Birdwatching for Beginners

Winter is not too late for birdwatching. The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge receives fine-feathered visitors year-round. And depending on what time of year, the types of birds will be different. Some pass through as part of their migration south. A few nest here and stay all year.

Seasonal birds this time of year are a variety of gulls and waterfowl like Herring and Thayer's Gulls, American Wigeon and Common Goldeneye. Occasionally, a rare species like Eurasian Wigeon or Glaucous Gull may appear, said Matthew Dodder, who has taught a birdwatching class at Palo Alto Adult School for the past 12 years.

When his class goes on a field trip, some of the equipment he brings are binoculars and telescopes, field guides and even an iPod attached to small speakers. Dodder uses the device for bird calls.  

The at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge offers free classes for adults and kids to learn about and identify local birds. Equipment is provided.

• Nov. 20, 9 a.m., Beginning Birding Clinic for Adults
• Nov. 20, 9:30 a.m., Beginning Birdwatching for Families
• Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m., Family Bird Walk (Visitors Center, Fremont)

The nonprofit San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is . It has field trips for adults, usually for a fee, and you will need to bring your own equipment.

• Jan. 8, 9 a.m., Test Your Gull-Ability (Palo Alto Baylands). Free.
• Jan. 22, 8 a.m., Winter Bayside Birding (Alviso).
• Jan. 18 and Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m. Class on Gulls (Milpitas).
• Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m. A Bird in the Hand (Milpitas).  

Watch the video for an introduction by Dodder and photographer Sonny Mencher about the birds you might see on your next trip!