Filling Fast!
Nov 10 - Nov 15, 2024
California
Birding At Monterey Bay
Program No. 11812RJ
Discover birding at its best in the Monterey Bay region. Learn about local ecology and habitats from experts while seeking waterfowl, waders, shorebirds, songbirds, seabirds and more.
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800-454-5768
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6 days
5 nights
15 meals
5B 1BR 4L 5D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Carmel Valley, CA
2
Point Lobos Birding, Natural History of Monterey
Carmel Valley, CA
3
Full-Day Monterey Bay Birding Field Trip
Carmel Valley, CA
4
Endemic Birding at Regional Parks, Free Time
Carmel Valley, CA
5
Elkhorn Slough Birding, Boat Ride
Carmel Valley, CA
6
Campus Birding, Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes
Carmel Valley, CA
At a Glance
Spend your days birding the famous Monterey Bay, one of the world’s top birding spots, and your evenings with special guests from Hidden Valley's talented faculty. This field-based program is designed for seasoned and beginning birders alike, targeting overall avian diversity and abundance throughout this world class birding destination. See local habitats and endemic species, add to or begin your “life list,” learn to recognize birds by their calls and songs and gain valuable skills for an enjoyable lifetime activity. Regional specialties may include the Yellow-billed Magpie, California Thrasher, White-tailed Kite, California Quail, Wrentit, Gold-crowned Sparrow, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hummingbirds, Pacific Wren, Western Flycatcher, Hutton’s Vireo, Cormorants, Black Oystercatcher and Tricolored Blackbird.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to 3 miles each day with stops (sometimes a little more); some uneven terrain like beach sand, dirt trails, inclines, and steps. Participants should be able to embark on a boat for a 2 hour cruise.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Embark on a boat excursion along the Elkhorn Slough estuary, a protected habitat home to over 340 species of birds.
- Spot egrets, rocky shorebirds, cormorants, passerine and seabirds at Point Lobos Nature Reserve.
- Enjoy time in Carmel Valley looking for White-tailed Kites and a variety of oak woodland species.
General Notes
All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html. Please note, while we will endeavor to look for all birds described in the program and more, seasonality, weather and birding behavior makes finding birds not guaranteed. The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal, a live performance or event.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Rick Yramategui
Rick Yramategui first performed a Joplin rag at Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Los Alamitos, California while in high school in the 70s. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Whitworth College. He serves as pastor of Carmel Valley Community Chapel, performs with the Carmel Piano Trio, and was the pianist for a revival of George Gershwin's musical, “Oh, Kay!” He is passionate about the connection between music and spirituality.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Rick Yramategui
View biography
Rick Yramategui first performed a Joplin rag at Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Los Alamitos, California while in high school in the 70s. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Whitworth College. He serves as pastor of Carmel Valley Community Chapel, performs with the Carmel Piano Trio, and was the pianist for a revival of George Gershwin's musical, “Oh, Kay!” He is passionate about the connection between music and spirituality.
Melinda Coffey
View biography
Melinda is a professional pianist who has performed as recitalist and chamber musician in the United States, Canada, England, France and Israel. The Monterey County Herald has called Melinda “one of our region's musical blessings." She has recorded over sixty recitals for the CBC and CDs for Waterlily Records and Meridian Records as well as three solo piano CDs. Well-known to audiences on the central coast and northern California, she lives in Carmel and is Music Director of Church in the Forest, Pebble Beach.
Matthew Shea
View biography
Matthew Shea’s roots in the Carmel Valley go back two generations. The son of a master gardener, Matthew grew up with an inherent understanding of the valley, its horticulture, and ecology. After graduating from Oregon State University and successfully managing 1000’s of acres of vineyards in Oregon, he returned to focus on the Estate Vineyards of Bernardus Winery in Carmel Valley. Using his background in organic, sustainable agriculture, Matt has brought a balance to the vineyard through increasing diversity, composting, and water and soil management.
Peter Meckel
View biography
Peter Meckel is the founder and General Director of Hidden Valley Music Seminars. Born and raised in the Midwest, he attended university at Rockford University in Illinois, and Occidental College in California. His leadership of Hidden Valley has resulted in one of the most respected opera training centers in America and a major contributor of arts education programs for vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. Students from throughout the world come to study with master teachers from many of America’s most prestigious orchestras and opera companies.
Jim Covel
View biography
Jim Covel recently retired as Director of Training & Interpretation for the Monterey Bay Aquarium where he trained and managed hundreds of volunteers. He has worked as a park ranger and interpreter, leading environmental education programs for the Southgate Recreation and Park District in Sacramento and the East Bay Regional Park District in the SF Bay Area. Jim has also served as a visiting lecturer at UC Davis, CSU Sacramento and CSU Monterey Bay, teaching courses from resource management to outdoor recreation and ecotourism.
Rene Kimzey
View biography
Rene Kimzey is a Hoosier at heart, transplanted to California a decade ago. She and her rescue dog, Peg, reside in a historic home in lovely Old Town Monterey which they embrace for its beauty and cultural richness. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s of education from George Mason University. After a career in healthcare, she delved into special events work, volunteering her time at many local organizations. Rene enjoys being a Group Leader for Hidden Valley, sharing her passion for Monterey, and helping others.
Steve Rovell
View biography
Steve Rovell is a long-time Monterey County birder with over 30 years of experience. A member of Monterey County's 400 club, Steve has led field trips for several organizations, including Monterey Audubon, Wild Bird Haven, Santa Cruz Bird Club, and the Monterey Bay Birding Festival. Steve's other hobbies include, but are not limited to, native plant gardening, photography, and soccer. Steve is a recently retired teacher of biology and earth science at Alisal High School in Salinas.
Suggested Reading List
(1 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Birding At Monterey Bay
Program Number: 11812
Monterey Birds
Program No.
11812
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Carmel Valley, CA
Program Concludes
Carmel Valley, CA
Group Type
Small Group
Activity Level
At a Glance
Spend your days birding the famous Monterey Bay, one of the world’s top birding spots, and your evenings with special guests from Hidden Valley's talented faculty. This field-based program is designed for seasoned and beginning birders alike, targeting overall avian diversity and abundance throughout this world class birding destination. See local habitats and endemic species, add to or begin your “life list,” learn to recognize birds by their calls and songs and gain valuable skills for an enjoyable lifetime activity. Regional specialties may include the Yellow-billed Magpie, California Thrasher, White-tailed Kite, California Quail, Wrentit, Gold-crowned Sparrow, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hummingbirds, Pacific Wren, Western Flycatcher, Hutton’s Vireo, Cormorants, Black Oystercatcher and Tricolored Blackbird.
Best of all, you'll...
- Embark on a boat excursion along the Elkhorn Slough estuary, a protected habitat home to over 340 species of birds.
- Spot egrets, rocky shorebirds, cormorants, passerine and seabirds at Point Lobos Nature Reserve.
- Enjoy time in Carmel Valley looking for White-tailed Kites and a variety of oak woodland species.
General Notes
All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html. Please note, while we will endeavor to look for all birds described in the program and more, seasonality, weather and birding behavior makes finding birds not guaranteed. The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal, a live performance or event.
Featured Expert
Rick Yramategui
Rick Yramategui first performed a Joplin rag at Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Los Alamitos, California while in high school in the 70s. He received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Whitworth College. He serves as pastor of Carmel Valley Community Chapel, performs with the Carmel Piano Trio, and was the pianist for a revival of George Gershwin's musical, “Oh, Kay!” He is passionate about the connection between music and spirituality.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Melinda Coffey
Melinda is a professional pianist who has performed as recitalist and chamber musician in the United States, Canada, England, France and Israel. The Monterey County Herald has called Melinda “one of our region's musical blessings." She has recorded over sixty recitals for the CBC and CDs for Waterlily Records and Meridian Records as well as three solo piano CDs. Well-known to audiences on the central coast and northern California, she lives in Carmel and is Music Director of Church in the Forest, Pebble Beach.
Matthew Shea
Matthew Shea’s roots in the Carmel Valley go back two generations. The son of a master gardener, Matthew grew up with an inherent understanding of the valley, its horticulture, and ecology. After graduating from Oregon State University and successfully managing 1000’s of acres of vineyards in Oregon, he returned to focus on the Estate Vineyards of Bernardus Winery in Carmel Valley. Using his background in organic, sustainable agriculture, Matt has brought a balance to the vineyard through increasing diversity, composting, and water and soil management.
Peter Meckel
Peter Meckel is the founder and General Director of Hidden Valley Music Seminars. Born and raised in the Midwest, he attended university at Rockford University in Illinois, and Occidental College in California. His leadership of Hidden Valley has resulted in one of the most respected opera training centers in America and a major contributor of arts education programs for vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. Students from throughout the world come to study with master teachers from many of America’s most prestigious orchestras and opera companies.
Jim Covel
Jim Covel recently retired as Director of Training & Interpretation for the Monterey Bay Aquarium where he trained and managed hundreds of volunteers. He has worked as a park ranger and interpreter, leading environmental education programs for the Southgate Recreation and Park District in Sacramento and the East Bay Regional Park District in the SF Bay Area. Jim has also served as a visiting lecturer at UC Davis, CSU Sacramento and CSU Monterey Bay, teaching courses from resource management to outdoor recreation and ecotourism.
Rene Kimzey
Rene Kimzey is a Hoosier at heart, transplanted to California a decade ago. She and her rescue dog, Peg, reside in a historic home in lovely Old Town Monterey which they embrace for its beauty and cultural richness. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s of education from George Mason University. After a career in healthcare, she delved into special events work, volunteering her time at many local organizations. Rene enjoys being a Group Leader for Hidden Valley, sharing her passion for Monterey, and helping others.
Steve Rovell
Steve Rovell is a long-time Monterey County birder with over 30 years of experience. A member of Monterey County's 400 club, Steve has led field trips for several organizations, including Monterey Audubon, Wild Bird Haven, Santa Cruz Bird Club, and the Monterey Bay Birding Festival. Steve's other hobbies include, but are not limited to, native plant gardening, photography, and soccer. Steve is a recently retired teacher of biology and earth science at Alisal High School in Salinas.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to 3 miles each day with stops (sometimes a little more); some uneven terrain like beach sand, dirt trails, inclines, and steps. Participants should be able to embark on a boat for a 2 hour cruise.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List: 1 Books
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
