Waterfowl viewing
Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge: The 6-mile tour is on a dirt levee road that wraps around the marsh. Drive at the pace of a walk and stop at all the keyhole breaks in the tules, then use binoculars or a spotting scope to home in on all of the birds. A viewing deck provides an elevated long-distance panorama of the marsh and to the Sutter Buttes. Except at viewing stations, do not get out of your car; the birds are habituated to vehicles, not people. Note: As darkness takes over, the geese fly out of the refuge to feed on the neighboring rice fields; the best spot to see the event is the last left turn on the way out of the refuge. Getting there: $6 (good same day for Colusa), free with federal Duck Stamp; GPS location: 752 County Road 99W, Willows; contact: U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, 530-934-2801, www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento.
Colusa National Wildlife Refuge: This is a 3-mile driving tour, but many pass the best spot, the viewing deck on the right located near the start of the drive. For photographs, the ducks and geese are often closest here. A 1-mile trail also starts near the viewing platform. The driving tour passes a pond on your right, crosses a riparian creek, and then extends to a small lake and beyond to good upland habitat. Note: When driving through the uplands, stay alert — we’ve seen deer, coyote, fox and bobcat. Getting there: $6 (good same day for Sacramento NWR), free with federal Duck Stamp; GPS location: 2180 State Highway 20, Colusa; contact: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 530-934-2801; www.fws.gov/refuge/sacramento.
Woodbridge Ecological Reserve: Woodbridge is renowned for its sandhill crane flyovers, which are best at dusk. Tours are available to put visitors in the best position to see the spectacle. As a freshwater marsh, Woodbridge attracts a diversity of waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds on their migratory flights. Note: After turning on Woodbridge Road, drive 2 miles to a turnout on the left for one of the best lookouts to take in the flights. Getting there: $4.32 or California DFW Lands Pass; GPS location: 7730 W. Woodbridge Road, Lodi; Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, 209-234-3435, info and register for crane tours at www.dfg.ca.gov/delta/cranetour.
Cosumnes River Preserve: This is a vast habitat that extends into the Delta. Easy walks span miles, where there are more birds than people. On Saturday at headquarters, a row of spotting scopes will be set up to provide views of ducks, geese, stilts, snipe and more. For the more ambitious, this is one of the best places anywhere to launch a kayak or canoe and see birds from the water. Getting there: Free parking, access; GPS location: 13501 Franklin Blvd., Galt; contact: Cosumnes River Preserve, 916-684-2816, www.cosumnes.org.