Veteran birder and Sacramento Audubon Field Trip Leader, Darrell Mohr, offers the following suggestion for great local places to bird this October. Want even more ideas on where to bird this fall? Check out last year’s October and November recommendations.
Sailor Bar
This is always a productive site, located on the north side of the American River. Look for migratory ducks on the river. Walk inland along the path above the river and look for the Rufus Crowned Sparrow. As you walk along the riverbank, check the shrubbery for migratory warblers. The trail splits as you walk down the river, go right and look for Goldfinches in the berry bushes. Phainopepla may be perched at the top of a tree.
Directions: To get to the park from Hazel, go west on Winding Way to Illinois, go left into the park. Pay your fee, park your car and bird.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Image by Chris Conard
Mather Lake
This is a lake with upland habitat located in the Eastern part of Sacramento County. There is a picnic area as well as restrooms. A walk around the lake will be productive. Start birding in the parking lot where you will see grackles and blackbirds. Go left from the parking lot and follow the trail along the edge of the lake. Watch for Green Herons and American Bitterns hiding in the Tules. When you get to the end of the trail, turn around and walk around the other side of the lake. Look for Swans, Cormorants, Green Herons, Great Blue Herons and Yellow-headed Blackbirds. There is plenty of parking. Take Highway 50 to Sunrise South to Douglas Road go right to Zinfandel go left to the entrance. pay the fee and park. Then go birding.
American Bittern, Image by Daniel Brown
River Bend
River Bend Park is located on the south side of the American River. The habitat is a mix of trees and shrubs. This is a good site to find Acorn, Nuttall’s and Downy Woodpeckers as well as a possible Red-breasted Sapsucker. There are many paths to follow including along the American River. Watch for Great Horned Owls and Cooper's Hawk. White-breasted Nuthatches will be in the trees. Check the river for Yellowlegs and Killdeer. From Sacramento take Folsom Blvd to Rod Beaudry Drive, turn left and go into the park. Pay the fee, then park and bird.
Downy Woodpecker, Image by Chris Conard
Cosumnes River Preserve
Ponds and upland present a varied habitat. Plenty of walking at this site. If the ponds are full of water, there will be a variety of duck species. Follow the boardwalk out into the center of the ponds where there is an area to sit and watch the birds come and go. After the ponds take the walk through the wooded area and look for warblers. Watch for Song Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrows and Fox Sparrows. Check the bushes for Wrentits. To get there, take I-5 South to Twin Cities Road. Turn left. Go to Franklin Blvd. Go right, Drive to the Visitor Center. Parking is on the left.
Wrentit, Image by Mary Forrestal