| Northern California: September, 2010 Have you always longed to bird the Pacific Coast? In five days, you will add dozens of lifers, if California is new to you. Or, have you not seen those Black Oystercatchers and Chestnut-backed Chickadees since you got a great digital camera? Well, this is your trip. Come see the embattled Yellow-billed Magpie, a California endemic decimated by habitat loss and West Nile Virus. As an extra you will be able to go on one of the Pacific Coast’s finest pelagic trips, and you’ll have a chance for enjoy some of America’s most elusive species. The whales, Sea Otters, California Sea Lions, Giant Sequoias and Redwoods are a bonus. In one day alone, you will see Brandt’s Cormorant, Heermann’s Gull, California Towhee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Loon, Clark’s Grebe, Hutton’s Vireo and Townsend’s Warbler. Plus a few dozen more western birds. Your guide has been birding California for decades and can even tell you about Brandt, Heermann, Townsend and Clark. Nobody knows anything about Hutton, sorry. Among the birds with limited range that you should see: Wrentit, the only babbler in America; Surfbird; Black Turnstone; White-tailed Kite; the Western Scrub-Jay that is soon to be split from its inland congener; Nuttall’s Woodpecker; Oak Titmouse; and California Quail. If you eat after birding, this trip can guarantee some of the best food in a region that is full of foodies. Or you can eat in your room, if you prefer. |
| Why Northern California for birding? Northern California is one of the few places in the United States where mountains, marshland, deep forest, open ocean and arid grassland exist within a short drive of one another. Because of its location, you can find birds that nest above the Arctic Circle and migrate south in the same area as birds that breed in Mexico and migrate north! In addition, California’s endemics can be found in this area including Yellow-billed Magpie, California Towhee, and California Thrasher. Shearwater Journey’s pelagic trips provide the best access anywhere in the country for Pacific coast pelagic birds. Most birders add at least 10 lifers on their first Pacific pelagic trips, and an August trip (for example) often includes Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed Shearwater, Buller’s Shearwater, Rhinocerous Auklet, Cassin’s Auklet, Red Phalarope, 2 and sometimes 3 Jaeger species, a few rarities, sometimes mega-rarities, whales, and other marine mammals. With Point Reyes to the north and with Monterey to the south, starting a trip in San Francisco gives you quick access to two of the best birding spots along the Pacific Coast. Adding a few days of guided birding to your trip to find a few more target birds (such as Black Turnstone, Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, White- tailed Kite, White-headed Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, and Golden-crowned Sparrow), and a trip to Northern California becomes a great birding vacation. |
Northern California September 2010
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For more information, contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
| Nice Birds in Northern California Yellow-billed Magpie, greatly reduced in numbers by West Nile Virus and potentially endangered. One of two California endemics. California Thrasher, California Quail, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black Oystercatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, California Towhee, Oak Titmouse, Band-tailed Pigeon, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Western Tanager, Black Phoebe, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, Elegant Tern, Sooty Shearwater, Buller’s Shearwater, Pink- footed Shearwater, South Polar Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Arctic Tern, Marbled Murrelet, Cassin’s Auklet, Tufted Puffin, White-tailed Kite, all three jaegers, Northern Fulmar, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Clapper Rail. Gulls: Western, California, Thayer’s, Glaucous-winged, Heermann’s. Both pelicans. Clark’s and Western Grebes. Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorant. Red and Red-necked Phalarope. Pacific Loon, Pigeon Guillemot. Also Interesting Mammals California Sea Lion, Sea Otter, Harbor Seal, Harbor Porpoise, Pacific White- sided Dolphins, Wright Whale Dolphins, Dall’s Porpoise, Elephant Seal, Steller’ s Sea Lion, Humpback Whale and more. |
| Northern California Bird Watching with Harry Fuller, as Guide September 17 to 22,2010 Brief Itinerary: Friday, September 17: Arrival and afternoon birding. Saturday, September 18: San Francisco Area birding. Sunday, September 19: Point Reyes National Seashore and Marin County birding. Monday, September 20: Inland to Livermore for Yellow-billed Magpie and more. Tuesday, September 21: Calaveras Big Trees in the Sierra Foothills bird watching. Wednesday, September 22: Big Sur for California Condor and more. Pelagic Extension and More Extension Options:
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More on Harry Fuller:
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Trip Pricing and Costs: We estimate the price of this trip will be $1,240 for the main trip, including lodging for 6 days of birding, 5 nights, five breakfasts, lodging taxes, bird guide, driver, trip planning and other services. Single supplement $320. $100 to $150 will likely be your cost for additional meals at restaurants and for box lunches (your choice here). Please call Charles Thornton-Kolbe at 1-888-203-7464, ext. 912 to book trip and to get a detailed invoice. We like folks to know what they are paying for. Also, feel free to call Harry. |
| Trip Description Friday, September 17: Arrival: Arrive at San Francisco International Airport. We will arrange for transfers to area hotel at 11 AM, 3 PM and late (after latest arrivals). Early arrivals will get in some birding in the afternoon. Saturday, September 18: San Francisco Area: Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Brandt’s Cormorant, Chestnut-sided Chickadee, Heermann’s Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Clark’s and Western Grebe. Short seawatch for loons and other ocean birds. Migrants could include Western Tanager, Bullock’s Oriole Hermit Warbler and Townsend’s Warbler. Sunday, September 19: Point Reyes National Seashore and Marin County: We will look for some of Point Reyes’ storied vagrants. All three scoters possible, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, Acorn Woodpecker, California Quail, Hutton’s Vireo, Wilson’s Warbler, Black Phoebe, Western Bluebird, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, Tricolored Blackbird. Monday, September 20: Inland to Livermore: The highlight of this day will be Yellow- billed Magpie. But other excellent birds (and tough to get elsewhere) will be California Thrasher and Nuttall’s Woodpecker. In addition, we will try for Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Nuttall’s Woodpecker. Tuesday, September 21: Calaveras Big Trees in the Sierra Foothills: Along with Giant Sequoias, we will find White-headed Woopecker, Mountain Chickadee, Mountain Bluebird, possible Sooty Grouse, American Dipper, Burrowing Owl, and possible Mountain Quail. Wednesday, September 22: Big Sur: We will again leave early, but this time head to Big Sur for California Condor. There are now more condors in the wild than in captivity as the restoration program continues to work for the largest birds in North America. Also possible American Dipper, Sea Otter and any ocean birds we may have missed. Extend or Off to the Airport:
Pelagic Extension Available from Thursday to Sunday: We will hope to get any pelagic birders onto the September 23 (Thursday) Shearwater Journeys trip. (For the next 3 days, they are offering pelagic trips. You could take more than one trip, or come back later for a trip on another day. This pelagic trip will be with California’s premiere offshore birding outfit. Expect three or more species of shearwater, Black-footed Albatross with Laysan possible, Ashy Storm-Petrel, a handful of alcids including Cassin’s Auklet and Marbled Murrelet, Arctic Tern, Sabine’s Gull and all three jaegers. With luck at least one South Polar Skua as well. Nearly all of these trips come up with some ultra fantastic bird. Further extension possible for those wishing to make the trip south to Ventura and a short boat ride out to see the Island Scrub-Jay on the only island it inhabits, Santa Cruz Island. We will figure out interest and then schedule as a pretrip and/or after everyone has had their fill of pelagic birding. The drive south would likely take place on Saturday, September 25. The boat trip on the morning of Sunday, September 26. We will also add some additional Southern California birding to these additional two days. Participants could fly out of LAX (as in Los Angeles) late Tuesday or Wednesday. We can work out the extension details, once we have six participants on the trip. Please sign up early so we can get you on the Shearwater Journey trips on Thursday and/or Friday. |
| Photo Credits: Allen's Hummingbird by Calvin Lou. Rest of photos by Bill Schmoker. |