Reichmuth Park, formerly an oxbow lake, is now playing fields and a swampy, wooded nature area. The low-lying soccer fields revert to a lake in rainy winters, attracting California, Ring-billed and Short-billed Gulls. When dry, they attract American Crow, Blackbirds, American Pipit and American Robin. In recent years, the City of Sacramento approved an agreement with a Frisbee golf club to open the park to this activity. Large areas of previously dense habitat have been removed opening up the trails to allow for Frisbee golf. Consider visiting during the week as weekends can be very busy.
Purple Finch, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Birding the site: The nature area, for its size, is one of the great magnets for migrating landbirds in the Sacramento area. Sixteen warbler species have been recorded here, including all of the West Coast species plus Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, and Canada Warbler. Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, and Willow Flycatcher are common migrants and Olive-sided, Hammond’s, and Dusky flycatchers are also regular migrants. Hutton’s and Cassin’s vireos migrate through and occasionally overwinter. Hooded Oriole nesting in the fan palms in nearby yards bring their families to the park in August and September. Swainson’s Thrush skulk through the thickets in May. Lazuli Bunting feed in the tall grasses in August and September. Hummingbirds are ever present: Anna’s year-round; Black-chinned in spring and summer. Watch for their nests low in the blackberries. Rufous/Allen’s types migrate from July through September. Winter visitors include Wood Duck, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks, thrushes, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned Warbler, many sparrows, and Purple Finch. Resident birds are: Red-shouldered Hawk, Downy and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Bewick’s and Northern House Wrens, Northern Mockingbird, Spotted Towhee, and House Finch. Careful scrutiny of the park’s birdlife at almost any season is bound to reveal something interesting. Close to this location, from March through the summer, Northern Rough-winged Swallow nest in drain holes where Riverside Boulevard, Seamas, 35th and 43rd Avenues pass under Interstate 5. eBird Sightings
Directions: Head south on Interstate 5 for 3.7 miles from Highway 50 and take the 43rd Avenue exit. Turn left and drive east for 0.2 mi on 43rd Ave, then make a right on Gloria Drive and drive south for 0.2 mi, turning left into the second driveway for the parking lot for Joseph Reichmuth Park. Note: there is no 43rd Avenue exit from northbound Interstate 5—if coming from the south, exit Interstate 5 at Florin Road; head west and turn right on Greenhaven Drive, and then turn right on Gloria Drive). The nature trail begins east of the Sump 55 building to the south of the parking lot.
Reichmuth Park is the second stop in the Sacramento Urban Birding Tour. This tour begins in William Land Park and continues south, including Reichmuth Park, Greenhaven Lake, Garcia Bend Park and Marriott Park, and Chorley Park. Find directions from park to park and read the complete tour guide here.
Tim Manolis