This field trip is very suitable for beginning birders! Binoculars are available for borrowing, just let the leader know in advance to bring an extra pair.
Moorhen Marsh, maintained by the Mt. View Sanitary District in Martinez is of the first water treatment facilities in the US that was designed to offer quality habitat for migrating birds. The marsh is usually only open for visits by appointment, Monday thru Friday, so this is an unusual chance to visit on a Saturday. We hope to see resident and overwintering ducks geese, herons, and passerines.
Just across the freeway, McNabney Marsh, a.k.a Waterbird Regional Preserve, hosts many more waterbirds and shorebirds as well. Marsh passerines and raptors might also be present.
We'll meet at the observation deck near the south end of McNabney Marsh, off Arthur Road, and scan with our scopes. After that we'll move the cars a short distance and take a walk around the artificial marshes operated by Mt. View Sanitary District. Visitors will be required to sign a release of viability in order to enter the MVSD facility.
Hike Rating: 1 - Easy. Under 1 mile on flat terrain. Paths are unpaved paths and potentially muddy, if it's rained recently.
Leader: Matthew Tarlach, mdbafieldtrips@gmail.com
Meet: The observation deck off Arthur Road at 8:30AM.
GPS for meeting point: 38.019304268086714, -122.09612963848679
Directions: From I-680 northbound, exit at Pacheco Blvd, turn right onto Arthur Road and go under the freeway. Arthur Road will bend left. Where Arthur Road ends the paved road turns sharp left through a gate onto MVSD’s private road. Drive about .3 mile to the gravel parking lot just before the one-lane tunnel. The observation deck is to the right (east) of the road.
Limited to 15 participants. Participants acknowledge the MDBA Liability Waiver (available during registration).
(Image of Long-billed Dowitchers by Alan Bade)
