Valle Vista EBMUD Watershed (Moraga)

Trip leaders: Jessica Campbell (JESSICAHCAMPBELL@COMCAST.NET) and JoAnne Tillemans (JOANNETILLEMANS@GMAIL.COM)

Date: Sunday, November 23 – 8 to 11 a.m.

Description: Valle Vista is an EBMUD-protected watershed near the town of Moraga. It offers a wonderful combination of forest, open, and aquatic habitats, which means we can hope to see a wide variety of birds. Year-round species include the shy Wood Duck, Belted Kingfisher, Western Bluebird, Brown Creeper, California Thrasher, White-breasted Nuthatch, several species of woodpeckers, American Kestrel, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and a number of raptors, including the occasional Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle. In the fall, waterbirds such as Gadwalls, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Ducks, White Pelicans, Green Herons, and Spotted Sandpipers appear. Warblers that are often sighted in November include the Yellow-rumped, Townsend, Wilson, and Orange-crowned. We will also get to work on our sparrow identification, including the newly arrived populations of White-crowned and Golden-crowned sparrows. You may also see deer, coyote, rabbits, feral pigs, or even an occasional bobcat. We will walk for one mile along Rimer Creek to a view of Upper San Leandro Reservoir, then return down the same route. The walk is mostly level with some gentle up and down. Parts of the trail can be muddy. There is a pit toilet in the parking lot, but there is no drinking water.

Trip Size: 15 maximum

Take Highway 24 to the Orinda/Moraga exit (exit 9).  Head southeast on Moraga Way towards Moraga and proceed approximately 4.5 miles.  Turn right onto Canyon Road.  Proceed approximately 1 mile to EBMUD Valle Vista Staging Area (on the left).

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/A7HehdUc8wQSVsmp9

This event will open at 1 pm on Tuesday, October 21, and close at 11 pm on Thursday, November 20th.