Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers Dos Palmas is a delightful desert oasis on the northeast side of the Salton Sea. First, we’ll visit a cathedral-like grove of desert palm trees. Then, a 1-mile walk with beautiful desert views leads us to a series of ponds surrounded by lots of vegetation, which attract a variety of birds. We’ll look for Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Sora, Kingfisher, and others. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see a Prairie Falcon. Total distance, 5 miles, flat. The travel time is 1.5 hours each way. Meet at ABDNHA by 7:50 a.m. Bring lunch/snacks, binoculars, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers PROGRAM IS FULL - PLEASE CALL ABDNHA at 760-767-3098 to get on the waitlist. If you can’t tell a sparrow from a flycatcher from a wren, this trip is for you! Instead of racking up species, we will slow down and take more time with each individual bird, learning how to identify them. We will be carrying a scope, so you’ll get a good look at what distinguishes a bird. 1.5 miles, no elevation gain, easy trail. Meet in the ABDNHA parking lot by 8:50 a.m.  Bring snacks, binoculars, and water. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Limit: 10.

THIS HIKE IS CANCELLED. Leaders: Tom Keffer and Lee Christie, ABDNHA Volunteers We will be visiting two sites along the west shore of the Salton Sea, which can be very hit-or-miss. We have been treated to a 30-minute spectacle of a Sora feeding at our feet, but occasionally, if hunters are in the area, we've seen very little. Fortunately, most of the time we see Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Sora, Stilts, Grebes, Dowitchers, and lots of peeps, between the two sites, about 1.5 miles total walking, no elevation gain, excellent footing. Travel time in each direction is about one hour.  Meet in the ABDNHA parking lot by 7:50 am. Call 760-767-3098 to reserve. Bring lunch/snacks, water, and binoculars.