September, 1996. This is the sixth attempt to list the monthlyavailable in the birdwatching field trips Southern California region. We publish this list annually in September. Field trip chairs -- please call us with changes before August 1st. Birders -- it would be wise to call first, just in case.

Please send all changes or updates to: Chuck Almdale, 15737 Tuba St., San Fernando, CA 91343; 818-894-2541; lfjohnson@juno.com Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society.

1st Saturday

Franklin Canyon, Beverly Hills: 6 p.m. (night birds, Poorwill, owls) in parking lot of Sooky Goldman Nature Center, Franklin Canyon Dr. See 4th Saturday for driving instructions.

1st Sunday

Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens: 8 a.m. Sep-Jun, weekly in April; Beginner's Bird Walk; 2 hours; 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont; Suzanne & Glen Chappell 909-981-1996; Pomona Valley A.S.

Sepulveda Basin Nature Center: 8 a.m. in 1st parking lot; 405 Fwy to Burbank Blvd., west 1/2 mile to Woodley, right 1/2 mile to 1st Park Road, right to first parking lot; wintering and migrant species, nesting Blue Grosbeak; Kris Ohlenkamp 818-999-2358; San Fernando Valley A.S.

South Coast Botanical Gardens: 8 a.m. in parking lot; 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, one mile south of Pacific Coast Hwy, on left as you go up the hill; admission $5 adults, $3 student/senior; averages 35-50 species, SCBG list 250 species; Jess Morton 310-832-5601; Palos Verdes South Bay A.S.

Trippet Ranch - Topanga State Park: 8 a.m. in parking lot; Topanga Canyon Road to Entrada Road (one mile north of Topanga Village), east on Entrada keeping left at all intersections (or follow signs) to the park; chaparral birds; parking $5; Gerry Haigh 310-455-1696; L.A Sierra Club/Los Angeles A.S.

1st Wednesday

Lake Murray - Fledgling Birders: 8 a.m., Oct-Dec and Mar-May; beginners' birdwalk; I-8 east to Lake Murray Blvd. exit. One mile to Baltimore, turn left. About one mile to Jackson, turn left. 1/4 mile to Golfcrest, turn left. One mile to Mission Trails Park on the left. Meet in central parking area. Restrooms and water available. Bring binoculars, small notebook and field guide. Easy hiking. John Spain 619-275-0557; San Diego A.S.

2nd Sunday

Descanso Gardens: 8 a.m. just inside front gate; 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada; take SR-2 north from I-5 or SR-134 to Verdugo Blvd. Right on Verdugo, right again on Descanso Dr. Meet inside entrance. Free entry to early birders; wintering and migrants, occasional unusuals; extensive water garden; Karen Johnson 818-790-1687; San Fernando Valley A.S.

El Dorado Nature Center: 8 a.m. Sep-Jun; in parking lot on south side of Spring St. just west of 605 Fwy one mile north of the 405 Fwy; parking $5; average 60 species; wintering warblers, sparrows, wood duck; Peter Tackney 310-425-3940; El Dorado A.S.

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary: 9 a.m. Sep-Apr. From I-405 exit at Jamboree; go south 1/4 mile to Michelson; turn left and go to 2nd light; turn right at entrance to Irvine Ranch Water District; follow signs to Audubon House (just past IRWD facility). 714-261-7963; Sea & Sage A.S.

Whittier Narrows Regional Park: 8 a.m. Sep-Jun in parking lot; 1000 Durfee Ave. in South El Monte, south of 60 Fwy (Pomona) between Santa Anita and Peck Dr. exits, west of 605 Fwy; riparian, chaparral and water birds, resident Northern Cardinals; 213-874-1318 (tape); Los Angeles A.S. and Ranger Ray Jillson.

3rd Sunday

Malibu Creek State Park: 8 a.m. in last parking lot; Las Virgenes Road 1/4 mile south of Mulholland Blvd.; chaparral, wintering & migrants, ducks, Red-breasted Sapsucker; $5 parking. Muriel Kotin 818-783-4293; San Fernando Valley A.S.

Eaton Canyon County Park: 8 a.m. Sep-Jun; at Nature Center flagpole; 1750 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena; chaparral & migrants; leader Hill Penfold; call John Pepin 818-287-3693; Pasadena A.S.

Santa Rosa Plateau: 7:30 a.m. Sep-Jun; at front gate; from I-15 south of Lake Elsinore take Clinton Keith Road west 5 miles to front gate; Bill Maramarco 714-676-5195 only after 6 p.m.; The Nature Conservancy.

3rd Wednesday

South Coast Botanical Gardens: see 1st Sundays.

3rd Saturday

TBA: Call Jim Abernathy 818-986-4709; San Fernando Valley A.S.

4th Saturday

Franklin Canyon, Beverly Hills. 8:00 a.m. in parking lot of Sooky Goldman Nature Center, Franklin Canyon Dr. No trip in November; last Saturday in December. (1) From US 101 in the San Fernando Valley take Coldwater Canyon Ave. south to Mulholland intersection; look on the right for Franklin Canyon Dr. and signs: "Road Ends 800 Feet Surise to Sunset" and "Not a Through Street". (2) From Sunset Blvd. in Beverly Hills take either Rexford or Beverly Dr. to Coldwater Canyon Ave. (merges with Beverly Dr.); left where Beverly Dr. splits off; right on Franklin Canyon Dr. Paul Cooley 310-837-4022; William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom.

4th Sunday

Malibu Lagoon State Park: 8:30 a.m. at 1st footbridge by parking lot; Pacific Coast Hwy and Cross Creek Road north of Malibu Pier; park on Cross Creek Road across PCH from lagoon; average 60 species, mostly shorebirds and waterfowl; Abigail King 310-476-3681; Santa Monica Bay A.S.

Descanso Gardens: see 2nd Sundays.

Nature Centers

Buena Vista Nature Center: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tue-Sat; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays; in Oceanside exit I-5 at Route 78, west to Hill St., 2 blocks south to 2202 Hill St.; bird around the center; 619-439-2473; Buena Vista A.S.

Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary: Sundays at 9 a.m. (closed August); Hwy 67 north from I-8 to Lakeside, exit at Mapleview, go east to Ashwood, turn left, go 5 miles (Ashwood becomes Wildcat Canyon Road) to entrance on right; 619-443-2998; San Diego A.S.

Other Chapter Contacts

Kern County: trips 2nd or 3rd weekend; contact Bob Meade 619-377-5192; Kerncrest A.S.

Kern County/Southwestern Sierra: trips vary; 209-782-1237; Kern County A.S.

Laguna Hills: 2nd Saturday Sep-Jun, 8 a.m. 4th Tuesday Sep-Nov & Jan-May, 8:30 a.m. Call for trip info: Jean Jenks 714-497-8791; Laguna Hills A.S.

Lompoc: trips vary; at least one trip per month Sep-Jul; Paul or Rita Rosso 805-736-4356; La Purisima A.S.

Los Angeles: trips vary; pelagics in spring and fall; 213-874-1318; Los Angeles A.S.

Morro Bay: trips vary; pelagic in mid-Sep; Tom Edell 805-995-1691; Morro Coast A.S.

Orange County: 2-5 trips per month Sep-Jun; Nancy Kenyon 714-786-3160; Sea & Sage A.S.

Orange County: 2-3 trips per month Sep-Jun; Judi Vrana 714-582-1776; South Coast A.S.

San Bernardino: trips vary; 909-793-5599; San Bernardino Valley A.S.

San Diego County (North): two field trips monthly Sep-Jun; Ed Littlefield 619-487-2464; Palomar A.S.

San Diego County (South): Bill McCausland 619-280-7710; SanDiego A.S.

Santa Barbara: trips vary; office 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 805-964-1468; Santa Barbara A.S.

Whittier: trips vary; Felix Owens 213-699-9648; Whittier A.S.

Yuma, Arizona: trips vary; Cary Meister 602-782-3552; Yuma A.S.

Bird Alert and Trip Information Tapes

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