This 355-acre regional park has many options for recreation including great birding. In addition to an equestrian center, there are large expanses of mowed grass and several playground areas. Fishing is permitted in the lake which supports gulls, cormorants and assorted ducks and geese. With luck, a Green Heron may be hunting near the reeds.
Northern House Wren, Image by Chris Conard
Birding the Site: The best birding is along Dry Creek. From the entrance gate, drive 1.5 miles to where the road dead ends in a large parking lot. Heading south on the trail, you will find a dense riparian corridor of huge old oaks, sycamores, and a variety of stream-side bushes, especially poison oak! Checking the open fields to the west may yield Western Bluebirds, Killdeers, Wild Turkeys, American Pipits and Meadowlarks. Dry Creek runs year-round and may produce herons, egrets and with certainty, Mallards.
This trail is at its best during spring and fall migration with large numbers of sparrows, warblers and kinglets in the canopy and on the ground. In appropriate seasons, Northern Flickers, Acorn, Downy, and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are present along with an occasional Red-breasted Sapsucker and more common residents. eBird Sightings
Directions: From downtown Sacramento, head easterly on either I-80 or Bus. 80, noting Watt Ave where these freeways converge. From here, continue 3 miles northeast to the Greenback Ln/Elkhorn Blvd Exit. Turn left (west) on Elkhorn and drive west for about 3 miles to Watt Ave. Turn right on Watt and drive north about 2 miles to Elverta Rd. Turn left and drive west 0.7 miles to the Park entrance on your right. There is a $7 parking fee, or your Sac County Park Pass works here.