North of Sacramento

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Brewer Road Area to the West of Lincoln

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 shorebirding can be very good. It has consistently produced Longspurs among the Horned Lark flocks. The Lincoln Christmas Bird Count, begun in 2002, is documenting the avian riches. Despite its value to wildlife, much of the area is under heavy development pressure.

Birding the site: A good place to start is on Brewer Road at the junction of Nicolaus Road. Look for Horned Lark flocks along Brewer Road in the first mile north from the junction. Knowing the Longspurs' calls is very helpful. Chestnut-collared, Lapland, and McCown's Longspurs have been found here (late fall through early spring). The first Ruff and Glossy Ibis for Placer County also were reported here. eBird Sightings

Heading north on Brewer Road from Nicolaus Road, it is 2.0 miles north to Wise Road, 2.6 miles to Hicks Road, 3.0 miles to Waltz Road, and 4.0 miles to Kempton Road. There is a nice riparian patch at Hicks Road. Wise and Waltz Roads both go east for 4.0 miles to the north/south running Dowd Road. Kempton Road makes its way east to Placer Road, which goes north to both Dalby and Riosa Roads; both of these lead to Dowd Road; all are worth checking for raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds, and Sparrows. Pleasant Grove Road, to the west, runs parallel to Brewer Road. It is worth checking, though the traffic is often heavy. eBird Sightings

Raptors, including Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk (variable year to year), Prairie Falcon, and Merlin are regularly recorded in winter. Short-eared Owl may be found at dusk - having been found in the winters 2019 - 2022 on Waltz Road (1.5 miles east of Brewer Road, west of the Placer/Sutter County line). Depending on water levels, check promising fields for shorebirds and waterfowl. Careful scrutiny of Tundra Swan flocks might produce Trumpeter Swan or Bewick's Swan. Also, check the Sparrow flocks. There can be astonishing numbers of Savannah Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow, and the occasional Vesper Sparrow. Tricolored Blackbird are usually among the Blackbird flocks in winter. eBird Sightings

Brewer Road is also productive south of Nicolaus Road (it ends in 10 miles at Base Line Road—heading west, it becomes Riego Road, and meets Highway 99/70). Depending on water levels, the area near the intersection with East Catlett Road (3.5 miles south of Nicolaus Road) can have thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds. Heading east on East Catlett can produce Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks, as well as Burrowing Owl. eBird Sightings Brewer Rd south of Nicolaus Rd (Lincoln Grassland); E Catlett Rd.

Bruce Webb suggests checking Moore Road where it crosses Auburn Ravine Creek (1.0 mile east of Dowd Road, or 5.0 miles east of Brewer Road). Moore Road is 2.0 miles south of Nicolaus Road. Least Flycatcher and Blackpoll Warbler have been found there. eBird Sightings

The Lincoln Wastewater Treatment Plant can be very good for waterfowl and shorebirds. It is on Fiddyment Road, just south of Moore Road (1.5 miles east of Dowd Road or 2.8 miles west of Joiner Parkway (see directions below). You need to stop by the office on Fiddyment Road and sign in before driving into the treatment plant. The staff has been very accommodating to birders. The plant is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays only. eBird Sightings

Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 5 for seven miles north of Highway 50. Take the Highway 99/Highway 70 exit (exit 525B) toward Marysville/Yuba City. After 10 miles, exit at Howsley Road (exit 316) and turn right. After 3.0 miles, turn left on Pleasant Grove Road. After 5.0 miles, turn right on Marcum Road. It becomes Nicolaus Road in 1.0  mile, and reaches Brewer Road in 0.9 mile (7.5 miles west of Lincoln).

You can also reach Lincoln by taking Highway 65 northwest from Interstate 80 (19 miles east of Interstate 5). It is about 10 miles to Lincoln. To reach Nicolaus Road, turn right on Nelson Lane 10.8 miles from Interstate 80. Turn left on Nicolaus Road in 0.8 miles. From there, it is 7.9 miles west to Brewer Road.

Chris Conard and Scott Hoppe

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, depending on your target birds for the day.

Birding the Sites: From downtown Sacramento, take I-80 East to Roseville. Exit at Hwy. 65 North, then take exit #311 at Sunset Boulevard. Go east on Sunset and left on University Avenue to William Jessup University. Park west of the buildings and scan the large year-round pond to the west. As this parking lot is some distance from the pond, a scope is helpful, although it is possible to get closer by walking down a gravel trail. In winter, this pond shows many wintering duck species such as American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal and Ruddy Duck, and wading birds such as Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet as well as Western Meadowlark and Sparrows. eBird Sightings

Return to Hwy 65 North and then take Exit #314, Lincoln Blvd and turn right to drive north towards the town of Lincoln. At the fourth stoplight, turn right into the Lincoln Hills Town Center and park at the south end to view the slough, which is south of the Center. Search for the heron/egret rookery nests in the large cottonwoods south of the slough. Walking the trail east along the slough to the bridge (Northfield Lane) might produce riparian species such as Rails, Marsh Wren, Song Sparrow and Green Heron.

Continue north through Lincoln, and from Gladding Road at the north outskirts of the town, drive 3.5 mi northwesterly to Chamberlain Road, a gravel road. Turn right and as you drive this 1.5-mile road, check the trees and fields for a variety of Sparrows, Woodpeckers, Blackbirds, and Meadowlarks. eBird Sightings. At the end of Chamberlain, turn left on Manzanita Cemetery Rd, drive a short distance, and park just before the bridge at Doty Creek (unlabeled). Check for riparian species along the creek and for California Quail, Killdeer and Wild Turkeys in surrounding fields. eBird Sightings.

After the bridge, bear right to stay on Manzanita Cemetery Road which bears northeast. After several 90-degree turns, drive east on the road until it deadends into Gladding. Turn right and drive south on Gladding, which makes a 90-degree turn left. Where Gladding makes a 90-degree turn right, instead go straight to drive east on Merritt Lane, checking for large flocks of Blackbirds, which often contain Tri-color. Turn left onto McCourtney Road and pull over before Big Ben Road, being careful of traffic. In April-May, check for winnowing Wilson’s Snipe flying over the fields and perched on fence posts and power poles.

Continuing north on McCourtney, before crossing the bridge over Raccoon Creek, pull over and look for Cliff Swallow in flight and tending nests under the bridge and smaller numbers of Rough-winged Swallow perched on the wires. Possibilities also include Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher and an occasional Yellow-breasted Chat.

Staying on McCourtney Road, you will reach the south entrance of Camp Far West Lake. At the south entrance (closed), park in front of the gate and check for an active Osprey nest.

Continue to a pull out at the intersection of Camp Far West Road and McCourtney Road. Park and scope the Lake for Western and Clark’s Grebes and other waterfowl. Check below both sides of the levee road for Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Rock Wren.

Continuing north, cross the big bridge, the lake’s dam, and at the “Y”, bear right and drive north and then east. Just beyond the north entrance to Camp Far West Lake, the road enters Yuba County and turns to gravel. From this north Lake access, drive 4.3 miles east, then north to a T-intersection. At the “T” turn left on Spenceville Road and you will reach the Waldo Bridge where it crosses Dry Creek. Park in the dirt on the left side of the road, prior to the bridge. This is a good place to have lunch, checking for Lewis’s Woodpecker, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat and other Warbler species. eBird Sightings.

Turn around and go south past the “T” on Spenceville Road to the large parking area at road’s end. This may be crowded with hikers taking the 5.3 mile loop trail to the Fairy Falls. Cross the bridge and look for Lawrence’s Goldfinches on the fiddlenecks and Lazuli Bunting, Rufous-crowned Sparrow and migrating songbirds. eBird Sightings

Backtrack on Spencerville Road to the “T” and turn left on Camp Far West Road to return to Camp Far West Lake. After crossing the bridge, turn right on Camp Far West Road to the town of Sheridan for a quicker return to Hwy. 65.

Directions: A good place to begin this tour is the Brookfield’s Restaurant at 1817 Taylor Road in Roseville. From Sacramento from I-80 East, take the Eureka Road off ramp (Exit 105A) and continue straight through the signal light at Eureka Road onto Taylor Road. Turn left just past the Shell Station into the large Park & Ride area and park on the right.

 Richard Barbieri

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. This site is sometimes confused with the eBird site, Ferrari Pond. Ferrari Pond is located in a private retirement community that discourages non-resident use. Ferrari Ranch Ponds are located in the Lincoln Crossing neighborhood and completely open to the public - part of the 32 miles of paved bike trails that run through Lincoln. The best time to bird Ferrari Ranch Ponds is late fall to early spring. Avoid it in the summers, when the ponds dry out and temperatures easily reach into the 100s.

Birding the Site: Start at Nathan Dubin Park. This park is often crowded with families but has good restrooms. Park along the street, past the soccer fields. Many birders simply walk a mile or so in either direction from the park, along the bike trail, and then backtrack to their cars. However, with a little knowledge of the neighborhood, you can easily turn this walk into a loop.

From the park, head north along the bike path. The fields behind the park and to the north are good for a variety of blackbirds, sparrows, and raptors. Be sure to check the neighborhood bird feeders and the vines along the fences as you walk. You’ll pass a small pond that often hosts egrets, wrens, and mallards.

Just ahead, Ferrari Ranch Road dead ends into a field. Cross the road and the path continues. Scan the trees for Red-tailed Hawk and keep your ears alert for California Quail. The ponds on the northern side of Ferrari Ranch Road host Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals in the early spring and were home for a breeding pair of Hooded Merganser in the summer of 2020. You may need to cross Sorrento Parkway to find these birds. 

If you’d like a shorter walk, turn right on Sorrento and cross Ferrari Ranch Road. Take the bike path that runs through the neighborhood to and across Caledon Circle. Cedar Waxwings and Western Bluebirds are often seen in the trees along this path. This bike path will lead you back to the path that runs behind the park. Turn right to head toward Nathan Dubin Park or left for a little more birding.

If you’re up for a longer walk, continue across Sorrento Pkwy, checking the water on your left. You can either double back to Sorrento or follow the path all the way to the freeway overpass. Northern-rough-winged Swallow and Cliff Swallow are seasonally observed at the overpass. Downy Woodpecker occasionally show up in the trees in the water, and various waterfowl swim among the grasses. Once you reach the overpass, you’ll double back slightly and cut through the neighborhood at the second road off the bike path, Flora Court. (The first road, Courtyards Loop, leads into a gated community.) Follow Flora until you reach Ferrari Ranch Rd, turn left and cross Ferrari Ranch at the crosswalk. This takes you to the corner of Caledon and Ferrari Ranch. Follow Caledon to Brentford Circle (the stop sign). Turn left, crossing Caledon Circle. You’ll meet up with the bike path again after about a ¼ of a mile. You can cross Brentford Circle and follow the bike trail back to Nathan Dubin Park or turn left and head down to another freeway overpass, where White-throated Swifts are often seen darting in and out of the weep holes and nesting swallows are found in season. Now head back the way you came, crossing Brentford Circle. You’ll pass several small ponds and waterways with heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule, Marsh Wren, Common Yellow-throat, and more blackbird, sparrow, and swallow. In spring, check for Cliff Swallow under Brentford Circle (you’ll cross it twice). In the winter, the field next to the school often has American Pipit and Meadowlark.

It is the random visitors that make regular birding of this location fun. For several weeks in 2020 a pair of Common Goldeneye and a pair of Bufflehead called one of the larger ponds home. Pelican occasionally visit the larger ponds. As you continue back to the park watch for Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered, Cooper’s, Swainson’s, and Red-tailed Hawks, and the occasional Bald Eagle soaring in the fields behind the ponds. In late winter of 2021, large flocks of Snow Geese and Great-white Fronted Geese were observed for several weeks. In the spring and summer, Great-tailed Grackle are reliably found in the pond closest to the park. eBird Sightings

Directions: From Sacramento take Interstate 80 west to Highway 65 north. It is about 10 miles to Lincoln. Take exit 315 for Ferrari Ranch Road, turning left. Take Ferrari Ranch Road until it dead ends and turn left on to Caledon Circle, then right on Fenwick Lane. Nathan Dubin Park will be in front of you. Park anywhere along the roads around the park. The bike path is behind the soccer fields and basketball court.

Mary Forrestal

Once, all of the rivers in the Central Valley were bordered for five miles or more on either side with rich riparian forest habitat. Now less than five percent of the original river forests remain. Bobelaine’s 430 acres on the west bank of the Feather River are a tiny remnant of that ecosystem. The sanctuary is listed by the State of California as a State Ecological Preserve and is part of the 3,000-plus acres that make up the Lower Feather River Important Bird Area, listed in Audubon California’s 2004 edition of Important Bird Areas of California, and is a prime example of Great Valley Mixed Riparian Forest. The sanctuary contains a variety of habitats, including riverbank willows, shrubby thickets, grasslands, and climax oak woodland. Owned and originally managed by National Audubon Society, Sacramento Audubon Society has managed the Sanctuary for many years.

Magnificent mature California sycamores and massive valley oaks are the predominant trees in the sanctuary. A 1992 fire destroyed 90% of the mature Fremont cottonwoods in the sanctuary. Three restoration projects have successfully replaced several hundred cottonwoods, some of which are now thirty to forty feet tall. In winter, coyote bush will be blooming; in summer the wild rose, moth mullein, evening primrose, and blackberries may be seen. In the fall, California wild grape will be ripe, and poison oak will show its brilliant fall colors. Watch out for poison oak, which flourishes year-round, but is more difficult to identify in winter after it has lost its leaves.

Bobelaine is open to the public to walk through during daylight hours. The sanctuary is not wheelchair accessible. No pets, bikes, fires, hunting, horseback riding or fishing are allowed. Please stay on the trails and help protect this beautiful habitat by observing the no smoking policy in the sanctuary, picnic areas and parking lot. A chemical toilet, picnic tables, and non-potable running water are available at the parking area. The sanctuary is about 2.5 miles long and about a half-mile wide (between the levee and the Feather River). There are about five miles of trails to explore, and there are usually trail maps in the mailbox at the parking area.

Birding the site: A walk through the sanctuary is a delight in any season. Over 195 species of birds have been recorded. Beaver, otter, and deer may be seen, and the ringtail population has been studied here. In summer, Swainson’s Hawks soar overhead, and the secretive Yellow-billed Cuckoo has been spotted during its short summer nesting season (though the last regular sightings were in the late 1980s). In May 2022, Bank Swallows were seen nesting on the banks of the Feather River. Great Horned Owl is common here. Wood Duck, Herons, Egrets, and Pied-billed Grebe, and even turtle, can be found year-round on Lake Crandall and the adjacent sloughs. Springtime brings a variety of Warblers and other migrants as well as nesting Western Bluebirds, Bullock’s Oriole, and Black-headed Grosbeak. In winter, Sparrows, Towhees, Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Northern Flickers are among the common birds. eBird Sightings

A short loop walk (2.2 miles round trip) will take you north on the levee past Lake Crandall, into the sanctuary at the main entrance past Wood Duck Slough, up the Center Trail to the River Overlook Trail to the Ken Poerner River Overlook. Here, you can sit on benches and observe the Feather River. Return to the Center Trail and head back to the parking lot.

Directions: Bobelaine is located east of Highway 99, south of Yuba City and about 30 miles north of Sacramento. Take Interstate 5 to the Highway 99/Highway 70 exit (exit 525B) toward Marysville/Yuba City. At 99/70 split, take Highway 99 to the second paved road on the right after crossing the Feather River. This is Laurel Avenue. Turn right and drive until it dead-ends into the Bobelaine parking lot. The last 800 feet of Laurel Avenue is a private dirt road that Bobelaine shares with neighbors. Please drive slowly.

Notice: Where the pavement now ends is a heavy duty tread plate. This is on private property (not Audubon property). Please, do not go around the plate.

Visitors Be Aware: The gate on the private road can be temporarily closed (without notice) due to agricultural operations. It is usually reopened within a short time period. Area farmers try to provide advanced notice of gate closing. Advanced closing notices will be posted on the Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary page.

Bill Clark

Sand Creek Road

The area traversed by Sand Creek Road is a classic California landscape in remote Colusa County. You’ll pass through a mix of habitats, including a broad open valley, oak woodlands, and chaparral. After 11 miles, you’ll come to an overlook with a wonderful panorama of the Central Valley, the Sutter Buttes, the Capay Valley, the Coast Range, and, on a clear day, the Sierra Nevada.

This is the best site locally for Greater Roadrunners and among the best for Lawrence’s Goldfinches. California Thrashers and Bell’s Sparrows are commonly heard and often seen in spring, and Black-chinned Sparrows are possible. Mountain Quail call in the spring. Night drives have produced Western Screech-Owls (common), Common Poorwills, bobcats, and gray foxes.

Spring is best, but fall has also been very productive. Winter visits are possible except after heavy rains, though there is the option of walking part of the route from the Yolo County side. Summer can be very hot, but has produced Greater Roadrunners and Lawrence’s Goldfinches.

Birding the site: For the first few miles on Sand Creek Road, the country is quite open. Lesser Nighthawks have been seen in the early mornings near the beginning of the road. Yellow-billed Magpies are often plentiful, as are Common Ravens and Lark Sparrows. Golden Eagles are also regularly found.

At 3.6 miles, the road turns to gravel for a short stretch. The pavement picks up again, then disappears completely. The half-mile stretch after the first break in the pavement is prime Greater Roadrunner country. In recent years they have been seen on at least half of the visits reported— often right along the road. There have been additional reports from several locations in the next six miles until the road begins climbing through dense chaparral. In areas of oak savanna and open woodlands, Lewis’s Woodpeckers have been found from fall through spring. Rock Wrens are also common near the rocky creek bed where the roadrunners are often seen.

The road crosses small creeks in a few places. These shouldn’t pose a problem except shortly after a heavy rain. There is a “Y” in the road at 6.5 miles, where the main road goes left. There is another “Y” at 10.3 miles, and the main road goes right. Both of these side roads can be explored, though they end at gates after a short distance.

In summer and fall, the remnant water in the creek beds can attract Lawrence’s Goldfinches and other species to drink and bathe (learning the Lawrence’s high “tee-too” flight call helps with detection). The best site has been at mile 9.9, where the road crosses a small creek. Many other species have been seen here, including thrashers, Bell’s Sparrows, and Purple Finches—often in the middle of the road.

After passing the “Y” at mile 10.3, the road climbs through dense chaparral. This and any areas of chamise and other chaparral should be checked for California Thrashers and Bell’s Sparrows. Knowing their songs is very helpful, though they are both often seen in spring. Mountain Quail can often be heard and occasionally seen in this area.

At mile 11, where the road tops out, there is a short road on the left to a convenient parking area. From here you will have outstanding views in all directions. If your primary targets are the chaparral species, you will want to arrive here early in the morning. This area is your best bet for Black-chinned Sparrow. eBird Sightings mid-route, upper end of route

Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 5 (47 miles north of Highway 50) to the Arbuckle/College City exit (exit 566). Turn left on Hillgate Road and go 4.8 miles to a 90 degree bend to the right. Go north from the bend for 0.4 mile to Sand Creek Road and turn left (the sign may be missing). Pavement ends after 3.6 miles, and it becomes a good quality gravel road, suitable for a passenger car as far as the Yolo County line (11 miles) unless there have been recent heavy rains.

A visit to Bear Valley can produce a bird list similar to that of Sand Creek Road. One big difference here, however, is the year-round water in Bear Creek. Late winter and spring can produce wonderful wildflower displays, and Walker Ridge to the west has unique serpentine-adapted flora. In summer you may see North America’s largest dragonfly along Bear Creek—the giant darner.

Birding the site: From Highway 20, the first 6.5 miles wind along Bear Creek through oak woodland on a good quality gravel road. Keep an eye out for Greater Roadrunners. For the next 8 miles, the road opens into Bear Valley proper, and the avifauna changes from woodland to grassland species. At 14.2 miles from Highway 20, turn left on Brim Road. For 2.9 miles you will climb through oak woodland and chaparral. You will top out on Walker Ridge, a site known for its serpentine soils and endemic plants. McNab cypress and leather oaks are conspicuous. The bird list is similar to typical chaparral habitats. After exploring the ridge, you can go straight ahead for another 3.5 miles to Indian Valley Reservoir.

eBird Sightings (1 of 6 hotspots for the route)

Returning to Bear Valley Road, you can backtrack to Highway 20 or go north on Bear Valley Road until it becomes Leesville Road. From Brim Road, it is 15 miles back to Highway 20 via Leesville Road. The route is paved, but slow and winding in places. It is scenic, with a mix of woodland and more open habitat. Once you reach Highway 20, it is 9 miles to Interstate 5.

Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 5 north (59 miles from Highway 50) to Williams. Exit at Highway 20 (exit 578) and head west  for 18.5 miles. Turn right on Bear Valley Road (0.1 mile past Highway 16). Alternately, for a more scenic route through the Capay Valley and Cache Creek Canyon, take Interstate 5 north from Sacramento for 21 miles, through Woodland, to the Esparto/Highway 16 exit (exit 541). Go west for 2.9 miles and make a right toward Esparto and the Capay Valley on Highway 16. Follow Highway 16 for 47 miles to Highway 20. Turn left and then make a right after 0.1 mile on Bear Valley Road.

Chris Conard and Kimya Lambert

Approximately 1 hour north of Sacramento, the Colusa NWR is a great location to view large waterfowl concentrations, especially during December and January. Expect to find Tundra Swans, Snow, Ross’s and Greater White-fronted Geese, along with Gadwall, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck. Rarer but still frequently seen visitors include Eurasian Wigeon and Blue-winged Teal. Shorebirds such as Black-necked Stilts and Greater Yellowlegs and raptors such as Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagles are generally found.

Just past the parking area and accessible restrooms is a large, low  Observation Deck which, due to its proximity to the edge of the water, provides access to waterfowl which are surprisingly close. This is a hotspot for birders and photographers alike.

Consider an easy one-mile walk on a level trail through riparian habitat next to the main viewing pond. Finish your outing to this wonderful NWR by driving the three-mile auto tour. A blind is available towards the end of the route for better viewing and photographic opportunities. More information about Colusa National Wildlife Refuge can be found at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website.

eBird Sightings Colusa NWR, Auto Tour, Walking Trail

Directions: From Sacramento head north on I-5. Take exit #578 at Hwy 20 at Williams and drive 6.7 miles east. Turn right onto O Hair Road and continue to the parking/visitor area and beginning of the Auto Tour Route. The address is 2180 State Hwy 20, Colusa, CA 95932. Entrance passes are not currently required for admission into the Visitor Use Areas of Colusa NWR.

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

This is an Accessible Birding Location. To learn more about the accessibility of this location visit our Accessible Birding page.

Gray Lodge consists of 8,400 acres of intensively developed waterfowl marshland near Live Oak, north of the Sutter Buttes. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded for the area, and 60 species are known to nest there. A 2.5 mile route is open to car travel.  There are three parking areas along the route, and many foot trails are marked for your walking pleasure. There is also a small museum near the headquarters. Permission is required to enter certain closed areas. The best time for observing waterfowl at Gray Lodge is during the hunting season, which concentrates birds in the closed zones. This generally occurs from mid-October to mid-January. The main goose flights do not arrive until early November.  

Birding the site: In winter, you will often see the sky 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. Look for the rare blue morph of the Snow Goose. The climax vegetation of tule-cattails holds many Marsh Wrens and you may spot one of the secretive rails: Virginia Rail or Sora. There are huge concentrations of ducks including Northern Pintail, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, and Gadwall. A rare but regular visitor is the Eurasian Wigeon. Most of these birds fly north for nesting, but many others remain. Common nesting birds include White-tailed Kite, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Killdeer.

A full day can include covering the area around the Sutter Buttes just south and west of Gray Lodge (West Butte Road), as it contains excellent raptors such as Ferruginous Hawk and Prairie Falcon, along with the more common species. In spring, nesting Lesser Nighthawks are present in the Buttes Sink area. Flocks of Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans are more likely here than in the refuge in winter. Uncommon to rare birds such as Vesper Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, Sage Thrasher, and Lark Bunting have been found. For maximum enjoyment, a spotting scope is a must. You may wish to bring a camera to record highlights. A picnic lunch is recommended. During the winter, dress for cold, wet, and foggy weather. eBird Sightings

Directions: From Sacramento, take Interstate 5 for 7 miles north of Highway 50. Take the Highway 99/Highway 70 exit (exit 525B) toward Marysville/Yuba City. After 12.5 miles, at the 99/70 split, take Highway 99 toward Yuba City—do not take Highway 70. Stay on Highway 99 for another 32 miles, heading through Yuba City to Like Oak. At Live Oak, turn left on Pennington Road. Pennington Road will make several turns and bends trending north/northwest after 5.9 miles, where it becomes Powell Road for 0.5 mile, then bears left to become North Butte Road for 1.8 miles. After about eight miles from Highway 99, turn right on Almond Orchard Avenue. From here, it is 1.7 miles to Rutherford Road. Turn left (west) on Rutherford Road into the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. There is currently a fee to visit Gray Lodge. If paid prior to your visit on-line at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website, the fee is $4.89 per person. If paid at the entrance or the registration box in parking lot 14, the fee is $4.50 per person.

Ed Greaves

The Sutter Buttes: For an opportunity to visit the Central Valley’s only mountain range, contact Middle Mountain Interpretive Hikes.

Banner Photo Credit: Ross’s Goose by Daniel Lee Brown