Field Trips

8:30 to 10:30am

Join award-winning birding instructor Bob Lewis and past Board President Eric Schroeder 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

8:30 to 11 a.m.

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park, which opened in 1940, is a 10-acre gem devoted to the preservation of the native plants of California. It’s also a great place to go birding, and over 150 species have been seen there. A Botanic Garden docent will accompany us on the walk. We may stop to view birds, flowers, mammals, insects, and other critters. The trails are a mixture of paved, gravel, and dirt, and include both uphill and downhill sections, some with steps and many without handrails. Restrooms and water fountain are located in the parking lot outside the garden. Heavy rain cancels. More on the Botanic Garden at nativeplants.org

Leader: David Mostardi

Limit: 15

Directions: Google Maps Link to meetup location will be sent after registration

9 to 11am

Unlimited registration!

El Parque Acuático es una laguna de 68 acres rodeada de áreas verdes. La laguna atrae a muchas aves
acuáticas, y los árboles y arbustos cercanos son hogar de numerosas especies de aves de bosque, con los
residentes de invierno regresando en esta época. Nos reuniremos en el estacionamiento sur del Parque
Acuático (South Lot), junto al Boathouse, desde donde comenzaremos la caminata alrededor de la laguna,
buscando aves como el pelícano blanco, zambullidor orejudo, reinita de Townsend, cormorán de doble cresta,
carbonero dorsicastaño, silbón americano y garza verde. Este paseo es fácil, muy accesible y completamente
Plano.

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

Leader: Guías: Julián Vigo Rivera, Jessika Reyes Serrano, Nayré Herrera Rodríguez

Direcciones: 2925 Bolívar Dr, Berkeley, CA 94710 Encuentro en el estacionamiento sur del Parque Acuático
(South Lot), cerca del Boathouse, en Berkeley, donde hay estacionamiento público.

Google map: https://share.google/Aag9gYZ42aaWEE6k3

Black-crowned Night Heron by Beth Reuter

9 to 10:30am

15 participants

Explore the wonder of birds in the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (UCBG) with former Director of Collections Chris Carmichael and UCBG volunteer Susan Greef. The Garden’s diverse plantings and topography, along with adjoining woodland and chaparral habitat, make for good birding in every season. In addition to year-round resident species such as Wrentits, jays, hummingbirds, and raptors, we may see migrants passing through as fall migration winds down. We’re highly likely to see winter visitors including warblers, Hermit Thrushes and if we’re lucky, sapsuckers. Starting at the entrance plaza, we’ll plan on going up to the Garden of Old Roses for a panoramic view of the Bay and to the Oak Knoll. which often shows good flocks of gleaners in the oaks.

The UC Botanical Garden has varying elevations and can be quite steep in some places. We will stay along main, paved path with occasional forays onto gravel/dirt. The walk will take about 1.5 hours and the distance is approximately 1.25 miles. Restrooms are available in two places.

Curious what birds you might see? eBird has a list of species sighted here in previous Octobers.

Note: the Garden has generously waived the entrance fee, but you will need to park in the paid lot adjacent to the garden, and the lot fee is NOT waived.

Leader: Chris Carmichael and Susan Greef

9:30 to 11am

Leader: Mei-Hua Gee and BreeAnne Crofts

Limit: 20

This is a beginner friendly outing facilitated by and exclusively for people of color.

We’ll explore Strawberry Creek Park together, seeking to enjoy local neighborhood birds like American Robin, Oak Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Crow, California Towhee, House Finch and Nuttall’s Woodpecker. Most of these birds can be seen well without needing binoculars, making it easy to connect with them.

We’ll be meeting in Central Berkeley on the lawn in front of The Hidden Café. Strawberry Creek Park has restrooms and is wheelchair accessible.

5 to 6:30pm

This is a beginner-friendly outing facilitated by and exclusively for people who identify at LGBTQ+.

We’ll explore the varied habitats of the Berkeley Campus, which supports a surprising variety of birds. Many of the campus species can be seen well without needing binoculars, making it easy to connect with them.

Bring binoculars if you have them.

We’ll be meeting in front of the David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley.

Leader: Kim Lam and Erendira Blanco

10am to 12pm

Leader: Rusty Scalf, rscalf@sonic.net

Limit 20

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.

11am to 12:30pm

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

Limit: 20

There’s more to the main U.C. campus than libraries and lecture halls! Join Bears for Birds, the Cal birding club, to find and learn about some of the birds that make Cal their home. Beginners are warmly welcome.

Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we will have some pairs to share.

Time: Five sessions: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm

Directions: Meet at the Bears for Birds Table in front of the David Brower Center (2150 Allston Way, Berkeley CA)

Leader: Bears for Birds, TBD

Day of On-site Registration.

1 to 2:15pm

This short accessible and beginner-friendly outing is exclusively for people with disabilities or health or mobility issues.

Meet near the central steps on the north side of the Valley Life Sciences Building,
a bit east of the West Circle.

Many of the birds the trees and plantings on the Berkeley campus host are fairly easy to observe close-up. Locations along Strawberry Creek are a delight to visit. Trees to enjoy include Coast Redwoods and Coast Live Oaks.

We will stroll short distances on wide paved paths, level or very gradually sloped, between areas that feature shade and places to sit.

We’ll turn back towards our meeting place when the Campanile Concert begins at 2 pm.

Time: 1 pm to 2:15 pm

Leaders: Judy Smith, judithsmith313@gmail.com, 510.914.0870, Maureen Lahiff, MLahiff@aol.com, 510.484.6529

2 to 3pm

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