Winter Birds of Tomales Bay

Tomales Bay is an important area for thousands of waterbirds. Visit sites along the East Shore to observe shorebirds, raptors and more!

Tomales Bay is an important wintering habitat for thousands of loons, grebes, ducks and other waterbirds. The tidal flats, marshes, rocky shores, and beaches provide diverse feeding areas for raptors, shorebirds and waders. We will focus on bird identification and behavior during short and easy walks.

Our trip begins in the town of Tomales. From there we will car-caravan to several sites along the east shore of the Bay, including Lawson’s Landing, and Cypress Grove Preserve. The latter is a research center of Audubon Canyon Ranch (www.egret.org) that protects nearly 500 acres of important and diverse lands on Tomales Bay. The class will end with an overlook of the Giacomini wetlands, one of the largest wetland restoration projects on the California coast.

David Wimpfheimer is a professional naturalist, guide and biologist who is very passionate about our natural world. He has particular interests in birds and the natural history of the American West. Since earning a degree in Biology from Beloit College, David has studied seabirds and shorebirds in Alaska, raptors in Egypt and a variety of birds in Point Reyes and other regions of California. Since the mid-1980s, David has shared his extensive knowledge about all aspects of the natural world with hundreds of groups. His educational programs have focused on Point Reyes, Alaska, Arizona, Baja California, Yosemite, Death Valley and other parts of California. Although the majority of David’s field trips are geared toward teaching and interpreting birds and bird habitats, he is just as experienced and enthusiastic sharing the full diversity of the natural world. From whale watching expeditions to wildflower hikes, David's seasoned focus and knowledge make every outdoor visit memorable and enjoyable. For over thirty years he has worked for many organizations; the Smithsonian Institution, California Academy of Sciences, Point Reyes Field Institute, Speyside Wildlife, Road Scholar, Oceanic Society and Wild Wings. The full listing of his outings and some of his photographs are on his website, www.calnaturalist.com