Vaux's Swifts at McNear Brickyard (San Rafael)

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

Date: Wednesday September 30 -- 5:30 to 7:30 pm 

Description: 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. To give as many birders as possible a chance to take advantage of this opportunity, please do not sign up for more than one trip.

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. It's 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. 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.)

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 or alcoholic beverages. 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.)

Limit: 20

To respect both the swifts and the McNear property owners, this trip is limited to 20 people. 

Directions: San Rafael.  We will send you directions and parking instructions by email about a week before the trip. 
Carpooling is strongly encouraged since parking is limited.

Registration opens Tuesday, August 18 at 1 pm and closes on Monday, September 28 at 11 pm.