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Category: Places to Bird

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Happy New Year!

For the past several years, my husband and I have visited the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on New Year’s Day. It’s a refreshing way to begin the new year. It also guarantees a substantial list of birds for anyone starting a new annual list.

Snow Geese

Snow Geese, 2018

Located about two hours north of the Bay Area, this water refuge is a part of a complex of several national wildlife refuges. It features a six-mile auto tour. You basically slowly drive around in a car blasting the heater on your legs (in the winter) while you poke your head out of the open car window into the freezing winter air. Visitors are permitted to stretch their legs at specified locations. These are great spots to set up a scope and take a look around.

Various Geese

Take Off! 2018

The main attraction in the winter is the thousands upon thousands of geese. Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese easily add up to more than 10,000 on location. When they get spooked and take up flight, it is a miraculous spectacle of birds lifting into the air. The subsequent noise with a mixture of calls and beating wings is quite memorable.

Bald Eagle and Common Raven

Immature Bald Eagle and Common Raven, 2017

Bald Eagles are another fun bird to observe. I’ve seen immature and adult eagles fly around and interact with the other birds. They are magnificent creatures to behold as they soar across the skies. In 2017, I was delighted to watch a Common Raven attempt to steal a partially-consumed American Coot from an eagle. The raven was boldly jumping around, and nearly on, the eagle in an attempt to snatch an easy meal.

Northern Shrike

Northern Shrike, a rarity for the area, 2018

Other fun birds are present, such as all kinds of waterfowl, sparrows, pheasants, hawks, and more. We usually take at least two hours to drive through the six miles. I’ve heard that others will ride through multiple times. If you get a chance to visit, the sheer volume of birds present will leave you with a memorable experience.

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

When one hears “wastewater treatment plant,” birding may not be one of the first activities that comes to mind. In fact, these offer a rich birding experience as a variety of birds take advantage of the ponds and plant life. You can find sandpipers, ducks, sparrows, warblers, even birds of prey. While I’m sure some sanitation plants may test the limits of stench, I’ve quite enjoyed a couple with no odors detected thus far.

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

This brings me to Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District located in Marin County. Admittedly I’ve only been here twice, but each time I left with a solid list of birds. Containing four ponds with fields all around, it offers a sanctuary for birds of all types. My favorite are the mute swans, which I didn’t know existed in California let alone in the North Bay. Since then I’ve learned that they are occasionally around the East Bay.

Mute Swans

Mute Swans, 2018

The paths around the ponds are pleasant with locals walking their dogs or jogging, while birders scan the area with binoculars glued to their faces. Ponds attract water fowl, blackberry bramble and fennel attract warblers and sparrows, and the trees collect woodpeckers and owls. The fields will produce white-tailed kites, hawks, turkey vultures, and more.

If you go, be sure to wear sun protection as there’s not a lot of shade and it can get warm during the summer.

Check out the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District eBird hotspot list.