Known for its diverse habitats, William B. Pond has fast flowing water where riffles and gravel bars are present, sandy riverbanks, riparian woodlands, a nesting rookery, open areas and woodlands edges, plus a wonderful urban park. All these habitats draw in a great variety of birds. Physically handicapped birders can access the large pond via a specialized accessible pier and ramp. Paved walking trails gently slope around the park.
East Lawn Cemetery
If you have only a few hours to spare for birding on a winter weekend morning, you might want to visit East Lawn Cemetery on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento. Filled with winter residents, over the years, Townsend’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Black-and-white Warbler have been found here in the winter. Well maintained and paved roads with limited and slow moving vehicles wind through the cemetery. Handicapped parking and accessible restrooms are provided.
Rancho Seco Recreational Area and Howard Ranch Trail
The Rancho Seco Recreational Area has the potential to serve as a migrant trap, since the surrounding habitat is open grassland. It also provides the only public access to the Howard Ranch—a 12,000-acre preserve of grasslands, vernal pools, and oak woodlands. Good accessibility features are limited to the park-like picnic area and camping area on the south side of the reservoir, with at least one accessible fishing dock.
Mather Regional Park
Mather Regional Park is a 64-acre lake surrounded by 158 acres of riparian habitat, upland scrub, seasonal wetland and annual grassland. With just under 200 species recorded at this site, it is a year-round favorite among local birders. The park provides a limited amount of paved walkways, but does include handicapped parking and accessible restrooms.
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (aka the Vic Fazio Wildlife Area)
This Global-Priority Level Important Bird Area contains more than 25,000 acres and is just minutes from downtown Sacramento. There are miles of gravel roads for fantastic birding from your vehicle. However most of the trails within the wildlife area are not accessible to mobility challenged users.
Sierra Discovery Trail
Located at 5,000 feet near Emigrant Pass, Sierra Discovery Trail is a one mile partially paved loop trail meandering through an old growth conifer forest. Bear River also runs adjacent to the trail providing an opportunity to see an American Dipper.
North Laguna Creek Wildlife Area
The North Laguna Creek Wildlife Area offers another wonderful opportunity for viewing a wide variety of birds along Laguna Creek. On-street parking is available; but no handicapped spaces exist at this time. Most of the trails are paved and accessible.