SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY

Sunday, January 7, 2024- 8:00-10:00 am

Beginning Bird Walk, Riverside, Fairmount Park

Leader: Dave Goodward, davegoodward@earthlink.net

Winter at Fairmount Park is a wonderful time to learn about ducks and winter residents in the Riverside area. Join Dave as he leads a short walk around the park's verdant grounds and lakes.  Meet at the main parking lot off of Locust St. (33°59'42.2", 117°22'20.4") at 8 am.

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Saturday, January 13, 2024- 8:00 am

Malibu Lagoon to Point Mugu

Leader: Dori Myers (714) 336-1420 and Gene Cardiff

Malibu is always a special place to visit.  Meet at the entrance to the Malibu Pier at 8:00 AM, after breakfast.  Try to park along the highway on the beach side up a little and across from the Jack In the Box.  We will bird the pier and lagoon area in the morning and have lunch on the beach and then we will drive up the coast making several stops along the way.   Be prepared for cool to cold conditions on the pier and hope that it warms during the day.  We should stay to see the sunset so dress in layers, bring water and lots of snacks and a lunch. A spotting scope would be useful.

 

 

Saturday, February 3, 2024 - 7:00 am

(Date changed from January 27)

Salton Sea Goose & Crane Trip

Leader: Tom Benson (909) 648-0899

This trip at times has been called the “waterfowl trip” the “goose trip” and “a wonderful field trip.”  It is all of that and more.  Perhaps a glimpse at some of the species seen on previous trips will help stoke the the fires of desire:  American White Pelican (hundreds), American Bittern, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Snow Goose (thousands), Ross’s Goose (hundreds), Greater White-fronted Goose, Bald Eagle, four falcon species, Sandhill Cranes, Mountain Plover, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Burrowing Owl, Mountain Bluebird, and American Redstart.  We usually tally over 100 species.  We will meet at 7:00 am behind the Del Taco at 66th Street and the 86 Highway in Mecca.  We will work South from Mecca on Highway 111 to North Shore, Salton Sea Recreation Area (SRA), toward Brawley, and our eventual terminus at Sonny Bono NWR Unit 1.  Expect mud.

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Saturday, February 3, 2024 - 7:30 am

Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve Field Trip

Leader: Charity Hagen

The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in Murrieta is a haven for bird life at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains.  With it's multiple habitats of Oak and Sycamore riparian woodlands, Chapparal, rare Bunchgrass Prairie, and ephemeral Vernal Pools, it is a great place to see birds of multiple habitats in one location.  This trip takes place during the winter months when the diversity of birds is the highest, with resident species joined by wintering birds such as sparrows, raptors, and woodpeckers.  The Reserve is well known as a reliable location to see Lewis's Woodpeckers.  With any luck, winter rains will fill the vernal pools, which can be full of ducks and shorebirds of many species.  The trip will begin at 7:30 at the Visitor Center, which is 4 miles west of Interstate 15 on Clinton Keith Rd., in the city of Murrieta.  There is a $4 per person fee to access the preserve, payable at the trailhead or visitor center.  Plan on a walk up to 2-3 miles on some uneven terrain.  Depending on conditions and other factors such as water in the vernal pools, we may drive to other access points on the Reserve, but the trip will begin at the Visitor Center.  Bring good walking/hiking shoes, a jacket, and snacks and water.  Heavy rain prior to the trip will likely cancel, contact the trip leader at the phone number listed if the weather has been bad for updates on the trip.  

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Sunday, February 11, 2024

San Jacinto Valley and Lake Perris

Leader: Tony Metcalf (951) 242-7038

The San Jacinto Wildlife Area (SJWA) and the San Jacinto Valley have lots of birds all year. SBVAS leads a Fall trip, a Spring trip, and now a Winter trip to this remarkable birding hotspot.   In addition to the high number of resident species, overwintering birds and the occasional spectacular occurrence, the diversity and number of birds of prey and gulls peak after the new year. So join us on a fairly intense but unstructured day. We will certainly cover the SJWA and adjacent lands, and we may go to Lake Perris and …well, who knows. We will meet at 7:00 AM at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area entrance.

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Saturday March 2, 2024 - 8:00 am

Lake Skinner County Park Field Trip

Leader: Charity Hagen 

Lake Skinner County Park is an oasis for birds.  In the many wild and manicured areas of the park, birders can expect to see a wide range of birds.  The park contains oak woodlands, Riversidian sage scrub, riparian areas, exotic trees and shrubs, and a reservoir.  This combination of habitats has attracted well over 200 species to the park.  The reservoir is an important wintering ground for species such as Common Goldeneye, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, and multiple other duck and grebe species.  In the riparian areas and manicured trees of the park, many wintering passerine species can be found, with such notable birds as sapsuckers, thrushes, multiple sparrow species, and the occasional wintering eastern warbler.  On this field trip we will scour the many different habitats and multiple shoreline access points to find as many of these birds as possible. In early spring expect to see lingering winter visitors mixed with early arrival breeders such as orioles, along with year round residents such as Acorn Woodpecker and California Gnatcatcher.   Expect to see from 50-70 species during the field trip, with rarities always a possibility.  Most areas can be accessed by vehicle, but be prepared to walk up to a mile in search of the best birding locations. 

Meet at 8 am at the Alamos Schoolhouse Nature Center just inside the park entrance.  There is a $6 per person fee to access the park.

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Saturday, March 16, 2024 - 8:00 am

Bolsa Chica & Orange County Coast

Leader: Dori Myers (714) 779-2201 (h) or (714) 336-1420 (m)

Please join us for what should be a great day of birding in the wetland areas of Orange County. Expect to see a large variety of wintering birds including ducks, shorebirds, grebes, herons, egrets, terns, cormorants, etc. We ought to find gulls and raptors and some song birds. With any luck we will see 50 or more species just in the morning. After birding Bolsa Chica (until around noon) we will go to Newport Back Bay or the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary to eat our lunch and finish the day.  We will meet at the PCH parking lot of Bolsa Chica at 8:00 am. To reach Bolsa Chica, take the 91 freeway south to the 55 (Newport freeway). Continue on the 55 to the 405 and go north towards Long Beach. Exit at Beach Blvd. (south) and continue to Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right and head north on PCH, past Huntington Beach. We will meet in the parking lot of the Ecological Preserve (Bolsa Chica) on the inland side of Pacific Coast Hwy at the signal between Seagate and Warner. Please bring a lunch if you intend to stay for the day. Also bring binoculars, bird book and a scope if you have one. It can get cold along the coast in winter so dress in layers.​

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Saturday, April 20, 2024, Sunday, April 21, 2024

8:00 am and 7:30 am

Salton Sea Shorebirds, San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Leaders: Tony Metcalf (951) 242-7038, David Rankin: david.rankin@ucr.edu

Hey shore-birders and April migrant lovers, join David Rankin (619-869-3952) and Tony Metcalf (951-347-7710) for a two day birding extravaganza at the north end of the Salton Sea (Saturday) and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Sunday). We will focus primarily on shorebirds, contrasting mid-April shorebird diversity at the Salton Sea with inland coastal shorebird diversity at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and Mystic Lake. (Of course we look at everything from gulls to passerines!!). On Saturday (April 20) we will meet at 8 AM at the infamous Arco Station in Mecca (66 th Ave and HWY 86), and on Sunday (April 21) meet at the gates of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area at 7:30 AM. You can join us for one or both days. Bring drinks, snacks, lunch etc. And we recommend rubber boots for the barnacle beaches at the NESS and goopy Mystic Lake Shoreline.

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Saturday, April 27, 2024 

7:00 am

Big Morongo Preserve

Leader: Matt Grube (909) 253-3867

The last week of April is about the best time for observing migrant land birds in Southern California and Big Morongo is one of the best places for it. In addition to migrant warblers, vireos and flycatchers, we expect to see the breeding specialities including Vermilion Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bullock’s Oriole and Hooded Oriole.  Join us for a morning birdwalk on the trails and roads of the preserve and surrounding areas. We will meet at Covington Park at 7:00 am. To get there, take I-10 to Highway 62, go north ten miles to Morongo Valley, then turn right on Park Avenue to Covington Park.  Weather is typically good this time of year. Bring water, snacks and lunch if you plan to make a day of it. Some of us will probably stay out all day. Who knows where the afternoon will lead us?​

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​​Sunday, May 5, 2024

8:00 am

Whitewater Canyon 

Leader: Steve Myers (951) 616-7578

Portions of Whitewater Canyon have long been more or less closed to public access, but the former trout farm is now the "Whitewater Canyon Preserve," managed by The Wildlands Conservancy. If you visited the trout farm in the past, you will not know the place now. Most of the facilities have been removed, and habitat restoration is under way. Riparian and desert scrub habitats should be teaming with birds on this trip. The canyon hosts nesting Summer Tanagers and Brown-crested Flycatchers, and migrants should be easy to find. In addition to the Preserve, we may visit Bonnie Bell, a small community in the canyon that contains excellent cottonwood and willow forest and woodland, somewhat reminiscent of Big Morongo. Meet at the Whitewater Canyon Preserve at 8:00 am. To reach the Preserve, go east on I-10, past the turn-off for Highway 111, and take the Whitewater exit. Turn left, pass over I-10, and watch for Whitewater Canyon Road on your left. The Preserve is at the end of Whitewater Canyon Road, approximately 5 miles north of I-10. Bring sturdy footwear, water, lunch, and the usual essentials.

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​Saturday, May 11, 2024

9:00 am

Baby Birds at Bearpaw Ranch

Leader: Cin Greyraven (909) 794-0509

Join us for a trip into the hidden world of nesting birds at Bearpaw Nature Sanctuary in Forest Falls (map). Biologist Cin Greyraven will lead the group in its search for evidence of breeding behavior in the common birds of the chaparral and forest. Since 1994, Bearpaw Sanctuary has been part of the National Nest Box Trail system, offering homes to Western Bluebirds, Oak Titmice, House Wrens, Mountain Chickadees, and Ash-throated Flycatchers. Learn what types of nest boxes work best and how monitoring data by average citizens across the continent can contribute to scientific research. Learn how to monitor a nest box without disturbing the nesting effort. Enjoy a peek inside the usually inaccessible world of cavity nesters, and learn to recognize different species by their nests, eggs, and chicks. Bring binoculars for long-distance viewing and cameras for close-up snapshots. Children are welcome. For additional information, call (909) 794-0509.

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Saturday, May 18, 2024

San Jacinto Mountains

Leader: David Rankin, david.rankin@ucr.edu

Details: TBA 

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Saturday, May 25, 2024

7:00 am

San Bernardino Mountains 

Leader: Brad Singer (909) 936-5087/bcsinger@gmail.com

The San Bernardino Mountains trip will meet outside the Starbuck's located in the Von's shopping center on Big Bear Blvd. and Sandalwood Drive at 7:00 am. We will spend the morning at Cactus Flats and Arrastre Creek where expected species include Black-chinned Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, Scott's Oriole, and Mountain Quail. We will also search for Hepatic Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Calliope Hummingbird, Plumbeous Vireo, Gray Vireo, and Pinyon Jay. About midday we'll bird around Big Bear Lake in search of any lingering shorebirds, terns, and raptors, and then spend the afternoon up either at Bluff Lake or Wildhorse Meadows in search of Williamson's Sapsucker, Dusky Flycatcher, Cassin's Finch, Townsend's Solitaire, and Clark's Nutcracker.  Expect a long day, bring plenty of water, lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes. A vehicle with high clearance is recommended but not required.

 

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Saturday, June 8, 2024

8:00AM

Wrightwood & Blue Ridge

Gene Cardiff  & Dori Myers  714 336-1420 M

The San Gabriel Mountains trip will start at the California Department of Forestry Mormon Rocks Station on Highway 138 at 8:00 am. Take I-15 north from San Bernardino or south from the Victor Valley and turn toward Palmdale on Highway 138. The CDF Station is located 1.5 miles up Hwy 138 on the left side of the road, opposite the large sandstone formation called the Mormon Rocks. (There are no restrooms at the CDF Station, use the restrooms at the gas stations near the off ramp.) After birding that area for 30-45 minutes, we will proceed up Lone Pine Canyon Rd into Wrightwood to Big Pines and eventually wind up at 8000 feet and Blue Ridge Campground for lunch.  Bring a lunch, liquids and a good pair of shoes. We will look for mountain birds such as the Fox Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Dusky Flycatcher, and Williamson's Sapsucker. Please don’t forget: you will need an Adventure Pass  and sometimes you can’t buy one up the hill, so please plan ahead.​

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​Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, September 27, 28,29,30, 2024

7:30 am

Northern Baja California, Mexico

Brad Singer (909) 936-5087/bcsinger@gmail.com

This brief trip to the wonders of the Northern Baja will highlight the vast bird variety and abundance in areas of both high population density and large expanses of open terrain.  We will bird the coastline from Ensenada to San Quintin, the mountains of Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, and the deserts of the Lower Colorado River Basin. The endemic Gray Thrasher will be on the hit list along with many other coastal shrub, shoreline, montane and desert species.  If interested, please email me at the above address and I can send you a detailed itinerary.  Passport is necessary.  Group size is limited.

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