Robin Leong, Napa Solano Audubon Society field guide leads a morning of birding beginning at American Canyon Wetlands to look for waterfowl and shorebirds, moving to American Canyon Quarry to look for raptors. The wetlands at American Canyon are easily accessible and abundant with a variety of species now. The quarry was added as a “new” location for Festival birding in 2009.

Directions: From Vallejo/East Bay/Sonoma/Napa: From Hwy 29, turn west onto American Canyon Rd. Turn right onto Wetlands Edge Rd. Meet in the parking lot to the left on Eucalyptus Dr. From Marin/Sonoma County: Take Hwy 37 eastbound toward Vallejo. Exit Hwy 29. Go north on Hwy 29 towards Napa. Turn left at American Canyon Road. Follow directions above.

Birds at Bahia
Marin Audubon Society Field Trip Leader, Daniel Edelstein (www.warblerwatch.com)

Rare blue oak woodlands border salt marsh habitat. Shallow open water and marshes provide excellent habitat for diverse assemblage of birds. Expect to see migratory shorebirds, waterfowl, diving birds, raptors and landbirds on the adjacent oak woodlands and grasslands. Learn about the newly restored tidal marsh & uplands of Bahia. All levels welcome.

Directions: From Hwy 101 in Novato, take Atherton Ave exit, go east, and turn left approx. one mile later onto Bugeia Lane (which becomes Bahia Drive). At the end of Bahia Drive, turn right onto Topaz Dr. and drive through neighborhood houses for approximately a mile. Turn left onto Bolero. Park at end of cul de sac. Max. number birders: 25. Heavy rain cancels. Please call 415.668.1242 to sign up or with questions.

Birding Hike on King-Swett Ranches

Solano Land Trust Docent and expert birder Jim Walsh takes you to this otherwise closed site for guaranteed great raptor viewing and other species in this dramatic setting. Tour meets at the Park and Ride just off I-80 east of Vallejo at the American Canyon/Hiddenbrooke Parkway exit where carpools will form. No facilities.

Come Aboard the former USS LCS(L) 102 Mighty Midget Restored WWII Landing Craft Support Gunboat

Mare Island is home to the last remaining of its kinds of the 130 boats built for this purpose during WWII. While not built at Mare Island, it certainly is a fitting final berth for the LCS 102. Tours are free.

Directions: From Vallejo: cross the Wichels Causeway from Tennessee St. and Mare Island Way. Turn left on Nimitz Ave. Turn left on A St. to Berth 6.
From Napa and Sonoma Counties: Travel on Hwy 29 southbound to Tennessee St. Turn right. Continue to the corner of Mare Island Way and cross the Wichels Causeway. Follow directions above.
From Contra Costa County: Cross Benicia Martinez Bridge onto I-780. Exit I-80 eastbound towards Sacramento. Exit Tennessee St./Mare Island. Continue westbound on Tennessee St. to the corner of Mare Island Way. Cross the Wichels Causeway and follow directions above.
From the Building 897 Wildlife Expo: leave the parking lot turning right onto a one-way Walnut Ave. At the stop sign at G St. turn left. Go to Nimitz Ave. one block past the flashing red light at Railroad Ave. Turn right. Follow Nimitz Ave. to A St. Turn left to Berth 6.
From Marin and Sonoma Counties: Travel on Hwy 37 eastbound towards Vallejo. Take the Mare Island exit. Turn right and continue on Walnut Ave. past the Flyway Festival to G St. Follow directions above.

Photograph by Caroline Kopp

Ellis Creek Wetlands Tour
Repeats Friday, 9:30am

Led by Park docents with viewing scopes, Petaluma Wetlands Alliance

First ever Flyway Festival tour along a new 2-mile trail around 30 acres of polishing wetlands opened to the public just last summer. See migratory duck and possibly unusual species that have been spotted: the Swamp Sparrow, Tundra Swan and Greater White-fronted Goose. Sora and Virginia Rail have been observed around the pond edges. www.petalumawetlandspark.org 

Directions: From Hwy 37, turn north on Lakeville Hwy and left at 2nd signal, South McDowell Blvd. Drive one-half mile to Cypress Drive and follow to the entrance of the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility where the tour starts. Sign-ups not required. Call Bob Dyer with questions, (707) 763-2934.

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge Docent Tour

Join Docent Michael Krieg to learn about three endangered species on this refuge that occur no where else in the world – Lange’s metalmark butterfly, Contra Costa wallflower and Antioch Dunes evening primrose. Arrive early to enter Refuge for tour as an escorted group. No late arrivals or early departures.

Directions: Take Hwy 4 east to Lone Tree/A Street exit in Antioch. Travel north on A Street, turn right on Wilbur Avenue, turn left on Fulton Shipyard Road, follow sign to gate.

Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve Self-guided Walk Repeats Sunday 9:30am-3pm.

Preserve volunteers will greet you at the “Palmer hut”. Walk or bike at your own pace as far as you like on the 1.2 mile paved road with 14 points of interest along the route to the hilltop scenic vista an beyond. Stop at the Mare Island Naval Cemetery. The Visitor Center is open. Dogs are allowed on leash.

Directions: From the Mare Island entrance take the first left on Nimitz and go to 15th St. Turn right and follow to Railroad Ave. Go left on Railroad Ave. and follow to gate. From Marin or Napa take the Mare Island exit off of Hwy 37 and follow Walnut Ave. south to stop sign at “G” St. Turn left. Turn right at the 2nd right at Nimitz Ave. Follow directions above.

Marshlands of Dreams

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Fremont
Join Refuge Ranger Paul Mueller on a 1- mile walk of the LaRiviere Marsh Trail to find traces of the past. Prior to marsh restoration, learn how Californians utilized the area for farming, quarrying, salt production, and transportation. There are opportunities for bird watching as well.

Join wetland biologist Francesca Demgen, President, Friends of San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge for a walk on the levee between two important north bay habitats: shallow, managed pond and seasonal wetland. Potential to see hundreds of shorebirds and ducks foraging and resting in Pond 1 and song birds and raptors over the seasonal wetland. Learn how pickleweed and ducks can both “drink” salt water and about the about the thousands of acres of wetland restoration between the Napa and Petaluma Rivers. Meet at the Outing Tent, Building 897, Mare Island to carpool approximately 5 minutes to the site.

Hudeman Slough Wetland Walk (replaces Skaggs Island hawks walks till 2011)

In the place of our Skaggs Island hawk outings this year [we expect to return to the former Navy property in 2011 after it becomes part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge in late 2010-yeah!!!], join field trip leader Brian Collett and friends for a birding walk on an easy jaunt along the 2.5 miles of walking trails at the Hudeman Slough wetland restoration in the Carneros region of Southern Sonoma County. Brian has selected this time of day when raptors are actively on the hunt for their last meal of the day! The enhanced wetlands, managed by the Sonoma County Water Agency & Sonoma County Sanitation with California Department of Fish & Game are former hayfields restored to a mix of tidal wetlands, grasslands, pickleweed marsh, seasonal wetlands & ponds, permanent ponds and tied to nearby Hudeman Slough. You will see waterbirds and search for a variety of buteos, including red-tailed, ferruginous, and rough-legged Hawks. Previous festival outings at nearby Skaggs Island have observed 4 species of falcons. Golden eagle is a distinct possibility. All ages and levels of birding experience welcomed! Note: Depending on the amount of rains before the trips, the levee could be muddy; dress accordingly. This is a rain or shine outing. Only heavy rain cancels!

Directions: You are encouraged to meet at 2:40pm to form carpools from the “Outing Tent” at Building 897, the Festival Headquarters on Mare Island, if you would like to carpool from there, otherwise, follow driving directions below.
From Napa, Vallejo & East Bay, turn west at the stoplight from Highway 29 onto Highway 12/121. Continue to Duhig Rd. Turn left and proceed on Duhig until it becomes Ramal Rd. at a sharp turn over Huichica Creek. Continue on Ramal Rd. past Skaggs Island Rd. The gravel parking lot is on the left approx. 1 mile past Skaggs Island Rd. A large barn is located near the parking area. Meet at the green and blue interpretive sign adjacent to the parking lot.
From Petaluma, Sonoma & Marin, turn right from Highway 12/121 onto Ramal Rd. Continue on Ramal Rd. approx. 2 miles to the gravel lot described above.