Events
Usal Beach Camping Field Trip
Usal Beach Camping Field Trip
Monday & Tuesday, September 22-23, 2025
RSVP: Please email, text, or call Matt Franks to reserve your spot on this trip by September 18 at the latest: membership@mendocinocoastaudubon.org or 707-499-0678. Please also contact Matt with any questions you have about the trip!
Description: Join us for our first ever MCAS field trip to Usal Beach on the Lost Coast! Many birders consider this area to be one of the most productive “vagrant traps” in Northern California. Considering how few birders visit this area because of how difficult it is to get here, it is truly impressive how many rare species—notably warblers, sparrows, vireos, and flycatchers—have been found here during fall migration.
This is an overnight camping trip in Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, which has first-come, first-serve camping. The long, slow dirt road to the campground has recently been graded (August 2025), so most normal-clearance cars will do just fine (besides getting dirty)! You’ll need to bring all your own camping gear and food, including water and a headlamp or portable lantern: there is a pit toilet but no water and only a few picnic tables.
You can plan to arrive at the Usal Beach Campground anytime after 4pm on Monday, September 22. When you get to the campground, take a left immediately after the bridge and head toward the beach—we will camp under the alder trees on the edge of the meadow. Look for my dark gray Toyota Tacoma if you can’t find us. If you would like to arrive early on Tuesday morning instead of camping, you can meet us at the same spot by 8:00am.
On Tuesday morning we will bird the campground, where we can expect to see migrating warblers such as Black-throated Gray, Yellow, MacGillivray’s, Chestnut-sided, and Hermit. Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville, Bay-breasted, and Palm Warblers have also been spotted here in recent years, along with Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and White-eyed Vireo. Resident and rare flycatchers have also been seen here, including Olive-Sided, Willow, Hammond’s, and Ash-throated. In the large meadow and marshy area, we will look for wetland and grassland birds: rare Black-throated, Clay-colored, and Brewer’s Sparrows have been seen recently in the area. We will also scan for shorebirds, cliff dwellers, and seabirds from the beach and overlooks.
Trip Leader: Matt Franks
Accessibility: Not ADA accessible.
Directions: On Highway 1 look for MM 90.88 and turn onto Usal Road (County Road 431), a dirt road that ascends a fairly steep hillside. This turnoff is about 30 miles north of Ft. Bragg, or if traveling on Highway 101, about 15 miles west of Leggett. From Highway 1 to the Usal Campground is about a 6-mile drive that will take 25 minutes or more. The complete trip from Ft. Bragg to Usal will take at least 1 hour and 15 minutes. When you get to the campground, take a left immediately after the bridge and head toward the beach—we will camp under the alder trees on the edge of the meadow.
Beginners Bird Outing
This beginner-focused outing is great for birders of all levels. The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Meeting
Join us for a presentation by Jillian Jorgenson of the Lindsay Wildlife Hospital at the Caspar Community Center
Shorebird Migration Walk
We’ll meet at 8:00 A.M. at the Ward Avenue parking area next to the beach. From there, we’ll scan and scope from the north end of the old haul road blacktop, then head down to the beach on an uneven sandy/rocky trail. We’ll walk about 2 miles north and should return to the cars around noon.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Kayaking the Albion River
Kayaking the Albion River
Saturday, June 7, 2025
9:00AM-12:00 Noon
Trip Leader: Tess McGuire
RSVP: If you plan on attending this trip you must RSVP to membership@mendocinocoastaudubon.org
Description: Meet at 9:00 AM at the Albion River Campground. Bring your own kayak or rent one from the campground. Rentals are first-come, first-served when you arrive. We’ll paddle about three miles upstream. The Albion is flat water paddling at its best and suitable for all levels of ability. We expect to find mergansers, Spotted Sandpipers, Belted Kingfishers, and with a little bit of luck Wood Ducks and Purple Martins. The day use fee is $8 per vehicle. Bring water and snacks.
Accessibility: Not ADA accessible.
Directions: Albion River Campground
Trip will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
For additional information about this or other Mendocino Coast Audubon Society trips, contact Matt Franks: membership@mendocinocoastaudubon.org or 707-499-0678.
Beginners Bird Outing
This beginner-focused outing is great for birders of all levels. The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Meeting
“Albatross Studies and Other Seabirds at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge” by Dr. Jonathan Plissner Via Zoom
Angelo Reserve Field Trip, Branscomb
Join us for our first ever MCAS field trip to Angelo Coast Range Reserve in Branscomb! This remote and wild reserve spans over 8,000 acres in the upper Eel River watershed, and it has been protected from major human disturbance since the 1930s.
Beginners Bird Outing
Botanical Gardens Beginners Bird Outing
Description: This beginner-focused outing is great for birders of all levels. The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views. Because of this diversity, there is a good mix of common and uncommon species as well as the occasional rarity. Year-round, we can expect to see 40-50 species per visit, and more than 60 on the best days!
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as we'll be walking about two miles. A hat is advisable. Most of the walk is on level pathways, but there are a few hills. Please note that while the walks are free, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens does charge a reduced entrance fee, Friends of Audubon, for those who are not already members of the Gardens. A limited number of extra binoculars are available for those who need them.
Trip Leader: David Jensen
Accessibility: The majority of this trip is accessible with the use of a wheelchair, and the Gardens office has powered wheelchairs available to check out.
Directions: We will meet at 9:00 AM in the Mendocino Botanical Gardens parking lot, at 18220 North Highway 1 just south of Fort Bragg.
Trip will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Meeting
“Diving Into Hummingbird Research: A Small Bird With A Big Story” with Dr. Lisa Tell from UC Davis. Via Zoom
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Beginners Bird Outing
Botanical Gardens Beginners Bird Outing
Description: This beginner-focused outing is great for birders of all levels. The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views. Because of this diversity, there is a good mix of common and uncommon species as well as the occasional rarity. Year-round, we can expect to see 40-50 species per visit, and more than 60 on the best days!
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as we'll be walking about two miles. A hat is advisable. Most of the walk is on level pathways, but there are a few hills. Please note that while the walks are free, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens does charge a reduced entrance fee, Friends of Audubon, for those who are not already members of the Gardens. A limited number of extra binoculars are available for those who need them.
Trip Leader: David Jensen
Accessibility: The majority of this trip is accessible with the use of a wheelchair, and the Gardens office has powered wheelchairs available to check out.
Directions: We will meet at 9:00 AM in the Mendocino Botanical Gardens parking lot, at 18220 North Highway 1 just south of Fort Bragg.
Trip will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
Owling Field Trip
Owling Field Trip, Elk
Saturday, March 29, 2025
6:45PM-9:30PM
Trip Leaders: Tim Bray and Mike Stephens
Description: For this year’s owl safari, we will carpool and head up Greenwood ridge, returning around 9.30 pm. The variety of habitats along Philo-Greenwood Road hold several species of owls, and in March they can be quite vocal. Carpooling is necessary for this trip because the turnouts on the road are small and only a few cars will fit.
Accessibility: This trip will mostly consist of birding along the road and can be done from in your car, although most participants will park and get out along the unpaved shoulder at each stop.
Directions: Meet in Elk at the Greenwood State Beach parking lot, directly across the highway from the Elk store.
Trip will be canceled in the event of rain.
For additional information about this or other Mendocino Coast Audubon Society trips, contact Matt Franks: membership@mendocinocoastaudbon.org or 707-499-0678.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms!
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Meeting
Join us for a presentation by Tim Bray about birding in Ireland
Beginners Bird Outing
Botanical Gardens Beginners Bird Outing
Description: This beginner-focused outing is great for birders of all levels. The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views. Because of this diversity, there is a good mix of common and uncommon species as well as the occasional rarity. Year-round, we can expect to see 40-50 species per visit, and more than 60 on the best days!
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as we'll be walking about two miles. A hat is advisable. Most of the walk is on level pathways, but there are a few hills. Please note that while the walks are free, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens does charge a reduced entrance fee, Friends of Audubon, for those who are not already members of the Gardens. A limited number of extra binoculars are available for those who need them.
Trip Leader: David Jensen
Accessibility: The majority of this trip is accessible with the use of a wheelchair, and the Gardens office has powered wheelchairs available to check out.
Directions: We will meet at 9:00 AM in the Mendocino Botanical Gardens parking lot, at 18220 North Highway 1 just south of Fort Bragg.
Trip will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Meeting
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society presents: “25 Years of Conservation and Research on the Marbled Murrelets of Redwood National and State Parks” by Keith Bensen
Big River Field Trip
Join us for a trip to the Big River estuary, where we will focus on birding by ear while also looking for waterfowl in the river and songbirds along the road,
Beginners Bird Outing
Botanical Gardens Beginners Bird Outing
Description: This beginner-focused outing is great for birders of all levels. The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views. Because of this diversity, there is a good mix of common and uncommon species as well as the occasional rarity. Year-round, we can expect to see 40-50 species per visit, and more than 60 on the best days!
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, as we'll be walking about two miles. A hat is advisable. Most of the walk is on level pathways, but there are a few hills. Please note that while the walks are free, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens does charge a reduced entrance fee, Friends of Audubon, for those who are not already members of the Gardens. A limited number of extra binoculars are available for those who need them.
Trip Leader: David Jensen
Accessibility: The majority of this trip is accessible with the use of a wheelchair, and the Gardens office has powered wheelchairs available to check out.
Directions: We will meet at 9:00 AM in the Mendocino Botanical Gardens parking lot, at 18220 North Highway 1 just south of Fort Bragg.
Trip will be canceled in the event of heavy rain.
Central Valley Field Trip
We are going back to the Central Valley again this January to enjoy the great gathering of winter waterfowl. This will be a multi-day field trip on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Our safari begins on Saturday, January 18 and ends on Monday, January 20, but you can join us for any or all of the three-day experience.
Early Bird Outing
This “regulars” outing welcomes locals and visitors of all levels for an opportunity to get out there early and catch the birds who are catching those worms! The Gardens host various habitats including cultivated gardens, pine forests, lawns, coastal prairie, and ocean views.
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Meeting
“Meet Our African Penguins,” a Presentation by Aimee Greenebaum from Monterey Bay Aquarium. In person at the Noyo Marine Science Field Station in Noyo Harbor and via Zoom.
Christmas Bird Count - Manchester
The circle runs down the south coast from Cuffy’s Cove in Elk to the Point Arena lighthouse. This year’s post-count dinner will again be held in Trinity Hall of Saint Aloysius Catholic Church on Highway One in upper Point Arena.