Sh*t Birders Say as mentioned this is the video we talked about on our hike 11-21-20 at Lynch Canyon

Here is the video we mentioned while trying to get everyone to see the Burrowing Owl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaX7i1Q7-Rw 

  https://youtu.be/NaX7i1Q7-Rw

2019 Winter dates! Come on out!

But first please go to our facebook page and like:

 www.facebook.com/WestCountyHawkWatch 



thanks!



Here is some more dates for you....



February- 9th, 10am to 2pm

- Flyway Festival at Lynch Canyon Open Space, Lynch Canyon provides raptors with over 1,000 undeveloped acres where they can hunt and rest. Each year from fall through late winter, Solano Land Trust docent and raptor expert, Larry Broderick, leads hikes and workshops so others can learn about the birds of prey. You can join other binocular-wielding people who appreciate the connection between Solano Land Trust's protected ranchland and open spaces and the birds that rely on those lands for habitat. During migration, the bird population can double or triple. “It's a wild, remote wilderness, and yet it's right in our backyard," says Larry Broderick. “Lynch has a great prey base, and that is a testament to Solano Land Trust's ecosystem management." This hike will be between 4-6 miles. Meet in the parking lot.

Check here of details: https://solanolandtrust.org/events

February- 10th, (two hikes) 9am to 11am & 12noon to 2pm

Sears Point, Baylands, Dickson Ranch, wetlands (Flyway Festival) Sonoma Land Trust, Sunday. Experience this Baylands restoration in process, Sonoma Land Trust and San Pablo Bay’s flagship wetlands Restoration project in full swing, the former Dickson Ranch now a wetland along with the reestablished Baylands wetlands, with open Ag space all around, provides a winter wonderland of Raptors, we’ve seen all seven diurnal Birds of Prey species here over the years, this outing delivers exciting sights, sounds and experiences.

Check here of details: https://sonomalandtrust.org/outings/index.html

February 17th 10am to 2pm,

Skaggs Island, (Overwintering Raptor Wonderland) Sonoma Land Trust, Sunday. Let’s look to the skies with raptor enthusiast and California Certified Naturalist Larry Broderick! Skaggs Island is a bay area raptor hot spot. Larry’s love for the birds is contagious and he narrates what is happening in the skies with the intensity of a sports commentator. Come away with skills to easily identify the raptors flying overhead during the Over-wintering season.

Check here of details: https://sonomalandtrust.org/outings/index.html

February 23^rd - 26th (four days)

Lower Klamath Basin annual trip. West County Hawkwatch Team and Guest annual event...

Half day on 23^rd, full days 24^th and 25^th, half day on 26^th Going to try to hit all the hot spots, Lower Klamath Ref, Tule Lake Ref, Stateline Hwy, Township Road, Butte Valley and the Petroglyphs, All these will be auto tours, pack your car with food and drinks, warm clothes and binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras! 

Check with Larry for details, hotel, travel, agenda…. northcoastraptor@gmail.com

Check here for regional info:  https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lower_klamath/

March 2nd 10am to 1:30pm

Lynch Canyon Open Space (Season Close) Solano Land Trust, Saturday.

- Lynch Canyon provides raptors with over 1,000 undeveloped acres where they can hunt and rest. Each year from fall through late winter, Solano Land Trust docent and raptor expert, Larry Broderick, leads hikes and workshops so others can learn about the birds of prey. You can join other binocular-wielding people who appreciate the connection between Solano Land Trust's protected ranchland and open spaces and the birds that rely on those lands for habitat. During migration and over-wintering distribution the raptor population can double or triple. “It's a wild, remote wilderness, and yet it's right in our backyard," says Larry Broderick. “Lynch has a great prey base, and that is a testament to Solano Land Trust's ecosystem management." This hike will be between 4-6 miles. Meet in the parking lot.

Check here for details: https://solanolandtrust.org/events

March 3^rd 10am to 2pm

Skaggs Island, (Overwintering Raptor Wonderland) Sonoma Land Trust, Sunday

Let’s look to the skies with raptor enthusiast and California Certified Naturalist Larry Broderick! Larry’s love for the birds is contagious and he narrates what is happening in the skies with the intensity of a sports commentator. Come away with skills to easily identify the raptors flying overhead during the Over-wintering season.

Check here of details: https://sonomalandtrust.org/outings/index.html

March 10^th 10am to 2pm

Skaggs Island, (Overwintering Raptor Wonderland) Sonoma Land Trust, Sunday

Let’s look to the fall skies with raptor enthusiast and California Certified Naturalist Larry Broderick! Larry’s love for the birds is contagious and he narrates what is happening in the skies with the intensity of a sports commentator. Come away with skills to easily identify the raptors flying overhead during the Over-wintering season.

Check here for details: https://sonomalandtrust.org/outings/index.html

New dates Announced!



April 15, 7-9 pm.

Santa Rosa, Madrone Audubon Society Raptor Identification and Natural History PowerPoint program, with handouts and a book raffle.  West County Hawkwatch Raptor presentation, natural history and identification with rare regional updates, Larry Broderick's fascinating and visually-exciting presentation includes not only wonderful first-hand stories from the field, but also is packed with interesting information about raptor habits, identification, and suggestions of where to spot them, as well as some interesting one-of-a-kind and rare special surprises. Once you attend Larry's presentation, you have him as a resource and reference for questions and outings for years to come, as he is highly accessible through West County Hawkwatch Raptor Research's web pages and his direct contact information. Larry Broderick is a local Birds of Prey Natural History and Interpretive Specialist, Jenner Headlands Hawk Watch Director and Certified California Naturalist. Larry has been working with Birds of Prey as an educational specialist for over 25 years. For the last 10 years he has led walks, hikes and presentations with Solano and Sonoma Land Trusts, Madrone Audubon, Bird Rescue Center and Redwood Regional Ornithological Society. Larry conducts Bird and Wildlife surveys for the Wildlands Conservancy, Sonoma Land Trust and Pepperwood Preserve. He also runs West County Hawkwatch and manages dozens of docents, photographers and tour guides. Larry is the recipient of the Madrone Audubon's 2012 Betty Burridge award and Sonoma Land Trusts Special Recognition of Volunteer Service award 2015-2016.





April 27^th, Saturday  TBD

Little River Inn. Mendocino Raptor Identification and Natural History PowerPoint program, with handouts and a book raffle, then a short birds of prey themes hike / walk in suitable habitat. West County Hawkwatch Raptor presentation, natural history and identification with rare regional updates, Larry Broderick's fascinating and visually-exciting presentation includes not only wonderful first-hand stories from the field, but also is packed with interesting information about raptor habits, identification, and suggestions of where to spot them, as well as some interesting one-of-a-kind and rare special surprises. Once you attend Larry's presentation, you have him as a resource and reference for questions and outings for years to come, as he is highly accessible through West County Hawkwatch Raptor Research's web pages and his direct contact information. Larry Broderick is a local Birds of Prey Natural History and Interpretive Specialist, Jenner Headlands Hawk Watch Director and Certified California Naturalist. Larry has been working with Birds of Prey as an educational specialist for over 25 years. For the last 10 years he has led walks, hikes and presentations with Solano and Sonoma Land Trusts, Madrone Audubon, Bird Rescue Center and Redwood Regional Ornithological Society. Larry conducts Bird and Wildlife surveys for the Wildlands Conservancy, Sonoma Land Trust and Pepperwood Preserve. He also runs West County Hawkwatch and manages dozens of docents, photographers and tour guides. Larry is the recipient of the Madrone Audubon's 2012 Betty Burridge award and Sonoma Land Trusts Special Recognition of Volunteer Service award 2015-2016. Little River Inn Mendocino, timing TBD but most likely noon to afternoon.

Male Northern Harrier 

Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk, Lower Klamath Basin 2019

Young Red-tailed Hawk

Peregrine Falcon, (educational bird [Bird Rescue Center Ca.])

 Cooper's Hawk Don Bartling

Merlin, Tiaga

Sears Point Bird Walk this Saturday! ~ February 25th! 9:30am Dickson / Baylands units.

Sears Point Bird Walk this Saturday! ~ February 25th! 9:30am Dickson / Baylands units.

Part of the San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge. Park at the Reclamation Road parking lot, Reclamation Road is off of Lakeville Highway / Highway 37 ... hike is 9:30am to 11/11:30am .....

hike is free! its a non advertised, non planned event, we just have a free day and we decided to go birding! Come on out! Experienced, Novice, Beginner... all are welcome.

Larry Broderick West County Hawkwatch Group... We'll walk along the Dickson trail looking into both the Baylands and Dickson units of the San Pablo Bay Wildlife Refuge!

New December, January, Febuary and March dates....

2016 Fall - Winter

December 3rd, (Saturday) 9 am to 1 pm at the King-Swett Ranches
Where the Wild Things Are Hike with Jim Walsh:  Wander the hills between Fairfield, Benicia and Vallejo.  Get a great workout and learn about the birds and other wildlife that call this area home.  Take advantage of this special opportunity if you can because the King-Swett Ranches are otherwise closed.  Up to six miles.  Free!  Space is limited.  Pre-registration recommended.

December 3rd, (Saturday) 9:30 to 11am, Sonoma Land Trust, Baylands / Dickson units bird hike, (Reclamation Road off of highway 37) Park at Reclamation road parking lot, no registration necessary.

December 18th, (Sunday) 10am to 2pm, Solano Land Trust, Over-wintering distribution Raptor Hike at Lynch Canyon Open Space. Solano Land Trust website: www.solanolandtrust.org under events calendar. Pre-registration recommended.

January 16th, (Monday) 7pm to 9pm, Madrone Audubon, PowerPoint Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History. West County HawkWatch presents "Local Hawks in the region, Migration, Resident and Over-wintering identification and Natural history" a beginning and novice talk and PowerPoint presentation. Details on how to identify what you see when you are looking at hawks. Some history on the past, present and future of our Birds of Prey. Opportunities to go out and see these birds on upcoming scheduled hikes, walks and counts. Plus some handouts of Hawk Identification process paperwork.

January 21st, (Saturday) 1pm to 5pm, Solano Land Trust, PowerPoint and Hike, Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History, at Rush Ranch - starting at 1pm. West County HawkWatch presents "Local Hawks in the region, Migration, Resident and Over-wintering identification and Natural history" a beginning and novice talk and PowerPoint presentation. Details on how to identify what you see when you are looking at hawks. Some history on the past, present and future of our Birds of Prey. Opportunities to go out and see these birds on upcoming scheduled hikes, walks and counts. Plus some handouts of Hawk Identification process paperwork. Solano Land Trust website: www.solanolandtrust.org under events calendar. Pre-registration recommended.

January 26th (Thursday night) 7pm to 9pm, Sonoma Land Trust, Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History PowerPoint Presentation at SLT main building. Sonoma Land Trust Website: www.sonomalandtrust.org under the "out on the lands" calendar.

January 29th (Sunday) 10am to 2pm, Tolay Creek Over-wintering Birds of Prey hike, 10am to 1:30pm Sonoma Land Trust Website: www.sonomalandtrust.org under the "out on the lands" calendar.

February (10th, 11th 12th) is Bay Area Flyway Festival and on:

February 11th Sears Point Property (Dickson Trial / Baylands) tour with Sonoma Land Trust 10am to 11:45am.

February 11th Sears Point Property (Dickson Trial / Baylands) tour with Sonoma Land Trust Noon to 1:45pm.

February 12th Solano Land Trust tour at Lynch Canyon Open Space 10am to 2pm

February 16th - 19th (Thursday -Sunday) Winter Wings Festival @ Lower Klamath Basin Region. West County HawkWatch is not planning on going but we have some folks in the Region to help you if you are there

February 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon) West County Hawkwatch to the Lower Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuge complex, including but not limited to the Butte Valley, Lower Klamath and Tule Lake. WCHW member, guest and VIP tour 2017. Exclusive and Extensive tours with our own group.

March 5th (Sunday) 10am to 2pm Skaggs Island Birds of Prey tour with Sonoma Land Trust 10am to 2pm Sonoma Land Trust Website: www.sonomalandtrust.org under the "out on the lands" calendar.

March 9th 7:00 to 8:30pm, Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History PowerPoint Presentation at the Laguna Foundation Center

March 11th, 10am to 2pm, Laguna Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History walk on the Laguna Trail.  

March 18th, 1pm-5pm, Saturday Solano Land Trust, PowerPoint and Hike, Birds of Prey Identification and Natural History, at Rush Ranch - starting at 1pm. West County HawkWatch presents "Local Hawks in the region, Migration, Resident and Over-wintering identification and Natural history" a beginning and novice talk and PowerPoint presentation. Details on how to identify what you see when you are looking at hawks. Some history on the past, present and future of our Birds of Prey. Opportunities to go out and see these birds on upcoming scheduled hikes, walks and counts. Plus some handouts of Hawk Identification process paperwork. Solano Land Trust website: www.solanolandtrust.org under events calendar. Pre-registration recommended.