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The shorebird migration is upon us, but where in the world can we see these spectacular birds locally? Tom Rusert, founder of Sonoma Birding, is glad you asked.
Over the past two years the organization has scouted out 18 public bird hikes, some hard to find, but all within a 30-minute drive of the Sonoma Plaza. “Year in and year out we are asked where are the hot spots to bird locally,” Rusert said. “We have many hidden away yet easily accessible, quality birding locations.”
The ‘best of’ list was a result of Sonoma County Tourism request asking Sonoma Birding to identify good safe birding places throughout the Valley of the Moon and surrounding areas that might encourage birding and help promote local business through eco-tourism.
To view the list online, along with a check-list of 195 species, visit sonomabirding.org.
• Sonoma Baylands & Port Sonoma – 5 mile trail, 475 acres ( 270 Sears Point Rd, Rt. 37 at Petaluma River Bridge). Great birding area with SF Bay tidal influence. Check out the Petaluma River. Parking. Kiosks on Baylands trail.
• Rush Creek Marsh & Preserve – 500-plus-acre preserve with 3.8 miles of trails on the Sonoma-Marin County line. Hundreds of shorebirds and waterfowl congregate here each fall and winter. Exit off Hwy 101 at Atherton Ave exit. Easy access to Pinheiro Fire Road & Bihia Trail from off road parking. Species List.
• Tolay Lake Regional Park -.5 mile gravel – clay road loop that goes to the east ridge up into the wooded hills. 1,737-acre grasslands, ridges, a freshwater lake, wetlands. Check out Tolay Lake, look for nesting birds and migrant fallout. Lakeville Hwy 116 @ Cannon Lane. Access Info, call: (707-565-2041)
• Ellis Creek Water Recycle Facility – 3 miles of trails with connector to Shollenberger Park. 100 acres of brackish tidal wetlands connected to Petaluma River at high tide.
• Shollenberger Park – Alman Marsh – 2 mile circle trail. 1 mile trail into Alman Marsh. 165 acres. Parking. Tidal influence from Petaluma River. Good year-round birding. Kiosk with Bird list.
• San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge – 8.15 mile trail, 240 acres. Parking. (Tolay Creek- Lower Tubbs Island Trail) Large numbers of shorebird and waterfowl wintering and during migrations beginning in late July/August. Tidal influence. Bird check list.
• Vista Point Overlook – 1500 acres, (Rt. 37 East, 2.2 miles from 37/121 Intersection @ Sears Point) Large numbers of shorebird and waterfowl wintering and during migrations. Tidal influence.
• Viansa Wetlands Overlook – 90 acre seasonal wetlands overlook. (25200 Arnold Drive, daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Hawks, shorebirds, white pelicans. Scope is helpful.
• Napa-Sonoma Marsh – 396 acres, 2.5 mile trail at Hudeman Slough Wetlands Walk (From State Hwy. 12/121 take Ramal Road south, 5.0 miles, large hay barn & parking). Kiosk. Also managed hunting area.
• Sonoma Historic Plaza – 8-acre arboretum with approx. 60 species of mature trees with lots of urban birds. Tree & bird list w/ self guide tour map at visitor center. Surprising mix of birds from the green heron to the nesting western bluebird and black phoebe.
• Sonoma Overlook Trail – 2 mile loop trail. Kiosk with bird and wildflower lists. Trail head a third of a mile from the Plaza.
• Bartholomew Park – 30 acres. 5 miles of trails. Kiosk. Diverse habitats for a variety of local nesting and migrating birds.
• Sonoma State Historic Park (General Vallejo’s home) -50 acres, grasslands, mixed woodlands, ridges, parking. Hawks, woodpeckers, songbirds. (Spain & 3rd St. West)
Up Valley Areas
• Sonoma Valley Regional Park – (Suttonfield Reservoir) 3 mile loop hike, 162 acre preserve w/oak woodlands. Variety of hawks, waterfowl, woodpeckers. Parking (13630 Sonoma Highway.)
• Jack London State Park – Glen Ellen/Eldridge -2 mile Lake Trail Loop. Sonoma Mountain trail-8.25 mile round trip. Fern Lake & Asbury Creek Trail.
• Sonoma Development Center – Old-growth redwood, Mays Clearing,orchard. (2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen.)
• Sugarloaf Ridge State Park – Kenwood -21 miles of trails. 2,700 acre park range from 600 feet at the entrance to 2,729 feet Meadow Trail. Chaparral-covered ridges, oak/fir forest land along the open meadows, and redwood forest in the canyon of Sonoma Creek. Several owl species.
• Hood Mountain Regional Park – Kenwood – 1750 acre wilderness. Mixed oak woodlands, chaparral, riparian zones. (Hwy 12, 1.3 miles up Pythian Creek Road.)
• Ledson Marsh-Lawndale Trail – Approx 5 mile trail.Take Lawndale Trail through many unique forest and meadow habitats up to the marsh loop, Hwy. 12N, left on Lawndale Rd.
