These two sites just west of the Sacramento River make for an excellent morning of birding in the spring and fall. When there is a good pulse of migrants, the woods can be hopping with warblers and other songbirds.
The University of California, Davis Arboretum has produced excellent rarities (notably Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Red Crossbills) in addition to Red-breasted Nuthatches and Chestnut-backed Chickadees in the appropriate season as well as a rookery of Black-crowned Night Herons, Snowy Egrets, and Cattle Egrets.
This vital remnant of riparian habitat has become a haven for warblers, flycatchers and other migrating passerines in the spring and fall.
Slide Hill Park has produced numerous interesting finds, including Mountain Chickadee, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.
When conditions are right at North Davis Ponds shorebirds can allow very close study. It is a good place to look for Short-billed Dowitchers among the common Long-billed Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs among the Greater Yellowlegs.
North Davis Farms Road can be excellent in migration with the trees along the road and pond providing excellent habitat.
Willowbank Ditch is a small park gem that often provides excellent birding, especially in migration.
Davis provides several excellent sites for birders. Davis residents can reach them on foot, by bike, or very short drives. A dedicated corps of Yolo Audubon birders covers these sites very well, and rarities are often reported. A small sample of the available birding opportunities follows. Additional sites are detailed in Birding in Yolo County, CA by Steve Hampton.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
In addition to other large trees on the U.C. campus, this location has produced excellent rarities (notably Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Red Crossbills) and often provides good birding. There are nice remnant oaks on the highly altered remains of the Putah Creek channel that runs through campus, in addition to plants representing many different regions. Conifers on campus often harbor Red-breasted Nuthatches (fall through early spring). Chestnut-backed Chickadees (winter) are sometimes found in the pines and oaks along the arboretum trails. There has been a rookery of Black-crowned Night-Herons, Snowy Egrets, and Cattle Egrets at the western portion of the arboretum. The arboretum setting is very nice, but is somewhat marred by the loud roar of traffic. eBird Sightings
This is also an Accessible Birding Location. To learn more about the accessibility of this location visit our Accessible Birding page.
Directions: From Interstate 80, about 14 miles west of Sacramento, take the U.C. Davis exit (exit 71) and turn right. It currently costs $6 to park in the lots along Old Davis Road and elsewhere on campus. From Old Davis Road, walk north to the trails that parallel the old creek channel. You may be able to find parking along the street at the western end of the arboretum. From Old Davis Road, turn left at California Avenue, and left at La Rue Road. After 0.4 mile, turn left on Garrod Drive and park near the gazebo.
Putah Creek Riparian Preserve is west of the main U.C. Davis campus. This vital remnant of riparian habitat has become a haven for warblers, flycatchers and other migrating passerines in the spring and fall. The reserve is maintained by the UC Davis Arboretum and utilized for teaching and research. Be sure to stay on the north side of the creek as the south side is privately owned. Parking and access to the trails and levee are open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
Townsend’s Warbler, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Birding the Site: Parking in the Pedrick Rd lot is a great place to start birding as the oaks often hold warblers, tanagers, and orioles in the spring. Check out the fields behind the parking area for Western Bluebirds, Yellow-billed Magpies, and raptors. Head down any of the trails from the parking lot. Proceed west along the narrow dirt trails that meander and crisscross the area between the creek and levee. When you’re done head back to the parking area along the Levee, checking the fields on your left. eBird Sightings
Directions: Take Highway 113 north from Interstate 80 (about 14.5 miles west of Sacramento). Exit Interstate 80 at Pedrick Rd (17.5 miles west of Sacramento), go north for 2.6 miles and turn left into gravel lot after crossing Putah Creek. Walk under the bridge and continue downstream where many migrants and rarities have been found.
Additional information on the Putah Creek Riperian Reserve can be found at arboretum.ucdavis.edu/putah-creek. Here you’ll find maps, information on trailheads, and rules and regulations for visiting, and more.Slide Hill Park has produced numerous interesting finds, including Mountain Chickadee, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak. Take the Mace Boulevard exit from Interstate 80 (ten miles west of Sacramento). Head north on Mace Boulevard (which will become East Covell Boulevard) for 1.8 miles and turn left on Monarch Lane. Turn right on Temple Drive in 0.1 mile and park in the lot or along the street. The trees in the surrounding neighborhood can be just as productive as those in the park. eBird Sightings
North Davis Ponds is a small area of wetlands and trees that can be covered fairly quickly. There is a boardwalk that provides access to different views of the wetlands. When conditions are right, shorebirds can allow very close study. It is a good place to look for Short-billed Dowitchers among the common Long-billed Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs among the Greater Yellowlegs. A Ruff was once found here among the dowitchers. Take the Mace Boulevard exit from Interstate 80 (10 miles west of Sacramento). Head north on Mace Boulevard (which will become East Covell Boulevard), and in 3.5 miles, turn right on F Street. In 0.9 mile, turn left on Anderson Road and left into the parking lot. eBird Sightings
Long-billed Dowitcher, Image by Ray Rozema
North Davis Farms is another very productive site. It can be excellent in migration. Take the Mace Boulevard exit from Interstate 80 (ten miles west of Sacramento). Head north on Mace Boulevard (which will become East Covell Boulevard), and in 4.2 miles, turn right on Anderson Road. In 0.6 mile, turn left on Falcon Avenue, then turn right on Goshawk Street and left on Kestrel Place. Park and walk past the end of the street, and cross the channel on the foot bridge. There are a lot of good trees to check, but you shouldn’t miss those along the pond to your right. Also walk west along North Davis Farms Road to check the other pond. You can turn right on Northfield Court and walk to the end. Currently, birders check the trees on the north side of the vacant lot, but access there may change. eBird Sightings
Willowbank Ditch is another small park gem that often provides excellent birding, especially in migration. Take the Mace Boulevard exit from Interstate 80 (ten miles west of Sacramento). Turn left over the freeway, and head south for 1.0 mile on Mace Boulevard. Turn right onto Montgomery Avenue, then, in 0.2 mile, turn right on Rosario Street. Park near the end of Rosario Street, and walk the bridge that crosses the Putah Creek channel. A Pacific Wren is sometimes here in winter. The trail goes in both directions along the nice stand of trees, but is generally more productive to the west. eBird Sightings
Chris Conard
The sewage ponds, with numerous settling ponds and levees between them, are open to the public during weekday business hours. Birders are welcome to walk the roads around the ponds but must check in at the office and sign a “Contractor and Visitor Orientation Sheet.” Weekend access is available with advance arrangement.
This evolving wetland consists of 400 acres of ponds and upland habitat of varying depths and is a continuation of Davis’s storm water and wastewater treatment process. The Wetlands are only open to the public during limited times during the year. From February 15th through August 31st, the wetlands are open seven days/week from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. From September 1st through February 15th, the wetlands are open Mondays only from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This rookery is very active in spring with Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and occasionally Great Blue Herons nesting in a large stand of eucalyptus trees on private land.
The treatment ponds at this location have a fine history of attracting good shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl. The peak season for finding rare shorebirds is from July through September, depending on water levels. Good numbers of shorebirds and gulls can be found in the winter, and spring migration can be productive as well.
This area of beautiful rolling hills lies west of Interstate 5 north of Woodland, crosses I-505 (which runs from Vacaville to Dunnigan), and extends toward the Coast Range to the west. Dotted with cattle and sheep ranches as well as vineyards, field crops and hunting clubs, these hills serve as temporary home to many species of birds in the winter, particularly raptors.
The Blue Ridge area of Yolo County is a rugged mix of steep mountains, oak woodlands, patches of riparian, outstanding vistas, and a sea of chaparral. Early mornings in the spring are best, with opportunities for Common Poorwill and bobcats in the road in the predawn, as well as Mountain Quail, California Thrasher, Bell’s Sparrow, and Lawrence’s Goldfinch.
The Nimbus Dam creates a narrow reservoir below Folsom Lake on the American River. It backs up water for nearly six miles, starting just upstream from the Nimbus Hatchery and the Hazel Avenue bridge. Open water attracts many water birds and the surrounding oak woodlands add to the species diversity.
The multiple locations described in this section (Folsom Point, Mormon Island Wetlands, Morman Island Lake Access, Brown’s Ravine, Falcon Crest, Sweetwater Creek trail to Folsom Lake, and Sweetwater Trail) can be done as individual short excursions or as a full day of birding, progressing from one stop to the next.
Adjacent to Folsom Lake, Falcon Crest sits on a peninsula on the south side of Folsom Lake and consists of pine and oak woodlands, grasslands and extensive lake floodplains. Falcon Crest makes for a wonderful couple hours of birding. If you’d like to combine a trip to Falcon Crest with other stops along the east side of Folsom Lake be sure to check out the Folsom Point to Sweetwater Creek information.
Beals Point is probably the single best location for viewing large numbers of gulls and water birds on Folsom Lake. From 3pm until dusk thousands of gulls flying in to roost on the lake. As many as 14 Common Loons have been recorded just from this site.
Beeks Bight offers foothill woodland habitat dominated by interior live oak, gray pine, and blue oak. The spring season provides the greatest diversity. Dozens of migrating and resident hummingbirds can be found feeding on flowers. Granite rock outcroppings prevail throughout and offer excellent habitat for Rock Wrens and Rufous-crowned Sparrows.
An afternoon hike in this area on a clear day in the middle of January will reward the birdwatcher with sunshine, green foothill grasses, early blooming manzanita and coyote bush, and over 60 common species of birds. This is also the best time of year for sighting Bald Eagles and Osprey soaring along the lake’s shoreline.
