Ohlone Audubon Society

Sabercat Creek, Fremont
2026-04-08 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sabercat Creek, 43851 Ibero Way, Fremont, CA, 94539, United States
Wednesday April 8, 9AM-12 Noon
Leaders: Bill Hoppes & Pat Gordon
Ho********@***il.com

Sabercat Creek trail follows a stream in Fremont with excellent riparian woodland in addition to many ornamentals. There are also grassy hillsides with sites for perching birds. We have a good chance to see both Allen’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds and have a five woodpecker day. Since we will be in the middle of Spring migration we should see great birds. We will start the trip from Old Mission Park where parking is plentiful and restrooms available. After a couple of blocks of street walking we will access the trail at its Pine street entrance. Sabercat Creek has seen extensive excavations for fossils so there are many interpretive signs and even an online audio tour if you would rather listen to it than the birds. The trail is mostly level and paved the entire way. Total length is 3.2 miles but since it is an out-and-back, you can turn around whenever you wish.
Directions: Old Mission Park is on Ibero Way in Fremont. Heading south on I-680, take the first Mission Blvd exit. Turn left on Mission, left on Pine, the left on Ibero Way. The park will be at the intersection of Ibero Way and Beretta Drive. From I-880 take the Auto Mall Parkway/Durham Road Exit. Head east on Durham Road then left on Paseo Padre Parkway. Make a right on Camino del Campo and then left on Ibero Way to the park.

Birding by Ear, Garin Regional Park
2026-04-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Garin Regional Park, 1320 Garin Ave, , Hayward, CA, 94544, United States
Thursday, April 16 9am – 11am
Leaders: Maggie Clark and Bill Scoggins
ma***********@***il.com
Come explore birding by ear. The willow and sycamore lined creekside supporting an amazing array of insects, which in turn provides food for foraging and nesting neotropical songbirds, such as Tree Swallow, Swainson’s Thrush, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Wilson’s Warbler, and much more. Research has revealed that this rural setting provides habitat for nearly 150 bird species of which more than 65 are breeding birds.
Directions/address: From Hwy 880 in Hayward, take the Industrial Parkway exit and travel east to Mission Boulevard. Make a right onto Mission Boulevard and travel one block to Garin Ave and then make a left. The park entrance is approximately one mile uphill at 1320 Garin Avenue, Hayward.

Mines Road, Livermore
2026-04-18 07:30 - 15:00 | Livermore Park & Ride, 1662 Portola Ave, Livermore, CA, United States
Saturday, April 18, 7:30am-3pm
Leaders: Bob Toleno & Juli Chamberlin
RSVP: bi*****@****no.com

FIELD TRIP RESCHEDULED!
Mines Road ascends from Livermore Valley into the hills of the Diablo Range. As you increase elevation the habitat moves from oak savannah through chemise chaparral and into mixed pine woodland. The varied habitats support an excellent variety of breeding and migrating birds, including some species that are rarely seen elsewhere in Alameda County. Some of the birds we’ll hope to see will be Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Phainopepla, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, and if we’re very lucky, maybe even Greater Roadrunner or Prairie Falcon. We’ll end the birding in San Antonio Valley, where we’ll hope to see Lewis’s Woodpeckers.

This caravan-style trip will meet at the Livermore Park & Ride on Portola Ave at 7:30am. We’ll then arrange ourselves into carpools, because many of the pullouts on Mines Road are small, so we’ll need to have as few vehicles as possible. Trip will be limited to 12 participants, so you must RSVP to attend. Bring sunscreen, lunch, and plenty of water. Scopes might be helpful, but not necessary.

Directions: Take I-580 east to Exit 52, turn right on N Livermore Ave, then right on Portola Ave. The Park & Ride is at 1662 Portola Ave, Livermore. Please be on time as we will try to get on the road promptly at 7:45am!

Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve
2026-04-24 08:30 - 12:00 | Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, 1897 Geary Road, Sunol, CA, United States
Friday, April 24, 8:30am-noon
Leader: Bob Toleno & Kate Reed
bo*@****no.com

Sunol Wilderness is one of the most beautiful parks in the East Bay. Spring migration can be an excellent time to hear and see birds in the park. Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Lazuli Buntings, and Black-headed Grosbeaks will be singing on breeding territories, and migrants like Cassin’s Vireo and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher might also be seen. We’ll hike along the main road to the Little Yosemite area, where we might hear the beautiful song of the resident Canyon Wren. If we’re extremely lucky, we could catch sight of a Northern Pygmy-Owl. The hike will have some uphill parts, but we’ll take it slow.

Directions: Take i-580 east to I-680 south to exit 21, make a left on Calveras Rd and follow it for six miles, then turn left on Geary Rd. There may be a $5 entrance fee if the kiosk is open (free for EBRPD members). Once inside the gate, continue all the way to the furthesst east parking lot at the start of Ohlone Road, where the hike will begin. A toilet is available at the trailhead.

Diablo Foothills, Walnut Creek
2026-04-25 08:30 - 12:00 | Diablo Foothills, Walnut Creek, 1700 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, CA, 94598
Saturday, April 25, 8:30 AM – noon
Leaders: Rich Nicholson and Bob Dunn
rs****@***oo.com

Enjoy a nice walk through oak woodlands in the Diablo foothills. Paved trails and moderate hills will give us a chance to see birds such as Cassin’s Vireo, Rock and Canyon Wrens, and possibly nesting Peregrine Falcons. Scopes can be useful in certain areas, but they are not necessary. Meet at the Diablo Foothills Staging Area parking lot (1700 Castle Rock Rd.) at 8:30 am.

Directions: Take 680/24 to Ygnacio Valley Rd. Turn right onto Ygnacio and then turn right again at Walnut Ave. (NOT Walnut Blvd.). Follow Walnut Ave. to the turn circle and bare right onto Castle Rock Rd. Drive past the horse stables to Diablo Foothills parking area, 1700 Castle Rock Rd.

Mill Creek Road, Fremont
2026-05-02 08:30 - 12:00 | Mill Creek Road, Fremond, CA
Saturday, May 2, 8:30am – noon
Leaders: Bob Toleno & Juli Chamberlin
bi*****@****no.com

Mill Creek Road is an underappreciated birding hotspot in Fremont. It parallels Mill Creek, which creates a rich riparian habitat that flows from Mission Peak. In early May, we hope to see migrants like Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, migrating warblers, as well as Rufous Hummingbird, and maybe even an Olive-sided Flycatcher. Resident Rufous-crowned Sparrows should be singing, and we’ll likely hear the song of the recently arrived Grasshopper Sparrow, too. Lazuli Buntings and Black-headed Grosbeaks should be relatively abundant and singing on their breeding territories. We’ll walk about 1.5 – 2 miles on a paved road up the gentle hill and then back again.

Directions: From 880 S, take Auto Mall Pkwy east, then get on 680 N for 2 miles, exit on Mission Blvd, turn right, then turn left on Mill Creek Rd after just a couple blocks. Park on the street near the corner of Mill Creek Rd and Linmore Dr. There are no restrooms, so be sure to stop at the McDonalds or a gas station on Mission Blvd beforehand to use the facilities.

Alameda Song Sparrow Habitat Use of Salt Pond Restoration Sites in South San Francisco Bay
2026-05-05 07:30
Presenter: Brad Speno
Description: In the San Francisco Bay, several large restoration projects are returning salt ponds to tidal salt marsh. The Alameda song sparrow (Melospiza melodia pusillula), a California species of special concern, uses both restored and historic marshes, but their use of restored salt ponds is not well understood. Brad Speno assessed Alameda song sparrow abundance and breeding presence with respect to salt pond restoration age and percent cover, and height of native and non-native plants. He conducted bird count surveys and botanical surveys at seven study sites, then mist-netted and banded birds at four study sites to detect breeding birds. Brad will discuss the results of his research and share recommendations for future restoration management projects.

Bio: Brad Speno is a wildlife biologist based in San Jose. He earned an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado, and he worked for various Department of Interior agencies and consulting companies prior to completing a Master’s of Science degree at San Jose State University. He volunteers with the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, who assisted in his research, and he currently works for LSA Environmental Consultants.

Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo State Park
2026-05-13 08:30 - 12:00 | Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo State Park, 96 Mitchell Canyon Rd, Clayton, CA, 94517, United States
Wednesday, May 13, 8:30 AM – noon
Leaders: Rich Nicholson and Bob Dunn
rs****@***oo.com

Enjoy an easy to moderate walk on a dirt road for a two to three mile round trip. Migration will be in full swing, so we’ll be looking for flycatchers, thrushes, vireos, and warblers, in addition to the resident woodpeckers and raptors. Scopes can be useful, but they are not necessary. Lunch is optional as we recap the list after the walk.

Directions: Take SR-24 east or 680-north to Walnut Creek; exit at Ygnacio Valley Rd. Proceed east 8.5 miles to Clayton Rd; turn right. Drive one mile to Mitchell Canyon Rd.; turn right. At the end of the road, enter the park after paying the $6 entry fee. Meet at the parking lot. Restrooms are available.

Tour: Extremes of Inyo County (plus a little Mono County)
2026-05-25 00:00 - 2026-05-30 00:00 | Inyo County
Dates: May 25 – 30, 2026
Leaders: Bob Toleno and Juli Chamberlin
Cost: $975 per person for a shared room; $1,175 for a single (includes all lodging and meals, excluding alcohol)
The tour IS SOLD OUT

We’re running a repeat of last year’s popular Inyo County tour. We’ve added one additional night and an extra half day to try and see a few more species than we did last year. Some examples of breeding birds we saw on last year’s tour: Gambel’s Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Lesser & Common Nighthawk, Black Swift, Calliope Hummingbird, Black-backed Woodpecker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Juniper Titmouse, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, LeConte’s Thrasher, Black-throated Sparrow, Sagebrush Sparrow, Scott’s Oriole, Lucy’s Warbler, and Summer Tanager. Besides the breeding birds, late May is also peak migration time, so we’ll be searching the desert oases for the birds who are just passing through on their way north.

The tour IS SOLD OUT
