De Silva Island and Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary Strawberry

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

10:00 AM-2:30 PM

Birding with Ron Brown

Registration required. Registration opens May 17 at 8:00 AM.

De Silva Island is home to a long-established colony of Great Blue Herons, residing in a grove of eucalyptus trees on the banks of Belloch's Lagoon (Strawberry Cove) in Richardson Bay. In recent years Great Egrets and Double Crested Cormorants (colonial nesting species) have moved into this fine breeding site.

Although the start of the breeding season is somewhat variable, we should see late-stage Heron and Egret chicks and early-stage Cormorant chicks. The colony is best seen by a scope from across Belloch's Lagoon (Strawberry Cove). One scope will be available, but others would be welcome.

After 12:00, we will drive from Seminary Drive to the Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary for more birding. We’ll take a break for something to eat before we start. Bring drinks and lunch.

DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 101 South - exit 446 toward Seminary Drive, go left on Redwood Hwy Frontage Road approx. 0.9 miles and go right on Seminary Drive to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary Drive and find street parking. From 101 north - exit 446 toward Seminary Drive, make left at Redwood Frontage Road for approx. 0.5 miles to Seminary Drive, make right to the Fitness outdoor workout at 107 Seminary and find street parking.

We will meet on Seminary Drive near the outdoor workout area at 10 AM. It’s a short walk on the somewhat uneven public footpath around the marsh to a set of stairs that leads to the view of the colony.