Now is the time in the life of migratory birds when breeding is over; it’s time to go south to winter range. This trip is designed to take you to a place where we can look for some of those shorebirds as they move down the Pacific Flyway looking for a stopover for rest and food. The Napa River at the town of American Canyon provides such a place. We will be timing our fieldtrip to coincide with tidal movements to observe as many shorebirds as possible.
Adjacent to the Napa River is a restored shoreline-walking trail, where tidal fluctuations can be observed. First we will walk along a large tidal lagoon looking for resting birds. Following, we will proceed to Green Island via a level-walking trail to the Napa River to observe the rising tide looking for foraging birds as they come closer to us. We will be on the lookout for the expected sandpipers, godwits, willets, and Black-bellied Plovers, some still in breeding plumage. As often happens there may a surprise of a rarity such as seen before … Red Knots still in traces of breeding plumage.
All along the approximate 1-mile level path, we’ll be enjoying the open vistas looking west toward the Green Island wetlands and over Napa River.
Plan to meet at 7:00 am at Edgewater Parking lot in American Canyon; map and directions will be provided to participants who RSVP via email by August 3. [It’s approximately a one-hour drive from Davis.] If you have questions, please use the mobile phone number below to text or email Sami LaRocca. Unless you request otherwise, we will send a email to all who have RSVPd so you will know who else is attending if you wish to coordinate transportation, and for us to facilitate cancellation of the trip if necessary.
Bring binoculars, scopes and snacks/lunch. After returning to the parking lot the group is invited have a lunch in the picnic area before returning to Davis at approximately 2 pm.
Contact for co-leaders:
Sami LaRocca [530-908-0288; sami.larocca@outlook.com]
John Mott-Smith [530-400-7622; johnmottsmith@comcast.net]