THIS FIELD TRIP IS FULL

Please be prepared to carpool. Many of the roads we will be birding on are dirt farm roads with very limited parking. If we end up with a lot of cars I will be forced to skip some stops to due limited parking space. The roads will be relatively dry but there will be a few wet/muddy areas. Two wheel drive will be fine.

We are going to the Salton Sea! This is a great wintering spot for just about every bird there is. Between flooded fields, a huge, foul-smelling body of water, acres of disgusting mud, all surrounded by a desert hell-hole, anyone can see that it is a great place for birds. This area in winter is great for raptors, shore birds and all kinds of migrants. It is just south enough that all kinds of rarities show up. Because the ecology is so varied, we can expect to see a lot of species.

We will caravan through a bunch of places, stopping for lunch when the time is right. We will definitely have our traditional wine and cheese party, so bring something for that. We will try for a spot where we can watch the Sandhill Cranes come in to roost. Sunday, we will leave at the same time and bird our way in the general direction of home.

Make your reservations soon at the Brawley Townhouse Inn & Suites, 135 Main Street in Brawley, 855-797-6733. Another possibility is the Brawley Inn, 575 Main Street in Brawley, 888-388-0139.

Itinerary

Saturday: Meet at 6:30 a.m. in Brawley at the Brawley Townhouse Inn & Suites. Bring your lunch, water, and anything else you need during the day. WE WILL DEPARTING PROMPTLY AT 7AM ON SATURDAY MORNING AT THE TOWNHOUSE INN AND SUITES. PLEASE ARRIVE A HALF HOUR EARLY FOR ORIENTATION, CARPOOLING DISCUSSIONS ETC.

The first restroom stop will be at about 10;30 or 11 so drink coffee with that in mind.

We will be back to the Townhouse Inn between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Be ready to depart at 4:00 p.m. for our wine and cheese party, “Booze on the Berm” where we watch the spectacle of cranes, geese, ducks, gulls, and egrets come in to roost. Please bring the beverage of your choice, chairs, and a hors d’oeuvre to share.

Dinner will be your choice after the wine and cheese. Many of us will be having dinner at Las Chabelas Mexican Restaurant, 749 S, Brawley Ave.

Sunday: Meet at 7:00 a.m. for a morning of more birding. We will not be coming back to Brawley, so be sure to have your belongings and check out Sunday morning.

You will need to bring a lunch on Sunday as well. We will be birding up Highway 111 on the east shore of the sea. Stops will include locations within the Salton Sea State Recreation Area. There is a $7 charge per vehicle. The last stop will be at the recreation area headquarters for lunch. The trip officially ends there but you are of course free to depart whenever you choose.

Bring: Bring a food for the weekend including sack lunches, sufficient junk food to last the trip, your usual birdwatching stuff, scope if you have one.

This area in winter is great for raptors, shore birds and all kinds of migrants. It is just south enough that all kinds of rarities show up. Because the ecology is so varied, we can expect to see a lot of species. Some of the roads will be unpaved, but should be fine for passenger cars with average clearance. It is probably best to leave the Ferrari at home.

Trip Leader: Larry Schmahl

Please contact Larry Schmahl with questions at 562-714-1843 or larschmahl@aol.com.