Steve Hampton's on-line guide to
birding in
Yolo County, CA
because all birds are more beautiful when seen in Yolo County
There's not much original habitat left around here-- all ag fields, channelized rivers, and a whole lot of non-native vegetation. Four of the historically prominant riparian breeders (Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Willow Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Yellow Warbler) are extirpated or only pass through as migrants. And finding rarities can be like getting water from rock. But there are --and deservedly so-- quite a few habitat restoration projects, some very large, that provide great birding opportunities.
Local specialties? Yeah, we got a few: lots of Swainson's Hawks in summer, plenty of Yellow-billed Magpies, Tricolored Blackbirds and Ross' Geese if you do some searching, good spots for Common Poorwill, coastal Sage Sparrow, and Lesser Nighthawks, and some of the best shorebirding in North America when water levels are right.
I hope this page can answer some your questions.
A mandatory Yolo County birding resource is the Checklist of Birds in Yolo County. The newly revised 2004 edition is now available at The Naturalist on 2nd Street in Davis and at Yolo Audubon Society meetings. It has every species' status by month with bar graphs, as well as some information on places to go birding in Yolo County.
the numbers correspond to the map
click on some locations for photos of the place
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BY LOCATION
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BY SPECIES
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1. MOUNTAIN PLOVER SPOT
barren fields in winter.
fields around Rds 102 and 16.
see Mountain Plover under the species list to the right; Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks may also be found here.
2. MAGGOT PONDS
Note: The Maggot Ponds have been decommissioned and
no longer offer good bird habitat.
2-4 sewage-type settling ponds.
w at the yellow gates one lot north of Kentucky
from Rd 102, park on Rd 102 and walk in if the
gate is locked, ponds south of the road.
excellent for shorebirds depending on water
levels; good for rarities.
best birds: Sabine's Gull; Semipalmated Sandpiper
OLD WOODLAND SEWAGE PONDS
marshy ponds and mud flats amidst dirt mounds.
w of Rd 102 between Kentucky and Beamer; access
difficult, may be viewed from Kentucky good for Cinnamon Teal and large waders, shorebirds, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
best birds: Blue-winged Teal; Solitary Sandpiper
3. SPRECKEL'S-AUDUBON "WOODLAND" SUGAR PONDS
Note: The Sugar Ponds have been decommissioned and
no longer offer good bird habitat.
one large lake/mudflat and one filled with tules
and some open water and mudbars.
the Cache Creek Settling Basin may be viewed by looking over the levee.
e on Kentucky from Rd 102, park on Rd 102 and
walk in if the gate is locked, ponds north of the
dirt road.
excellent for shorebirds, waterfowl, and marsh
birds (though dependent on water levels).
best birds: Gargeney; Wood Stork; Sharp-tailed Sandpiper; Ruff; Least Bittern; Rusty Blackbird; Red-necked Grebe; Red Phalarope
4. CACHE CREEK SETTLING BASIN
riparian areas, with a large lake, mudflats, or ag fields, depending on water levels.
this is the area inside the high levees, east of
the Sugar Ponds, north of Main St (hwy 16 east of
Woodland), and west of the Trestle Ponds; access
is from over the levee at the Sugar Ponds (Kentucky) or
from the north off Rd 17. Some of it is privately farmed in summer.
good for ducks in winter, occasionally for shorebirds, and Blue Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings in summer.
best birds: Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
nesting Spotted Sandpipers, possible nesting Yellow-breasted Chat
5. TRESTLE PONDS
marshy ponds and fields, sometimes flooded or mudflats.
n. of the train tracks and Main St (hwy 16) between
Woodland and the Sac River in the Yolo Bypass; best
access is near the easternmost pond where a yellow
gate is visible through the trestles, about 200 yards
west of the east levee of the bypass (but may be flooded).
good for shorebirds and waterfowl, depending on
water levels; many rarities reported.
best bird: Curlew Sandpiper
6. JAIL POND
small manmade lake/mudflats.
w side of Rd 102, south of Gibson, bird from Rd 102.
can be good for shorebirds at low water levels.
best bird: Baird's Sandpiper
7. WOODLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
large manmade lakes/mudflats with levees.
e on Gibson from Rd 102, park in "birder parking
area" and sign in at near gate; access only M-F
7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Closed on holidays.
excellent birding spot at most times of the
year; many rarities recorded here.
best birds: Franklin's Gull; Snowy Plover, Ruddy Turnstone;
Sanderling; both golden plovers at the same time
8. MODEL AIRPLANE PARK
barren park with a lake/mudflats.
e side of Rd 102, between Davis and Woodland.
can be good for shorebirds at low water levels.
9. HUNT WESSON-YOLO AUDUBON HAWK AND OWL RESERVE
Note: Hunt-Wesson has closed its plant in Davis and these fields are no longer irrigated.
weedy fields.
nw of Rds 28H and 104, ne of Davis; bird from Rd
104.
good place for Short-Eared Owls after dusk,
especially in winter. Lots of raptors always.
HERON AND EGRET ROOKERY
row of eucalyptus trees.
in tall trees along Rd 103, north of Rd 28H.
over 1,000 nests; all three white egrets nest here.
10. YOLO COUNTY LANDFILL
garbage dump with adjacent marshy fields.
no birder access allowed except at Christmas Bird Count; bird from sewage ponds
or other edges
heaven for gull aficionados, as thousands winter here.
best birds: Western Gull and Glaucous Gull are annual
11. DAVIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT (formerly known as Sewage Ponds)
large and small manmade lakes with levees.
at Rds 105 and 28H, ne of Davis; bird from road
or sign-in at office and walk around when it's open
on weekdays.
popular birding place in winter; many rarities.
best birds: Surf Scoter; Common Tern; Sabine's Gull; Franklin's Gull; Western Gull; Ruddy Turnstone
12. CATFISH PONDS
manmade lakes with barren terrain.
on south side of Rd 29 (not 29H) across from the Hawk and Owl Refuge; constructed as catfish ponds-- but used for waterskiing; access may be restricted in future, but road viewing is possible.
can have shorebirds or diving ducks, depending on water levels; nesting Yellow-headed Blackbirds in summer.
best bird: Red-necked Grebe
13. DAVIS WETLANDS
extensive restored wetlands with nine ponds, many with islands, opened to the public in June 2000, some ponds are deliberately managed for shorebirds from July-October and may attract thousands of birds each day during this period.
open daily 7am-1pm Feb 16-Aug 31; Mondays only Sept 1-Feb 15; accessed at east end of Rd 29H, just past the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant.
one of the premier birding site in the county
best birds: Blue-winged Teal (regular and has nested); Long-tailed Jaeger; Least Tern; Little Gull; Franklin's Gull; Western Gull; Common Tern; Snowy Plover; both Golden-Plovers; Ruff; Ruddy Turnstone; Stilt Sanpiper; Buff-breasted Sandpiper; Semipalmated Sandpiper (regular); Northern Shrike; plus nesting Horned Larks and Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
14. YOLO BYPASS WILDLIFE AREA- Causeway Unit (formerly "CalTrans area")
weedy fields, some tree lines, ponds and mudflats
after rains, canals with trees. New riparian areas planted in 1998.
between I-80 and the railroad tracks, inside the
Yolo Bypass; park at the end of East Chiles Rd,
walk up and over the levee, down the dirt road
parallel to the freeway between the freeway and
the railroad tracks (mountain bike is good); also
accessible from Parking Lot A of YBWA. Foot and bike traffic
only.
many buntings and Blue Grosbeaks; shorebirds, terns,
gulls, and waterfowl possible when water is there.
best birds: Grasshopper Sparrow; Semipalmated Sandpiper; Greater Scaup
15. YOLO BYPASS WILDLIFE AREA (also called Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area)
fields, mudflats, or flooded fields, depending
on water levels.
vehicle access is from levee near freeway; auto tour loop is well-marked; further access in non-hunting season
thousands of ducks, diving ducks, shorebirds,
waders, depending on water levels; managed for shorebird habitat primarily spring and late fall; marsh birds.
best birds: Tufted Duck; Ruff; nesting Snowy Plover; nesting Wilson's Phalarope; Semipalmated Sandpiper; nesting Savannah Sparrow; Chestnut-collared Longspur; Swamp Sparrow; Sage Thrasher
16. GRASSLANDS REGIONAL PARK (ARCHERY RANGE/HORSESHOE PITS)
wooded park in middle of fields
at Mace and Tremont s. of Davis
excellent for songbirds in migration, especially flycatchers; Burrowing Owls near radio towers.
best birds: Common Poorwill in migration; Tennessee Warbler; Grasshopper Sparrow; Townsend's Solataire
SOUTH YOLO BYPASS (ROAD 155)
marshy and flooded fields.
east of Mace (Rd 104) and n. of Rd 105, also along Rd 107;
may be flooded in winter.
excellent for ducks, geese, swans in winter (especially when the Yolo Bypass has flooded.
best bird: Greater Scaup; Mountain Plover
ELKHORN REGIONAL PARK
riparian cottonwoods and willows.
along Old River Rd. just south of I-5; also try
along the railroad tracks (not in use) north and
south and along the Rd 124 slough heading west.
good for migrant songbirds; some rarities recorded.
SACRAMENTO BYPASS
weedy fields, long canal bed with old willows and
tall old growth cottonwood canopy, canal with tules
and scattered trees.
between I-5 and I-80, between Sacramento River and
Yolo Bypass; from the River Road, go west on Rd 126, park where the road drops off the levee and walk south over the levee or along it.
this place has potential; Long-eared Owls may be
here in winter.
PORT OF SACRAMENTO
large open water turning basin in the Deep Water Channel for ships
access is south on Harbor from I-80, left on Industrial, over the bridge, then right up onto the dirt levee top.
can have Western and Clarke's Grebes; heron rookery on the west side
17. WOOD DUCK PONDS (BEE LAKES)
ponds, riparian canopy, mixed woods.
on west side of S.River Rd just s. of Linden in W. Sac.
very popular birding spot for migrant songbirds;
earning a reputation as a vagrant trap.
best birds: Blackpoll Warbler; Northern Parula; Indigo Bunting, Summer Tanager
BABEL SLOUGH
riparian strip along slough.
s. on S. River Road to Babel Slough Rd.
another good spot for migrant songbirds
best birds: Blackpoll Warbler; Chestnut-sided Warbler
18. NORTH POND IN DAVIS
urban wildlife pond.
north of El Grande and west of F Street in N. Davis.
some waterfowl and shorebirds; Common Moorhen. best birds: Solitary Sandpiper; Ruff; Blue-winged Teal
19. UC DAVIS ARBORETUM
manmade oxbow lake with concrete sides, wide
variety of trees.
runs e-w through the s end of campus, visible from the
"Davis Loop" road.
nesting Green Herons, occasionally migrants.
best birds: Northern Waterthrush, Bohemian Waxwing
SOLANO PARK GARDEN
community garden plots and sunflowers.
on campus s of Parking Lot 5 (and near the University
Club), which is at the s end of A St, s of 1st St.
excellent in fall migration for songbirds, especially warblers; some rarities recorded here; don't bother going in spring and early summer.
best birds: Bobolink, Palm Warbler, Brewer's Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow
SLIDE HILL PARK
large residential park with lots of trees.
east of Tulip in E. Davis.
good for migrants and winter rarities.
best birds: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Clarke's Nutcracker; Gray Flycatcher
WILLOWBANK DITCH
small riparian area behind Putah Creek Park in
South Davis at the end of Willowbank Rd.
good for migrant songbirds, especially in the live oaks.
20. WEST POND IN DAVIS
urban wildlife pond.
between Arlington, Lake, Covell, and Shasta in W.
Davis; bird from the bike path that begins near the
corner of Arlington and Shasta.
some waterfowl, marsh birds, and shorebirds. Hooded Merganser in winter.best birds: all three phoebes at once!; Ash-throated Flycatcher in winter; Greater Scaup
21. UC DAVIS LANDFILL
garbage dump
birder access allowed during business hours;
check in with office first for instructions about where
to go.
gulls in winter, though in smaller numbers than the county landfill.
best bird: Glaucous Gull
PUTAH CREEK/WINTERS BRIDGE
river and riparian strip thick with willows and oaks.
park near the bridge of Railroad St at the s end of
downtown Winters, descend to the river bed, best
birding is upstream.
good spot for migrant songbirds and summer
riparian species.
22. VESPER SPARROW CORNER
grassy hillside and young orchard
inside bend of Hwy 128 west of Winters; pull off and beware of fast traffic.
lots of sparrows and other birds in winter
best bird: Clay-colored Sparrow
23. LAKE SOLANO
large manmade lake with a few wooded islands.
access from Lake Solano Co. Park on Pleasants
Valley Rd or along the s shore of the lake.
good in winter for ducks, including Barrow's
Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser (upstream).
best birds: Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser; Swamp Sparrow
24. FISHING ACCESSES
riparian oaks and cottonwoods along a river.
well-marked parking areas along the s side of
hwy 128 w of Lake Solano (w of Winters); they are numbered #1-#4 (and there's a fifth one) about 1/2-1 mile apart.
great migrant spots, varied habitat, with a
history of rarer birds in the county (Winter
Wren, Hairy Woodpecker, Rufous-cr Sparrow,
Golden Eagle, Yellow-br. Chat).
best birds: Steller's Jay, Townsend's Solitaire,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
25. STEBBINS-COLD CANYON NATURAL RESERVE
wild oak and chaparral canyon.
take hwy 128 w toward Lake Berryessa, park 100
yards after the road crosses to the s side of
Putah Creek, the trail begins at the gate at the
s-most curve in hwy 128. Note: this is Solano Co.
great for chaparral species and migrants.
26. MONTICELLO DAM
large concrete dam between two cliffs, lake; small pond below dam.
on hwy 128 about 10 miles w of Winters.
good for swifts and Rock and Canyon wrens.
best birds: Snow Bunting; Red-throated Loon; Red-breasted Merganser; Black Swift
27. RD 94B BRIDGE OVER CACHE CREEK
a wide river bed with gravel bars and some riparian vegetation (some the focus of restoration projects)
from the bridge, one can walk down under the bridge along the river; DANGER NOTE: in winter, the flow of Cache Creek can exceed the Sacramento River!
nice at dusk for Lesser Nighthawks; chapparal and migrant species also.
best birds: Red-breasted Merganser in June; nesting Spotted Sandpipers
28. RD 89 AT CACHE CREEK
high bluff overlooking river and gravel beds.
turn north on Rd 89 from hwy 16; descent into the riverbed is possible.
good place for Bank Swallows and (at dusk) Lesser Nighthawks
LONGSPUR CORNER AND DUNNIGAN HILLS
rolling hills with pasture immitating shortgrass prairies;
Rds 16 and 90B are "longspur corner"; Rd 12A is also nice;
excellent in winter for prairie species such as longspurs, raptors of all kinds, Mountain Plover.
best birds: Chestnut-collared, McCown's, and Lapland Longspurs; Grasshopper Sparrow; Lark Bunting; Roadrunner
CAPAY CEMETERY AND VICINITY IN ESPARTO
trees and orchards along a narrow creek;
from Esparto, take Rd 22 sw of town.
good for migrant songbirds.
best bird: Steller's Jay
CAPAY VALLEY SIDE ROADS
oak canyons, steep creeks, chaparral.
from hwy 16 nw of Woodland, try roads 78A, 53, 57,
and 41 (Sand Creek Rd). Some are closed in winter.
interesting all year round; Lawrence's Goldfinch
possible.
best birds: Roadrunner; Sage Thrasher
RAYHOUSE ROAD
oak canyons, steep creeks, chaparral, pond and lake.
continue up hwy 16 to the lower picnic area of Cache
Creek Co. Park, take the dirt road over the river, it
climbs through the canyon for about 5 miles, then
descends to Davis Creek Res., or turn left at the summit
half mile to Fiske Creek Lake (a pond). Closed in winter,
4WD needed in spring or after rains.
the premier spot for migrant songbirds (down lower) and
chaparral species such as Sage Sparrow and Poorwill (at
the summit).
best birds: Gray Flycatcher; Green-tailed Towhee; Black-chinned Sparrow; nesting Pileated Woodpecker; Band-tailed Pigeon; Roadrunner; Steller's Jay
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- CATTLE EGRET -among cattle along Rd 102, 103; Rd 103 Rookery; new rookery at west end of UC Davis Arboretum.
- AMERICAN BITTERN -marshes with high tules; Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area; Davis Wetlands.
- LEAST BITTERN -Rd 30 Marsh, at the east end of Rd 30.
- WATERFOWL -Davis Sewage Ponds, Woodland Wastewater Ponds,
Sugar Ponds, North and West Ponds, and Lake Solano and
Putah Creek upstream from the lake, South Yolo Bypass.
- BLUE-WINGED TEAL -Davis Wetlands; Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
- HOODED MERGANSER -Lake Solano and upstream; West Pond in Davis.
- BARROW'S GOLDENEYE -Lake Solano and upstream.
- EURASIAN WIGEON -Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area; Davis Wetlands.
- SWAINSON'S HAWK -anywhere on the valley floor; they nest within the cities of Davis and Woodland.
- GOLDEN EAGLE -hills on either side of Capay Valley.
- BALD EAGLE -Cache Creek below Rayhouse Road; Lake Berryessa in Lake County.
- OSPREY -Lake Solano and Putah Creek near Winters.
- SHOREBIRDS - best places are Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area and Trestle Ponds in spring migration and Davis Wetlands in fall migration; also Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant, Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sugar Ponds, Jail Pond, Model Airplane Park, North and West Ponds (all depending on water levels).
- GOLDEN PLOVERS (both) -levees at Davis and Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plants (among Black-bellied Plovers).
- MOUNTAIN PLOVER -fields around intersection of Rds 102 & 16 in winter; or Rds 101 & 17; or east of Zamora; look around and look hard, they are very difficult to spot, as they look like dirt clods-- but with longer legs! A scope is needed. Please report sightings to the Sac RBA at (916) 783-2331. They have also been seen elsewhere in the north county (Rds 16 and 87).
- GULLS -Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant near the landfill; can be scoped from Rd 28H near Yolo Co. Landfill.
- BARN OWL -anywhere, esp. Hawk/Owl Reserve and in Davis city.
- LONG-EARED OWL -rare in winter along Sacramento Bypass and train track west of River Road between I-5 and I-80; also around Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- SHORT-EARED OWL -Hawk/Owl Reserve; Rds 104 and 27; Longspur Corner.
- WESTERN SCREECH-OWL -in wooded canyons; lower Rayhouse Road; Putah Creek west of UC Davis; sometimes within Davis.
- NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL -Rd 41 and Rayhouse Rd in Capay Valley; Cold Canyon Preserve.
- COMMON POORWILL -top of Rayhouse Road.
- LESSER NIGHTHAWK -along Cache Creek from lower Capay Valley to Woodland; from Rd 89 or Rd 94B bridge at dusk.
- LEWIS' WOODPECKER -erratic in Capay Valley and western hills in fall or winter.
- HAIRY WOODPECKER -uncommon at Fishing Accesses.
- BANK SWALLOW -in south bank of
Cache Creek, just downstream from
Rd 89 and downstream from 505 freeway; regular at Davis Wetlands in fall.
- YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE -anywhere and everywhere.
- MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD -erratic; e.side of hwy 45 3.5-4.0 miles nw
of Knight's Landing, in winter. Also, west end of Rd 29.
- CALIFORNIA THRASHER -Capay Valley hills (especially Rd 41); Rd 89 at Cache Creek.
- WINTER WREN -possible at Fishing Access #2 or #4 in winter.
- CANYON & ROCK WRENS -Monticello Dam, Capay Valley side roads; Rock Wren is reliable on the valley floor in winter among rip-rap levee boulders, large wood piles, or even farm equipment-- or Buckeye Creek off Rd 2.
- DIPPER -possible under hwy 128 bridge below Monticello Dam in winter; Cache Creek Canyon in fall and winter.
- PHAINOPEPLA -across from Lake Solano campground.
- YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT -rare but possible in spring/summer at Fishing Accesses.
- LAZULI BUNTING -Rayhouse Road; Cache Creek Settling Basin; Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
- BLUE GROSBEAK -any weedy fields in or within a mile of the Yolo Bypass; abundant in Cache Creek Settling Basin; Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, especially near the levee, is a sure spot; Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- VESPER SPARROW -inside bend of hwy 128 a few miles west of Winters, in the young orchard, in winter; please report them if you see them; beware of Savannah and other sparrows mixed in.
- SAGE SPARROW -top of Rayhouse Road; top of Rd 41 north of Rumsey.
- RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW -across from Fishing Accesses, downstream from Monticello Dam, and about one mile up Rayhouse Road.
- LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH - any side roads in Capay Valley, such as 78A and others, and Rayhouse Road near Fiske Lake or Davis Creek Res. It's easiest if you know their call.
- YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD - Davis Wetlands at Pond 7; Old Woodland Sewage Ponds; Catfish Ponds; Trestle Ponds in spring;
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in winter in mixed blackbird flocks.
- TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD - may nest in fields near Rd 27 and I-505;
recently nested at Conoway brood pond at Rds 103 & 25;
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in winter in mixed blackbird flocks.
- MIGRANT FLYCATCHERS, VIREOS, WARBLERS -Wood Duck Ponds, Grasslands Reg. Park, Solano Park Garden (fall only), Putah Creek/Winters Bridge, Fishing Accesses, Rayhouse Road-- all in late Apr to early June, late Aug-early Oct.
All three of Yolo County's Brewer's Sparrows have been
found since 1996. All were in nondescript weedy locations
with other sparrows. (Photo by Don DesJardin, copyright
1999). What will Yolo's next new bird be?
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