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.
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.
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.
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.
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.