More than 50 years ago, I made three “for life” friends at college: Susan, my next-door neighbor in our freshman dorm; Helen, a year younger than me, who, due to a housing shortage, got stuck in the lounge at the end of my sophomore dorm with five other freshmen; and Ruslyn, a relentlessly upbeat nursing student. A few others qualify, but they are not part of this adventure.

Although I visit Susan (FL), Ruslyn (NH), and Helen (CA) individually, here or there, we think all four of us last gathered in 1998 when we camped at Chaco Canyon, stayed in Jemez Springs, and had a big brunch with my local NM friends. This year Helen requested that the four of us gather in honor of her big birthday. Emails flew, thoughts mingled, and eventually we settled on a Road Scholar five-day class, “Birding at Monterey Bay” in California in September 2025.

I decided to fly to Helen’s first, then we would drive up the coast and pick up Susan in Santa Barbara, where her daughter, son-in-law and grandson live, then meet Ruslyn in Monterey. I enjoyed having two days with Helen to bird near Long Beach, eat Ethiopian food, experience In-N-Out burgers and fries, and explore Helen’s neighborhood. One morning, while she was out doing errands, I was birding around her house. I kept hearing a bird call I didn’t know. Merlin identified the call as a Swinhoe’s white-eye, which looks like a cross between a white-eyed vireo and a weird warbler. I thought, “This can’t be right; that is a Taiwanese bird.” But Merlin insisted, and I finally saw one making the call. I researched “what bird sounds like a swinhoe’s white-eye?” and stumbled upon this Swinhoe’s white-eye article. Indeed, Swinhoe’s white-eyes have established themselves in California!

Helen and I left on a Sunday morn and met Susan at a noisy diner in Santa Barbara. We got to greet her daughter and meet the son-in-law and grandson, which was super sweet. Then we headed north up the California coast, stopping to eat the lunch we’d packed (shrimp ceviche, homemade tabouli, and a giant cinnamon roll we bought in tiny Pismo Beach) beside the Pacific Ocean. Being a desert dweller, I had to stand in the ocean.

We arrived at Hidden Valley Music Camp in Carmel Valley, CA in time to settle in, meet other students from our class and another Road Scholar class, and then eat dinner.

On Monday morn, our bird class began. Jim, the affable van driver, met us each morning and carted us around all week, pointing out famous houses, landmarks and other features. The “Birding at Monterey Bay” class was led by retired science teacher Steve Rovell, and we saw more than 100 species of birds.

Eleven class participants included mom and daughter Joann and Lauren; tandem bicyclists Dave and Nancy; the four of us; retired teacher Winifred, bird enthusiast Cathy, and Renaissance man Claude, who turns 90 next year. His wife of 60 years died recently, and he inspired us all with his boundless energy, knowledge, kindness, and enthusiasm, dancing with both a lady from Texas and Ruslyn during one of the evening concerts.

The class visited Asilomar State Beach, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, Laguna Grande Park, Pt. Pinos, Palo Corona Regional Park and Elkhorn Slough. Shorebirds, sea birds, warblers, and many more delighted all of us.

Humpback whales, sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, deer, butterflies and dragonflies, as well as many colorful flowers,

were bonus non-bird species.

Trip highlights included multiple species endemic to California, particularly yellow-billed magpies,

California thrashers, California scrub jays, California quail and California towhees. Shortly after we observed the magpies from a distance, a barn owl swooped from a nearby tree, glided past the group at eye level only 15’ away, and turned to look at everyone before disappearing. This was one of our favorite moments, and Ruslyn summed it up, “It reminded me of how fleeting moments of beauty and connection can carry forward a joy that is always with you when remembering it.” Exactly! Although no one got a photo of that moment, the image is seared into all of our brains.

Two curious horses were across the street and seemed to enjoy scratches from several of us. I also took my first horse selfie at this same spot. Claude took the best photo of the four of us with the horses.

Each afternoon we four would have pre-happy hour, reviewing the day at the picnic table outside of our self-described “rustic” rooms.

Susan and Helen had single rooms, but Ruslyn and I shared the small but cozy space. Being at summer camp is an apt comparison.

Unlike the other Road Scholar bird class that Ruslyn and I took, this class had a relaxed schedule with lots of down time to hang out and a half day on our own. Susan visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Ruslyn, Helen and I took a three-hour whale-watching boat ride, where we saw six humpback whales (this link is a one-minute video I made from the boat) at close range,

plus a bunch of seabirds, mostly common murres, in Monterey Bay.

Afterwards, the four of us gathered for one of the best meals of our lives at Passionfish restaurant in Pacific Grove, recommended by my bird surveyor friend Debbie. Every single bite was beautiful and delicious. Layers and explosions of flavors abounded. The restaurant was high end with a casual vibe. Diners at nearby tables could converse with each other or strangers, their choice. Service was impeccable. We ate, laughed and shared for more than two hours, and each moment was memorable.

Ruslyn wrote, “If our dinner at Passionfish had been filmed, I would watch it over and over to experience the deep delight of friendship and companionship it so beautifully portrayed.”

The last full day of class, we rode in an electric catamaran through the Elkhorn Slough at Moss Landing. We observed nearby shorebirds, otters and seals without fumes or noise—an idyllic way to travel!

Our eBird trip report combines bird lists from the entire class, along with photos of some of the species observed.

Activities at Hidden Valley Music Camp, which housed and fed us, included a fascinating lecture and slide show about the natural history, ecology and geology of Monterey Bay, as well as several music performances and a wine tasting in the evenings.

Helen said her favorite moment was “The first bird, once we were settled into our cabin, was memorable because I could see the vivid blue of a blue bird [a CA scrub jay] using binoculars!

I enjoyed learning about the two-toned beak of a godwit and the changes in the feather colors in the life of a gull and other birds.”

We were sad to leave Hidden Valley. Helen dropped off Ruslyn and me in Monterey, where we ate a tasty lunch at Wave Street Cafe beside the bay, observed sea lions (this link is my 30-second raucous video of some of them). Susan told me a pile of sea lions is called a “cuddle puddle” and says, “My favorite moment was watching the ‘cuddle puddle’ of sea lions, realizing I could relate to the ones sleeping with a peaceful grin on their faces. This is how I feel with my best buddies nearby.”

I also saw the famous Steinbeck sculpture, aka the Cannery Row Monument. Then I caught my flight home. Susan and Helen drove south down the coast, and Helen flew to Mexico the next day. We’re all still grinning about our excellent and beautiful adventure full of stunning nature and camaraderie among old friends. Until we meet again, besties…