The and edges are potent areas to find watchable birdlife. Petaluma “Birding the ” points out some of the best birding areas found 14 Napa along the Bay Trail. Most of the locations have paved parking lots with restrooms and are Whole Access. Some have other features 13 like visitors centers, interpretive signs, boat ramps, and camping. This is not a complete listing of all of the birding sites; consider it an introduction to the great birding that can be found along the Bay Trail. THE 1. Coastal Presidio

12 This area on north coast of San Francisco

San Pablo Bay offers a variety of birding. Battery West on 15 Vallejo the ocean-side of the Bridge is a Birding 16 good spot for migrant raptors and waterfowl SAN BAY FRANCISCO TRA I L San in the fall. At Battery East, on the other side of Rafael the Bridge, one can see landbirds. The Crissy 11 Field restored wetland has enticed marsh- land birds back to the area. The has nesting and waterfowl. Many pelagic species forage just offshore. In , headquarters of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Community Garden often has intriguing passerines. Bird- ing is best in migration and winter. Berkeley Directions: Access to Batteries West and East, , and the Palace of Fine Arts 1 is from Mason St./Marina Blvd., along the San northern coast of San Francisco. Further east, Francisco Oakland Marina Blvd. becomes Bay St., from which one

10 can enter Fort Mason. 47 link counties, Area Bay nine all of ne The Bay Trail is a planned recreational recreational planned a is Trail Bay The encircle will complete, when that, corridor a with Bays Pablo San and Francisco San bicycling of network 400-mile continuous shore- the connect It will . hiking and li cities, and cross the major toll bridges in the the in bridges toll major the cross and cities, of miles 260 approximately date, To region. 2. Colma Creek Public Shore 9 San Francisco This unassuming creek and marsh habitat

Bay north of San Francisco Airport has surpris- cycled on re paper Printed sition of oak woodlands, grasslands, and pickleweed saltmarsh. saltmarsh. pickleweed and grasslands, woodlands, oak of sition tion dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats habitats their and birds of conservation the to dedicated tion nments. You can purchase individual maps showing each of of each showing maps individual purchase can You nments. ing birding potential. The growing number the on Located car. by accessible one only the Estuaryand sco Many and waterbirds work the shoreline and deeper deeper and shoreline the work waterbirds and ducks Many and edges forest grasslands, the inhabit landbirds while waters, from bird can one or trails, many has park The habitat. oak mixed year-round. good is birding The areas. parking and roadway the San in Center Civic Marin the of south Hwy101 From Directions: Bay the at is Park The Bay. the toward Rd. Pedro San take Rafael, station. ranger the and restrooms, sites, picnic see will you and the alignment, over half the Bay Trail’s ultimate length, have been been have length, ultimate Trail’s Bay the half over alignment, the Gov- Area Bay of Association the of project a is This completed. er the six regions of the Bay Trail in detail, or the whole set, at their their at set, whole the or detail, in Trail Bay the of regions six the . website organi- not-for-profit a is Observatory Bird Bay Francisco San The za 16. Park State Camp China 16. Fran- San the on waterfront with Parks State two of one is This ci edge of San Pablo Bay in San Rafael, this park has a unique juxta- unique a has park this Rafael, San in Bay Pablo San of edge po through science and educational activities. SFBBO provides provides SFBBO activities. educational and science through public the and industry, agencies, governmental to information the for decisions management resource supportinformed to this of production the directed SFBBO area. Bay Francisco San publication. San 2 publication, this of production and design the and selection, and research site The map Trail Base art the Bay for Alto. Palo Design, Chibana Chibana, Les done by was San Francisco. Reineck and Reineck Design, by provided graciously was Francisco Hayward Airport 8 Parking 3 Entry fee San Mateo Foster City 4 Whole Access Restrooms (flush or chemical) 7 Fremont Interpretive center Interpretive signs 5 Benches Palo Alto Picnic tables Alviso 6 Boat launch ramp w basin for the Petaluma Petaluma the for basin w nal wetland that has been been has that wetland nal wl, including Cackling Goose and Eurasian Wigeon, can can Wigeon, Eurasian and Goose Cackling including wl, Camping and gulls, shorebirds, wl, nt opportunities to see marshland species from levee levee from species marshland see to opportunities nt es of falcon and Great Horned . Clapper and Virginia Virginia and Clapper Owl. Horned Great and falcon of es trails encircling ponds. The Las Gallinas Plant includes includes Plant Gallinas Las The ponds. encircling trails water- Numerous mission. partits as of viewing wildlife fo . Many species of water- of species Many River. fo be found. An amazing array of raptors have been sighted, sighted, been have raptors of array amazing An found. be spe- 4 Hawk, Ferruginous Eagle, Golden Osprey, including ci 15. Las Gallinas Sanitary District Wildlife Area Area Las Gallinas SanitaryWildlife District 15. excel- birders provide often plants treatment water Waste le 14. Shollenberger Park Shollenberger 14. sea- a of example wonderful A so kept close to it’s purpose, this this purpose, it’s to close kept has that ponds of set a is park of citizens the by valued been habitat wildlife as Petaluma over- control flood a and flo marshland birds congregate at the ponds and associated associated and ponds the at congregate birds marshland Long-tailed occasional an and Teal Blue-winged wetlands. Golden-Plover Pacific park. the at seen been have their up “top to Park the at pause Sandpiper Baird’s and year-round. good is Birding migration. during tanks” Lakeville on east go Petaluma, in Hwy101 From Directions: Turn Blvd. McDowell South to mile one East), Hwy(116 entrance park the to mi. .25 about go and (south) right the to get to right Turn Lane. Cader opposite right, the on lot. parking paved rails are present, and Black may also be found. Harris’s Harris’s found. be also may Rail Black and present, are rails River sparrows. wintering the with seen been has Sparrow migration during best is birding The area. the in live Otters winter. in and Center Civic Marin the north of Hwy101 From Directions: east drive and exit Rd. Ranch Smith the take Rafael, San in to entrance the approach you As Bay. Pablo San toward left turn and tracks railroad the cross Park, McInnis John its to Rd. Ranch Smith on continuing entrance, the before lot. parking Area Wildlife Gallinas Las the at end of Clapper Rail and wintering shorebirds, along with an Directions: From 10. Lake Merritt impressive group of vagrants has given this location the Hwy 101 in Palo aura of a birding hotspot. A sampling of rarities seen here Alto, go north on include: Sedge Wren, Prothonotary Warbler, Nelson’s Sharp- Embarcadero Road Originally a salt marsh named “Laguna Peralta”, Lake Merritt tailed and Swamp sparrows. Birding is best in migration to the stop sign at became the first National Wildlife Refuge in North America and winter. the T-intersection. in 1869. This lake, located in Oakland, is a popular breeding Turn left and go to Directions: On the east side of Hwy 101, north of the San and wintering site for waterbirds possibly attracted by the the parking lot just Francisco Airport, take North Airport Blvd. to Belle Air Road resident species. Barrow’s Goldeneyes regularly winter in beyond the bridge, and turn east, toward the Bay. At the end of the road is a nearby waterways. One or two Tufted Ducks often winter across the road from parking area between the Water Quality Control Plant and here. Several species of herons and egrets nest on the the Nature Center. Costco. islands. Birding is good all year. 3. Coyote Point Park 6. Alviso Environmental Education Center Directions: From Hwy 580 in Oakland, take the Grand Ave. exit, and go west, toward the Bay, .6 mi. to Bellevue Ave. and turn left into Lakeside Park and park by the Rotary This part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Nature Center. This former site of an Ohlone fishing village now has a Refuge sits at the south edge of the Bay next to old salt produc- marina and the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental tion ponds. Along with the adjacent New Chicago Marsh, these 11. Regional Shoreline Education. The forested area around the museum has are great places to look for a wide variety of raptors, shorebirds, many passerine species. The shoreline and breakwater and gulls. Barn regularly use a nest box on the visitor center; are used by a wide variety of shorebirds; some are outer Burrowing Owls have dens in the Marsh and the Arzino Ranch The park provides unique views of this inland waterway. coast species not often seen further south in the Bay. area to the south. Birding is best in migration and winter. The annual grasslands slope down to the water with pock- Many ducks forage in the area. A variety of vagrant and ets of oak woodland and coastal scrub dotting the hillsides, interesting birds have been found here: Yellow-crowned Directions: Take Hwy 237 at the south end of the San Francisco offering lots of edge habitat for birds. Raptors benefit from Night-, Harlequin Duck. Least , and Elegant Tern Bay, between Hwys 101 and 880. Go north at the 1st Street exit, the updrafts along the hillsides while in search of prey. are among these species. Black Oystercatchers and Black turn right onto Nortech Pkwy, then left on Disk Dr. The road Western Meadowlark and Western Bluebirds are at home Turnstones are regularly seen. The best birding is during merges with Grand Blvd. and passes in and over the grasses. The park’s elevation above the migration and in winter. Spreckles Ave. on the left. As this road, water provides an excellent vantage point to scan for now Los Esteros Rd., curves right, Directions: Approaching on southbound Hwy 101 in Burl- waterfowl. This is one of the wilder areas to bird in this the entrance to the Alviso Center is ingame, take the Poplar Ave. exit, turn right onto Humboldt region. The birding potential is good all year. straight ahead. Enroute to the Center, St., then right again onto Peninsula Ave. Go over the Hwy the road crosses New Chicago Marsh. Directions: There are two non-contiguous sections 101 overpass, turn left onto Bayshore Blvd., go under the to this park. To get to the western section from Hwy overpass, and left onto Coyote Point Dr. Go beyond the en- 7. Coyote Hills Regional Park 4 west of Martinez, exit at Cummings Skyway, turn- try booths to the marina. Park to the right of the building. ing right on Crockett Boulevard. Turn right again on From northbound Hwy 101, take the Dore exit in San Ma- Ponoma Street in Crockett. Pomona Street becomes teo, and turn left immediately onto Bayshore Blvd. Contin- This wonderful mix of woodland and Carquinez Scenic Drive. Proceed to the staging area, ue north to the northern edge of the golf course, turning marsh habitat provides important on the left. Driving another mile or so will bring you to right onto Coyote Point Dr. Go beyond the entry booths to respite for migrants, as well as a home another small staging area, also on the left. From I-80 the marina. Park to the right of the building. for breeding and wintering birds. It’s in Crockett, exit onto San Pablo Avenue or Pomona a rare location that can have Marsh, Street, depending on your direction of travel (San Bewick’s, and Rock wrens within a Pablo Avenue become Pomona Street east of I-80). Go short distance. It’s a winter haven for east on Pomona into Crockett and follow directions ducks, a potent foraging and breeding above. area for raptors, and the bayside portion accommodates many shorebirds. Birding is good year-round. 12. White Slough Directions: From Hwy 84, east of the Dumbarton Bridge toll booths, go north on Thornton Ave./Paseo Padre Pkwy to Patter- White Slough is an example of the inexorable force of son Ranch Rd. Turn left onto Patterson Ranch Rd. and go to the Nature. After several yearly levee breaches from the Napa entry booth. River to the west, this formerly 8. Hayward Regional Shoreline impounded area, slated for future development, was 4. Foster City/San Mateo Bridge declared to be a natural part of the Bay and moved into the jurisdiction of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. A natural tidal action returned to these mud- Retired salt production ponds and tidal marsh provide unique flats that now host hundreds of waterfowl, raptors, shore- This part of the Bay hosts a wide variety of birds in winter birding experiences along the Bay edge heavily modified by birds, and gulls. Black Rail are known to breed here and it is and in migration that are not often seen elsewhere in the human activity. The ponds in the southern portion provide great suspected that the Clapper Rail does so, as well. Bay. The shell bar near Tarpon St. is a great shorebird roost wintering sites for ducks, shorebirds, and gulls. The second nest- The Saltmarsh Common Yellowthroat also breeds here, as at high tide and the mudflats provide excellent foraging ing event of Black Skimmer in the Bay occurred here. A hybrid do Least . All seasons have good birding potential. during low tide. Among the birds you can find here are Arctic/Forster’s Tern also nested in this area. In the middle section, Marbed Godwit, Willet, Red Knot, Black and Ruddy turn- Mt. Trashmore, a popular name given to a capped landfill, is a Directions: White Slough is located in Vallejo, bounded by stones, and Short-billed Dowitchers. The waters near the great place to find vagrant longspurs along with American Pipit Marine World Parkway (Hwy 37) on the west, Sonoma Blvd. bridge attract many ducks, often including rarities like in the fall. Cogswell Marsh is one of the few locations around the on the east, and Sacramento and Redwood streets on the Long-tailed and Harlequin ducks, and White-winged and Bay edge where one can find wintering Red Knots among the nu- south. Take the Redwood Pkwy exit from Hwy 80 in Vallejo Black scoters. Viewing is easy from the paved Bay Trail on merous shorebirds that forage on the low tide exposed mudflats. and go west. This road becomes Redwood St. and crosses the levee. The birding is good in winter and during migra- Best birding is from fall through spring. Sonoma Blvd. Turn right on Sacramento St. and stop short tion. of the overpass Directions: To get to the Hayward Area Recreation and Park that crosses Marine Directions: From Hwy 101 south of the Hwy 92 inter- District’s interpretive center at the south end, take the Clawiter World Pkwy. There change, take Hillsdale Blvd. east to the Bay edge. The road Rd. exit from Hwy 92 east of the San Mateo Bridge toll plaza, go is only street park- becomes Beach Park Blvd. as it turns southeast to parallel to the north side of Hwy 92, and head east on the frontage road, ing here. A paved the Bay edge. Park between Egret St. and Tarpon St. and Breakwater Ave. The center is on Breakwater Ave. To get to the trail starts on the walk up to the levee along the Bay. central portion of this area, from Hwy 880 in Hayward, go west north (right) side on West Winton Ave. to the parking lot at the end. To get to the of the road, goes 5. Palo Alto Baylands northern section, take Grant Ave. west from Hesperian Blvd. just toward Marine south of Hwy 880. Go to the parking lot at the end of the road. World Pkwy, and Access to the Bay edge is via a trail to the north, then west along turns north along Long a haven for the Bay Area’s Clapper Rails, these . the western edge of the wetlands. wetlands, protected by the City of Palo Alto, provide an 9. Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline opportunity to see many breeding, migrating, and win- tering marshland birds. Black and Yellow rails, Nelson’s 13. John F. Kennedy Park Sharp-tailed and Swamp sparrows are among the rarities that have appeared here. More expected species include This wetland is a wonderful gem sandwiched between a marina, Greater and Lesser the Oakland Airport, and a business park. Arrow- This park is one of the few sites along the Bay Trail that is Scaup, White-tailed head Marsh, the focal point of this Re- located some distance from the Bay. It maintains a connec- Kite, Northern gional Park, provides California Clapper Rail with tion with to Bay via the . This is a well-developed Harrier, numerous a place to re-establish along the Bay edge; recent park maintained by the City of Napa. The marshland habi- shorebirds, Bonapar- surveys found that more than 5% of the world’s tat along the river provides many birding opportunities, te’s and Thayer’s population reside here. The tidal mudflats provide and a boat ramp allows for access to the water to bird from Gulls and marshland winter forage for many ducks, shorebirds and kayaks, canoes, and other water craft. Kayaks and canoes passerines. Just to gulls, as well as breeding grounds for American can be rented at the 4th St. City Dock in Napa. The riparian the south is another Avocet, Black-necked Stilt and Northern Pintail. habitat has many mammals as well as birds. On the right bird-rich area, the A vagrant Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow recently as you approach the park, there is a pond that can have Mountain View wintered at the marsh. Least Terns visit from their waterfowl and shorebirds. All seasons have good birding Shoreline, com- breeding grounds a short distance to the north. potential, winter is best for seeing waterfowl and raptors. posed of Charleston Birding is best from fall through spring. Slough, several Directions: The park is accessed from Hwy 121, the Napa- Directions: From Hwy 880, take Hegenberger former salt ponds, Vallejo Hwy, south of Napa along the east side of the Napa Rd. toward the Bay. Just before the Oakland Int’l and Shoreline Park River, near Napa Valley College. Take Streblow Dr. off Hwy Airport entrance, turn right on Doolittle Dr., then and Lake. Birding is 121 and go west to the parking lot near the boat ramp. right again on Swan Way. Turn left, immediately, excellent year-round. into the Park entrance to get to .