Albany Shoreline: Albany Mudflats, McLaughlin Shoreline State Park

Leader: Fred Werner, 510-610-1256; sustainablefred@gmail.com

Date: Sunday December 7, 2025 2:45 pm - 4:45 pm

Description: The Albany shoreline is rich with waterbirds and shorebirds every winter, along with raptors they attract like the Merlin and Peregrine Falcon we saw last month. By December, there's also a chance to find a Burrowing Owl. Returning birders, newcomers and all levels of experience welcome! For a sense of how this walk goes, here's a blog from a few years ago:

https://goldengateaudubon.org/blog-posts/albany-mudflats-mclaughlin-eastshore-state-park-albany-bulb/

We'll meet ~2 hours after a high (6.8') high tide for excellent views of an abundance of shorebirds, ducks and other denizens flocking in to the newly exposed mudflats.  Then, an easy, mostly flat 1-mile loop on gravel/dirt paths around the McLaughlin Shoreline Park uplands area protected as wintering habitat for Burrowing Owls.  We’ll pick up landbirds (likely Western Meadowlark, possible Say's Phoebe) as well as views of the open water for diving ducks, pelicans, grebes, ospreys, kingfishers and more. Easy to leave anytime if you need to leave early,  

Return to where we started by 4:45pm, or linger for a beautiful, if early, 4:50pm (!) sunset over the Bay.  It may even set on the Golden Gate Bridge from our vantage point.  If we're lucky with the weather, there could be some lovely golden-hour lighting throughout this walk. 

Check out what birders have found here in previous Decembers:

mudflats: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L484238/bird-list?m=12

uplands (McLaughlin park): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2377313/bird-list?m=12

Limit: 25 participants max 

Directions: From I-80, head west on Buchanan and immediately look for parking.   Park as soon as you can after the freeway underpass. Look for us at the first observation platform where the open water is visible to the north from the road.  See the attached photo.  Google Maps spot: https://goo.gl/maps/UVKrWoh1YF62

Offer or join a carpool on our carpool page,.

Parking is free (keep valuables out of sight) but limited, and a 2-hr limit is enforced. There is also street parking in the neighborhood on the other side of the freeway. Head east ~on Buchanan and make the first left after the highways onto Pierce St..

There is a handicap-accessible latrine bathroom where Buchanan St. ends as a parking area.

Heavy rain or other stormy conditions may cancel this walk. Bring binoculars, camera and a spotting scope if you have them.  Email Fred if you want to borrow binoculars or have any questions.

See you there!

Google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ubHiFpGgqUX74L6R7

Registration for this event will open at 1 pm on Tuesday, November 18, and close on Thursday, December 4.