Russian Gulch and possibly Willow Creek Rd, or areas around Jenner led by Josh Snead. Looking for vagrants and migrants. Meet at Russian Gulch 8:30 am. No fee. There is a restroom at the parking lot. Bring layers, water, snacks. Heavy rain cancels.

Note: Russian Gulch has no sign. It is located north of Jenner on Hwy 1. Drive pass the Jenner Headlands parking area to a hill with a sign Muniz Ranch, go down the hill, at the left corner, turn on the left turn signal. The driveway is on the left, just passed creek crossing.

Meet at Sebastopol Community Center at 6:45 am. This is a long day where we bird at multiple locations, going from dawn to dusk. Afterwards, we will gather at Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Petaluma where we tally our species counts and reminisce about the day. It is a fundraiser for Point Blue Conservation Science https://www.pointblue.org/engage-with-us/events/

We will look for migrants and vagrants.  Meet at 8 am at Porto Bodega parking lot. From Hwy 1 turn on to Eastshore Rd, drive downhill to the stop sign, stay straight and go over little bridge to the parking lot. Can carpool from there. Bring layers, lunch (lunch can be purchased there.)  Need a county park pass to enter Doran Regional Park. Leader Ruthie Rudesill 707-337-6516 cell/text.

Meet at 7:30 am at the Caltrans Park and Ride on Lakeville Highway. Full day trip, returning around 3:30 pm.

Note: this a different day from our previous membership meetings. We are hoping to include YAMS by holding it on a Saturday.

Annual Fall Outdoor Meeting at Spring Lake Regional Park. This is our first Membership Meeting for 2026-27. Details to be provided.

Thanks to our March meeting speaker Dr. Kristen Dybala, she has invited RROS to visit Palomarin Field Station in Marin County. Nancy Gamble, director of Philanthropy at Pt Blue Conservation Science, has arranged for us to tour and bird at Palomarin. Meet there at 8:30 am (or at Petaluma park&ride at 7:10 am, hwy 116 Lakevile Hwy x Hwy101). Trail to nets can be steep and has poison oak, wear pants. Bring lunch, coffee/tea and snacks will be served. We will be able to observe banding and the lab there. There are restrooms. Rain cancels. Donations are encouraged. info@pointblue.org  Directions from Bolinas take Mesa Rd to the very end, on gravel road. There is a small sign 999 Mesa Rd. Limited cell service. Questions? contact Ruthie 707-337-6516 cell/text

Meet at 2:30 pm at the Caltrans Park and Ride on Lakeville in Petaluma. We will return to the Park and Ride lot around 8:30 pm

De Silva Island Heron Colony, Richardson Bay. 10:00AM-12:30 PM (approximately) with new member  Ron Brown

De Silva Island is home to a long-established colony of Great Blue Herons, residing in a grove of eucalyptus trees on the banks of Belloch's Lagoon (Strawberry Cove) in Richardson Bay. In recent years Great Egrets and Double Crested Cormorants (colonial nesting species) have moved into this fine breeding site. Although the start of the breeding season is somewhat variable and we will be observing the site later in the season, we should see late-stage Heron and Egret chicks and earlier-stage Cormorant chicks. The colony is best seen by a scope from across Belloch's Lagoon (Strawberry Cove). One scope will be available, but others would be welcome. The viewing area is the sidewalk and there is no easy parking. He can take a couple of people with difficulty walking, others can move their cars a short distance and walk a short distance.

DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 South exit 446 toward Seminary Drive make a left onto Redwood Hwy frontage road and follow as it goes under the freeway and continue for ½ mile and make a right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary Drive and find street parking.  From 101 north, exit at 446 toward Seminary Drive, make a left at Redwood Frontage Road and in about ½ mile, a right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary and find street parking.  We will meet on Seminary Drive near the outdoor workout area at 10 am. It will be a short walk on the somewhat uneven public footpath around the marsh with a set of stairs up to view the colony trees.

Questions? Contact Ruthie  707-337-6516 cell/text

Cancelled! Rescheduled for September 16.

Thanks to our March meeting speaker Dr. Kristen Dybala, she has invited RROS to visit Palomarin Field Station in Marin County. Nancy Gamble, director of Philanthropy at Pt Blue Conservation Science, has arranged for us to tour and bird at Palomarin. Meet there at 8:30 am (or at Petaluma park&ride at 7:10 am, hwy 116 Lakevile Hwy x Hwy101). Trail to nets can be steep and has poison oak, wear pants. Bring lunch, coffee/tea and snacks will be served. We will be able to observe banding and the lab there. There are restrooms. Rain cancels. Donations are encouraged. info@pointblue.org  Directions from Bolinas take Mesa Rd to the very end, on gravel road. There is a small sign 999 Mesa Rd. Limited cell service. Questions? contact Ruthie 707-337-6516 cell/text

Meet at Caltrans Lakeville Park and Ride at 7:30 am.

We will hike up Pine Mountain Rd looking for Bell’s Sparrow, White-throated Swift, Western Wood Pewee, Cliff Swallow, and Chipping Sparrow . This is a full-day trip. Bring layered clothing, lunch, snacks, water and of course binoculars and field guide

RROS Fieldtrip to Del Puerto Canyon Rd, Patterson, Stanislaus County. This will be an all day trip. Meet at the Red Top Road park & ride 7:30 am. We drive to entrance at Patterson, exit Diablo Grande Exit from I-5, then the next right. There are restrooms and a restaurant at the top of the road before driving down Mines Rd. Contact Ruthie 707 337 6516 cell/text.

Note: this a different day from our previous Pot-luck meetings. We are hoping to include YAMS by holding it on a Saturday.

Annual Spring Outdoor Meeting at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. This is our last Membership Meeting for 2025-26. Meet at Sugarloaf at the picnic tables, just past the entrance kiosk, on the right and across from the first (main) parking lot. Come early for late afternoon birding and/or stay after dinner for a Twilight Owling walk out towards the Observatory.

POTLUCK - Bring a plate to share: something protein, something vegie, or something sweet. BYO plate and utensils, and preferred libations - everything. If desired, bring your own camp chair and/or blanket.

DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 12 East, about 6 miles beyond Calistoga Road, take a left onto Adobe Rd. Follow Adobe Rd to its end in the park. Main parking lot is on the left, past the entrance kiosk.

What to Know: State Park entrance fee is $10 per car / $8 for senior or student. Covered with California State Parks pass.

Geyers Road runs along the little Sulphur Creek and up into the Mayacamas mountains where we have opportunities to see or hear Mountain Quail, White-throated Swift, Blue gray Gnatcatcher, and California Thrasher and much more. This is a full-day trip. Bring layered clothing, lunch, snacks, water and of course binoculars and field guide.  Meeting location to be determined.

RROS fieldtrip to Pine Flat Road, led by Ruthie. Meet at bottom of Pine Flat Rd at pullout near the bridge (cross street Red Winery Rd). Car pooling from there. This is always a spring favorite. We drive to the top and bird our way down. Bring lunch. NO Restrooms. Rain Cancels.

Contact Ruthie 707 337 6516 cell/text.

Birding in the Southern Regions of Africa presented by Jim and Linda Thomason. Jim has been involved in photography for more than 60 years. He and Linda were introduced to birding on a trip to Venezuela in 1999. Since then, they’ve made numerous wildlife and birding trips to some of the most remote corners of the world to experience new places and observe new species. Like most people, on their first trip to Africa in Kenya and Tanzania their primary objective was to see the famous big mammals. It was a surprise to find so many interesting and colorful birds everywhere they went. They knew they had to return to see other areas. Their April presentation will focus on birds and other wildlife observed on their recent visit to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.

Wednesday Wander to Crane Creek Regional Park led by Liz Lewis.

Meet at the parking area at 5000 Pressley Road. The park can be accessed from Sonoma Mountain Road or Petaluma Hill Road. Liz would like to work on finding nesting birds as well as new migrants. Parking fee or county park pass required. Restroom available.  Contact Liz at elewis227@gmail.com or Ruthie 707 337-6516 cell/text

We will meet in the Ellis Creek Parking Lot at 8:30am for an easy walk around the ponds.  If there is time and interest, we may also visit Shollenberger Park.  Half-day field trip ending at 12:30pm.  Be sure to bring lunch, water and snacks.          

RROS fieldtrip led by Ruthie Rudesill to Lake Solano County Park. Meet at the Red Top Rd. Park & Ride (right turn off Hwy 12 near Hwy 80, then a left for the parking lot) at 8:15. We will carpool from there. Or you could meet us at the park, 8685 Pleasants Valley Road, outside Vacaville at 9:00. Access from Highway 80 (Laguna Valley exit). There is a parking fee, no dogs allowed.  Bring lunch.  Birding along Putah Creek. Rain cancels. Contact Ruthie 707 337-6516 cell/text.

Kristen Dybala, Ph.D., Research Director, Pacific Coast & Central Valley Group of Point Blue Conservation Science 

Kristy will present:  Point Blue's Palomarin Field Station: Celebrating 60 years of science, training, and outreach

Her work focuses on habitat restoration and land management strategies that provide multiple benefits for birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems. Kristy’s has worked in partnership with private and public land managers in California's Central Valley and North Bay. She also oversees the long-term science, training, and outreach programs of Point Blue's Palomarin Field Station, where she got her start with Point Blue as a volunteer field biologist in 2001.

Wednesday Wander to Port Sonoma led by Craig Roth.

Meet at the end of the road next to the Petaluma River parking area. Take Highway 37 west from Lakeville Highway and use the left turn lane before the bridge. We will explore the area for waterfowl, rails and shore birds. Time permitting, we can also go to the Reclamation Road area. Bring waterproof shoes. Rain cancels.  Contact Craig at 707 792-1192, or Ruthie 707 337-6516 cell/text.

We will meet up at the Potter Schoolhouse (171110 Bodega Ln) in Bodega at 5:15 pm and drive roads listening for owls.

February Field Trip to Las Gallinas water facility in Marin County (38.0257179, -122.5177573). Sunday February 15th 8:30 am or meet at Petaluma park n ride at 8 am. Recent report of an Eurasian Green winged Teal. Drive south on Hwy 101 to exit 456 Lucas Valley Rd but turn right at stoplight which is Smith Ranch Rd, turn left at the dog park. There is a rest room.  Rain cancels. Contact Ruthie at 707 337 6516 cell/text.

Mark Stephenson’s experience of Spring Migration around the Great Lakes and his participation there in “The Biggest Week” festivals of 2018 and 2025 will be the topics for February. Have you thought about visiting (or revisiting) McGee Marsh or other very birdy spots on the eastern migration route? Mark has thousands of photos and just as many memories of his trip to share. And, he’s looking forward to getting back to RROS and his buddies who so wonderfully helped shape the birding experience for his son, Lucas.

The Tolay Valley is a good spot for Short-eared Owls, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kites and other raptors. We will meet at the Caltrans Lakeville Park and Ride in Petaluma at 1:30pm. This is a half-day afternoon trip.  Bring layered clothing, lunch, snacks, water and of course binoculars and field guide.

Wednesday Wander for February is on Feb 4th at 4:00 pm at Hudemann Wetlands to look for Short-eared Owls.  Meet at parking lot on Ramel Rd (38.2211149, -122.3953621), accessed from Hwy 121 south of Sonoma. There are no bathrooms. Rain cancels. Questions? Contact Ruthie at 707 337 6516 cell/text.

An all day field trip to Colusa National Wildlife Refuge led by Ruthie Rudesill. Meet at 8:00am at the Red Top Rd. Park & Ride (right turn off Hwy 12 near Hwy 80, then a left for the parking lot). We will carpool from there to the refuge. Or you could meet at the refuge at 9:30am (off Hwy 20, east of Williams). Rain will cancel. Bring snacks/lunch/ water. There are bathrooms available there. We will be observing the large numbers of waterfowl and there is an auto drive. Contact Ruthie Rudesill ruthier@sonic.net. YAMs can also contact Lisa Hug lisahug@sonic.net or Liz Lewis elewis227@gmail.com

Lisa Hug and friends will take us on tour to Africa! Some have heard bits and pieces of her journey and some of you have had the privilege to visit Africa already. In January, join Linda, Leah and Lisa for an evening presentation of their trip to Uganda in August of this year. Their tour was co-led by Rockjumper Birding Tours and Avian Safaris of Uganda.  In addition to birding by boat, on foot and safari-style, they also experienced spending up-close and personal time with Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees.  “It was a trip of a lifetime, and we are excited to be able to share our experience with our friends at RROS”.

Meet at the Helen Putnam Regional Park at the Chileno Valley Trailhead, 411 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma. There is an $8 parking fee or bring your Sonoma County park pass. We will reschedule if stormy. Bring snacks and water. Restrooms are available. Note: there is minimal to no mobile coverage at this location. Questions, contact Liz Lewis, elewis227@gmail.com.

Christmas Bird Count centered in southeastern Sonoma County, including Sonoma Valley and Petaluma. Contact Suzie Silverman (ssbirdygirl@gmail.com) for more details.