Field Trips

Join award-winning birding instructor Bob Lewis at the walking bridge behind “Sea Breeze” market going towards Berkeley Marina (University Ave). We’ll check out the estuary then head over into Berkeley Meadow and walk the entire loop, over to the sailing basin and back. We’ll be looking for California gull, Western gull, Ring-Billed gull, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Northern Shoveler, Coopers Hawk, Song sparrow, Lincoln’s sparrow, Brown Pelican, Black phoebe, Killdeer and White-tailed Kite. This is an easy, accessible and flat walk.

Leader: Bob Lewis

Adult White-tailed Kites by Obie Wilkerson

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12

Aquatic Park is a long, 68-acre lagoon surrounded by greenery. The lagoon attracts lots of water birds and the adjacent trees and shrubs are home to many species of woodland birds, with winter residents returning now. Meet in parking lot of “Dreamland for Kids” playground at the end of Bolivar st. We’ll walk around the lagoon looking for birds like White Pelican, Eared Grebe, Townsend’s Warbler, Double-crested Cormorant, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Widgeon and Green Heron. This walk is easy, very accessible and flat.

Directions: Meet at the end of Bolivar Drive in Berkeley, 100 Bolivar Drive, where there is a public parking lot.  

Leader: Rusty Scalf

Black-crowned Night Heron by Beth Reuter

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12.

Meet at the corner of Marina Blvd and Spinnaker Way near the sign for the park. We’ll walk the trails looking for Western Meadow Lark, Lesser Goldfinch, Golden-crowned sparrow, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Caspian Tern, Ruddy and Black Turnstone, Brown Pelican, Least Sandpiper, Brown-headed Cowbird and if we’re lucky a Burrowing Owl!

This will be an easy to moderate walk.

Leader: Martin Nicholas

Savanna Sparrow by Rick Lewis

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12

Join us for a guided tour of both resident and migrant birds in the Garden’s many bird friendly micro habitats. Limited to 10 participants. Pre-registration required.  This walk follows uneven terrain, with areas of paved and unpaved trail. For accessibility inquiries about the Garden and tour, please email gardenprograms@berkeley.edu. 

Please note: There is a small, paid parking lot across the street from the main Garden entrance. Parking is $1.50 per hour. For directions and more information on parking options, visit: https://botanicalgarn bbden.berkeley.edu/parkinganddirections 

Leader: TBD

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12

We’ll be meeting in North Berkeley on Walnut Street at Berryman Path, near the north end of the tennis courts. There is a restroom at this place. A small park, so hard to get lost. We’ll be looking for local neighborhood birds like American Robin, Oak Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Crow, California Towhee, House finch and Downy Woodpecker. Most of these birds you may be able to see with the naked eye, but we can bring loaner binoculars if requested. Easy, accessible walk.

Leader: Maureen Lahiff

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12

We will meet in the overflow parking lot above the main parking area for the Steam Trains (Seaview Trailhead). We’ll hike up to the top, looking for some amazing birds like: California Quail, Stellar and Scrub Jays, Wood Creeper, Spotted Towhee, Townsend’s and Wilson’s Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wrentit, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-tailed Hawk, Western Tanager, Pygmy Nuthatch and Golden Eagle. This is a moderate to difficult hike, gaining just over 2000ft elevation in less than a mile.

Leader: Alex Henry

Wester Tanager at Vollmer Peak by Denise Wight

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12

Meet in front of Shorebird Nature Center, We’ll travel along the coast toward Seabreeze market then back up through the Berkeley meadow, through the marina to the pier. Then back to the Nature Center. Birds we’ll look for are: Black-Crowned Night Heron, Western and Least Sandpiper, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Western Gull, Wild Turkey, Willet, Audubon’s Warbler, Turkey Vulture and Marbled Godwit.

Easy, flat and accessible.

Leader: John Poole

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12

We’ll meet in front of the Tilden Nature Center. We’ll walk around the grounds and check out the “Little Farm”. We’ll look for Wild Turkey, Barn Swallow, Hermit Thrush, Stellar Jay, Black Phoebe, Oak Titmouse, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brewers Black Bird, Red-shouldered Hawk! Easy to moderate walk.

Leader: Patricia Henry

Registration will open at 1 pm on Friday, September 29 and it will close at 11pm on Thursday, October 12