Ornithology
Field Trips, Spring 2013 (Tentative)
9 AM to 12 Noon (except for Coyote Pt. & Mitchell Canyon - see below)


Feb. 23 - STOW LAKE - Golden Gate Park. Meet at the parking area for the boathouse at 8:30am (Note meeting time and location change)

March 9 - COYOTE POINT. Take Hwy 101 south to San Mateo. Take the Poplar Ave. Exit. Turn right on Humboldt until Peninsula Ave. Turn right on Peninsula. Go over the freeway, stay straight at the light and you will be on Coyote Point Drive. See detailed map. Admission to the park is $5 but if you tell the attendant you are going to the yacht harbor you may not have to pay. Please don't tell the attendant I said that! Meet at 8:30am in the parking lot next to the museum. Travel time 30 minutes. (Note date change; March 9 NOT 10th.)

March 23 - INDIA BASIN NATURAL AREAS and HERON'S HEAD. From Hwy 101, take Caeser Chavez St. east. Go right on Evans Ave. to Hunters Point Blvd. to Innes Ave. and turn left onto Arelious Walker. Meet at the end of Arelious Walker. Travel time about 25 minutes.

April 7 - SEAL ROCKS AND SUTRO PARK. Take Geary Blvd west; stay right on Point Lobos Ave. Just before you get to the Cliff House, turn right on Merrie Way (may be unmarked) and park in the paved area overlooking the old Sutro Baths. Travel time 20 minutes.

April 21 - BURLEIGH MURRAY PARK. Take SR1 south through the new tunnel to Half Moon Bay. At the south end of Half Moon Bay take Higgins-Purisma Road east past the Fire Station. Proceed about 1-1/2 miles east on Higgins-Purisima Road and look for the fence on the left before the driveway into the park. Meet at the entrance parking lot at 9am. Driving map. Estimated travel time: 1 hour.

May 4 - MITCHELL CANYON - A field trip to Mount Diablo will meet at 8:30am at the south end of Mitchell Canyon Road near Clayton, Contra Costa County. Exit I-680 in Walnut Creek at Ygnacio Valley Rd. Follow Ygnacio about 8 miles to Clayton Rd. Turn right on Clayton Road. Turn right again on Mitchell Canyon Rd. and continue to the end. Area map is here. Entry fee is $6.00 per car / Seniors 62 and over - $5.00 per car. Travel time is about one hour from San Francisco. We will explore the Mitchell Canyon and Black Point Trails, returning to the parking lot for lunch. A brief article on chaparral birds is at http://www.mdia.org/site/birds/birds-of-chaparral

We expect all trips to be held regardless of weather, but please check this web page before leaving for possible last minute changes. Estimated times are roughly from the Marina Middle School. Public transportation is available to some sites. Check with MUNI to be sure you will be on time. Each site has been chosen to provide high species diversity in areas in, or close to, San Francisco. Lists of birds seen on past trips to these areas will be provided in class. Please bring binoculars and scopes if you have them. I have a few pairs of binoculars to lend for the trips if you let me know in advance that you will need them. Please keep valuables secure or leave them home. Wear comfortable walking shoes or boots. Avoid sunglasses if possible. Participation is at your own risk.

Trips are open only to registered class members. Guests may attend by permission of the instructor. Cost is $10 per trip. All fees must be paid in ADVANCE of the start of the trip.