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.
Egret Rookery, Image by Mary Forrestal
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.
Wilson’s Snipe, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
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.
Lazuli Bunting, Image by Mary Forrestal
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