September’s Monthly Field Trip to Rodeo Lagoon – Monday, September 16, 2024

Rodeo Lagoon is one of Marin’s largest freshwater lagoons separated from the Pacific Ocean by a narrow sandy beach. It is surrounded by willow groves and provides aquatic and mudflat habitat that supports waterfowl, migrating shorebirds and passerines. Regular visitors include: Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Western & Pied-billed Grebes, Snowy & Great Egrets Great Blue and Black-crowned Night Herons, Gulls, Cormorants, Pelicans and Murres. Swainson’s Thrush, Wilson’s, Yellow, Townsend’s, Black-throated Gray and Yellow-throat Warblers and occasional Redstarts are found amongst the willow thickets. Rodeo Lagoon has hosted numerous rarities from White and Yellow Wagtails, to Vermillion Flycatchers and Eastern Phoebes, and even a Willow Warbler that visited in October 2022. The Lagoon is nestled under the shadow of Hawk Hill where migrating hawks regularly pass by. Northern Harriers, Red-tailed, Copper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks are daily visitors that soar along the flanks of the hill and high overhead on thermals before crossing the Bay. William Legge, our Leader, has surveyed the birds of Rodeo Lagoon for a decade and will know all of the best places to find these exciting Fall migrants.

In case you didn’t receive our list serve email to sign-up for this field trip, here is a Link to the Rodeo Lagoon Field trip:Registration Link:  https://forms.gle/ppAkLjUrcMN5zk9w9