DVOC Main Page > 2007 Field Trips > Southern California 2007

Detailed Information for Southern California 2007

As announced at the first February DVOC meeting (and as we did with our Oregon trip last year) we (Al Driscoll, Tom Bailey, Don Jones) are opening up this trip to interested DVOC members and their friends.

ONE SPOT AVAILABLE WITH MOTELS AND VEHICLE ALREADY BOOKED: We have motels for one additional spot available (you will have to share a room and costs with either Al, Don, or Tom-note that with two of us you might require industrial strength ear-plugs) as well as one spot in the vehicle (you will have to share in the cost of the rental vehicle). You will have to make your own flight arrangement (must arrive at LAX no later than 1PM on April 25) and reservation on the boat trip to Prisoner’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island (call Island Packers in Ventura: 895-642-1393). Please contact Al, Don, or Tom ASAP if interested in this spot (first come first served). Note that motel costs would be in the neighborhood of $450 for this person.

FOR ANY OTHER INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS please also contact Tom, Al, or Don. As with our Oregon trip last year you will have to make all your own travel arrangements (air, vehicle, motels, and boat). In order to minimize your costs we suggest you (we can help if others have expressed interest to us) find another interested person(s) to share your motel and vehicle expenses. The motels where we are staying are listed in the itinerary sheet along with their phone numbers. You may join and leave us at any point in the itinerary.

We hope to find as many of the Southern California specialties as possible. This period is also the peak time for spring migration. We will do some owling on 2-3 nights when near or in appropriate habitat. Breakfast will be most often in the motel (if provided) or in the field; lunch nearly always in the field, and dinner at a decent (hopefully) restaurant. Our general route will provide ample time in all of the varied habitats in Southern California usually with multiple chances for the regional specialties. Information in the itinerary tables gives a more specific indication of the route. Please contact Don Jones if you want further details. Recognize however that we are still working on the details and that details may change up to the last minute or even during the trip (if rarities or local information warrant). MOTELS HOWEVER ARE FIXED as they provide the joining and leaving points.

Southern California Trip Itinerary 2007
Day
Day No.
Date
Itinerary Overnight (asterisked lodging stayed in by Filemyr group in 2006 -rated OK) Cost (per room/per night)*
Wednesday
1
4/25/2007
Fly to LAX; south to Palo Verdes peninsula OR west to Santa Monica Mountains Comfort Inn-Ventura*                        
2094 East Harbor Boulevard            
Ventura, CA 93001                                         
805-653-5000
104.99+tax
Thursday
2
4/26/2007
Boat trip to Santa Cruz (9AM-4PM); after boat trip drive to Santa Maria (Ventura-Santa Maria=75mi) with some birding Best Western Big America                   
1725 North Broadway                       
Santa Maria, CA 93454                             
805-922-5200
110 w/tax
Friday
3
4/27/2007
Santa Maria to Maricopa (79mi direct) Motel 8*                                             
600 Poso Street                        
Maricopa, CA 93232                       
661-769-8291
55+tax
Saturday
4
4/28/2007
Bird Mount Pinos (Gorman to Pasadena=78mi) PASADENA NOT YET BOOKED; CHECK BACK IN 1-2 WEEKS NOT YET BOOKED
Sunday
5
4/29/2007
Bird San Gabriel Mountains; drive to  Joshua Tree National Monument (Big Pines to Yucca Valley=99mi) Super 8 Motel-Yucca Valley                                      
56096 Twentynine Palms Highway                                   
 Yucca Valley, CA 92284                        
760-228-1773
72.23 w/tax
Monday
6
4/30/2007
Drive to Brawley after birding Joshua Tree (I10 near Cottonwood Creek to Brawley=88mi); bird east side of Salton Sea on way and in evening The Brawley Inn*                              
575 West Main Street                      
Brawley, CA 92227                                  
760-344-1199
75.59w/tax
Tuesday
7
5/1/2007
Bird Salton Sea; drive to Idyllwild (Brawley to Idyllwild=123mi) Idyllwild Inn (Cabin 12)                             
54300 Village Center Road                     
Idyllwild, CA  92549                              
888-659-2552
sleeps 4 114+tax
Wednesday
8
5/2/2007
Bird San Jacinto Mountains same as above sleeps 4 114+tax
Thursday
9
5/3/2007
Early departure for Anza Borrego (Idyllwild to Borrego Springs=89mi); bird here; drive to Julian (Borrego Springs to Julian=31mi) Julian Lodge                                    
2720 C Street                              
Julian, CA 92036                                  
760-765-1420
95+tax
Friday
10
5/4/2007
Bird Laguna Mountains AND/OR Mount Palomar and to coast Days Inn Oceanside                          
1501 Carmelo Drive                  
Oceanside, CA 92054                                      
760-722-7661
85+tax
Saturday
11
5/5/2007
Coastal birding Travelodge Hotel at LAX*                      
5547 West Century Boulevard                      
Los Angeles, CA 90045                      
800-421-3939
76.95+tax
Sunday
12
5/6/2007
Depart LAX
Boat Trip to Santa Cruz-Prisoner's Harbor departs 9AM returns 4PM 
Island Packers 1-895-642-1393; cost $46/seniors $42
*Room cost based on 2 doubles or queen per room