This seldom visited portion of Sacramento County, including Sherman Island and Brannan Island, has a lot of potential. There can be thousands of waterfowl, and many raptors, shorebirds, sparrows, and blackbirds (including Yellow-headed and Tricolored). Surprise finds have included Brant, Tufted Duck, Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter, Ruff, Brown Pelican, Tropical and Cassin's kingbirds, and Common Grackle. Large rafts of ducks on the Sacramento and, especially, the San Joaquin rivers often include good numbers of Greater Scaup (rare farther inland) and near annual reports of Surf Scoters. Fair numbers of Swainson's Hawks spend the winter here. The area is typically most productive (and visited) in winter, but has potential year-round. As one would expect from an area popular with wind surfers, it is often very windy, which can impede birding. Other Delta “islands” are also worth exploring.
Birding the site: A good place to check on the way to Sherman Island is Korth’s Marina (aka Pirates Lair Marina) on Brannan Island Road. After crossing the Mokelumne River on Highway 12, 10 miles from Interstate 5, turn right on Brannan Island Road (watch for “Delta Loop” signs). Follow the road south under the highway for 2.9 miles. Park (there is free, short-term parking at Riverboat Marina/Delta Boat Works, but beware of paid-only parking near the boat launches) and check the trees. You can walk past mobile homes to an area overlooking a pond and continue out to a view of the San Joaquin River, returning to your car along the main road. Hooded Orioles may be around the palm trees in spring and summer. This place has all the makings of a vagrant trap. There is often an active heron rookery starting in late winter. eBird Sightings.
Western Meadowlark, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Continue on the Delta Loop toward Highway 160. Parking is limited but check the San Joaquin River where you can. An Emperor Goose was found in the ag fields among the enormous goose flocks in 2016 near the intersection with Jackson Slough Road, and a Wood Stork (!) was found there in October 1990. Stay left, making a jog onto West Twitchell Island Road, and you'll reach Highway 160 just north of Brannan Island State Recreation Area.
If you skip the Delta Loop, Highway 160 is 15 miles west of Interstate 5 via Highway 12. Turn left. Brannan Island State Recreation Area ($10--they don't accept the State Parks annual pass because it is run by a concession; restrooms.) is 3.4 miles south on Highway 160. There is a good mix of trees, water, and open areas. A Tropical Kingbird was found here in February 2017 and Allen's Hummingbirds may breed occasionally here or on the adjacent Sherman Island; they've been found near eucalyptus trees. eBird Sighting
Allen’s Hummingbird, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Continuing south on Highway 160, and crossing a drawbridge, it is 6.5 miles south of Highway 12 (and 3.1 miles south of the entrance to the Brannan Island State Recreation Area) to West Sherman Island Road. Turn right, and in 3.5 miles you will reach the Sherman Island County Park ($7 or the Sacramento County Parks annual pass; pit toilets). Along the way and at the park, there are good views of the Sacramento River. Sherman Island is the only portion of Sacramento County where Western Gulls are regular, as are Mew and Bonaparte's gulls. Burrowing Owls have been seen in the fields, especially where the road drops off the levee. At the park, there are patches of riparian scrub, accessed by mowed paths, that once hosted Yellow-breasted Chats, but they have been mostly absent in recent years (campers feed dozens of feral cats and racoons). The cattails and tules host rails and gallinules, and you can get another view into the marsh by taking the road just outside the entrance of the county park south toward a private marina where you can turn around. eBird Sightings
Backtracking to Highway 160, turn right (south) on 160, and then turn left on Sherman Island Cross Road, which is 1.5 miles south of West Sherman Island Road. Don't miss this turn because there isn't another safe place to turn around before reaching the Antioch Bridge (requiring a toll to cross). Follow Sherman Island Cross Road, scanning fields, fence lines, and trees along the way. The fields often host Black-bellied Plovers and Long-billed Curlews. Short-eared Owls may be seen here and along the levee roads at dusk. There is very little parking, so you'll mostly need to stay in or near your vehicle. The road will climb onto the levee, becoming Sherman Island East Levee Rd, and will make a 10-mile loop back to Highway 160 near the drawbridge. There are expansive views of the broad San Joaquin River, though few legitimate places to park, and landowners in the area have been known to confront birders who stop and get out of their cars (no parking signs abound). It's best to do most scanning from your vehicle. There is parking at Eddo's RV Park and marina. Check the trees for migrants or wintering birds as well as the marsh vegetation for rails, etc. From Eddo's, you can walk up or down the little traveled levee road. A Tropical Kingbird frequented a stretch of the East Levee Rd farther upstream during the winter of 2019-20. eBird Sightings
Directions: From Sacramento, head south on Interstate 5 for 32 miles to Highway 12. To reach Sherman Island, head west on Highway 12. Highways 12 and 160 are very busy, but most of the other roads described have modest to little traffic.
Chris Conard