Radio Road Ponds, Redwood Shores
Saturday, March 13th, 9am
Follow up Field Trip for the March 11th birding class.

Winter migrants, especially ducks, are in great abundance on these ponds at this time of year.

Directions: From US 101, take exit 411 and go east on Redwood Shores Parkway for a few miles. Go past Shearwater Parkway, and look for the tall electrical towers just past a slough on your right. There is a sign there that says "SBSA 1400 Radio Road." Turn right at this sign; you are now on Radio Road. You come to a stop sign; in front of you are the ponds of Radio Road; to your right is the Dog Park; to your left is the left spur of Radio Road; if you take a right, you can reach the main parking for Radio Road (and South Bayside System Authority).

Open to everyone with a $5 fee paid to the instructor.

Instructor: Alvaro Jaramillo, chucao@coastside.net

Beginner/Advanced Trip

Birding Tour of Redwood Shores
Saturday, March 27, 8:30 – 11:30 AM

There are many good birding spots in Redwood Shores in addition to the Radio Road ponds. With this area in our backyard, birders should know all the hot spots, hidden parks, lagoons, etc. Often reports show up on PenBird saying a species was seem at "x" location. It took me a while to learn the sites – where to look for Redhead, Barrows Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Belted Kingfisher, Green Heron, etc. So this trip will be a combination of birding and learning the back roads of Redwood Shores.

Directions: Meet at 8:30 AM at Starbucks by Nob Hill Market, Redwood Shores Parkway. Leave some cars there and carpool for short trips around the area.

Leaders: Sonny Mencher. 650-814-8028

San Bruno Mountain
Sunday, April 18, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

San Bruno Mountain stands as an island of open space on the border of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. It is home to a wealth of wildlife, hidden pockets of woodland and sheltered canyons. We will look for quail, nuthatches, towhees, vireos, warblers, mockingbirds, thrushes, flycatchers, sparrows, wrens, hummingbirds, and many other migrants. Depending on the winter rains we may see spectacular wildflower displays.

Directions: Take Highway 101 north. Take the Bayshore Boulevard/Brisbane exit. Proceed on Bayshore Boulevard to Guadalupe Canyon Parkway. Turn west on Guadalupe Canyon Parkway toward the Mountain and proceed up the hill to the Park entrance on your right. Park fee is $5. Meet in the main parking lot just beyond the entrance kiosk.

Dress in layers for warm to cold and windy weather. Wear sturdy walking shoes/boots and bring fluids and snacks. We have binoculars to share. Not suitable for strollers. Heavy rain cancels.

Leaders: Jeff Fairclough and Laurie Graham (650) 589- 2133, fair80@comcast.net

Beginner/Family Trip

Filoli Estate, Woodside
Saturday, April 24th, 8:30am - Noon
Reservations needed. Call Sue James (650) 348-0315 to reserve your spot

Filoli Estate is the property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  We have been invited for a morning of birding at this beautiful site on the edge of the San Francisco watershed land.   

In addition to birds, the wildflowers should be very plentiful at this time, especially in the shadier areas on the back roads. The grounds of Filoli have a beautiful formal garden surrounded by large oaks and trails leading to riparian, redwood and farm habitats.  Over 96 species of birds have been found here.  Reservations required because this trip is limited to 20 people maximum (sorry, no children under 14).  No food or picnicking is allowed but all are welcome after the walk to buy light food and beverages at the Café and visit the gift shop.

Directions: Take Hwy 280 to the Edgewood Road exit; go west.  Turn right/north on Canada Road and drive approx one mile to the entrance of Filoli.  We will meet in front of the Visitors Center. 

If you want to remain after the field trip to walk through the house and /or formal gardens, there will be a $15.00 entrance fee.  Heavy Rain Cancels.

Leaders: Sue James and Donna Petersen

Mines Road – The Ultimate Spring Bird Trip
Sunday, May 2, 2010, 8:00 AM  
Scouting trip, Thursday, April 29, 8:00 AM

A variety of habitats provides a fascinating variety of birds not found elsewhere in the Bay Area.  This will be an all day trip to this area in the Coast Range Mountains between Livermore and the Central Valley and Hwy 5.  We will look for Phainopepla, Prairie Falcon, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Lewis' Woodpecker, Golden Eagles, along with sparrows and hummingbirds.  If we are very lucky we may even see a Wild Turkey or Roadrunner.  Have a full tank of gas, water and food since facilities are scarce.   There are only two reliable restroom facilities, one at the lunch time stop and another at mid-afternoon at a county park.  Weather is unpredictable from cold and windy to hot and dry (heavy rain cancels).

Directions: Cross the San Mateo bridge and follow the signs to Hwy I-580.  Stay on 580 for about 25 miles to Livermore. Take the South Vasco Road exit. Follow Vasco Rd. to Tesla Road; turn right on Tesla for 1/2 mile and turn left on Mines Road.  Follow it for about 1/4 mile to the Murietta Wells Winery turnoff (on the right). The winery has installed a new gate so simply pull up to it, go through and drive to the parking area by the winery itself where we will meet. Call Leslie for carpooling.

Leader: Leslie Flint  650-573-6279

Saturday, May 15, 2010, 9:00am
Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park, Half Moon Bay
(Follow-up field trip for the May 13th birding class)

The field trip will aim to listen to bird sounds in nature, and also to learn a few bird songs while we are at it!

Directions: The park is on the San Mateo Coast near Half Moon Bay, just over a mile south of the intersection of Highways 1 and 92. Turn east off Highway 1 onto Higgins-Purisima Road. Proceed just over one-and-a-half miles to the park. A small graveled parking area is located a short distance from the entrance to the park.

Open to everyone with a $5 fee paid to the instructor.

Instructor: Alvaro Jaramillo, chucao@coastside.net

Beginner/Advanced Trip

Pescadero Marsh – State Park Docent Nature Walks

First Sunday of each month is a morning walk starting at 10:00 AM till 12:00 Noon
The Third Sunday of each month is an afternoon walk starting at 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM

Walks in April are on April 4th and 18th
Walks in May are on May 2nd and 16th

Come and discover Pescadero Marsh.  The California State Park Docents will lead a field trip to learn about the marsh. The docents will point out the plants and animals that inhabit this San Mateo County treasure. If it is not raining, meet in the parking lot just over the bridge at Pescadero State Beach.  Wear clothing in layers for cold and windy to sunny weather. Heavy Rain Cancels.  

Directions: Go south from Half Moon Bay on Hwy 1, about 12 miles.  Just past the bridge over Pescadero Creek, look for the south parking lot.  If you get to the intersection of Pescadero Road and Hwy 1 you have gone too far.

Contact: The park ranger station for voice mail information (650) 879-2170 or Rita Jennings at 650-728-2254

Beginner/Family Nature Hike

2010 Shearwater Journeys Pelagic Trips
Princeton Harbor, Half Moon Bay

JULY 31
AUGUST 1
SEPTEMBER 13, 17, 18, 19, 27
OCTOBER 2, 10, 11

Register early and get the SAS discounted rate of $103.00. Not including any fuel surcharges. For new sign ups, ONLY – no refunds if you’ve already reserved at full price. (Regular rates start at $148.)

All trips depart from Huck Finn Center, 15 Johnson Pier at Pillar Point Harbor on Half Moon Bay in El Granada, Ca.

Certain conditions apply: Discounts apply only to Sequoia Audubon members, and not their friends, or families. Discounts are non-refundable and non-transferable for any reason. Only a certain number of spaces at the discounted rate will be available on each trip. Advance reservations are a must. Include full name, address, phone and email. As you know, the harbor master requires this information. Any discounted reservation that does not include this information, will be returned to the sender. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 

Also available to Sequoia Audubon members - a discount on the Farallon Islands pelagic trip: August 8th, 2010; $129 for SAS members. Regular rate is $149. Departs from Emeryville on the Superfish (same as last year). Same conditions apply.

Debra Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys, Inc.
PO Box 190
Hollister, CA 95024
831.637.8527
debi@shearwaterjourneys.com
www.shearwaterjourneys.com