San Joaquin and Solano Counties
This park just off of Interstate 80 in Vacaville contains nearly 500 acres. It provides excellent opportunities to find water birds and land birds. The reservoir is always worth checking, and it once produced a Long-tailed Jaeger. The trees can be very good for migrants, and a Northern Waterthrush was found here. Unfortunately, there is a lot of development pressure on private lands surrounding the park.
Horned Lark, Image by Craig Swolgaard
Birding the site: After entering the park, go for about 1,000 feet and check the oaks on the left at the picnic area. This is often excellent for migrants. All of the trees are worth checking in migration and winter, since there is usually a flock somewhere in the area. The park road wraps around the east side of the reservoir and heads south. Scan the reservoir from the ample parking areas off of the park road. Depending on the direction of the light, you may want to walk a portion of the trail on the west side of the reservoir. At the south end of the road, there is a small creek with willows. This has also been very productive for songbirds in the trees and shorebirds on the silt bars. The historic Peña Adobe is interesting, and Pileated Woodpeckers have been reported there, as well as excellent numbers of passerines during spring and fall migration along the creek. eBird Sightings
Directions: Take Interstate 80 for about 34 miles west of Interstate 5 in Sacramento. Exit at Peña Adobe. Turn right, over the freeway, at Cherry Glen Road, and into Lagoon Valley Regional Park.