Registration is required for this trip and will be limited to 6 participants. Please email Sonja to register.

Field Trip Leader: Sonja Sorbo

With summer’s onset, the Central Valley will heat up once again. Escape to the beautiful eastern Sierra for a weekend of birding. If you have time, extend your stay and explore some of the amazing sites in the area including Yosemite, Devil’s Postpile, and the Bristlecone Pine forest. This trip will begin Saturday morning and end Sunday afternoon. We will bird several different sites in the Mono Basin including Mono Lake, Mono County Park, and Lundy Canyon. roundtrip depending on the birding.

We can expect to observe both resident birds and summer breeders. In the sagebrush scrub around Mono Lake we will watch for Sage Thrasher, Sagebrush Sparrow, and nesting Gray Flycatcher. There is usually an active Osprey nest on an island in the lake. Lundy Canyon offers a mixture of habitats, including aspen/coniferous forest and riparian, which can support warblers, flycatchers, peewees, grosbeaks, creepers, nuthatches, towhees, woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and more. There may be some nice wildflowers in bloom as a bonus.

This trip is limited to six participants and registration is required.

Participants should be in good physical condition and be able to hike a couple of miles at altitude. Much of the walking will be on fairly level terrain (Mono Lake and Mono County Park) but we will be at an altitude of 5000-6000 feet. The Lundy Canyon trail has some rocky uphill areas but is well-maintained; we will walk 2-4 miles. There are restroom facilities at Mono County Park and the Mono Basin Visitor Center, but none on the Lundy Lake Trail. Participants are responsible for their own meals and lodging. There are many great options in the area, including the town of Mammoth Lakes (about 29 miles from Lee Vining), June Lake (about 15 miles from Lee Vining) and Lee Vining. More specific recommendations will be sent to registrants.

Directions and confirmation of exact meeting location and times will be provided upon registration.

Sagebrush Sparrow, Image by Daniel Lee Brown