Birding Moorhen Marsh - Beginners Welcome!

Moorhen Marsh in Martinez was one of the first water treatment facilities in the US designed to provide healthy habitat for birds. Today its several ponds are home to many resident species, and it's often visited by migrants as well. Managed by the Mountain View Sanitary District, Moorhen Marsh is open for birding only by appointment.

We'll meet at 8:30AM in front of the MVSD administration building, then proceed together into Moorhen Marsh. There will be a short introductory presentation on the birds we hope to see and on birding in general. Then we'll take a walk around the marsh, hoping to see and hear egrets, herons, warblers and wrens, with raptors and other species possible as well.

As we depart Moorhen Marsh we'll stop at Waterbird Regional Preserve, just across the freeway, where we'll use scopes to look for long-legged shorebirds, ducks, and more.

This trip is suitable for birders of all experience levels, and especially beginners. Binoculars will be available to lend---if you'd like to borrow a pair please the leader know in advance, so we have enough on hand.

Weather permitting, the same outing will be held on a Wednesday and a Sunday, to accommodate birders with different schedules.

Hike Rating: 1 - Easy. Under 1 mile on flat terrain. Unpaved paths, potentially muddy if it's rained recently.

Elevation change: N/A

Leader: Matthew Tarlach, [email protected]

Meet: Meet in front of the MVSD administration building at 8:30AM. Please note that Moorhen Marsh is gated, and if you're more than a few minutes late you won't be able to get in.

Directions: From I-680 northbound, exit at Pacheco Blvd, turn right onto Arthur Road and go under the freeway. At the end of Arthur Road, continue ahead and left through the MVSD gate. Follow the service road about half a mile and proceed through the tunnel under the freeway---watch for oncoming traffic! After emerging from the tunnel, the admin building will be on your right.

(Image of Black-crowned Night Herons by Isaac Aronow.)

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