Albany Mudflats

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

Date: Sunday, Aug 30 - 4 to 6 pm

Description: August can be a fantastic transitional month along the Bay shoreline!  After nesting successfully (or especially if they didn't) many birds are on the move.  Early migrants may be passing through.  Post-breeding (or non-breeding) dispersal can bring intriguing vagrants our way.  It's impossible to predict exactly who will be on the mudflats and upland habitats of the Albany shoreline.

For a sense of how this walk goes, here's a blog post about one of our previous outings here:

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

We'll meet a little less than 2 hours after a medium (5.8') high tide, speaking of transitional moments.   Hopefully ducks, grebes and other divers will flock in as the bay drains, and then shorebirds exploring newly exposed mud.  After viewing the flats from a paved sidewalk and a pair of low, fully accessible platforms, we'll take an easy, mostly flat 1-mile loop on gravel/dirt paths around the McLaughlin Shoreline Park uplands area.  We’ll pick up a few landbirds, more migrants possible here too, as well as views of the open water with the potential for ospreys, kingfishers and more.  

Check out what August has looked like in the past here, on eBird:

Mudflats: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L484238/bird-list?m=8

Uplands (McLaughlin park): https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2377313/bird-list?m=8

Check the weather forecast (https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ca/albany/KCAALBAN15) and remember it's usually cooler and windier along the shoreline.

A handicap-accessible latrine bathroom is in the parking lot at the end of Buchanan St.

Bring binoculars, camera and a spotting scope if you have them.  As always, returning birders, total newbies, and everyone in between is invited!   Email Fred if you want to borrow binoculars or have any questions.

See you there!

Limit: 30

Directions: From I-80, go west on Buchanan towards Golden Gate Fields.   Park within the first 75 yards, just past the "Albany Waterfront Trail" sign and look for us at the first observation platform right there. 

Parking is free but very limited, and a 2-hr limit is enforced.   There is also neighborhood street parking east of the freeway underpass.  Head east ~1/3 mile on Buchanan and make a left onto Pierce St..  Keep valuables hidden and watch your surroundings, there have been break-ins.

Please use our carpool page to find or offer a shared ride: https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/2umkaq

Google map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZYa6LLvce25nLqaW8

Registration opens Tuesday, July 21 at 1 pm and closes on Thursday, August 27 at 11 pm.