FR05 Birding South to Ferndale with No-Host Lunch at Eel River Brewery | 2022 | $40 – SOLD OUT

THIS EVENT MEETS AT THE REFUGE VISITOR CENTER – Take Exit 696 off Highway 101 (Hookton Road) to 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. (Copy and paste into your web browser: https://goo.gl/maps/2jKU8Rw5GikKZciu8.)

The Eel River Delta to the south of Humboldt Bay is home to the Victorian town of Ferndale and some great waterfowl and riparian bird habitats. The cemetery in town often has Red-breasted Sapsucker in the poplars. Open pasture land supports swallows, raptors, and blackbirds at the many dairies. Open waters should hold migrating ducks and shorebirds. The trip will feature Humboldt Bay NWR and the raptor-rich bottomland pastures of the Eel River. Shorebirds, waterfowl, and other birds of the Bay will be seen. Prepare for wet ground, the terrain is mostly flat, and restrooms are at the refuge and in downtown Ferndale. There will be plenty of opportunities to use a spotting scope. The Salt River can be a migrant corridor and should still hold Black-capped Chickadee and Golden-crowned Sparrow. General all-around car-birding will be enjoyed and the trip is focused on enjoying all the birds encountered. Bring a reusable water bottle and wear boots or other sturdy shoes. A no-host late lunch at the Eel River Brewery will round out the end of this trip. Great for beginners!

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