Whittier Audubon

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Whittier Audubon Field Trips

Our field trips are usually on the third Saturday of the month from September through June.  The length of the field trips varies from a Saturday morning to a full weekend.  We also hold "bird walks" especially geared for beginners, at Sycamore Canyon. If you would like to be notified of our trips and programs by email, please notify Jay Oberholtzer. The trips for September, 2007 through June, 2008 are:

Date

Description

Trip Leader

Saturday, September 22 2007 Los Angeles River, Saturday September 22, 2007.  Led by Larry Schmahl. 

SEPTEMBER FIELD TRIP TO LOS ANGELES RIVER, ETC.
Our September field trip will be a repeat of last year’s successful venture to the Los Angeles River in Long Beach. If you went with us last year you will recall that we spotted an Upland Sandpiper, a first Los Angeles County record! No guarantees of a repeat performance, but the
river is often good for migrating shorebirds of all types. Given enough time and interest we will tack on an afternoon trip to Playa del Rey to look for rocky shorebirds.
Meet at the Whittier Community Center, corner of Mar Vista and Washington, at 7:30 AM on Saturday, September 23. Bring water, a lunch, binoculars, and a hat. Note that this is a bit later than our usual start time for field trips, but shorebirds tend to be active through the day and there’s no pressing reason to be there at the crack of dawn.
Larry Schmahl will lead; let me know if you plan to come

Larry Schmahl

 

Saturday, October 20, 2007 Starr Ranch Evening October 20, 2007 Led by Linda Oberholtzer

Our October field trip on Saturday, October 20th will be an evening trip to the
Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary, located in Trabuco Canyon. You can sign up either
for an evening Wildlife Survey or Owl Prowl Walk. The field trip will last from
7-9 p.m. and you can arrive early for a picnic dinner on your own. The cost will
be $8.00 per person as a donation to Starr Ranch.

Please let me know immediately if you are planning to attend. There are limited
spaces available. I am involved in a bird banding training at Starr Ranch that day
and will have to meet you there. You will need to have permission to enter the property
(it is a gated community) and map to get there. Please e-mail me at linaka@earthlink.net
or leave a message at (562) 699-9738 so that I can contact you with details. --Linda
Oberholtzer

 

Linda Oberholtzer

Saturday, November 17, 2007 Prado Dam November 17 2007.  Led by Jeff Allison.

NOVEMBER FIELD TRIP TO PRADO REGIONAL PARK
Our November field trip on Saturday, November 17th, will be to Prado
Regional Park in the Chino Valley Basin. We’ll be looking for late
migrants, waterfowl, and the usual residents. Previous trips to this
park have turned up things like Ross’s Goose and Mountain Bluebird.
We will meet at the Whittier Community Center for carpooling. We will
depart at 7:00 AM. Note that there is a $7.00 per car fee to enter the
park on weekends, so we should plan to carpool as efficiently as possible.
Bring binoculars, water, lunch, and a hat. Jeff Allison will lead.
 

Jeff Allison

Saturday December 15, 2007 Bill Bell Bird Walk  at Whittier Narrows December 15, 2007. Cathy Walters leads.

Please join former Whittier Daily News editor, Bill Bell, on the annual "Bill Bell Bird Walk" on Saturday December 15th at 8 a.m. at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center, 1000 N. Durfee Ave., South El Monte, CA. (626) 575-5523. Meet in the parking lot. Cathy Walters, President of the Whittier Area Audubon Society will lead the walk. Bill Bell has confirmed his attendance.

Cathy Walters

     
Saturday January 19, 2008 Bolsa Chica  January 19, 2008.  Led by Jeff Allison

IN JANUARY WE’LL BE BIRDING THE TRUSTY BOLSA CHICA area in Huntington Beach.  Bolsa Chica is a tidal wetland, an ecosystem that was once common along the California coast but is now rare.  More than 90% of the coastal wetlands that existed in the 1850’s have been destroyed by development.  Bolsa Chica has survived years of constant threats of development, but is now being restored to something resembling its original state.  It is a wonderful spot to bird.  We’ll be looking for ducks, gulls, terns, waders, sparrows, shorebirds, and raptors.
We will be departing from the Whittier Community Center at 7:00 AM and carpooling/caravanning to Bolsa Chica.  Bring water, lunch, and clothing/protection appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions.
If you wish to meet the group there, plan on being in the parking lot on Warner Ave. at 7:45 AM.  Let Jeff Allison know if you plan on going:
(562) 694-1833 or Jeff.Allison@amate.us.
 

Jeff Allison

Saturday February 23, 2008 Antelope Valley Saturday  February 23, 2008 Led by Larry Schmahl

FEBRUARY 23RD IS THE DATE OF OUR FIELD TRIP to the Antelope Valley.
Recently there have been reports of Mountain Plovers (Charadrius montanus), Mountain Bluebirds (Sialia currocoides), Sage Thrashers (Oreoscoptes montanus) and Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) from this area.
We will leave from the Community Center parking lot at 6:30 AM with a stop at the Carl's Jr at Avenue K and the 14 Freeway for coffee and restroom uses. Be prepared for cold and windy weather. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and a sack lunch. The trip will last all day, but of course participants are free to depart whenever they wish. If you wish to meet us at the Carl's Jr, please do so at 7:45 AM and notify me of your intentions. The Community Center is located at the corner of Mar Vista St. and Washington Ave. in  Whittier.
Larry Schmahl
562-714-1843
 

Larry Schmahl

Saturday, March 29-30, 2008 Montana de Oro March 29-30, 2008 Led by Jay Oberholtzer

Note: This is one week later than normal due to Easter Weekend.

We're going to Montana de Oro State Park.  I am told the locals call it "MDO".  Springtime should give us clear weather, blue skies, spring time blossoms and great birds.  A trip to this area anytime is always special.  Everything from the old standby Peregrine Falcons at Morro Bay Rock to the migrating "surprises" in "MDO", all promise to make for a good birding weekend.  We will meet Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Econo Lodge South  540 Main Street , Morro Bay, CA, 93442  Phone: (805) 772-7503 .  We will then drive to the various sites in Montana de Oro and Morro Bay.  Saturday eveing we will have our traditional wine and cheese party before scattering for dinner.  Sunday morning, if the weather has cooperated, we will leave bright and early to drive through the Carrizo Plain.  The Carrizo Plain can be outstanding for raptors.
There are plenty of places to stay in Morro Bay.  Some of us will be staying at the Morro BaySouth Econolodge  540 Main Street , Morro Bay, CA, US, 93442  Phone: (805) 772-7503.  There are many other places of higher or lower quality (well, probably not too many of lower quality) in the immediate area.
We will picnic lunch on Saturday and Sunday, so be prepared for two lunches.  Bring your spotting scopes as there will be several opportunities to use them on Saturday and, possibly on Sunday.  Let me know if you plan to attend.  Get your reservations in early.
 

Jay Oberholtzer (tvulture@earthlink.net)  (562 945 2838)

 

Jay Oberholtzer

Saturday April 19, 2008 Santa Ana Botanical Gardens in Claremont and Evey Canyon  Saturday April 19 2008 Led by Al Moreno
The plan is to go to Santa Ana Botanical Garden in Claremont, then, time allowing, a little further north to Evey Canyon. This second area is just north of Claremont in the foothills on Mt. Baldy Rd.  Both walks are "moderate" as we will have to walk up and down the trails.
At the Gardens, we hope to see Costa's Hummingbird, plus the regular foothill birds including Towhees, Juncos, Oak Titmouse, Orioles, Quail, etc. At Evey Canyon our sights will be on the Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, and hopefully some Lazuli Buntings or Blue Grosbeaks.
We'll meet at the Whittier Community enter for carpooling. Cars will be leaving the community center at 7:00 a.m. The Whittier Community Center is located at the corner of Mar Vista and Washington Avenue (not Boulevard)  in uptown Whittier.
Hope to see you there. Bring water, lunch, binoculars, and a hat.
 

Al Moreno

Friday, May 16-18, 2008 Tucson   Friday May 16 - Sunday May 18, 2008 led by Linda Oberholtzer

Madera Canyon, nestled in the Santa Rita Mountains in Southeastern Arizona will be the focus of our birding on our field trip May 16-18th, led by Linda Oberholtzer. Only one hour south of Tucson, Madera Canyon is the nearest and easiest place to see the charismatic hummingbirds and other pine-oak woodland specialties confined to the border ranges. Most of the birds of Southeastern Arizona occur within 15 linear miles.
“If you only have time to bird a single location in spring or summer, visit Madera Canyon,” recommends Richard Taylor in his book “A Birder‘s Guide to Southeastern Arizona."
We will try and coordinate birding on Friday afternoon when we arrive. We will bird all day Saturday and Sunday, leaving in time to catch an evening flight on Sunday evening from Tucson.
We will arrange to meet for a group dinner on Friday evening in Green Valley. Saturday evening we will have our traditional wine and cheese party at the condo of one of our members in Green Valley.
Some of us will be flying in to Tucson on the morning of Friday, April 16th. Others will be driving in and arriving prior to the trip and some staying after the trip. Our base of operations will be in Green Valley, Arizona.
Please contact Linda Oberholtzer at linaka@earthlink.net or leave a message at (562) 699-9738 if you are interested in going on the field trip to receive further information. There are a limited number of spots available.
This will be a family-friendly birding trip at a leisurely pace.
 

Linda Oberholtzer

Saturday June 21, 2008 Blue Ridge  Saturday June 21, 2008  Led by Larry Schmahl

Larry Schmahl