Salton Sea Tour
Saturday • 5:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
The Salton Sea is a major stopover point on the Pacific flyway. For impressive numbers of these avian travelers, it is their destination of choice, or their “south” for the winter. A visit to the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR with a walk out to Rock Hill and stops at Obsidian Butte and other birding locations along the shore will introduce you to the greatness of the Salton Sea. We should see large numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, pelicans, cormorants, grebes, egrets and herons. Peregrine Falcon and Osprey might be seen in action! One of the thrills of birding the Salton Sea is the possibility of rarities and vagrants so anything is possible!

Wetlands and Finney Ramer/Specialty
Saturday, 5:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Any birding trip to the Imperial Valley has to include Finney and Ramer Lakes. Clark’s and Western Grebe side-by-side, maybe a Great Horned Owl or Lesser Nighthawk in the trees are some of the possibilities. We will also visit the seven-acre Brawley site of the New River Wetlands project where we should get to see coveys of Gambel’s Quail and maybe Gila Woodpecker.

LeConte’s Thrasher in the Algodones Dunes Wilderness
Saturday, 5:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
The northeast face of the 40-mile long Imperial Sand Dunes forms a natural barrier that catches the runoff from infrequent rains on the Chocolate Mountains. These “pockets” at the foot of the dunes are a true desert wonderland of wildlife, natural history and scenery. LeConte’s Thrasher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Verdin and Loggerhead Shrike are some of the residents we will be looking for while “Burro” Mule Deer, Coyote and reptiles are possible as well. This will be a long walk of four to six miles but will not be fast paced or overly strenuous. NOTE: This remote desert wilderness requires the ability to walk on uneven and rocky ground through desert washes and sand dunes. “This is one of my favorite birding sites and will be an experience to treasure! Bob Miller”