Upcoming Field Trips

The quickest way to find out about upcoming trips and registration details is via our member's eblast (these will likely come out in the last week of month prior to the trip). If you have not already signed up for our eblasts .

Midweek Nice and Easy Birding Club with Ed Stonick

3rd Wednesday of most months, 8AM (the Midweek Club takes a break during July and August)

Pasadena Audubon is relaunching what used to be our midweek “Magpie Study Group” events. Given that these tongue-in-cheek midweek trips involve little studying and even fewer magpies last year we thought we’d change the name to something that is just a little more descriptive. What these walks will offer is some easy paced birding, with generous later morning start times (8:00-9:00am) typically at just one local location at sites that are picked for both their quality of birding and accessibility for birders.
Upcoming trips will include the Los Angeles River, San Gabriel Spreading Grounds and more. Trips will mainly be run by PAS guide Ed Stonick, with some guest appearances from some other PAS trip leaders.

Then, sign up below. Once you complete the sign up you will be able to access and download the meeting time and locations for the Nice and Easy trips in the coming year. These trips do not have a limit on number of participants.

Questions? Email Ed Stonick at edstonick@gmail.com or the PAS field trip coordinator at fieldtrips@pasadenaaudubon.org.

Sign up here

October 6: Legg Lake

FRIDAY, October 6, 2023
7:15 AM to 10:00 AM (+ optional extension)

Leader: Darren Dowell

This trip is timed for the peak of autumn songbird migration, and for sure we’ll spend time looking through the trees, expansive lawns, densely-vegetated lake edges, and weedy patches for those. But Legg Lake has more to offer, including newly-arrived migratory ducks, near certain views of Common Gallinule and Vermilion Flycatcher, a chance to hear the resident Least Bitterns, and a mixed blackbird flock always interesting to look through. We’ll start by birding the main park routes, covering about 2 miles on dirt trails and lawns (sometimes thick and/or wet). If conditions warrant, we’ll visit the wilder areas of the Whittier Narrows Natural Area in an optional extension of 1-2 hours and 1-2 miles.

Participant number: No Limit
Trip details such as meeting location will be emailed to signed-up participants 3-5 days before the trip.

PHOTO: Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata). Photo by Chris Spurgeon.

This field trip is filled. Sign up here and we'll contact you if space opens up.

October 7: Eaton Canyon

Saturday, October 7, 2023, 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Trip leaders: Pasadena Audubon and Eaton Canyon Nature Center bird and nature guides

Pasadena Audubon and Eaton Canyon Nature Center are pleased to offer free monthly bird walks at Eaton Canyon. These walks will visit the varied native habitat in the Eaton Canyon Natural Area – riparian, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland – to search for resident and migrant species. We’ll go at an easy pace, taking time to observe and enjoy the full array of nature on hand. Recommended: sturdy shoes for walking on dirt and rock trails with gentle inclines, hat, water, sunscreen, and binoculars. A few pairs of binoculars will be available for loan. Please contact fieldtrips@pasadenaaudubon.org for questions or accommodations. Anyone can sign up; no membership is required. Beginning birders are welcome.

Participant limit: none

To join this bird walk, please sign up here.

October 8: Los Angeles Arboretum Monthly Bird Walk

Sunday, October 8, 2023
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Trip Leader: Katy Mann

We are excited to partner with the Los Angeles County Arboretum to offer free monthly bird walks to PAS members. Please note that due to new rules implemented by LA Arboretum these trips will only be open to current PAS members (and not friends of members as in past years). In other words all persons attending must be current Pasadena Audubon members -- either on their own, or as part of a PAS family membership.

Not a PAS member? Join here!

This field trip is offered by reservation only. To reserve a spot go to https://www.arboretum.org/events/bird-walk-with-pasadena-audubon-8/. Registration is scheduled to open at 9 AM on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

PHOTO: Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) by Luke Tiller.

October 9: Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area

MONDAY, October 9, 2023
7:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Leader: Jon Feenstra

The flood basins are some of the last hold-outs of quality lowland riparian and alluvial fan scrub habitat in the Los Angeles Basin. Add to that a manicured park with irrigated grass, exotic fruiting trees, and a permanent lake and it makes for a nice mix of birds. Early October is perhaps the best time to check the weedy scrub for migrant and arriving wintering sparrows like Savannah, Lincoln’s, and White-crowned with chances of some less common ones like Vesper and Brewer's.

We’ll also scope the lake edge for ducks, gulls, and the ever-present goose flock (usually with a few real geese slumming it with the barnyard crowd). If there's time we’ll walk some of the park area and check the trees for migrant songbirds.

There is an entrance fee of $12 per car charged at the gate, though it may be free on weekdays. The dam area may be muddy, so bring suitable footwear.

Participant number: No Limit.

Trip details such as meeting location will be emailed to signed-up participants 3-5 days before the trip.

PHOTO: House Wren (Troglodytes aedon). Photo by Chris Spurgeon

Sign up here

October 15: Ventura: Tams, Tipus and Sod Farms

Sunday, October 15, 2022 7:30 AM - lunchtime

Trip Leader: Luke Tiller and Alex Coffey

The Oxnard Plain hosts a wealth of interesting fall birding locations. This year we will head over to Ventura County at the beginning of the month at a time where we might hope to find interesting pipits or plovers on the sod farms and lingering warblers at the tamarisk groves. As well as the regular spots, we will be checking out a new location this fall: the Tipu Trees on the edge of an outlet mall in Camarillo. This inauspicious location has already yielded numerous wandering warblers this fall. It’s the perfect time to look for a host of sparrows, waterfowl, and shorebirds of many stripes too. The first stop on this tour will be an hour from Pasadena.

Trip details such as the meeting location will be emailed to participants before the tour departs.

Participant number: No Limit

PHOTO: American Pipit (Anthus rubescens). Photo by Chris Spurgeon.

Sign up here

October 25: Birds and Beers

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Ok, technically this isn't a birding field trip, but it is a great chance to hang out with lots of other birders! Join us on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Wild Parrot Brewing Company in Pasadena. Have a drink, and a bite to eat, maybe join in a game of Wingspan, and just generally have a great time!Wingspan game

No need to be a Pasadena Audubon member, and no need to pre-register, just show up!

Wild Parrot Brewing Company is located at 2302 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA. Here's a map.

October 28: Huntington Library

Saturday, October 28, 2023
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Trip Leader: Mark Hunter

This is a great walk for beginning birders and families, with easy walking and a nice variety of species present year round.

Please note that due to rules implemented by The Huntington these trips will only be open to current PAS members. You must be a Pasadena Audubon member to attend this trip! After you sign up for the field trip, you will receive an email acknowledging your signup. The acknowledgment email is not a guarantee of a spot! PAS will process signups in the order that they are received, verifying your membership status. The trip leader will contact you after signups are closed, informing you whether you have confirmed spots or are on the wait list. Not yet a member? You can sign up for PAS membership here.

If you have a Huntington membership that allows you to enter the gardens at 8:00 on weekends, please consider making a reservation using your Huntington membership, thereby freeing up spots for PAS members who are not Huntington members.

Photo: California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) by Chris Spurgeon

Field Trip General Notes

This field trip is offered by reservation only. If you miss out on the initial places you will be added to a waitlist and will be emailed by the trip leaders if a place opens up. If you are unable to attend a booked trip please email the trip leader and allow them to make your space available to someone on the wait list.

Sign up!