Rodeo Lagoon & Hawk Hill

Friday, September 27th

8am - 2pm

Leader: Bob Toleno This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Join us in the Marin Headlands for fall migration. We'll start the morning at Rodeo Lagoon, birding the willows, mostly looking for passerine migrants and rarities. At around 11am, as the day warms up, we'll drive the short distance to Hawk Hill to spend some time scouring the sky for migrating raptors. Overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Hawk Hill sits near the southernmost end of the Marin County peninsula. Late September is the peak of raptor migration, and because they prefer not to fly over water, the peninsula acts as a "funnel" to concentrate them over this point. 17 different species have been documented migrating over Hawk Hill, including some not usually seen near the coast, like Swainson's, Ferruginous, and Broad-winged Hawks, and even the occasional Prairie Falcon. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, a folding chair, and a scope if you have one. We'll sit at the top of the hill and watch the raptors fly out over the Golden Gate. Many of the birds will be distant, but leaders will help teach you how to ID raptors by shape. Hawk watchers from Golden Gate Raptor Observatory will be nearby, so lots of expert spotters will be around.

Directions: Take the Richmond Bridge to Hwy 101 south, then exit on Alexander Rd (exit 442). Make a left on Bunker Rd, go through the tunnel, drive 2 miles, then make a left on Field Rd, where you'll immediately see a parking lot. Make sure not to park in the 30-minute limit spaces.