Ornithology
Field Trips, Spring 2017 (Tentative)
9 AM to 12 Noon (except for Coyote Pt. & Mitchell Canyon - see below)


February 18 - SAN MATEO COUNTY COAST - GULLS. Take Hwy 1 south to Pacifica. Go to the south end of Pacifica past Linda Mar Beach and the Taco Bell. Make the next right turn at the traffic light onto San Pedro Avenue. Then take the next right turn into the parking lot for the San Pedro Shopping Center. Turn right again and meet at the north end of the shopping center parking lot. We will carpool from there down the coast. Travel time about 25 minutes.

March 4 - COYOTE POINT. Take Hwy 101 south to San Mateo. Take the Poplar Avenue exit, turn right onto Humboldt Street, turn right onto Peninsula. Peninsula becomes Coyote Point Drive and enters the park. Inside the park follow the signs to CuriOdyssey. (CuriOdyssey was formerly known as Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education and is labeled as such on the website's detailed map.) Admission to the park is $6 but if you tell the attendant you are going to the yacht club you may not have to pay. Meet in the parking lot next to the museum at 8:30am (Note meeting time change). Travel time 30 minutes.

March 18 - LAS GALLINAS SEWER PONDS. From Highway 101 exit Lucas Valley Road/Smith Ranch Road. Drive east about 0.7 mile on Smith Ranch Road, then at the McInnis Park entrance, turn left to remain on Smith Ranch Road. Drive on Smith Ranch Road about 0.8 mile, to the signed trailhead at the end of the road. Travel time 45 minutes.

April 1 - 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 into the new paved parking lot overlooking the old Sutro Baths. Travel time 20 minutes.

April 15 - MITCHELL CANYON - A field trip to Mount Diablo will meet at 8:30am (Note meeting time change) 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

April 23 - 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.


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 John Adams Center. 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 may be provided online. Please bring binoculars and scopes if you have 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.