Field Trips

Explore the wonder of birds in the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley (UCBG) with former Director of Collections Chris Carmichael and UCBG staff Krista Vossekuil. 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.
Please note that, per University policy, masks are optional outdoors. Indoors, masks are strongly recommended but not required regardless of vaccination status.

October 25-31, the UCBG will host an exhibit called Dana Gardner: Fauna. “Gardner’s interest in nature, and specifically birds, is informed by his childhood spent in the wooded river valleys of Southeastern Minnesota. Gardner’s charming illustrations provide a glimpse into a variety of birds, mammals and insects within their natural habitats. Over 60 works will be on view. We invite visitors of all ages to enjoy the beauty and wonder of faunal life through the work of Dana Gardner. “ Check Botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu for more information

Directions: Meet at the entrance plaza for the Botanical Garden. A paid parking lot is available across the street. 

Leaders: Chris Carmichael and Krista Vossekuil

Join award-winning birding instructor Bob Lewis to check out gulls, ducks, and shorebirds behind the Sea Breeze Market near the Berkeley Marina. Then we’ll head north into McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, looking for more shorebirds and ducks plus grassland birds such as sparrows, finches, warblers, and raptors including White-tailed Kite. Along the shore, we’ll seek terns, grebes, pelicans and other water birds.

The paths are all level but may be muddy if it’s rained. Bring binoculars if you have them; a spotting scope is also helpful. There are restrooms behind the Sea Breeze and lunch is available there. The walk will take 2.5 to 3 hours and the distance is about two miles.

Directions: Meet behind the Sea Breeze market

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/qzNcqiHxNt8NxPnm8

Leader: Bob Lewis, bob@wingbeats.org

Adult White-tailed Kites by Obie Wilkerson

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. Noted Berkeley birding teacher Rusty Scalf will lead the group along the two-mile flat, easy trail around the lagoon. Birders of all skill levels are welcome, especially beginners. We should have close looks at many birds, so binoculars are helpful but not necessary.

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

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

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/uxrUpER7LqjW6uqC6

Leader: Rusty Scalf, rscalf@sonic.net

Black-crowned Night Heron by Beth Reuter

Vollmer Peak, at 1,905 feet tall, is considered the highest point in the Berkeley Hills and a magnet for migrating birds and rarities.  Already this year, a number of species that are almost never seen in the Bay Area have made high-profile visits to this particular spot.  The combination of hilly, shrubby, and open habitats will give us excellent opportunities to view a variety of birds, while also enjoying spectacular views from the Bay to  to Mt. Diablo (and all the way to the Sierra on clear days).

Wear sturdy footwear: most of the time we’ll be on a paved path, but at least part of the trail is unpaved and can be steep at times.  Birders of all skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them, although a few extras will be available. 

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

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/zyPLVHKUD577MZvu6

Leader: Denise Wight, blkittiwake@yahoo.com

Wester Tanager at Vollmer Peak by Denise Wight

You may have come to John Hinkel Park to have a picnic or see a performance at the amphitheater, but this charming neighborhood park has other surprises up its sleeve: bubbling creeks and tiny waterfalls, live oak groves, tall redwoods, and birds! We’ll hope to see both resident and migrant species. We’ll see where this year’s breeding pairs nested, and talk about a surprising hummingbird food source. We will also admire the recently-completed park improvements, including a brand-new picnic area and playground, ADA accessibility improvements, and restored historic stonework.

Birders of all skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we will have a couple to share. John Hinkel Park has varying elevations and the paths are steep in some places. Stairs with handrails are available for some of the steep sections. The paths are a combination of dirt and pavement. Portable restrooms are available at the start and end of our walk.

Leader: David Mostardi

Join local naturalist Anthony DeCicco and veteran science teacher John Poole for a birding outing geared to families with young children. Exploring the Berkeley waterfront, we’ll meet near the Shorebird Nature Center and visit a range of habitats to find a variety of birds. Other critters too!

Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, we’ll have a limited number of binoculars to share.

Leaders: Anthony DeCicco, decicco.anthony@gmail.com, and John Poole

Birds make their homes in every neighborhood and park of Berkeley. Join us to discover the birds of San Pablo Park, which has a varied landscape of trees, a playground, ball fields, and houses for Western Bluebirds. We’ll look for birds that live and nest here year-round and also  those that come for the winter to feed and rest.

Leader: Derek Heins

Western Bluebirds at San Pablo Park by Allen Hirsch

Birds make their homes in every neighborhood and park of Berkeley. Join us to discover the birds of Live Oak Park, which has a number of old trees and edge habitats. We’ll look for birds that live and nest here year-round and also those that come for the winter to feed and rest.

Leader: Maureen Lahiff