Where to Go Birding in Yolo County

Where to Go Birding

This year-round pond in West Sacramento near the eastern edge of the Yolo Causeway is one of the best places in California to see Blue-winged Teal each fall and winter. Additionally year-round resident Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets breed here in the spring.

winter, fall, spring

partially accessible, spring, summer, fall, winter

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (aka the Vic Fazio Wildlife Area)

partially accessible, spring, summer, fall, winter

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.

partially accessible, spring, summer, fall, winter

Wood Duck Daniel Lee Brown Effie Yeaw Nature Center 2013-03-28.jpg

spring, fall

Wood Duck Ponds and Babel Slough

spring, fall

These two sites just west of the Sacramento River make for an excellent morning of birding in the spring and fall. When there is a good pulse of migrants, the woods can be hopping with warblers and other songbirds.

spring, fall

Wilson's Phalarope Daniel Lee Brown 2012-07-25.jpg

Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant

The sewage ponds, with numerous settling ponds and levees between them, are open to the public during weekday business hours. Birders are welcome to walk the roads around the ponds but must check in at the office and sign a “Contractor and Visitor Orientation Sheet.” Weekend access is available with advance arrangement.

Bonaparte's Gull Daniel Lee Brown 2010-11.jpg

winter, fall

City of Davis Wetlands

winter, fall

This evolving wetland consists of 400 acres of ponds and upland habitat of varying depths and is a continuation of Davis’s storm water and wastewater treatment process. The Wetlands are only open to the public during limited times during the year. From February 15th through August 31st, the wetlands are open seven days/week from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. From September 1st through February 15th, the wetlands are open Mondays only from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

winter, fall

Black-crowned Night Heron Chris Conard may17 2019 bufferlands.JPG

spring

Yolo Egret and Heron Rookery

spring

This rookery is very active in spring with Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Western Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and occasionally Great Blue Herons nesting in a large stand of eucalyptus trees on private land.

spring

Semipalmated Sandpiper Daniel Lee Brown 2014-06-11.jpg

spring, fall

Woodland Water Pollution Control Facility

spring, fall

The treatment ponds at this location have a fine history of attracting good shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl. The peak season for finding rare shorebirds is from July through September, depending on water levels. Good numbers of shorebirds and gulls can be found in the winter, and spring migration can be productive as well.

spring, fall

Northern Harrier Daniel Lee Brown YBWA YOL CO 2019-11-19.jpg

Dunnigan Hills

This area of beautiful rolling hills lies west of Interstate 5 north of Woodland, crosses I-505 (which runs from Vacaville to Dunnigan), and extends toward the Coast Range to the west. Dotted with cattle and sheep ranches as well as vineyards, field crops and hunting clubs, these hills serve as temporary home to many species of birds in the winter, particularly raptors.

Bell's Sparrow Daniel Lee Brown Sand Creek Rd 2009-05-03.jpg

Rayhouse Road

The Blue Ridge area of Yolo County is a rugged mix of steep mountains, oak woodlands, patches of riparian, outstanding vistas, and a sea of chaparral. Early mornings in the spring are best, with opportunities for Common Poorwill and bobcats in the road in the predawn, as well as Mountain Quail, California Thrasher, Bell’s Sparrow, and Lawrence’s Goldfinch.

Davis City Limits

Davis provides several excellent sites for birders. Davis residents can reach them on foot, by bike, or very short drives. A dedicated corps of Yolo Bird Alliance birders covers these sites very well, and rarities are often reported. A small sample of the available birding opportunities follows.

Where to Go Birding

highly accessible, fall

UC Davis Arboretum

highly accessible, fall

The University of California, Davis Arboretum in addition to other large trees on the U.C. campus, has produced excellent rarities (notably Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and Red Crossbills) and often provides good birding. There are over four miles of paved trails on both sides of an improved section of Putah Creek.

highly accessible, fall

Townsend's Warbler Daniel Lee Brown 2018-10-08.jpg

spring, fall

Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

spring, fall

This vital remnant of riparian habitat has become a haven for warblers, flycatchers and other migrating passerines in the spring and fall.

spring, fall

Evening Grosbeak Daniel Lee Brown 2013-02-10 (2).jpg

Slide Hill Park

Slide Hill Park has produced numerous interesting finds, including Mountain Chickadee, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.

Long-billed Dowitcher Daniel Lee Brown YBWA YOL CO 2018-08.jpg

North Davis Ponds

When conditions are right at North Davis Ponds shorebirds can allow very close study. It is a good place to look for Short-billed Dowitchers among the common Long-billed Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs among the Greater Yellowlegs.

North Davis Farms

North Davis Farms Road can be excellent in migration with the trees along the road and pond providing excellent habitat.

Pacific Wren Daniel Lee Brown 2013-12-27.jpg

Willowbank Ditch

Willowbank Ditch is a small park gem that often provides excellent birding, especially in migration.

Davis City Limits

Where to Go Birding
By Season and By Region

Accessible Locations

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

American River Parkway

City of Sacramento

Sacramento County

Folsom Lake Area

Yolo County

North of Sacramento

San Joaquin and Solano Counties

Foothills and Sierra Nevada

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