We are again scheduling a visit to the ponds targeting wintering waterfowl and early migrating shorebirds. We hope that the winter rains have provided abundant open water and muddy shorelines for these species. Assemble at the Treatment Plant’s Administration Building at the end of Metz Road at 7:30 am to meet your leader, Larry Jordan. This is a 1/2-day trip that may end in the early afternoon if the birding is good. Directions to the Clear Creek Plant: Take Hwy 273 south from Redding and look for River Ranch Road after crossing Clear Creek. Cross over the Railroad tracks and turn left on Eastside Rd. Entrance is on Metz Road on the right. Contact webmaster@wintuaudubon.com for more information.
Tag Archives | birds
Hog Lake
We will visit to Hog Lake in Tehama County to check on waterfowl and upland wintering birds. Caravan leaves the parking lot at Kutras at 6:45 am or meet at the parking lot at Hog Lake at 7:30 am (Approximate Sunrise). Hog Lake is located off of State Route 36 about 9.5 miles east of Red Bluff. Look for the BLM sign on the left side of the highway. Bring layered clothes and sturdy boots as the hiking is very rocky at points. There is no fee for use of this BLM property. If we have time, we will drive a few miles over to Hogsback Road and do some birding there too. Rain cancels the trip. Contact ebkashuba@gmail.
Black Butte Lake, Buckhorn Recreation Area
Come join us to explore Black Butte Lake’s north shore, covered with oak woodland, to search for woodpeckers, grebes, waterfowl, wrens, and occasional birds-of-prey. There have been some very recent sightings of Bonaparte’s Gull at this third largest eBird Hotspot in Tehama County. This is a fee area at $10 per vehicle, and there is no fee if are carrying your ‘America the Beautiful’ lands pass series card. Meet at the Kutras parking lot at 6:45 to carpool or at the restroom facility at the Buckhorn Recreation Area’s Boat Ramp parking lot at 8:00 am. Just follow the sign for ‘Boat Ramp’ when you enter the gate. Contact trip leader Dan Bye by text or phone 530 228 9373 or email danbye56@gmail.com for more information.
Live Bird Presentation at Turtle Bay
Sharon Clay has been the Curator of Animal Programs at Turtle Bay for over fifteen years. During that time she has assembled an incredible showcase of animals that are unable to be released back into the wild. These include several species of birds ranging from the Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Barn Owl to the Yellow-billed Magpie and her long time friend Kinta, the Laughing Kookaburra. Sharon has graciously given us the opportunity to visit her at “The Mill Building” in Turtle Bay to meet these amazing birds, learn all about them and experience them close up, some as they fly across the room! This will be an in-person presentation that you won’t want to miss. Watching it later on YouTube just won’t be the same.
Park at the monolith adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel at Turtle Bay no later than 6:45 pm to access the gate to enter the park for this 7pm meeting. We will direct you to the Mill Building.
Reginato River Access Trail Walk
Doves versus pigeons – is there really a difference between the two? Why is one a beloved symbol of peace and the other often a reviled city nuisance? They both belong to the same family of birds, Columbidae. Can we see all four species of Columbiformes present in Shasta County on one bird walk?
Find out the answers to these questions by joining Wintu Audubon Education Chair Tricia Ford on Thursday, February 9 at 9am for a walk along the John Reginato River Access Trail, which begins near the canoe and kayak launch area at the South Bonnyview boat ramp, 3810 South Bonnyview Road. We will spend about two hours walking less than two miles on a rocky path with river cobblestones. Hiking boots are recommended. There is a port-a-potty at the boat ramp.
This is the fifth in a series of eight walks, one per month from October through May, exploring City of Redding parks and trails for opportunities to see birds. If it is raining at the site at the start time of the walk, the event will be canceled. Contact triciathebirdnerd@gmail.com for more information.