December 10, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (Willows) – Anne-Lise Feenstra led the trip in beautiful, sunny, warm and calm weather. Eleven people saw a total of 55 species of birds.  Among the sightings: a dozen Tree Swallows busy catching insects near the visitor center, 20+ White-faced Ibis flying over, a Wilson’s Snipe in the marsh, Northern Harrier, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbirds, Savannah, Lincoln’s, Song, Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows, American Pipits, Marsh and Bewick’s Wrens were observed during the morning hike.  Along the auto tour route they saw a Loggerhead Shrike, a Red-tailed Hawk, and some lucky people saw a Bald Eagle.  The ponds and marshes around the observation platform were teeming with water birds. One pond had numerous ducks and geese including: Ring-necked Ducks, Buffleheads, Northern Pintails, Northern Shovelers, Cinnamon Teals, Canada, Greater White-fronted, Ross’s and hundreds of Snow Geese (including three blue morphs).  From the viewing platform they observed a pair of Lesser Scaup and a Redhead in the wetlands across the creek.  Green-winged Teals, Long-billed Dowitchers, Black-necked Stilts and a lone American Avocet were seen in the marsh to the south. A Snowy Egret was spotted in a ditch along the road.

January 14-16 - Tule Lake/Bear Valley - Four participants braved the cold weather to explore this fantastic birding area.  Our first stop was Butte Valley National Grassland (snowfields at this time of year) and a drive around the Lake Meiss area.  Plenty of raptors like Rough-legged Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle were seen.  We then continued on to the Lower Klamath to see waterfowl such as Tundra Swan, Hooded Merganser and Lesser Scaup.  Sunday we started the day at the Bear Valley refuge to witness the Bald Eagle flyout (they night-roost in this wooded area).  About 25 Eagles graced the clear sunrise sky.  After breakfast, we headed back to Tule Lake.  We picked up a White-throated Sparrow and Northern Mockingbird at the refuge headquarters.  On Tule Lake many waterfowl species were seen including Barrow's and Common Goldeneye, a huge raft of Common Mergansers, and lots of Ruddy Ducks.  Our evening stop at the petroglyph section gave us great views of Barn and Great Horned Owls roosting in the recesses of the rock escarpment.   Sunday morning we found a Lapland Longspur in a large flock of Horned Larks.  This is a world class birding spot.  Look for this field trip next year.