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Click on the links for a map or website
Bass Lake - Bass Lake is used to store water for the El Dorado
Irrigation District. It is located on Bass Lake Rd. between Highway
50 and Green Valley Rd. Access to the lake is restricted but birds
can be seen from roadside turnouts with binoculars or a spotting
scope. Winter finds many waterfowl species here including Mallard,
American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Canad Goose, and
Greater White-fronted Goose. Other species seen here are Turkey
Vulture, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Double-crested
Cormorant, Killdeer, and Lark Sparrow.
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park - Located in Coloma on Highway 49 between Placerville
and Auburn. This park is the site of James Marshall's discovery of
gold in 1848. There are historic buildings, a museum, mining
apparatus, and a monument to Marshall above the town on the hillside.
The area is woodpecker heaven. Tons of Acorn Woodpeckers can be seen
in the trees. Red-breasted Sapsuckers and Northern Flickers
(red-shafted) are also present. Other species include American Robin,
Brewer's Blackbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Western Scrub-jay, Canada Goose, Oak Titmouse, Western Bluebird,
Dark-eyed Junco, and White-breasted Nuthatch.
Dave Moore Nature Area
- Located a mile or two north of Coloma along Highway 49 it features a
short loop trail that leads to the south sork of the American River and
back. The north arm is handicapped acccessible. Birds here are
typical of its foothill habitat. Western Scrub-jay, Mourning Dove, Oak
Titmouse, and Lesser Goldfinch can be found in the oaks and pines. At
the river look for Common Merganser. Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed
Hawks can be seen soaring overhead in the middle of the day.
Greenwood
Creek - Located a few miles north of Coloma along Highway 49 the access
point was formerly known as the Straza property. The trail follows the
south fork of the American River from its confluence with Greenwood
Creek. A good variety of birds can be found here: waterfowl species in
and along the river and songbirds in the brush. Yellow-breasted Chat
has been seen and heard in the willows. Swallows and Wrens are common
and nest in tree cavities. Beware of ticks in the high grass in the
spring.
Cronan Ranch
- Located several miles north of Coloma on Pedro Hill Rd. just off of
Highway 49 it features a grassland trail down to the south fork of the
American River. There is a small marsh along a creek with Red-winged
Blackbirds. Western Meadowlark, Western Bluebird, and Western Kingbird
are common. Yellow-billed Magpie are also present which is notable as
this species prefers the lower elevations of the Central Valley.
Raptors include White-tailed Kite, Red-tailed Hawk, and Turkey
Vulture. There are some old wooden buildings near the river. The
trees around the buildings harbor Bullock's Orioles. Black Phoebe can
be seen flycatching from perches on the buildings. There is little
shade on most of the hike so deep summer is not the best time to visit.
Mormon Island Preserve - Technically on the border of Sacramento and El Dorado
counties, this preserve is a small wetlands area located below the
Mormon Island Dam. Species seen here include Red-shouldered Hawk,
White-tailed Kite, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Mallard,
Green Heron, and Black Phoebe. Turkey Vultures can be seen overflying
the adjacent grasslands and oak hillsides. A cemetery is located just
east of the preserve that includes remains relocated as a result of
the flooding of Folsom Lake.
Sweetwater Creek - Sweetwater Creek flows into the South Fork of the
American River as it is forming one arm of Folsom Lake. There is a
trail that follows the creek. The trail is accessible from Salmon
Falls Road a few miles north of Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills.
A ribbon of trees and other foliage line the banks of the creek which
flows through dry chaparral. Songbirds can be seen and heard along
the creek. Typical birds include flycatchers, grosbeaks, towhees, and
finches. Lazuli Buntings can be seen here. Raptors include Red-tailed
Hawks and Turkey Vultures flying above the canopy and Cooper's Hawks
seen in the canopy.
New York Creek - Located in El Dorado Hills, this creek flows north to
Folsom Lake. A hiking trail parallels the creek on the east side. The trail
can be accessed at the south end off of St. Andrews Dr. just east of El
Dorado Hills Blvd. The trail runs north to Art Weisburg Park. Typical birds
in this stream-side habitat include Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Spotted Towhees,
Bushtits, Oak Titmouse, Acorn Woodpeckers as well as various sparrows and
goldfinches.
Serrano - Also located in El Dorado Hills, this trail runs along the
man-made wetlands (mitigation for the surrounding housing developments) just
west of Silva Valley Parkway on the south side of Serrano Parkway. Typical
birds here are Red-winged Blackbird, Green Heron, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron,
Hooded Merganser, and Common Moorhen.
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