The peninsula between the north and south arm of Folsom Lake is the most remote and under birded portion of the recreation area. Possibilities include California Thrasher, Lewis’s Woodpecker and rarely Bell’s Sparrow. Burrowing Owls have been found sheltering among the rocks on a few occasions.
This unassuming and unsung area holds some of the greatest raptor concentrations in the region. The rice fields can host immense flocks of Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese, and Tundra Swan. When water conditions are right, the shorebirds can be very good.
This is a great spring trip. Following the suggested route will result in a wide variety of habitats including grasslands, farmlands, riparian corridors and open water and will provide some of the best spring birding in the Sacramento Valley. This trip can be broken into a number of smaller excursions or taken on as a full day of birding.
Ferrari Ranch Ponds are a series of smaller ponds, bordered by a paved bike trail, located on the west side of Hwy 65 in Lincoln. Common Gallinule are in fact common in these ponds along with egrets and herons, swallows in the summer, and a variety of waterfowl in the winter.
A walk through the sanctuary is a delight in any season. Over 195 species of birds have been recorded. In summer, Swainson’s Hawk soar overhead. Great Horned Owl is common here. Wood Duck, herons, egrets, and Pied-billed Grebe can be found year-round. Springtime brings a variety of warblers as well as nesting Western Bluebird, Bullock’s Oriole, and Black-headed Grosbeak. In winter, sparrows, towhees, kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Northern Flicker are among the common birds.
The area traversed by Sand Creek Road is a classic California landscape in remote Colusa County. This is the best site locally for Greater Roadrunners and among the best for Lawrence’s Goldfinches.
Greater Roadrunner, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, California Thrasher, Bell’s Sparrow may be heard and even seen in spring. Listen here as well for the Mountain Quail calling in the spring.
Approximately 1 hour north of Sacramento, the Colusa NWR is a great location to view large waterfowl concentrations, especially during December and January.
In winter, you will often see the sky at Gray Lodge filled with geese and ducks. Snow Geese, as well as the greatest concentration of Ross's Geese in the United States, are found here along with Greater White-fronted Geese and Canada Geese.
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.
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.
This destination is a narrow hiking trail bordered closely by dense streamside habitat and containing a wide variety of riparian species year-round.
Although just one mile each way, this riparian habitat supports a wide variety of species. Most of the trail runs between Bucks Creek and the Silva Valley Parkway.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages Cronan Ranch, originally a working cattle ranch of approximately 1,452 acres. This beautiful area contains 12 miles of dirt roads and trails ambling through a variety of terrain from oak woodland and rolling hills to shaded, riparian river access.
This is a particularly good place to look for nesting raptors such as Great Horned Owls, American Kestrels, Red-shouldered Hawks, and White-tailed Kites. Within the unit, several excellent trails follow the South Fork of the American River and meander through shady oak woodland and occasionally, open rolling grasslands.