DeSilva Island Heron Colony, Mill Valley

Trip Leader: Ron Brown (home 415-383-4770, cell 415-233-2046)

Date: Thursday May 29 –  10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

De Silva Island is home to a long-established colony of Great Blue Herons, residing in a grove of eucalyptus trees on the banks of Belloch's Lagoon (Strawberry Cove) in Richardson Bay. In recent years Great Egrets and Double Crested Cormorants (colonial nesting species) have moved into this fine breeding site. 

Although the start of the breeding season is somewhat variable, we should see late-stage Heron and Egret chicks and early-stage Cormorant chicks. The colony is best seen by a scope from across Belloch's Lagoon (Strawberry Cove). One scope will be available, but others would be welcome. 

After 12:00, we will drive from Seminary Drive to the Richardson Bay Audubon Sanctuary for more birding. We’ll take a break for something to eat before we start. Bring drinks and lunch. 

Ron Brown has been a site monitor of the HEP project at DeSilva since 2018 for Audubon Canyon Ranch and now San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory.

Trip Size: 15 participants max

DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 South exit 446 toward Seminary Drive make a left onto Redwood Hwy frontage road and follow as it goes under the freeway and continue for ½ mile and make a right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary Drive and find street parking.  From 101 north, exit at 446 toward Seminary Drive, make a left at Redwood Frontage Road and in about ½ mile, a right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary and find street parking.

We will meet on Seminary Drive near the outdoor workout area at 10am. It will be a short walk on the somewhat uneven public footpath around the marsh with a set of stairs up to view the colony trees.

Google map: https://g.co/kgs/AL2qA9d

This event will open at 1pm on Tuesday, April 15  and close at 11pm on Monday, May 26.