Sacramento NWR plus, including Staten Island and Cosumnes River Preserve, Colusa NWR on the way home

Leaders: Maureen Lahiff, MLahiff@aol.com, 510.484.6529 

Date: Saturday December 6  – 9 a.m. through Sunday December 7 – approx. 2 p.m.

1. Staten Island and Cosumnes River Preserve

Staten Island and Cosumnes are on the way up. It’s about 2 hours from Oakland and Berkeley to these Central Valley sites in the Delta. We’ll meet at Staten Island at 9 am on Saturday. The Nature Conservancy manages the farmlands on Staten Island for the wintering Sandhill Cranes. Cackling Geese and Tundra Swans on the flooded fields are likely, along with a variety of shorebirds, waterbirds and raptors, and a few cool landbirds like American Pipit and possibly Horned Larks. White-faced Ibis may be about. Cosumnes River Preserve has a great variety of wintering ducks (including Ring-necked Ducks and the teal trifecta) and is a fairly reliable place for Wilson’s Snipe and Virginia Rail (both more likely if it’s cloudy).The birding at Staten Island is pull over, get out of our cars, and look. At Cosumnes, the universally-accessible Wetlands Walk Trail is a paved trail of about a mile along the ponds and then 0.5 miles on a boardwalk. (These are one-way distances.)

2. Drive north about 100 miles to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. We’ll drive the 6-mile refuge loop in the late afternoon and twilight looking for Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, White-faced Ibis, and a variety of ducks and raptors and owls.

3. Overnight in Willows. With an optional group dinner together.

4. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Driving Loop. We’ll meet at the parking area at the Sacramento NWR Viaitor’s Center at 8 am. We’ll take our time on the six-mile loop at the Sacramento NWR, where there are only 3 places that we are allowed to get out of cars. The second one has a nice viewing platform and a pit toilet.

5. Colusa NWR. We’ll take CA 20 east from I 5 to Colusa NWR, which has a nice viewing platform near the start with close-up looks at waterfowl and a 3 mile driving loop (with no stops). More details, information about carpooling and suggestions for places to stay in Willows will be provided to those who register. (Questions to Maureen are welcome!) 
 

More Details 

Trip Size: 20 Participants Max

Price: $175 non-members / $140 members

Meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 6 at Staten Island Rd. Directions will be provided to registrants.

Registration opens on Thursday October 30 at 1 pm and closes on Thursday December 4 at 11 pm.