This special class on bird migration will take place at the Point Reyes Headlands and other sites in the National Seashore. On the first day, a series of short walks may take us to the Lighthouse, the Chimney Rock area, and Drakes Beach. Depending on weather patterns, many migrant warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, and other passerines concentrate in the cypress groves and willow thickets in this part of the National Seashore. Ranch ponds and marsh habitat can hold shorebirds, while scoters, loons, grebes and other water birds rest on Drakes Bay. Exploring Point Reyes on weekdays allows us to sample these unique landscapes without many other visitors. We will spend the night in this dramatic setting and watch a digital presentation on the birds of Point Reyes. Tuesday morning could find us visiting some of the same locations, however, we may also take a walk at Abbotts Lagoon or another wetland area. The variety of sandpipers, ducks, terns, and other water birds can be dramatic. Many raptors migrate through this rich area as well at this season. Expect to take several hikes throughout the weekend. Accommodations included at the Historic Lifeboat Station.

Instructed by David Wimpfheimer