Bird Watching

Have you ever watched an osprey fishing for trout; or a red-tailed hawk swooping down upon an unsuspecting field mouse; or a flock of geese flare out to make a synchronized water landing--these are but a few of the thrills that await you when you visit Eastern Plumas County.

The 130,000-acre Sierra Valley, the largest in the Sierra Nevada, is home to over 260 bird species alone, and is an Audubon Society nationally designated Important Bird Area.  Sierra Valley and the surrounding tens of thousands of acres of national forestland, which offers great habitat with its many lakes, meadows, marshes, streams and trees, makes Eastern Plumas the ideal headquarters for birding.

Plan your stay in Eastern Plumas by clicking on:

• Lodging for accommodations
• Food & Drink for local restaurants
• 4-Seasons Fun for seasonal recreation and other activities

Bird Watching Itineraries:

 Local Bird Watching Itineraries:

• Sierra Valley

From Portola, continue east 4 miles on Hwy 70 to County A-23 and turn right (south).  continue 5 miles to Marble Springs Road (shown as Dyson Lane on some maps).  Turn left on Marble Springs Road and travel 3 miles to the end where it meets County Road A-24.  This 3-mile unpaved road offers wonderful opportunities for birding, especially where it crosses the streams.  To return to Hwy 70, continue north on A-24 to Hwy 70.  In the fall and winter Sierra Valley can provide close-up views of bald eagles, golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, kestrels and long-eared owls.  Migrating flocks of waterfowl and songbirds are a common sight during fall.  Spring birders can spot white faced ibis, sandhill cranes, American bitterns, black-crowned night herons, Canada geese and a variety of ducks and songbirds.

• Lake Davis

(Birding and Wildlife Viewing)  From the Graeagle area, take Hwy 70 going east into Portola, and turn left on West Street (Lake Davis Road) approximately 7 miles to Lake Davis.  Waterfowl can be seen year-round.  Bald eagle viewing is excellent from March to May and again in October and November.  Watch snags on the east shore for a nesting pair of eagles.  Deer and other wildlife are also common around the lake.  Additional information is available at J&J Grizzly Store Campground Resort located on West Street just before arriving at the lake.

• Lakes Basin Recreational Area

From Graeagle take Hwy 89 east approximately 1.5 miles to Gold Lake Road, turn right and continue on Gold Lake Road until you reach signage to the numerous lakes.  As you reach the summit, just past Gold Lake, and start downhill, you will see many smaller lakes and meadow areas on both sides of the road, and a turn-off to Salmon Lake.  Further on downhill you will see a turn-off to Sardine Lake and Packer Lake which are the last in the series of lakes.  You will find waterfowl at most of the larger lakes, shorebirds at most all of the lakes and forest-dwellers in the surrounding forest.  There are numerous hiking trails at most of the lakes which provide for great wildlife viewing.

Annual Christmas Bird Counts:

If you are interested in joining the area's Annual Christmas Bird Counts, or for more local birding information, contact Plumas Audubon Society at (530) 283-0455 or visit www.plumasaudubon.org.