PLACES
TO BIRD
Shasta County's favorite birding destinations
Wintu Audubon Society
This guide is divided into Central Shasta County, Northeast, North, Southeast, Southwest, and South Shasta County. Additional birding sites in Tehama, Siskiyou, and Humboldt Counties are included at the bottom of the page.
Copyright ©2009 Wintu Audubon Society, All rights reserved.
MENUS ARE LOCATED AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF EACH PAGE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
CENTRAL SHASTA COUNTY - Redding Area
NORTHEAST COUNTY - Fall River/McArthur Area
NORTH SHASTA COUNTY - Squaw Valley Road Area
SOUTHEAST SHASTA COUNTY - Lassen Park Area
SOUTHWEST SHASTA COUNTY - Igo/Ono Area
SOUTH SHASTA COUNTY - Anderson/Cottonwood Area
SISKIYOU COUNTY - Klamath Basin NWR
HUMBOLDT COUNTY - Arcata/Eureka Area
BIRD LISTS for Shasta County and the adjacent region
Comings & Goings
Where to watch birds and what birds to look
for in January & February - by Bob Yutzy
Birds to look for and places to find them in November & December - by Bob Yutzy
Where to watch birds and what birds to look
for in September & October - by Bob Yutzy (Bob is on vacation so your newsletter editor has taken the liberty to revise
and update Bob’s contribution from the fall of 2008
Where to watch birds and what birds to look
for in May & June - by Bob Yutzy
Where to watch birds in March & April - by Bob Yutzy
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Map of Downtown Redding.pdf KUTRAS LAKE (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Park
Marina Dr. between South St. and Washington St. Gulls, ducks and geese, all water birds, blackbirds and
grackles, falcons and eagles, and the like.
Near the duck feeding area use your telescope to cover the whole bay,
including the small swimming hole pond and the tops of the trees around the
lake. Best birds that have been
found here are Western, Glaucous-winged, Thayer’s, Mew and Laughing Gull, Red
Phalarope, Pacific and Red-throated Loon; Horned and Clark’s Grebe;
Red-breasted and Hooded Merganser; Bald Eagle; Merlin and Peregrine Falcon;
Accipiters; Greater Scaup; Eurasian Wigeon; This is the easiest place to find
Barrow’s Goldeneye. KUTRAS LAKE AND PARK MARINA DRIVE:
contributed by Bill Oliver After
the winter birds arrive, Kutras Lake (actually a part of the Sacramento River)
is a popular destination for Redding birders. Kutras Lake is across Park
Marina Drive from the intersection of South Street. Public parking is
available on the shore of the lake. People often feed the gulls (mostly
ring-billed) and the ducks and geese found here. Rarities, such as pacific
loon, and other birds not easily seen in Redding, such as horned and Clark's
grebes, can sometimes be found at Kutras Lake. A pacific loon spent the
winter there in 2000-2001. It is also a good place for gull watchers.
Up to four species of gull are commonly seen (ring-billed, herring, first year
glaucous-winged, and California) though ring-billed gulls are by far the most
common. Ducks, including Barrow's goldeneye, common goldeneye, lesser and
greater scaup, common merganser, and bufflehead are to be expected. Hooded
merganser is sometimes seen in the small pond to the left of the parking area. A little further north along Park Marina Drive, just past the
Aqua Driving Range on the right, is a pond where American Wigeon, ring-necked
duck, and black-crowned night heron are almost always present in the winter.
Redhead and canvasback should be looked for as well. Take the first right
past the driving range. There will be two roads very close together
entering Park Marina Drive. Turn into the first road and park in the
vacant lot. Cross both roads on foot and the pond will be right before
you. The night herons roost in the feathery fronded plants on the other
side of the pond.
Another few hundred yard down the road is another pond, the
Round House Pond. It is much larger than the previous pond and can have
some good birds. The north side of this pond borders on Highway 44.
Access is across Park Marina Drive from a shopping center and just south of the
motel and Shell service station. AQUA GOLF COURSE: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Next
parking lot to the West on Park Marina. The
staff may check you out, just let them know you are birding.
At the Western edge of the parking lot, take the path that goes down to
the water and check the quiet bay on your left.
From the Eastern or right edge of the lot, scope the birds on and around
the white float barrels. On
weekends you can go up the stairs to the offices next door to the right and look
out over the water’s edge on the deck on the left and in between offices with
sheltered and secluded views (especially good in the rain.)
From the offices be sure to check out the western side of Kutras Lake
straight out towards the river flow for other Kutras specialties.
In the whole area look for Green Heron, Redhead, Canvasback, other ducks,
grebes, gulls, sparrows, warblers & cormorants.
A flock of Cattle Egrets landed here one day! APARTMENTS W/ ISLAND POND: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Next
parking lot to the West on Park Marina. Drive
out the right side drive and park on the gravel prior to the private drive
signs. The bamboo and tall reeds on
the west side of the pond are the easiest site in winter for Black-crowned Night
Herons away from Fall River Mills. Look
for Green Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, wintering Hutton’s
Vireo, sparrows and warblers. Hooded
Orioles used to hang around the Palm trees in summer.
You can walk across the drives into the large
apartment area checking the oaks for wintering Hutton’s Vireo and looking at
the waterway from different angles. ROUND HOUSE BAY AT RIVERSIDE INN: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Next
parking lot to the West on Park Marina. Pull
in and look between the office building on the right and the tall circular motel
building on the left. Scope around
the round house and the whole bay for water birds, Eurasian Wigeon, and Hooded
Merganser. Walk down the paved driveway to the water and look around to the
right for Green Heron and Hooded Merganser.
Lincoln’s Sparrows and warblers are often in the brush to the right.
Go across the street to Kangaroo Courts and check out the winter
flowering Eucalyptus trees for hummers, warblers and the like. WEST TURTLE BAY/CIVIC CENTER: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Continue
West on Park Marina Dr. and turn right on Auditorium Dr. (going over 299 West)
to the Civic Center. A one to
two hour walk in the riparian area and along the river from one side of all the
buildings to the other side of all the buildings can be good for wintering and
migrating birds. Just over the freeway take the first right turn onto a gravel
road traveling along the fence edge and park at the locked gate (or alternately
you could park at the other end of the walk by the grass lawn and cement
amphitheater platform on the river side of the Civic Center.)
Take your scope to check out the water birds and hawks.
Just behind the planted area of the trailer buildings on the right are
several somewhat secluded ponds and waterways that often have Hooded Mergansers,
Ring-necked Ducks and mud ducks. Eurasian
Wigeon has been found here. Continue
on the main trail along the river checking the water areas, river areas and the
brush surrounding you for Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Accipiters,
woodpeckers, warblers, sparrows and Hutton’s Vireo.
Blue Grosbeak was found here on a Christmas Count.
At the corner take the short rocky trail to the river’s edge and check
the open waterway and stream edges for water birds and pipits.
Continue back along the main trail by the river checking for Barrow’s
Goldeneye and the brush for land birds, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon (especially
across the river) and Accipiters. Red-breasted
and Hooded Mergansers have been seen here. Continue along the trail which eventually comes out at the
amphitheater lawn area. When you
first get to the beginning of the museum developed area be sure and check the
secluded river area on your right for water birds and hawks.
WEST TURTLE BAY/CIVIC CENTER: contributed by Bill Oliver
This birding location, along the Sacramento River near the
Redding Convention Center and the Paul Bunyan Forest Camp, is a good place to
see woodland and riparian species as well as birds that frequent the river.
Herring and ring-billed gulls, common mergansers, mallards, Barrow's goldeneyes,
great egrets, and green herons are just some what you may find along the river's
banks in winter. Tree swallows nest in the woodland; white-breasted
nuthatches, California quail, and Bewick's wren are common. In spring,
check out the "Monolith" for cliff swallows in their clay nests.
A good place to bird without walking far is to drive between the Convention
Center and the river. In this location, the road is right next to the
river and can be good for gulls. At the right time of year, spawning
salmon can be observed. During times of low water, fly fisherman are often
seen casting to invisible trout and steelhead. POSSE GROUNDS: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Continue
on Auditorium Drive to the parking area on the river alongside the Civic Center.
Check the river for Herring Gulls, water birds and pipits.
Check the brush along the river from here all the way to the stables for land birds. At the stable area check
for Cowbirds, Lark Sparrow and the like. There
is a public restroom here. SACRAMENTO RIVER TRAIL:
contributed by Bill Oliver The trail follows both sides of the Sacramento River
north of downtown Redding. One end of the trail is accessed on the south
side of the river near the Dieselhorst Bridge, the other on the north side of
the river from Caldwell Park. Expect to see numerous woodland and riparian
species. Bill Oliver, our chapter president, has compiled a list of over
90 species seen on walks along the river trail. REDDING MEMORIAL CEMETERY (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy From
299 west into Redding, take an immediate right turn on Liberty St., then right
on Eureka Way and go straight into the cemetery.
A good stop for migratory land birds and wintering species.
Drive the perimeter from either side to either side, stopping and birding
anytime you see activity. The
corral area is best for bluebirds and sparrows.
Look for Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Slate-colored Junco,
White-throated Sparrow, and hawks. Townsend’s
Warbler has been found here several winters. Merlin and Accipiters are regular
here. On the river side you look
down for Goldeneyes and Bald Eagle or Osprey. TURTLE BAY EAST: contributed
by Bob Yutzy This
site is across the river from Kutras Lake and a few minutes drive.
Take Bechelli Lane North off Cypress Avenue and continue over and down
the hill to the parking area. This
area is good for sparrows, warblers, Hutton’s Vireo in winter and some of the
same birds as across the river. Look
for Glaucous-winged and Herring Gulls along the river. Mountain Bluebird has
been found here. Follow the trail
under the freeway leading along the river and you will get secluded views of the
many deep water birds and gulls along here.
White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Peregrine
Falcon, Glaucous-winged and Herring Gull, Accipiters, and Bald Eagle may be
here.
TURTLE BAY EAST:
contributed by Bill Oliver
Bechelli Lane dead-ends at the East Turtle Bay fishing
access, north of Cypress Avenue in Redding. This undeveloped natural area
boasts a mixture of open fields, woodland, and riverine riparian habitat.
While East Turtle Bay doesn't receive much attention from birders it it is
nonetheless a worthwhile destination. On a good day in the winter, late
fall, or early spring, one can see 30 to 40 species in an hour's time.
Peregrine falcon has been seen here as well as merlin and sharp-shinned hawk.
Hutton vireos are sometimes observed (winter). During migration warblers
abound, especially upstream of the Highway 44 bridge. Bewick's wren, song
sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglet are frequently seen. REDDING ARBORETUM: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Take
North Market St. (Highway 273) heading North out of Redding, go across the
Sacramento River, turn right at the first street in towards the mobile home park
and drive to the end parking area along the river.
Take the trail along the river into the arboretum area to its end.
Look for sparrows, Accipiters, Peregrine Falcon, Red-shouldered Hawk, and
check out the river for Barrow’s Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, herons and
Spotted Sandpiper in winter. REDDING ARBORETUM: contributed by Bill Oliver
The Arboretum is accessed from Arboretum Drive just north of
the Sacramento River on the east side of Market Street (Highway 273). It
contains much open land and has woodland and streamside settings. Sulphur
Creek flows through the Arboretum and enters the Sacramento River there.
Species seen here include tree swallow, spotted towhee, California towhee,
mourning dove, American kestrel, northern flicker, and black phoebe. MILLVILLE PLAINS (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Highway
44 East, South or right on Millville Plains Rd.; Horned Lark, Burrowing Owl,
Prairie and Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Accipiters, Ferruginous and Rough-legged
Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Mountain
Bluebird and Golden Eagle. Also
migrating Sandhill Crane, Greater White-fronted Geese, Tundra Swan and rarely
Swainson’s Hawk. Back on Highway
44, 1/4 mile or so past Millville Plains Rd., is a small seasonal pond that is
sometimes good for mud ducks, blackbirds and sparrows. LEMA RANCH (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Shasta
View Dr. and Hemingway Dr., north of Highway 44. Take 2 plus hours to circle all the ponds and return to the
main parking lot or drive to one of the other suburban entrances to have quicker
access to Secluded Pond, Hidden Pond and Lema Pond. For directions see the map on the sign in the main Shasta
View Drive parking lot. Look for
American Bittern, Green Heron, Common Moorhen, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup,
Great-tailed Grackle, Harris Sparrow and other sparrows, River Otter,
blackbirds, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, accipiters, woodpeckers and other oak
woodland birds. The Minter Road
suburbs access is a good central parking access. SHASTA
COLLEGE CAMPUS:
contributed by Dick Copland Habitat: WHISKEYTOWN LAKE (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Highway
299 West towards Eureka. Stop at
the visitor’s center turning left at the top of the hill for rest rooms and a
small natural history shop. Scope
the lake from the parking area looking for loons, geese flocks, Bald Eagles, and
gulls. Continue on to Brandy Creek
boat launch area. Stop at each
pullout (bear right at the spillway/dam), looking for loons, gulls,
ducks/mergansers and geese in winter and migration.
Yellow-billed Loon was found from these pullouts.
Turn right into the Brandy Creek boat launch area looking for Hooded
Mergansers in the quiet fingers of the lake areas, then drive to the edge near
the boat launch area and scope for water birds and Eagles.
Look for Common and Pacific Loons, Bald Eagle, Accipiters, phalaropes and
other water birds. Great-tailed
Grackle, Laysan Albatross, Red-necked Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser have all
been seen here at Brandy Creek. In
summer proceed on 299 West to the Tower House and bird for Spotted Sandpiper,
Yellow-breasted Chat, Rough-winged Swallow, Wilson’s and Black-throated Gray
Warblers. WHISKEYTOWN LAKE:
contributed by Phil Aldrich HABITAT: NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE WEBSITE FOR WHISKEYTOWN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA: ************************************************* SHASTA LAKE & HARBORS: (Shasta
Dam, Bridge Bay, Holiday and Jones Valley Harbors, etc.): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Best
birds are breeding Purple Martin and most swallows. Long-tailed Jaegar was found in fall 2003 near Shasta Dam.
Look for gulls, loons and other water birds.
Too often there are few birds on the lake. GILMAN ROAD: contributed
by Bob Yutzy …off
Highway I-5 North or East to the McCloud Bridge: This is a fairly long drive.
From the crest of the hill down for several miles is good mountain owl
habitat. Pygmy, Screech, Saw-whet, Spotted and Great Horned Owl have
all been heard here at night or predawn. Breeding
bird counts along this route get Purple Finch, Black-chinned Hummingbird,
Western tanager, House Wren, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat;
Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned, and Wilson’s Warbler, Black and Vaux’s
Swifts, Bald Eagle. Eastern
Kingbird was found on a breeding bird route at Ellery Campground entrance many
years ago. On the far side of
McCloud Bridge after the road has turned to gravel up in the large oaks and
pines have been repeated sightings of Chestnut-backed Chickadee over the years.
Farther on up in a few wet canyons in the pines and Madrone trees are
breeding Winter Wrens and Pacific Slope Flycatchers further along the creek
going down the other side. Past the second crossing of the creek, many miles in, have
been breeding Calliope Hummingbird, Townsend’s Solitaire; Hermit, Nashville
and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Northern Goshawk. PALISADES DRIVE (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Hilltop
Dr. over I-5, on the west side, turn south on Palisades Dr. go to the end and
park. Walk out the wet field to the
cliff edge and scope below for overhead views of Barrow’s Goldeneye,
White-Winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck, Glaucous-winged,
Herring, Thayer’s and Western
Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle. These
same birds can more easily be seen from vacant lots at the bottom of Riverbend
Rd. just to the west off Hilltop Dr. but access may be limited here in the
future. FRENCH GULCH
COUNTY PARK: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Beyond Whiskeytown on 299 west,
take Trinity Mountain Rd. and the park is on your right.
This is a good place for breeding Yellow-breasted Chat, Dipper,
Wilson’s and Yellow Warbler, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, and other common
and uncommon breeding birds. Continue
birding along the stream and road edge along the way for a few miles.
To find Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Mountain Quail, Wrentit, Cal. Thrasher,
Orange-crowned and Black-throated Gray Warblers, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting
and other hillside breeders take Highland Ridge Rd. (the narrow dirt road to the
left heading steeply up the mountain for several miles.) MARY LAKE: Located
just west of Redding, the nearest major intersection is Buenaventura Blvd. and
Placer St. Go a short
distance west on Placer St., then turn north onto Mary Lake Drive. You'll find
plenty of lakefront parking and a
paved, but uncrowded walking trail around the lake.
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RAT FARM ROAD (a
“Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy 299
East, in the town of McArthur turn left on Main St., just east of the
Fairgrounds. A high clearance
vehicle is needed at times. Follow
the rough dirt road through the gate going behind the fairgrounds.
At the intersection with a fairly straight road (McArthur Swamp Rd.),
take the road to the right going over the channel.
Briefly check the channel out for Yellow-rumped Warblers or Teal.
As soon as you cross the waterway note on your right there is a small
sagebrush area back in the corner along the channel.
This is where Brewer’s Sparrow was first found breeding and where one
of the first county Northern Shrikes was found.
Brewer’s Sparrows have only been found here a few times.
As you drive out the road keep your eye out for Ferruginous, Rough-legged
and Red-tailed Hawks, Prairie & Peregrine Falcons, Merlin and Golden Eagle,
especially on the telephone/power lines and fence posts on you right. You might
find Swainson’s Hawk in migration if you have the timing just right.
Short-eared Owl has been seen many times on the left in the fields.
You will often see wintering Horned
Lark flocks (and they breed here too), check out the flocks for Lapland
Longspur, found here almost annually. Park
at the boat launch and restroom area. Sometimes
this is a good area for sparrows and the first county Harris’ Sparrow was
found here. Search the waterways
and marsh areas. Look for Northern
Shrike, Clark’s and Red-necked Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Osprey and Bald
Eagle. This is also a good place to
find White-faced Ibis. Blue-winged
Teal and Long-billed Curlew have been found many times in June and probably
breed here. At the boat launch area
and the roadway gate on the left, walk out the lava rock road, checking the
waterway and the brush down on your left. Swamp
Sparrow has been found here in winter. Yellow-headed
Blackbirds breed here in the summer. After
you pass a small inlet, about a quarter mile further or so you will see the
trail curve back to the left and there are major dike repairs.
In small numbers Black Terns and Wilson’s Phalaropes breed here,
especially if the dam has some notable leaking.
McARTHUR SWAMP ROAD: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Follow
the directions above to Rat Farm Rd. but go straight or bear left just prior to
the water crossing and gate. A high
clearance vehicle is definitely needed for this route!
Search for wintering Lesser Yellowlegs and other shorebirds in the small
channel on your right. Also look for Burrowing Owl, Short-eared Owl and Lapland
Longspurs. LEE ROAD (a “Best Rated” site):
contributed
by Bob Yutzy Off 299
East, past the town of McArthur, turn left on Lee Road.
As soon as you turn look and listen for Pygmy Nuthatch in the big pines.
Continue on Lee Road checking the roadside brush for sparrows.
Burrowing Owl has been seen here. Look
on the power lines, fences and in the fields for Rough-legged and Ferruginous
Hawks, Prairie Falcon, Merlin, Horned Larks and longspurs.
A Lawrence’s Goldfinch was found in winter one year.
At the intersection with Pittville Toten Road turn right and check the
barns and fields out for Harris’ Sparrow and other sparrows which have been
found here. Back on Lee Road, at
the end at Bar D Bar Ranch (friendly to birder people) look for Northern
Goshawk, Townsend’s Solitaire, Barn Owl, Porcupine, Tundra Swan and shorebirds
and water birds in the ponds and fields. FALL RIVER MILLS TOWN & FALL RIVER LAKE: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Note
the Bank Swallow colony in the town of Fall River Mills just east of the river
crossing across from the service station. Just
west of the river crossing take the side street to the right past the ball park
and continue beyond all the houses and go into Fall River Lake.
More Bank Swallows nest here. Across
the lake Vesper’s Sparrow’s nest and you can sometimes see Black-billed
Magpie. In winter and migration
look for loons, Bald Eagle, Western and Clark’s Grebe, Evening Grosbeak,
Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Chickadee, Purple Finch and sparrow flocks. GLENBURN CHURCH: contributed
by Bob Yutzy …east
of McArthur Rd.: Check the rice fields and fallow fields.
Go straight past the Glenburn Church and check the rice fields on the
left. Look for Avocet, Stilt and
other shorebirds, Tri-colored and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
On the right in the fallow fields check for Lapland Longspurs.
Black-billed Magpies are sometimes around the ranches.
A few pairs of Sandhill Cranes nest in the central Fall River/McArthur
area centering around Glenburn church. At
the church in the lone tiny pine tree in front Screech Owl was found on one
Christmas Count. Harris’ Sparrow has been found here and at the abandoned
house across the street many times in winter. ISLAND ROAD AREA (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy
HORR RD., OSPREY RD. AND CREIGHTON RD.:
North on McArthur Rd. (A19) from the Glenburn Church, turn right on
Island Rd. Look for sparrows along
the brushy roadsides and Rough-legged Hawk.
At the first creek crossing area look for White-tailed Kite, Eurasian
Wigeon, sparrows in the tall reeds and Northern Shrike.
A Harlan’s Hawk was in this area for several years. Check the ranch areas and fields prior to Horr Road looking
for geese, hawks and eagles. Turn
right on Horr Rd. Check for
sparrows, hawks and falcons, Northern Shrike, and near the end of the road look
for Lapland & Chestnut Collared Longspurs with Horned Larks in the field. THOUSAND SPRINGS RD. (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy On
McArthur Rd. heading to Dana, turn right on Thousand Springs Rd. toward Timbered
Crater. Look for sparrows and
hawks. On your left will be a
somewhat hidden view of Spring Creek, look for water birds. Tufted Duck has been found here several years.
Continue along the creek and cross the bridge.
Stop here and check the waterways and brush.
Standing on your highest ground on the right, look off to the right and
scope the waterway across the cow pasture into the Spring Creek Ranch area.
Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal and Black-crowned Night
Heron can be found here in winter. Black
and Vaux’s Swifts, swallows and
various warblers have been found here. Continue on to the next water crossing just prior to the
corral and park here. Look for
Pygmy Nuthatch, Townsend’s Solitaire, Purple Finch, Chipping Sparrow and
Black-billed Magpie. If the corral
gate is open, walk to the back of the corral and check the small pond for
flycatchers, sparrows, riparian birds and mud ducks.
Continue back on the road toward Timbered Crater looking for Black-billed
Magpie, Bald and Golden Eagles. When
the road opens up from the pines there is a tiny/small fenced impoundment area
on the left. Park just beyond here
and search the right side for Rock Wren, Northern Shrike and Chipping Sparrow.
This is the site of one or two pairs of breeding Black-throated Sparrows
in most years. Also Brewer’s
Sparrows breed here. A Broad-tailed
Hummingbird was in this area in migration.
For a short distance you can keep looking for rocky brush birds along the
road. Further on Timbered Crater is
very near the county line and can have mountain woodpeckers and birds, though it
is often not very birdy. DEE KNOCH & JIM DAY RD. (a “Best Rated” site) contributed
by Bob Yutzy
Intersection: The best place in the
county for breeding Lawrence’s Goldfinch.
The only county record of breeding Cedar Waxwing was here.
Red Crossbills have been seen and heard here.
Look for Purple Finch, Downy Woodpecker, House Wren, Western Bluebird,
Chipping and other sparrows. During migration, Broad-tailed Hummingbird has been
seen at the feeders around the first few houses on Jim Day Rd.
Walk from the mobile homes on one side to the far corner of the fenced
impoundment to the right angle turn. On
the road back heading to the town of McArthur, look for breeding Wilson’s
Snipe and Willet in the wet fields, and also Horned Lark. At the bridge crossing stop and bird for Northern Oriole,
Lazuli Bunting, Yellow and Wilson’s Warbler; Cliff, Violet-green, Barn and
Tree Swallows; American and Lesser Goldfinches, Green Heron, House Wren and
Black-headed Grosbeak. LAKE BRITTON: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Off
Highway 89. Although difficult to
see, Purple Martins breed here. They
nest in the top of two dead tree tops on the northwest side of the lake, to the
right and up above the parking area. There
is a rough trail leading the ½ mile or so up to the trees.
Follow the edge of the lake while going up the mountain side.
Also look around the lake for House Wren, Bald Eagle, swallows, swifts,
brush birds and Purple Martins. BURNEY FALLS PARK: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Off
Highway 89. Black Swifts nest here.
Outside the park on the highway one can see both Black and Vaux’s
Swifts above the treetops. Hermit,
Black-throated Gray, McGillivray’s, Wilson’s, Nashville, Yellow-rumped and
Yellow Warblers can all be found here. Also
look for breeding Red-breasted Sapsucker, Western Tanager, Cassin’s Vireo,
Western Wood Peewee and Evening Grosbeak. Walk
the main Fall’s trail on each side and bird the campground loops.
Drive the park roads looking for mountain breeders, and especially,
woodpeckers. Birding can also be
fairly good around the boat launch and swimming area. MCARTHUR-BURNEY FALLS STATE PARK and LAKE BRITTON:
contributed by Phil Aldrich HABITAT: HAT CREEK ROADSIDE MARSH: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Going
north on highway 89 & 44, prior to Old Station, about 1 mile east past the
entrance to Big Pine Campground, just past the intersection on the left with
Forest Service Rd. 34N78 is a small pullout on the right by some willows.
Look for Dipper; Wilson’s, Yellow and McGillivray’s Warblers; Tree
and Violet-green Swallows, Western Wood Peewee, swifts, woodpeckers, Evening
Grosbeak and Brewer’s Blackbirds. A
White-throated Sparrow was found here in migration. CASSEL POND & BAUM LAKE: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Off
Highway 89 continue past the tiny town on Cassel Fall River Rd. to the small
pond on your left. Look for
Lewis’s Woodpecker, Wilson’s Warbler, House Wren, and in winter Eurasian
Wigeon and other ducks. Going back
to the town and post office, turn right just past the river crossing into the
fishing, camping and parking area. Continue
past the end of the camping area taking the back road to Baum Lake.
At Baum Lake take an immediate right and go across the narrow bridge and
park. Bird here looking for
Black-crowned Night Heron, Dipper, Wilson’s Warbler and water birds.
Drive back to the Baum Lake parking area birding the pond on your left
for rails and marsh birds and the waterway on your right.
The large grove of trees on your right have had flycatchers in migration
and Red-naped Sapsucker. Look for
Osprey, Bald Eagle, ducks and geese, snipe, other shorebirds, swallows and
blackbirds. Look for Lewis’s
Woodpecker around any of the roads to and from Cassel and Baum Lake. RISING RIVER MARSH: contributed
by Bob Yutzy …on
the southern road to Cassel: Go north on 89 prior to the intersection with 299,
take Cassel Road going east. Bird
the ranches and edges of forest and field.
At the river crossing park and bird the marsh and riparian area.
Look for Night Herons, Wilson’s and Yellow Warblers, blackbirds,
woodpeckers, swallows sparrows and Marsh Wren.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Evening Grosbeak have been seen here.
Continue on to Cassel Pond and Baum Lake.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SQUAW VALLEY ROAD (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy North
of Dunsmuir on I-5 take the McCloud highway 89 exit, at the bottom of the hill
take Squaw Valley Road (Highway 11). In
breeding season, stop at the small marsh on both sides of the road (in Siskiyou
County) listening for Willow Flycatcher so you can get its song when you check
for it later at the beginning of Squaw Valley Road. Bird from the beginning of Squaw Valley Road for five miles
or so. This is the only known site
for breeding Willow Flycatcher and Swainson’s Thrush in the county.
Look and listen for the Swainson’s Thrush in the extensive medium
height marshes on the right. Nashville, Hermit, Black-throated Gray, Yellow and
McGillivray’s Warbler are all along the road.
Also look for Red-breasted Sapsucker, Lazuli Bunting, Hermit Thrush,
Western Tanager, Cedar Waxwing, Golden Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. CASTLE CRAGS AREA:
contributed
by Bob Yutzy I-5 at Castella. Bird from the
beginning of the road to the Castle Crags State Park entrance.
The Park is good for Mountain Quail, Western Tanager, Black-headed
Grosbeak, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Wood Peewee, Warbling Vireo and
other riparian, coniferous forest and brush birds.
Go back and take Castle Creek Road further in.
Check the stream for Dipper, Spotted Sandpiper and Common Merganser, and
the stream side areas for Yellow, McGillivray’s and Wilson’s Warbler,
Warbling Vireo. In the forest check
for Cassin’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray, Hermit and Audubon’s Warbler. On the steep hillsides as you climb, note the fantastic views
of Castle Crags (worth the trip any time of the year) look for Pileated
Woodpecker, mountain warblers, Dusky and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Peregrine
Falcon, Northern Goshawk.
At the marsh just over the top of the mountain, look for breeding
Lincoln’s Sparrow, Cassin’s and Purple Finch; Hermit, Yellow-rumped,
Wilson’s Warbler; White-headed Woodpecker and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Go a few miles past the marsh at the top or possibly to the first bridge
on the creek (for breeding Dipper) before turning around and heading back.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LASSEN PARK AREA (a “Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Highway
44 East of Redding. At Manzanita
Lake take the trail around the lake and bird the campground areas.
Look for Dipper; Hermit, Audubon’s, Yellow, McGillivray’s, Nashville,
and Wilson’s Warblers; Vaux’s and Black Swifts, Tree and Violet-green
Swallows, Townsend’s Solitaire; Red-breasted Sapsucker; Black-backed,
White-headed, Hairy and Downy Woodpecker. Reflection
Lake is an historical spot for breeding Black-backed Woodpecker.
Also look for breeding Bufflehead and Red-breasted sapsucker.
At Crags Campground look for Williamson’s and Red-breasted
Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker. At Hat Creek Lake take the trail by the lake and look
for Lincoln’s and Chipping Sparrow, McGillivray’s Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper
and Dusky Flycatcher. At Summit
Lake Campgrounds and nature trail, spend some time looking for
Williamson’s Sapsucker (best place in the county), Black-backed Woodpecker and
other mountain breeders. At Bumpass
Hell parking area look for Calliope Hummingbird and Blue Grouse.
At Mount Lassen Peak look for Clark’s Nutcracker, Northern
Goshawk and migrating hawks. Hiking the lengthy and steep trail to the mountain top may
get you breeding Gray-crowned Rosy Finch over the west edge around the snow
piles, as this is the only regular site in the county. At an inclement weather change, Rosy Finches were seen in the
parking area. LASSEN
VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK Including Manzanita Lake and Summit Lake HABITAT:
NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE WEBSITE FOR LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK: ******************************************** SHINGLETOWN: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Take
highway 44 East of Redding, on the way to Lassen Park.
Around the housing developments look for Chestnut-backed Chickadees (the
best area in the county), Mountain Chickadees, Purple Finch, and Chipping
Sparrow. Sometimes Lincoln’s
Sparrow can be found singing in the marshy woodlands around here.
Pileated Woodpecker is pretty regular around the whole area. MCCUMBER LAKE (a
“Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy Take
highway 44 East of Redding on the way to Lassen Park. This is a good birding area almost anytime of the year.
Look for Pileated Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, swallows; Wilson’s,
Hermit, and Nashville Warblers; Chipping
Sparrow, House Wren, Bald Eagle, Western Bluebird, Purple Finch, Dipper, Spotted
Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope, Wilson’s Snipe, Wood Duck, migrant
shorebirds, Western Tanager, Western Bluebird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Mountain
Chickadee and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Drive
the road around the left side of the lake birding where you can. BUTTE LAKE: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Out of
Old Station take highway 44 toward Susanville. Take road 32N21 to Butte Lake.
This is a fairly long route that goes back into Shasta County from Lassen
County. Look for Mountain Bluebird, Black-backed Woodpecker,
Williamson’s Sapsucker, Hermit Warbler, Hammond’s Flycatcher and other high
mountain breeders.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
IGO & ONO, PLATINA: contributed
by Bob Yutzy Take
Placer Road (A16) out of Redding. Bird
the dry river crossings all along the route.
Look for Golden Eagle and Lawrence’s Goldfinch.
Look for oak woodland birds, including Blue-gray Gnatcatcher everywhere.
At Igo, take Zogg Mine Road past the developed area and at the
intersection of another road heading to the right, look for the small colony of
Grasshopper Sparrows found breeding in this general area.
Look for low or short grass fields with occasional singing perches on
mild hillsides. The birds are often
seen on the fence lines. Continue on to Platina and check the riparian area for
Wilson’s and Yellow Warblers. You
can continue down to Beegum birding along the way.
All along the route on steep hillsides of chemise, check for Sage
Sparrows and brush birds.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LONE TREE POND (a
“Best Rated” site): contributed
by Bob Yutzy On Lone
Tree Road. Look for Common Moorhen,
Sora, Virginia Rail, American Bittern, Yellow-breasted Chat, Marsh Wren,
blackbirds, Turkey, Wilson’s Snipe, Eurasian Wigeon, Lincoln’s and other
wintering sparrows. ANDERSON
RIVER PARK:
contributed by Linda and Phil Aldrich HABITAT: Anderson
River Park never disappoints - from the resident Wood Ducks that A good
place to start birding is the river trail near the restrooms in the
amphitheater parking lot. To continue
birding in the area, continue along the main road BALLS FERRY ROAD: The
nearest major intersection is I-5 and Balls Ferry Road. DARRAH SPRINGS FISH HATCHERY: Follow Balls Ferry Road and Ash Creek
Road (A17), then turn right on Wildcat Road. PARKVILLE ROAD: Lewis’s
Woodpecker, in winter look for Mountain Bluebird Located
east of Anderson. Follow Balls Ferry Road and Ash Creek Road (A17), BATTLE CREEK STATE WILDLIFE AREA:
contributed by Bill Oliver Directions:
From I-5 just south of COLEMAN FISH HATCHERY & FOREBAY: Located
east of Anderson/Cottonwood. Follow Balls Ferry Road and Ash Creek Road (A17). READING
ISLAND: contributed
by Rob Santry Take
I-5 towards Cottonwood in Southern Shasta County. Take the Gas Point Rd/ Fourth
St Exit. From the south on I-5, turn right and head east thru town on Fourth
Street. From the north, turn left
and head over the freeway. Stay on
Fourth Street a couple of miles and it will dead end on Balls Ferry Road. Turn
left, and drive a few more miles to Adobe Road, which is on your right. If you
get to the turn for Ash Creek Rd ( the turn for Coleman Fish Hatchery), you have
gone a mile too far. Follow Adobe Rd a few miles to the end. The road dead ends
right at the Reading Island BLM park. Typical
oak woodland birds are here. Look
for wintering House Wren, especially near the end of the trail, past the
abandoned restrooms. Also, this trail looks out over the mouth of Cottonwood
Creek. Combined with Lonetree pond, Anderson River Park, Coleman Fish Hatchery,
Battle Creek Area, it makes a lovely morning birding Southern Shasta County.
Maybe the most consistent place in the county for Phainopepla, with several
repeated sightings from here.
MOUTH OF COTTONWOOD CREEK STATE WILDLIFE AREA: The access trail is located near the entrance to Reading Island on Adobe Road. A
small
parking area is located across from Hacienda Road. Look for the car gate with the "no
trespassing" sign on it. To reach Cottonwood Creek, walk away from the road on the trail
between two fences that separate two private pastures.
CASCADE
COMMUNITY PARK:
Located between Anderson and Redding. CLEAR CREEK riparian area: The
nearest major intersection is highway 273 and Clear Creek Road (to Igo and Ono). TEHAMA
COUNTY: TEHAMA
COUNTY BIRDING SITES: contributed by Bruce Deuel SISKIYOU
COUNTY: BIRD LIST
FOR KLAMATH BASIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES: FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WEBSITE FOR KLAMATH BASIN NWR COMPLEX MCCLOUD
VICINITY places to bird WINTER
BIRDING IN SISKIYOU COUNTY WINTER
BIRDING IN THE KLAMATH BASIN HUMBOLDT
COUNTY: BIRDING
HOTSPOTS IN THE ARCATA / EUREKA AREAS: WORLD BIRDING: Where to Go
Birding: Accommodations /
Trip Reports from around the world Bird Guide Register
for USA, Canada, other continents and countries
BIRD LISTS for Shasta
County and the adjacent region:
Shasta county, California:
Northern California:
Southern Oregon:
Northwest Nevada:
Copyright ©2009 Wintu Audubon Society, All rights reserved. CENTRAL
SHASTA COUNTY - Redding Area NORTHEAST
COUNTY - Fall River/McArthur Area NORTH
SHASTA COUNTY - Squaw Valley Road Area SOUTHEAST
SHASTA COUNTY - Lassen Park Area SOUTHWEST
SHASTA COUNTY - Igo/Ono Area SOUTH
SHASTA COUNTY - Anderson/Cottonwood Area SISKIYOU
COUNTY - Klamath Basin NWR HUMBOLDT
COUNTY - Arcata/Eureka Area
After Christmas Counts have just been completed
there are good birds out there waiting to be chased
and they’ve already been nailed down to a spot! All
you have to do is go to the correct location, have
patience and lots of good luck. Our regular wintering
birds should all be in and the primary groups to be
looking for this winter are ducks and geese, hawks,
shrikes and sparrows. The best place for these
goodies are Fall River/McArthur, Kutras Lake, Turtle
Bay, Turtle Bay East, Whiskeytown Lake, Anderson
River Park, Lema Ranch, Reading Island and Lone
Tree pond.
You only have a month or two left to visit one of our
fantastic “local” refuges - Sacramento NWR, Gray
Lodge NWR and Tule Klamath Refuges await your
visit. Incredible numbers of waterfowl, especially
near dusk and dawn, are a lifetime experience, even
for non-birders. And, you won’t believe the sounds
you hear, with swans and geese honking by the tens
of thousands. Don’t forget, these birds leave the area
and start heading North as early as March.
If you have the patience, searching through wintering
sparrows in the brush lands and at feeders might yield
a White-throated, American Tree, or Harris’s
Sparrows, especially at locations where they have
been seen before like Lema Ranch, just past Bear
Creek Bridge and the Shammo Ranch and at the
beginning of Rat Farm Road and Horr Road in
McArthur and Glenburn. This past fall has already
had a good showing of White-throated Sparrows at
valley feeders.
A few Red-breasted Mergansers have already returned
to the Kutras Lake area. It looks like the fall Surf
Scoter at Kutras did not stay with us, but scoters can
be quite hard to find. Five Surf Scoters (the most
ever in the county!) were seen by Ken Able this fall
when they made a brief stop at Fall River Lake. By
the way, we are overdue for another White-winged
Scoter or a Long-tailed Duck. Don’t forget to search
for Red-necked Grebe in open water, as one often
winters in the county. Sometimes loons overwinter
here, so look first for the commonest one, Common
Loon, and then for the rarer Pacific, and maybe even
the much rarer Red-throated. Whiskeytown Lake,
Kutras and Eastman Lake are our best regular
locations.
Be sure to search the Fall River area for flocks of
White-fronted and Snow Geese and try to pick out
the slightly smaller Ross’s Goose mixed in with them.
This can most readily be done by carefully searching
the flying geese and looking for Ross’s much shorter
neck, somewhat smaller head and smaller body. One
of my personal favorite winter sounds is the echoing
calls of Tundra Swans. What a delight to hear! Don’t
forget we are still looking for a Trumpeter Swan that
we can all check out, so keep searching though all the
Tundras. Unfortunately, this identification problem is
complex and extremely difficult.
Finally, winter means hawk watching, so check out
this winter’s crop of hawks and see what you can find.
It is especially fun to find dark phase hawks and then
try to identify them. A dark phase Rough-legged has
already been seen in the Fall River valley this winter.
Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks, including one
or two dark phase birds, are not uncommon in the
Fall River area. We are still due for our second
Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawk so sharpen your skills to ID
this one. The Millville Plains area is a closer place to
look for hawks if you can’t make it to Fall River. Our
local wintering Peregrine Falcon has already put in its
appearance around Kutras Lake and along the
Sacramento River so keep an eye out for it. A
Peregrine sighting is always a joy to behold!
Probably more rare and unusual birds are discovered
during these two months of the year than any other
months. This is especially true given that Christmas
Bird Count scouting and counting occur then. The
bottom line here is to search for the unusual bird
among the similar common ones and be ready to go
when a goody is found that you might want to see.
Where do we look for our best birds this time of
year? The best places year after year are Fall River and
McArthur, Millville Plains, Whiskeytown Lake, Kutras
Lake, Lema Ranch, McCumber Lake and East Turtle
Bay. Our hottest new spot is the longspur hangout on
top of the bluff at Leopard Lane off Dersch Road.
Search for the Horned Lark flocks and then look
around the edges of the group and in the furrows of
the fields nearby for Lapland and Chestnut-collared
Longspurs. November is the best month for
Longspurs and numbers taper off as the fall and
winter progress.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on your feeders as all the
usual winter suspects keep coming in. Some lucky
feeder watchers get rewarded with Pygmy Nuthatch,
Purple Finch, and rarely, White-throated Sparrow
(one has already been at a local feeder), Harris’s
Sparrow, Cassin’s Finch or Evening Grosbeak.
The best birds to look for away from your feeders are
Red-breasted Merganser, Red-necked Grebe (one is
already in at Kutras Lake) Surf and White-winged
Scoter, Long Tailed Duck, Tree and Harris’s Sparrow,
Northern Shrike, Pacific Loon, Greater Scaup and for
the hard core birders – a gull goody or two. Whitefronted
and Snow Geese are already in the basin
country. Snow Geese should always be checked for
the rarer Ross’s Goose and the even rarer blue-phase
Snow Goose. One of these days we should get a very
rare blue-phase Ross’s Goose in the county. Tundra
Swans should be searched for the rare and very
difficult to ID Trumpeter Swan. Ferruginous and
Rough-legged Hawks should be arriving in good
numbers any day now, mostly in the Fall River valley,
and a few will be on the Millville Plains along with
Prairie Falcon and possibly a Golden Eagle.
Remember to search through the dark Red-tailed
Hawks for the rare dark phase Ferruginous and
Rough-legged Hawks as we often get one or two of
these.
Again this time of year I will encourage you and your
family or friends to visit one of our incredible local
wildlife refuges - Sacramento National Wildlife
Refuge, Tule Lake and Klamath National Wildlife
Refuge, and Gray Lodge Wildlife Refuge. These are
at their best between November and February. Please
do this at least once to appreciate the spectacular area
we live in. Seeing thousands, and sometimes millions,
of Snow, Ross, Canada, and White-fronted Geese, as
well as Tundra Swans, is truly an exhilarating
experience. If you can be there near dusk or dawn –
you will never forget the indelible images and
magnificent sounds of these birds.
Please share your sightings (or lack of sightings for
rarer birds) with Shasta Birders and, if you can, try to
get in on at least one of our local Christmas Bird
Counts in Anderson, Redding or Fall River Mills.
September brings us the full swing of the migration of landbirds and shorebirds and this continues through early October. Later in the month of September through early October is the best time to find vagrants. The coast and "islands" of vegetation at inland sites like Honey Lake are usually the best sites. The last wanderings of mountain and basin breeders may still be seen. For example, a Sage Thrasher was just seen.
Later in October we should see our first winter hawks and the bulk of waterfowl. Look for them on the Millville Plains and in the Fall River valley. As usual, Kutras Lake will have early water birds, gulls and possibly a few shorebirds passing through. The best place in the county to find the best birds is Kutras Lake, followed by the Fall River and McArthur area.
The two new rice ponds on Rat Farm Road in McArthur have been quite productive. The county's first Franklin's Gull was there near the end of July, and in August there have been record numbers of phalaropes and Baird's Sandpipers. It is amazing what having just a little mudflat habitat does to bring in the birds. If you are near any mountain areas, be sure to look for migrating hawks and falcons, as September and October are the times they move South, including the oddity here and there.
Have you had the delight of hearing a harbinger of
the breeding season yet? Of course, I am talking
about the melodious and variable songs of our local
breeding birds. May and June are the time of
territorial defense and singing, nest building, egg
production and fledging of young. Even in April
many of our locals are already in and doing their
thing. Ash-throated Flycatchers are busy doing their
“briidip” calls, sounding something like Western
Tanagers in the pine forests. The monotonous “Zuweep”
calls of the Hutton’s Vireo echo from the
hillsides in many foothill areas. I hope you have
heard the ping-pong ball dropping song of our
wonderful and secretive Wrentit. Or maybe you have
been serenaded by the long variable warbles of the
Black-headed Grosbeak, sounding like a Robin that
actually knows how to sing (while Robins just seem to
practice singing.) One of my favorites sounds is the
chack-chack-da-shack and whistling of the Bullock’s
Oriole. If you listen carefully you might even hear the
whisper-like chatterings of goldfinches all around the
valley. The persistent, lightly whistled, long songs of
House Finches, sometimes seem to go on and on.
The super melodious Mockingbird is already in full
voice but have you noticed the double note songs of
the Thrasher - that sound a lot like a Mocker.
Northward migration continues for a few species at
an accelerated pace through the end of May and
mountain breeders will still be coming in through
early June. Any patch of vegetation can be a migrant
trap in May and early June, good bets are Anderson
River Park, Lake McCumber, Parkview Park, the
Tower House, Turtle Bay, Lema Ranch, Fall River
Lake, Trinity Mountain and, of course, Lassen Park.
Our magnificent local national park should be open
soon and it offers great mountain birding with little
disturbance from others! Western mountain specialty
birds located here are Hermit, Nashville,
MacGillivray’s, Black-throated Gray and Yellowrumped
Warblers, Western Tanager, Cassin’s and
Warbling Vireos, Hermit Thrush, Gray Jay, Common
Poorwill, Common Nighthawk, Calliope
Hummingbird, Williamson’s Sapsucker, White-headed
and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Finch,
Hammond’s and Dusky Flycatcher, Fox and Lincoln’s
Sparrow and the very striking Green-tailed Towhee.
We always hope to spy the “mountain blues” – the
electric Mountain Bluebird and the Dusky (Blue)
Grouse near the highest areas of the park.
The diminutive, short tailed, Calliope Hummingbird,
visits lowland feeders prior to moving to their high
mountain haunts in late May and June. We need to
find new places for Blue Grosbeaks other than the
still-closed Redding wastewater treatment ponds.
Sometimes they can be found just south of the
Knighten Road I-5 exit on the frontage road by the
river. Don’t forget to look for the breeding antics of
our small population of Great-tailed Grackles at Lema
Ranch near the dam and headquarters. Purple
Martins can sometimes be found at Lake Britton and
are in many seldom visited sections of Shasta Lake.
Burney Falls calls to us to look for Black Swifts and
the ”cigar with wings” or Vaux’s Swift. The park is
also a good area to search for mountain breeders.
The Fall River Mills population of Bank Swallows has
moved out of town somewhere, but they still are
regularly seen in the area, often at Fall River Lake.
Stop at the Fall River Vista Point and search the cliff
side for the rarely reported pair or two of Whitethroated
Swifts that breed there. Rat Farm Road in
McArthur sometimes has a few pairs of Wilson’s
Phalarope, Long-billed Curlew, Black Tern, Redhead,
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer’s and Vesper
Sparrow and possibly Blue-winged Teal.
Yellow-breasted Chats are easily heard in wet
lowlands all around the county – and they are truly
delightful to watch. Swainson’s Hawk is our rarest
local hawk, and it breeds somewhere in the McArthur
area, but exactly where is not known. Look and listen
for breeding Willets, Wilson’s Snipe and the fantastic
Sandhill Cranes, which also grace this area in very
small numbers. And have you heard the liquid and
ethereal Hermit Thrush singing in the darkest
mountain forests? What a thrill that is! The beautiful
whistled song of the mountain breeding Fox Sparrow
belies its somewhat drab plumage.
I encourage you to go out with eyes and ears wide
open, and see what’s out there. While the internet is a
great resource, the great Ludlow Griscom would tell
you that nothing replaces time in the field - by
yourself or with others! Please tell your fellow birders
of your sightings (or lack of them – that information
is also helpful) at Shasta Birders Yahoo group.
This has been a very unpredictable winter. Many winter birds have already started moving North and those first harbingers of spring, Tree Swallows, are already with us. Wintering birds lingering south of us will continue to go through our county in good numbers, we just have to try to figure out where they’ll be.
Good birds that have been seen this winter (and that are probably still out there to be enjoyed) are two Mew Gulls at Kutras Lake, two Townsend’s Warblers at the Redding Cemetery, Ferruginous Hawks at Millville Plains and in Fall River with Rough-legged Hawks, and Lewis’s Woodpeckers in great numbers along Parkville Road. The Leopard Road site above Dersch Road continues to produce Longspurs, this year including one or two Chestnut-collareds with the now expected Laplands. Listen for the rattling call of Laplands and search the larger groups of Horned Larks, especially around the edges, in front and behind the larks. It’s also a good time to look for some of them changing into breeding plumage.
Keep an eye out for Rufous Hummers, Say’s Phoebes, Hooded Orioles and Western Kingbirds, as they are our earliest migrants. The resident Rufous-crowned Sparrows have again been seen at the end of Coleman Road and they are known to breed along the road above there. Late March and early April are the time to search the arid areas for breeders, including Black-throated Sparrows on Spring Creek/Timbered Crater Road in Glenburn, Grasshopper Sparrows on South Fork Road across from Zogg Mine Road in Igo or along Parkville Road past the Bear Creek bridge by the Shammo Ranch. Sage Sparrows are seen and heard past Ono some distance up on the hillsides above Platina Road or up along Highland Ridge Road out of French Gulch. Listen for Flammulated and Spotted Owls in the mid to upper forested areas. Barred Owls from the Northeast have moved into Fender’s Ferry and similar upland forested areas.
Good birding places for the season are Fall River Valley, Lema Ranch, Trinity Mountain, Anderson River Park, Turtle Bay East, Kutras Lake, Millville Plains, McCumber Lake, Reading Island, and Whiskeytown Lake. Remember that Wintu Audubon field trips are a super place to learn our local birds and meet some great people. By the way, March is your last call to visit the local big Refuges of Sacramento and Tule/Klamath for their winter waterfowl spectacle.
CENTRAL
SHASTA COUNTY - Redding Area
REDDING SACRAMENTO RIVER TRAIL bird list
Oak Forest
Agricultural Fields and Pastures
Open water
Riparian Forest
The campus of Shasta Community College is 5 miles east of Redding on Hwy.
299East. It offers a rich and varied habitat and is a regular site for local
bird walks. The following 3- to 4-hour tour includes all the best habitats.
Begin at the North Parking Lot and walk towards the Cafeteria Building, thence
southeast towards the Performing Arts Center. Just before reaching the
Performing Arts Center is a small pond and a group of willows that is usually
good for birds.
Proceed northwest between the Performing Arts Center and a classroom building to
the East Parking Lot and the road bordering agricultural fields. Proceed north
along this road keeping to the left towards the sewer ponds. On the left is a
large field where Yellow-billed Magpies usually cavort. Opposite the sewer ponds
a large group of oaks should be checked for birds. The sewer ponds often have an
assortment of ducks and shore birds.
Stillwater Creek is nearby. The creek and its riparian woodland should be
checked carefully, both south and north, as it is rich habitat for Brown
Towhees, Lewis's Woodpeckers, Accipiters and Buteos . Continue north along the
road and when the road starts to turn west a large pond on the left should be
checked for dabbling ducks. At the far end of the pond turn left (south). The road
passes through a wooded area with small openings where Lark Sparrows are
often seen. Return to the North Parking Lot by continuing along the road.
Evergreen Forest
Large Freshwater Lake
Streams (riparian)
Scrub (chaparral)
Oak Forest
Easily accessible from Redding, you’ll find good birding and good scenery
all year as the changing seasons offer something new every time you visit.
In spring and summer, expect to see Bullock's Orioles, warblers,
Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and American Dippers carrying out nesting
activities in the Tower House historical district. You will also hear
Yellow-breasted Chat in that area and perhaps see one. Both Osprey and Bald
Eagle nest in the park.
The lake itself hosts numerous water bird species in fall and winter, including
occasional rarities such as Red-necked Grebe and unusual gulls.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Take Highway 299 about six miles west of Redding (8 miles west of I-5).
Follow the signs to Weaverville/Eureka. Turn left into the visitor’s center.
You'll need to purchase a pass from the visitor's center (good for both
Whiskeytown Lake and Lassen Volcanic National Park).
The road continues around Whiskeytown Lake from the end of the visitor’s
center parking lot. Turn right when you have an opportunity to take the long
bridge that crosses the lake.
The area offers many habitats to explore, so park and take a short walk off the
main road. You'll likely find many areas at Whiskeytown Lake that appeal to you.
Tower House:
You’ll be rewarded with good birding if you continue west on 299
beyond the visitor’s center and Whiskey Creek Road
and then turn left (south) across 299 to visit the Tower House.
Take the trail from the end of the parking area, cross the long footbridge on
Clear Creek, then turn left and cross Willow Creek (stream, riparian woodland,
mixed conifer forest, and meadow). The Tower House area has much to explore. NORTHEAST COUNTY - Fall River/McArthur Area
Evergreen Forest
Big Lake
Streams (riparian)
Oak Forest
Elevation is 3,000 feet. The park is within the Cascade Range
and Modoc Plateau natural region. Burney Creek runs through the park
as do five miles of forested hiking trails. Varied habitat and a large lake
offer a variety of good birding.
You’ll want to see the colony of Black Swifts nesting in the cliffs near
Burney Falls. Stand at the lower viewpoint close to the falls and watch upward.
The Black Swifts generally arrive by the first week in May,
and are gone by the first freeze of autumn. American Dippers also nest near the
falls.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Drive east of Redding on Highway 299 for about 60 miles
and turn left (north) onto Highway 89 just past Burney.
Go 5 miles north on Hwy 89 and watch for signs to the park on the left.
Lake Britton (9 miles long) is north of Burney Falls
via either the park campground road or Highway 89 (past the park turn-off).
There’s a campground where 89 crosses the upper arm of the lake.
Look for Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and other open water
and shoreline birds at the lake.NORTH SHASTA COUNTY - Squaw Valley Road Area
SOUTHEAST COUNTY - Lassen Park Area
contributed by Phil Aldrich
Evergreen Forest
Mountain (over 5,000')
The Lassen Park area boasts 150 miles of trails, many pull-over parking areas,
and can offer birders a selection of habitat not available at lower elevations.
The highest elevations and Lassen Park Road are usually closed from late October
through mid-June due to snow. Be prepared for cool spring and fall temperatures.
Expect beautiful scenery and a memorable birding experience.
Especially noteworthy are Goshawk, Blue Grouse, Gray-crowned Rosy Finches,
White-headed Woodpecker and Clark's Nutcracker.
You'll need to purchase a pass to enter the park (good for both Whiskeytown Lake
and Lassen Volcanic National Park)
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Take Highway 44 east of Redding for about 45 miles.
Turn right (south) on Lassen Park Road (Hwy 89 south) to Manzanita Lake.
You'll find birds in the Manzanita Lake area which offers many opportunities to
park and explore. You’ll find a trail that circles Manzanita Lake beginning
near the Ranger Station and several other locations (follow the signs).
Look for birds at Crags Campground, about 5 miles east of Manzanita Lake
on the Lassen Park Road.
Dersch Meadows extends for a couple of miles along the east fork of Hat Creek.
One of these meadows is bisected by the main road and is easily accessible about
1.5 miles north of Summit Lake (roadside marker number 39).
Continue south on Lassen Park Road to Summit Lake
(a left turn just past the second Ranger Station on Lassen Park Road / Hwy 89
south - follow the signs). There are campgrounds at both ends of Summit lake
(north and south) and a trail circling the lake that connects with a much longer
trail leading to Echo Lake and Twin Lakes. Expect birds and a pleasant walk.
At Kings Creek Meadows, about 4.5 miles south of Summit Lake
on the Lassen Park Road, you are at 7,400 feet elevation.
The forest is more open.
A hike to the top of Lassen Peak gives you a chance to see Gray-crowned
Rosy-Finches which breed there. Expect spectacular scenery, some raptor
sightings, and an invigorating hike. You may even see a Prairie or Peregrine
Falcon, or a Golden Eagle putting on a spectacular show. It’s about 2.5 miles
to the summit, with 2,000 feet elevation gain. Many people of all ages complete
this climb to the summit in all sorts of footwear so don't miss the opportunity
if it appeals to you and common sense allows it. 
SOUTHWEST SHASTA COUNTY - Igo/Ono Area
SOUTH SHASTA COUNTY - Anderson/Cottonwood Area
Freshwater Marsh
Major River
Open Fields
Streams (riparian)
Oak Forest
allow close viewing, Acorn Woodpeckers "doing business as usual",
year-round Yellow-billed Magpies, California Thrashers singing in riparian
underbrush, and reliable bird activity on and near the river - to many seasonal
specialties.
Spring brings migrant warblers working their way along the river and
Yellow-billed Magpies nesting in the large oaks near the paved parking lot.
Summer finds many species nesting in the park including Green Herons,
Bewick's Wrens and other song birds.
Fall sees a stream of south-bound migrants including Cedar Waxwings,
American Robins, Yellow-rumped Warblers and other fruit-eaters attracted by
the abundance of ripe wild grapes.
Winter brings ducks and gulls to the river and ponds...perhaps even a
wandering Snow Goose.
Always be alert for a surprise such as Wilson's Snipe foraging, American Pipits
walking on rocks near the river, Red-shouldered Hawks circling overhead, or a
Common Moorhen such as the one that spent a winter on one of the ponds.
This park with it varied habitats always gives a good session of birding and
often presents unusual and pleasant surprises.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From I-5 south (Sacramento, Red Bluff): continue on I-5 going north
past the Anderson exits, TAKE THE RIVERSIDE AVENUE EXIT,
turn RIGHT at the end of the I-5 off ramp, and follow the instructions below for
"after exiting I-5".
From I-5 north of Anderson (Redding and points north):
Just after southbound I-5 crosses the Sacramento River (north of Anderson),
TAKE THE RIVERSIDE AVENUE EXIT.
Turn LEFT at the end of the I-5 off ramp and take the bridge
that crosses back over I-5.
AFTER EXITING I-5 from either direction: Continue on the main road
away from I-5 for about a mile to the stop sign at the end of the road.
Turn RIGHT onto North Street.
Follow North Street a short distance to the next stop sign and turn LEFT
onto Stingy Lane. Follow Stingy Lane for about a half-mile.
You’ll come to a stop sign, Look on your left for the blue "Anderson
River Park" sign
and a street sign near it that says "Rupert Road".
Turn LEFT onto Rupert Road and follow it to the river.
Curve right and follow the road along the river inside the park.
away from the river for about a half-mile and look for
the back side of the large park entrance sign on the left
side of the road (facing traffic coming in from the other direction).
Before you reach this sign, turn left onto the narrow paved road
with a stop sign (very near the park entrance sign)
and follow it to the end where you'll find a gravel parking lot
and many more good birding areas.
ANDERSON RIVER
PARK bird list
Balls Ferry Road forms a loop east of Anderson/Cottonwood.
then turn left on Parkville Road. Parkville Road runs north & south and
connects
Ash Creek Road and Dersch Road.
The nearest major intersection is highway 273 and Girvan Road (one stoplight
north of the casino).
The park is one mile east of highway 273 on the right side of Girvan Road.
Bird the BLM land south of Clear Creek Road, there are several access gates
to the extensive riparian areas (park and walk). Clear Creek parallels Clear
Creek Road
about one half mile south of the road.
http://klamathbasinrefuges.fws.gov/
Birding in the
vicinity of McCloud, Siskiyou County
winter
birding in Siskiyou County
winter birding
in the Klamath Basin
NORTHWESTERN NEVADA:
Bird Map and
Birding Locations
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK bird list
REDDING SACRAMENTO RIVER TRAIL bird list
SHASTA COUNTY bird
list-1999 version (text-only)
SHASTA COUNTY bird
list-2005 .pdf version (with graphs)
BIG TREES State Park, (CALAVERAS COUNTY, CA) bird list
BUTTE COUNTY, CA
bird list 2006
CALAVERAS
COUNTY, CA bird list
LAKE ALMANOR (PLUMAS COUNTY, CA) bird list
MODOC
National Wildlife Refuge, (ALTURAS, CA) bird list
POINT REYES National
Seashore bird list
REDWOOD National
Park & State Park bird list
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA
bird list
SACRAMENTO National Wildlife Refuges Complex bird list
SEA
RANCH, (SONOMA COUNTY, CA) bird list
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE (NORTHERN CALIFORNIA) bird list
WHISKEY-SHASTA-TRINITY National Recreation Area bird list
Official California Bird
Records Committee State Bird List
HART
MOUNTAIN (PLUSH, OR) bird list
MALHEUR National Wildlife Refuge (PRINCETON, OR) bird list
SHELDON National Wildlife Refuge (LAKEVIEW, OR) bird list
SHELDON National Wildlife Refuge bird list