Birding At the Site
Birding from the Yokuts and Miwok Trails gives the walker a sense of solitude and an appreciation for the sights and sounds of the oak forest and grassland. The Miwok Trail (1.5 mile) begins at the southernmost parking lot. The Yokuts Trail (0.3 mile) begins in the same area; it is paved and handicapped accessible.

In winter, all four subspecies of Canada Goose can sometimes be found. Red-breasted Nuthatch (rare), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden- and White-crowned sparrows, and Dark-eyed Junco are here as well. Winter is the best time to see a Brown Creeper moving along the bark of the valley oaks, bracing themselves as they go with their stiff, brown tails, using their slightly decurved beaks to probe for insects.

In spring, small flocks of warblers can be seen flitting about in the upper canopies. Warblers also have a reputation for tagging along with roving bands of acrobatic Bushtits. Keeping that in mind can pay big dividends while you are searching for these busy little birds. Mid-April to mid-May is prime time for viewing them in the park. Early spring is the season when many flycatchers begin to make their appearance. Expect to see Ash-throated and Olive-sided flycatcher, and Western Wood-Pewee. Gray Flycatcher is a rare migrant in spring. Dead snags, exposed branches, and dry twigs are favored perching sites for all members of the tyrant flycatcher family. Look for surprises on fallen trees and logs. Swainson’s Thrush, easier to hear than to see, is a reliable migrant usually found in the lower canopy close to the ground. Also, listen for Black-headed Grosbeak. The male’s nonstop caroling from the treetops is a characteristic spring behavior

In early summer, Bullock’s Oriole can be seen hunting feverishly for invertebrates in the oak foliage and feeding their hungry offspring. If one is lucky, the oriole’s pouch nest woven from plant fiber can be seen suspended from a high branch. Bushtit nests are equally interesting and perhaps easier to find. Look for a hanging, woven, sock-like nest made of plant material and other assorted finery. Raptors can usually be seen soaring when the thermals develop later in the day. Abundant nest sites and food within the park and in nearby fields and croplands all but assure sightings of Red-tailed and Swainson’s hawks, and occasional Red-shouldered Hawks. White-tailed Kites are often seen in the spring. Turkey Vultures are common. Red-winged Blackbirds sometimes nest in the tules and cattails at the southern end of the lake. Western Bluebirds are year-round residents, while Lazuli Buntings are sometimes seen in spring or summer. In fall and winter, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks may be seen in pursuit of sparrows, thrushes, woodpeckers, or other songbirds. When in pursuit of prey, these highly maneuverable, fast-flying predators cause considerable panic amongst members of the local avian community.

Oak Grove Lake is attractive to herons, egrets, ducks and geese. Resident birds such as California Scrub-Jay, Acorn and Nuttall’s woodpeckers, and Black Phoebe are almost unavoidable. This used to be the spot locally to find Yellow-billed Magpie, but they are less frequent now after the arrival of West Nile virus in the early 2000s. The Verna Johnston Bird Oasis can be very attractive to sparrows in winter and migrants in spring. It is located near the back of the Yokuts Trail. Winter is a more likely time to see Great Horned Owls after leaves have fallen from the trees. Barn Owls and Western Bluebirds have been observed nesting in cavities in the oaks.