San Joaquin and Solano Counties
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Fees and directions may have changed. If you have recommended changes for a location, please email them to the Web Committee.
San Joaquin County
From October through March, many fields in this area contain Sandhill Cranes in varying numbers, with the best time for observation occurring during January, February, and March when some fields are flooded, and there are also large numbers of wintering shorebirds and waterfowl.
Staten Island is another excellent site for viewing large numbers of Sandhill Cranes, geese, Tundra Swans, other waterfowl, and shorebirds.
During summer months, you may find Swainson's Hawk, Western Wood Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting and Bullock's Oriole. Birding this area in winter may turn up Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hutton's Vireo, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, and Golden-crowned Kinglet
Lodi Lake Park is truly one of the premier birding areas in San Joaquin County. This reputation is well deserved as over 200 species (over 50% of the county's total bird list) have been observed within the boundaries of this 125-acre jewel along the Mokelumne River in north Lodi.
Solano County
In August of 2020, a megafire called the LNU Lightning Complex became the biggest fire of the Coast Range. It devastated the hills and canyons of the Vaca Mountains and left behind charred forests, chaparral, homes and ranches.
Locations previously recommended in Solano County such as the Lake Solano County Park and Stebbins Cold Canyon Natural Reserve and surrounding areas up to and beyond the Monticello Dam were hard hit. Although the natural beauty of this area has been substantially altered, these sites are open once again to the public.
This magnet for birds on the Solano-Yolo County line is formed by a small diversion dam on Putah Creek several miles east of Lake Berryessa and the Vaca Mountains, the eastern-most ridge of the North Coast Ranges. For best birding, visit the area early in the morning; fall and winter are most productive, due to the arrival of winter visitors.
Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, White-tailed Kites and Red-tailed Hawks are quite reliable during the winter, although numbers vary year to year. Bald and Golden Eagles are occasionally found especially around the large power lines also frequented by Prairie Falcons.
This park just off of Interstate 80 in Vacaville contains nearly 500 acres. It provides excellent opportunities to find water birds and land birds. The reservoir is always worth checking, and it once produced a Long-tailed Jaeger. The trees can be very good for migrants, and a Northern Waterthrush was found here.
Banner Photo Credit: Sandhill Crane by Ray Rozema