Vaux’s Swifts at McNear Brickyard (San Rafael)

Date: Thursday, September 25, 5:00 – 7:30 pm

Trip Leaders: Maureen Lahiff mlahiff@aol.com 510-484-6529, Evan Weissman evan@weissfam.net  510-427-1731

Description: This trip is wheelchair accessible and specifically for people with disabilities and other health or mobility issues.

Registration is required. To register contact Judy Smith at judithsmith313@gmail.com 

This is a rare opportunity to see swifts come into roost. GGBA and a few other local birding organizations have been privileged to gain access to McNear’s Brickyard, which is not open to the public.

Vaux's Swifts migrate south along the Pacific Americas Flyway each fall, and one of their few known stopping points in Northern California is McNear Brick and Block in San Rafael. At sunset on many September and October evenings, as many as 20,000 swifts mass and fly into the decommissioned brickyard chimneys to spend the night. Its an unforgettable sight!

Although this trip is timed for the height of the swifts’ migration, based on past years’ counts, the number of swifts can vary greatly from night to night, and can range from a few hundred to thousands. Like everything else in birding, there are no guarantees!

This is essentially stationary observing, so there is very little walking, but a lot of standing. Those who find a portable stool or lawn chair helpful are welcome to bring one.

To respect both the swifts and the McNear property owners, this trip is limited to 15 people.

Spotting scopes are helpful to better view the action around the chimney mouths. Photographers will be challenged as sunset nears 7:15 pm on the night of our field trip. Comfort with binoculars or scope is not necessary. Watching the flocks of swifts with the bare eye is very enjoyable and exciting, plus we'll have an alternate viewing option with an iPhone or iPad zoomed in on the swifts as they enter the chimney.

Given the time of day, it is OK to bring snacks as well as water. However, this is a birding event, not a picnic, so please don’t bring an elaborate spread. There are no restroom facilities on site.

(There is a shopping center on N San Pedro Road en route. The Trader Joe’s there is one location with accessible restrooms for customers that is open before and after the trip.)

We will send you directions and parking instructions by email about a week before the trip.

Carpooling is strongly encouraged since parking is limited.

Trip Size: Limited to 15 people
 

This event will open at 1 pm on Tuesday, August 19 and close at 11 pm on Monday, September 22