make walking fairly easy except for one short steep uphill section to get onto the levee. Scopes are helpful.    Directions: From I-580 eastbound take the Santa Rita Road exit keep right and follow signs for Downtown to merge onto Santa Rita Road. Turn left on Valley Avenue and left on Stanley Boulevard. Turn right into the park. Meet in the first parking lot by the swimming beach. $6 parking fee 

Flirtation of the Fowl Kind – Waterbird Regional Preserve

Thursday February 12 8:00 –10:30am  Leader: David “Doc Quack” Riensche  RSVP: [email protected]    The trip will be canceled if inclement weather is forecast (i.e. high heat high wind and rain    With a wiggle of their tail or a bob of their head waterfowl send thei......More

Thursday February 12 8:00 –10:30am  Leader: David “Doc Quack” Riensche  RSVP: [email protected]    The trip will be canceled if inclement weather is forecast (i.e. high heat high wind and rain    With a wiggle of their tail or a bob of their head waterfowl send their valentines suggestive messages! Come join us for a pair bonding adventure into the wonderful world of duck dating. The blending of habitat conditions at Waterbird Regional Preserve makes it possible to record nearly 175 bird species seasonally.    Directions: From I-680 north in Concord about two miles before the Benicia-Martinez Bridge take the Waterfront Road exit toward Marina Vista Road turn right onto Waterfront Road and make a right turn onto Waterbird Way. Birding is best during the early morning hours when the sun will be at your back. 

Waterbird Regional Preserve

Breeding Birds and Migrants of Inyo County (plus a little Mono)

  UPCOMING SPECIAL TRIP!!!!!    Tour: Breeding Birds and Migrants of Inyo  County (plus a little Mono)  Dates: May 24 - 29 2026  Leaders: Bob Toleno and Juli Chamberlin  Cost: TBD probably about $950 per person  for a shared room    We're running a repeat of last year's......More

  UPCOMING SPECIAL TRIP!!!!!    Tour: Breeding Birds and Migrants of Inyo  County (plus a little Mono)  Dates: May 24 - 29 2026  Leaders: Bob Toleno and Juli Chamberlin  Cost: TBD probably about $950 per person  for a shared room    We're running a repeat of last year's popular Inyo County tour. We're adding one additional night and an extra half day to try and see just a few more birds than we did last year. Some examples of breeding birds we saw on last year's tour: Gambel’s Quail Greater Roadrunner Lesser & Common Nighthawk Black Swift Calliope Hummingbird Black-backed Woodpecker Brown-crested Flycatcher Plumbeous Vireo Juniper Titmouse Verdin Black-tailed Gnatcatcher LeConte’s Thrasher Black-throated Sparrow Sagebrush Sparrow Scott’s Oriole Lucy’s Warbler and Summer Tanager.    Besides the breeding birds late May is also peak migration time so we'll be searching the desert oases for the birds who are just passing through on their way north.    The tour will be limited to ten participants. If you're interested email [email protected]