This year-round pond in West Sacramento near the eastern edge of the Yolo Causeway is one of the best places in California to see Blue-winged Teal each fall and winter. While year-round resident Black-necked Stilts and Avocets breed here in the spring.

This Global-Priority Level Important Bird Area (IBA) now contains more than 25,000 acres and is just minutes from downtown Sacramento. Both seasonal and permanent wetlands are present as well as riparian woodland and valley grassland, providing habitat for a large variety of birds.

These two sites just west of the Sacramento River make for an excellent morning of birding in the spring and fall.

The sewage ponds, 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”.

The Wetlands are divided into the larger Stormwater and Wastewater Lagoons and seven smaller tracts. When water levels are low in Wastewater Lagoon, check the exposed spits of land for American White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, White-faced Ibis, and gulls and terns, including occasional Bonaparte’s Gulls. Clark’s Grebes, Western Grebes, Eared Grebes, American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, diving ducks, including occasional Redheads, are also found in this lagoon.

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 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.