White Rock Road Field Trip 8/16/26

Photo: Mark Donahue

Happy Birders

Notes from Mark Donahue:  We had another great day in the field, despite it being a pre-transitional time in the Sierra Foothills. We observed a total of 52 species. We managed to see a few migrants, just starting to move. We observed Western Tanagers in the foothills, juvenal Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels in "flight training" groups, and a very early Merlin. All these bird observations are a sign of the coming fall migration, the return of our fall/winter birds, and new opportunities for birding. See the e-bird link below for today's trip report. I hope to see you on the next YAAS field trip. Thank you!

Click on the e-Bird link for the trip report

e-Bird White Rock Road Aug 2026

Wawona Meadow Field Trip 9/5/2026

Photo: Mark Donahue

Happy Birders

 Notes from Mark Donahue: Saturday was a great day to be in the field birding! The weather was beautiful and we had a great group of birders enjoying the Wawona Meadows area. We observed many of the resident forest dwelling birds such as Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and Red-breasted Nuthatch . Fall migration has started; we had migrating swifts and had good numbers of warblers and vireos passing through. Some of our summer residents were still present enjoying the cooler temps; we observed many Western Wood Pewee and Hutton's Vireos to name a few. We also observed two rare bird species, which is always nice! Pinyon Jays were a nice surprise to put it mildly with a group of at least 30 birds flying over in a somewhat synchronized flight while vocalizing with their distinctive flight calls. The Plumbeous Vireo was another shocker observation; most were able to get a few looks as the Vireo moved quickly through the canopy of the trees. It is interesting to note both the Pinyon Jays and the Plumbeous Vireo breed just east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. See the link below for the Trip Report. Hope to see you on the next YAAS Fieldtrip.



Click on the e-Bird link for the trip report

e-Bird Wawona Meadow Sept. 26

White Rock Road Field Trip 10/3/26

Photo: Mark Donahue

Long-billed Dowitchers

Notes from Mark Donahue: It was nice to have a small group today for the field trip to White Rock Road. We observed 62 species, which is a good total for this time of year. The weather was pretty warm, and the October sunshine was intense at times and the birds were not very active at times. However, we managed to get two rare species for Mariposa County: a Sage Thrasher and three Long-billed Dowitchers, see photo above. We also had great looks at Vesper Sparrows and many Savanah Sparrows, as well as a close look at a Golden Eagle. All in all, a very good field trip! I shared today's check lists with everyone. See the attached link for the White Rock Road Trip Report. Hope to see you all on next month's field trip to Merced National Wildlife Refuge. Thank you!

Click on the e-Bird link for the trip report

e-Bird White Rock Road Oct. 2026

White Rock Road Field Trip 4/11/26

Photo: Mark Donahue

Lazuli Bunting

From Mark Donahue: "I had a great day birding with you on today's Yosemite Area Audubon Societies (YAAS) field trip, hope to see you on future YAAS field trips or just birding in the field. A big thank you to Pat for doing all of the e-bird checklists. Thank you!" The day included 69 species observed, thank you Mark!

Click on the E-bird link for the trip report.

E-bird White Rock Road Link

Wawona Meadows, YNP Field Trip 5/2/26

Photo: Mark Donahue

Pacific Wren

From Mark Donahue: We had a great day in the field birding and hiking the Wawona Meadows Loop Trail. We had a nice even total of 50 bird species while hiking 3.42 miles of trail. Highlights included observing a Western Flycatcher carrying nesting material and placing it in a nesting cavity in an Incense Cedar and watching a family of Pacific Wren's walking and hoping on the forest floor with recently fledged young. Hope to see you on another Yosemite Area Audubon Society Fieldtrip! 

Click on the E-bird link for the trip report

E-bird Wawona Meadows Link

Tioga Road, YNP Field Trip 7/18/26

Photo: Mark Donahue

Lazuli Bunting

From Mark Donahue:  We had a great day of birding along Tioga Road at high elevations in Yosemite National Park. A total of 10 participants enjoyed nice weather with a few raindrops in the early morning giving way to warm sunny weather later. Even though the Park was packed with visitors, it was nice to escape the heat of the foothills for a few hours. We had a total of 38 species, which is an expected amount for this time of year. The highlight for me was our hike down the Tamarack Creek Trail and the variety of warblers we heard and seen. See the link below for the e-bird trip report. Let me know if anyone needs me to share e-bird checklists.



Click on the E-bird link for the trip report.

E-bird Tioga Road Link

Merced National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip 2/21/26

Photo: Mark Donohue

Vermillion Flycatcher

It was a great day for a field trip to Merced National Wildlife Refuge.

70 species of birds were seen! Thank you Mark Donahue for leading the trip!

Here is the link to the E-bird trip report.

E-bird MNWR Link

Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park Field Trip 3/14/26

Photo: Mark Donahue

Violet-green swallow

YAAS field trip went well today, we had at least 16 people attend. Weather was nice, clear skies with a little fog early, not too cold early and warming up nicely by late morning. The species total of 44 is a good number for this early in the year. Thanks to all participants for a great day! -Mark Donahue

 Link to the E-bird trip report

E-bird AHRP Link

Owling Field Trip - White Rock Road 3/26/26

Photo: Jeanette Hanneman

Barn Owls

 "We had a great early morning listening for Owls! Please see the link below for the trip report for owling only." 4 owl species were heard! Thank you Mark Donahue for the early morning field trip

Link to the E-bird trip report

E-bird Owling 3/26 Link