From Napa-Solano Audubon Society

FieldTrip: Mines Road

Field Trip: Mines Road

Date: Saturday April 16, 2011

Time: 8:30 AM

Trip Report added 4/20/2011 (NSAS Event)

Details:

Field Trip Report by David Takeuchi, Field trip Chairman

Six Napa Solano Audubon Members joined guest Leader Hugh Harvey, Mt. Diablo Field Trip Leader for a day on Mines Road. We started at Murrietta’s Well Winery and ran in to a group of about two dozen birders from Marin Audubon who was making a two day trip covering Mines Road and Del Portal Canyon. We stopped at Del Valle Recreational Area before birding the twisted canyon road which follows a winding creek through riparian areas, into a vernal pool like meadow then up a pine canyon, through chaparral and taking a rest stop at the junction.

The day was sunny and cool, a perfect day for birding. The birding was great and the goldfields carpeted the meadows.

A total of 63 species were seen. Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Wild Turkey, California Quail, Western Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Morning Dove, Greater Roadrunner, Great Horned Owl, White-throated Swift, Anna’s Hummingbird, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Stellar’s Jay, Western Scrub Jay, Yellow-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick’s Wren, House Wren, Western Bluebird, American Robin, Wrentit, Northern Mockingbird, California Thrasher, European Starling, Phainopepla, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Redwing Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock’s Oriole, House Finch Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence’s Goldfinch.

Wildflowers. Filaree, Lupine, Mule’s Ear, Dandelion, Sticky Monkey Flower, Vetch, Burr Clover, Purple Night Shade, Elderberry, California Poppy, Goldfield, Blue Dick, Indian Paint Brush, Mustard, Fiddleneck, Popcorn Flower, Owl’s Clover, Daisy, Deer Brush, Golden Bush


Pre-trip Description:

Leader: Hugh Harvey, Mt. Diablo Audubon Society, Field Trip Chairman

Description: Our guest leader Hugh Harvey will lead us on an adventure up Mines Road, which follows a winding creek through riparian areas, into a vernal pool-like meadow and then up a pine canyon. This area attracts a wide variety of birds because of the varied habitats. Target birds include Roadrunner, Lewis Woodpecker, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, and Phainopepla. Pack a lunch. This will be an all day field trip. We will visit Del Valle Regional Park, and there is an entrance fee of $6.00 per vehicle.

NOTE: We will do a lot of driving and stopping/parking. It is important to carpool due to limited road-side parking.

Directions: Meet at 8:30 AM at Murrieta’s Well Winery, 3005 Mines Road, Livermore, CA, 94550. From Benicia, take I-680 south, merge I-580 towards Stockton, take North Livermore exit to downtown Livermore. North Livermore becomes Tesla Road; go 1/2 mile on Tesla Rd, turn right on Mines Road, go 1/3 mile to lane on right to Murrieta’s Well Winery. Drive down lane and turn right to Murrieta’s Well Winery parking lot.

submitted on January 26, 2011, at 06:25 PM PST

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Page last modified on April 21, 2011, at 05:10 AM PST