Whittier Audubon Field Trips

Date

Description

Trip Leader

OUR SEPTEMBER 17TH TRIP WILL BE GOING TO ONE OF THE BEST places to see birds in the early fall in southern California: the Los Angeles River.  Every year thousands of migrating shorebirds find the concrete river channel. It is a great, easy walk to see lots of birds, including possible rarities, such as the Upland Sandpiper we found on this trip in 2006 (which was a first Los Angeles County record!).

We will start at the Willow Street crossing in Long Beach and drive to one or two other sites where birds are being seen at that time.  Bring water and snacks; we will finish before noon.  We will carpool from the Whittier Community Center (Mar Vista and Washington in uptown Whittier) at 7:00 AM.  If you prefer to meet us at the Willow crossing at 8:00 AM, get off the 710 freeway at Willow Street, go east across the river, turn north (left) onto Golden, then go left back toward the river on 27th Street.  We will park on the frontage road at the river.

Al Moreno & Linda LeRoy will lead.

Al Moreno

Linda LeRoy

This will be some desert birding at the tail end of Summer with Fall migration well underway.  This should give us a good chance at migrant flycatchers, vireo and warblers as well as a wide variety of resident species. Depart at 5:00 a.m. from the Whittier Community Center (Mar Vista and Washington)
Larry Schmahl will lead; let me know if you plan to come

Larry Schmahl

Jay Oberholtzer

OUR NOVEMBER FIELD TRIP WILL BE TO BOLSA CHICA, in Huntington Beach. The trip will be on Saturday, November 19th. We will convene in the parking lot of the Whittier Community Center and carpool/caravan, leaving at 7:00 AM sharp. If you would rather meet at Bolsa Chica, plan to rendezvous in the PCH parking lot at 8:00.

Bolsa Chica is one of the great local birding spots. Ducks, shorebirds, and waders can be found in abundance. Gulls, terns, and pelicans are regular, as are raptors that nest on the bluffs.  Bring water, a lunch, a hat, and sunscreen. We will bird Bolsa Chica and possibly nearby spots like Central Park or Harriett Wieder Park.

Linda LeRoy and Al Moreno will lead.

 Al Moreno and Linda Leroy lead

Al Moreno and Linda Leroy

Note:  This date may change due to other Christmas-related events.  Watch for further changes as December nears.

Please join us on the annual "Whittier Narrow Bird Walk" on Saturday December 17th 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.

Jay Oberholtzer leads

Jay Oberholtzer

 Led by Larry Schmahl. We will meet at the Community Center parking lot at 6:30 AM and carpool to Lancaster. Our first stop will be the Carl's Junior at the Ave. K off ramp from the 14 Freeway. If you wish, you may meet us there at 8:00 AM.  This will be a coffee and rest room stop.

The areas we bird should offer Mountain Plover, Mountain Bluebird, Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Great Horned Owl, five species of Sparrow and, if we are lucky, Snow Goose, Long-billed Curlew, Roadrunner and perhaps an early Sage Thrasher.  Bring a lunch and be prepared for cold and windy weather. However, it may warm up nicely in the afternoon.

The Whittier Community Center is at the southeast corner of Washington Ave. (not be confused with Washington Blvd.) and Mar Vista Ave.

Larry Schmahl leads.  Le me know if you plan to attend.

Larry Schmahl

The Carrizo Plain is about 100 air miles north of Los Angeles near the communities of Taft and Maricopa. The area is officially known as the Carrizo Plain National Monument. It is home to Pronghorn Antelope, Tule Elk and, of great interest to us, many species of birds. Past trips have found Sandhill Cranes, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, Long-billed Curlew, Mountain Bluebirds, Loggerhead Shrikes and many others.  The Carrizo Plain is also the best area in the State to view the effects of the San Andreas Fault.

We will be going up on Friday night (January 20) and spending Friday and Saturday nights in Taft. Saturday will be spent on the Plain. There will be a wine and cheese party Saturday night. We will check out Sunday morning and depart eastward to either the Tule Elk Reserve State Park or the Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area and head home on Interstate 5.  Of course, you are free to depart whenever you need to.  Be sure to bring your lunch for Saturday and lots of water, a hat and sunscreen.  Please arrange to car pool. The fewer cars the better while birding on the plain.

I have made arrangements to stay at the Holland Inn and Suites, 531 Warren Street, Taft. 661.763.5211.  As we are a group, they are willing to give us the corporate rates. $63.80 for double, $58.30 for a single.  Be sure to mention Whittier Audubon Society. If you are joining us, please let me know.

Larry Schmahl 562-714-1843 or 562-695-0152 please call me after business hours.

Larry Schmahl

Rain Cancels.  Because it always seems to rain on Friday night this time of year, this could be a very last minute cancellation.  Please let me know if you are going, either by email or telephone my office (562-945-2838)
Led by Jay Oberholtzer

Jay Oberholtzer

 GET YOUR ROOMS RESERVED NOW.  The place is filling up fast.  I was unable to get any campground spaces reserved.  I will keep trying on that. 

There are lots of motels in Borrego Springs.  Many of us stay at Stanlunds Resort Inn & Suites, 2771 Borrego Springs Road, Borrego Springs, 92004 760-767-5501. We will probably meet there each morning.  Watch this website for times.

Anza Borrego State Park is a huge place.  If we hit the Spring migration right, there are lots of desert oddities.  One of our major goals is to catch sight of the Swainson's Hawks as they migrate through. The come in to feed on the bugs that happen during the Spring bloom.  If we hit this right, the place will be covered in desert blooms.  The weather is the big variable.  If we guessed right, the place will be covered in desert blooms. If not, it can be a "little warm" (Ok.  More like a desert hell hole)  Over the years, I have been treated to Mountain Quail and Long Eared Owls.  At this point in the season, it is too hard to predict.  Plan on arriving Friday evening.  We will start bright and early Saturday morning.  Bring water, sack lunches for Saturday and Sunday and your bird watching stuff.  Some of the places we will go to will be on dirt roads.  The condition of those roads really depends on the winter weather.  We will probably cram into SUV's for the Saturday places. 

Jay Oberholtzer will lead; let me know if you plan to come.  Email by clicking on my name or call my office 562-945-2838.

Jay Oberholtzer

Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens.  Led by Linda Oberholtzer

 Led by Linda Oberholtzer

Linda Oberholtzer

Larry Schmahl
562-714-1843

Larry Schmahl

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

Jay Oberholtzer