Birding At the Site

Start at the end of the channel by parking on Weber Ave, west of Center St, and walk along the path next to the water. Here you will have close looks at Double-crested Cormorants, Pied-billed Grebes and gulls in the water. The most common gulls here are Ring-billed and California, but you may also see Mew and Herring gulls, and perhaps even a Western Gull (rare). Bonaparte’s Gulls and Forster’s Terns may be seen circling, looking for food. Less common but still possible here are Common oon; Western, Clark’s, Eared and Horned grebes. Red-throated Loon (rare) has also been seen here in winter. When you reach the end of the walk by the water, look north to the other side for swallows, or drive to the large unpaved parking area. Barn and Cliff swallows nest in these old warehouses and Violet-green and Northern Rough-winged swallows may be seen here during fall migration. Check also for White-throated Swifts, as these birds nest in weep holes on the underside of the Crosstown Freeway.

From the end of the Channel, go north on El Dorado St to Fremont St and turn left (west). Continue until you reach the turning basin. Park in the open area next to the water and look for the same birds as at the end of the channel. In addition, check out the near-shore water for ducks and coots. Also check the vegetation along the waterside of the parking area for passerines, especially during spring and fall migrations. Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers are dependable winter residents. Pay particular attention to the side channel across the water for Western and Clark’s grebes. In winter, Double-crested Cormorants are abundant, feeding in the water. Forster’s Terns patrol over the water, looking for small fish.

From the turning basin, continue west on Fremont St to Monte Diablo Ave and west to Louis Park. Park in the lot on the west side, next to Smith Canal. From here you can bird the park clockwise. Beginning at the junction of Smith Canal and the boat launch channel, scan the water for the usual water birds. Look up Smith Canal for Great and Snowy egrets, Great Blue and Green herons. Grebes are also found here. Follow the path along Smith Canal and look for passerines in the vegetation on both sides and in the trees in the park itself. Winter residents include Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, and Orange-crowned warblers. During spring and fall migration, there are numerous other warblers including MacGillivray’s, Nashville, Yellow, Townsend’s and Wilson’s. In addition, Cassin’s and Warbling vireos may be found, along with Pacific-slope Flycatchers. Since this is a city park, there is minimal understory, but the open spaces provide an excellent urban setting for year-round close observation of Yellow-billed Magpie, American Robin, and resident woodpeckers: Nuttall’s, Downy, Acorn and Northern Flicker.

As you continue in your clockwise walking tour of the park, you will reach the fence around Pixie Woods. Scan the vegetation through the fence for warblers and vireos as well as goldfinches. Common Yellowthroat is a year-round resident here. Also look for Song Sparrow, and in winter White-crowned and Lincoln’s sparrows. House and Bewick’s wrens are also possibilities. In winter, Fox Sparrow may be seen scrambling about in the low vegetation. Rarely, Pine Siskin and Purple Finch have been seen.

Check the pond for Black-crowned Night-Heron roosting in the vegetation above the water and Wood Duck in the water. Always carefully check the trees in the park. Winter birds in the taller evergreens may include White-breasted and Red-breasted nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and Varied Thrush. Check the ground around these trees for owl pellets, a sign of Great Horned Owls. Spring brings migrating Western Tanagers and Bullock’s Oriole. Black-headed Grosbeak spend the summer here.