Pine Flat Road is located in the Northeast section of Sonoma County, East of Alexander Valley. It may be reached from Alexander Valley Road where it intersects with Highway 128, about six miles Southeast of Geyserville.

The road winds its way upslope for seven or eight miles through a variety of habitats, including oak woodlands, grassy hillsides, groves of Douglas fir, foothill (formerly gray, and before that digger) pines and chaparral.

The best time of year to bird the area is mid April to late May. Morning is the best time of day for hearing birds. The traffic is also lighter then. The elevation climb from the valley is roughly 2,000 feet.

Birds I have seen and heard over the years, up to April 19th 1998, include: Wild Turkey, Pileated Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Northern Pygmy Owl, Western Tanager, Nashville Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Chipping Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak and Golden Eagle.

During the Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas project, Dan Nelson found Lawrence's Goldfinches displaying breeding behavior.

On a Madrone Audubon field trip in May 1993 Black Swifts and Black-chinned Sparrows were seen.

I have on occasion encountered youngsters taking target practice, so make sure to observe private property signs. Pine Flat Road is well worth a chunk of your birding time. Start early and bring food and water to enjoy your birding at a leisurely pace.

* MAYACAMAS (ma-YAHK-a-muss) MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY - The middle portion of Pine Flat Road is included in this 1400 acre sanctuary which was given to the National Audubon Society (NAS) late in 1994. Madrone Audubon Society (MAS), the local chapter of NAS, jointly administers the sanctuary with NAS. Look for the sign on Pine Flat Road marking entry into NAS property. No off road access or trails have been established yet. We ask that you bird from the road and treat the land and its resources with respect.

[Since the original PINE FLAT ROAD article was written, Grasshopper Sparrows have been found regularly in late spring and summer, and a Burrowing Owl has overwintered, both near a spring in open grassland on the sanctuary. Both species were visible from a safe pullout on the south side of the road. Betty Burridge 4-25-00]

One of the best places for springtime bird watching in Sonoma County is Ida Clayton Road where a large number of our returning spring migrants can be seen. April and May are the best months.

Ida Clayton Road intersects Highway 128 as it enters southern Knight's Valley in eastern Sonoma County. It climbs into the mountains on the northwest shoulder of Mt. St. Helena. The terrain is steep and offers many nice vistas, including wonderful views of the north side of Mt. St. Helena. The road continues to the Lake County line where it becomes Western Mine Road. The high point of the road is about 2600 feet. Several different habitat types are traversed by the road, including Douglas-fir forest, oak grassland, oak woodland, and chaparral. This variety of habitats hosts a fine variety of birds.

The chaparral zone is a good place to look and listen for Bewick's Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Sage Sparrow. Over the past few years, vineyards have encroached on this part of the road and replaced a good portion of the chaparral to the south.

Above the chaparral, Ida Clayton Road enters a stand of Douglas-firs. This is a good spot for Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling and Cassin's Vireos, and Pileated Woodpecker. Singing Nashville Warblers have been seen at this location several times. From this point on, the calls of Mountain Quail can often be heard. The road becomes relatively level at this point and traverses the north side of a ridge. This is a good area to look for migrant Hermit, Townsend's, and Nashville Warblers.

Most of Sonoma County's recently-returned spring migrants can be seen along Ida Clayton Road. Birds that are regularly seen include Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Purple Finch, Lazuli Bunting, Orange-crowned Warbler, Band-tailed Pigeon, House Wren, and Western Wood-Pewee. White-throated Swift and Olive-sided Flycatcher are also occasionally seen.

Ida Clayton Road has produced some rather unusual (for Sonoma County) birds over the years. A calling Greater Roadrunner was heard on April 29, 1978 (Benjamin D. Parmeter). There are at least three spring/summer records of Black-chinned Sparrows along Ida Clayton Road from the late 60s and early 70s. A MacGillivray's Warbler used to be an annual occurrence along a creek on the upper part of the road (the traditional RROS field trip lunch stop). This bird disappeared a few years ago and has not yet returned (I'm still hoping).

For those interested in plants, Ida Clayton Road provides an even greater diversity than of birds. Some of the more noteworthy plants are Sugar Stick (Allotropa virgata), Mt. St. Helena Fawn Lily (Erythronium helenae), Mountain Dogwood (Cornus nuttalli), and several species of Ceanothus.

All in all, Ida Clayton Road is a very nice place to be in the springtime.

Shiloh Regional Park was acquired by Sonoma County in 1989. It is a natural area with over five miles of trails. There is a parking fee (or an annual pass is available for $40).

A list of over 90 bird species has been compiled for the park by Jon Winter, Bob and Bertha Rains. It has varied habitats: chaparral, conifers, oaks, open fields and a pond. The pond has had geese but we have not seen any there for several years.

A walk on the short loop up the Ridge Trail (return via the Big Leaf Trail) will take you two and a half miles. Including the creek trail will add another half mile. The exercise required for climbing the hill is rewarded with a view of Mt. St. Helena and the Santa Rosa Plain. At the top we have often seen an Anna's Hummingbird perched on the same bare tree.

Trails may be muddy in spots after rain, otherwise they are in good condition.

Specialties to be seen there are Pileated Woodpecker, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Wild Turkeys - the turkeys are more often heard than seen - and hawks. Several years ago we saw a Golden Eagle. Jon Winter reported a Rock Wren.

People riding horseback frequent the park, especially on weekends. For a quiet walk choose a week day when you may meet only one or two other hikers.

On the trail along the creek wildflowers are abundant in Spring. The hillside opposite the parking lot is covered with Mariposa Lilies each year in April or May. If botanizing is slow; check out the butterflies.

To get there take the Shiloh exit from Highway 101 (about six miles north of Santa Rosa) and drive east to the end. Turn right for a short bit and the entrance is to the left.

One of my favorite birding spots is the area around the mouth of the Gualala River on the Sonoma-Mendocino County line. Here, the year round, good birding is available. The level of the water in the river changes as the mouth of the river opens and closes due to the shifting sandbar at the mouth.

In winter all three common species of loons are seen on the lower river. Often a Peregrine Falcon can be seen perched on a snag on the island in the river. All three cormorants are usually in the area. Common Mergansers are very regular. Some shorebirds frequent the sandbar when the river is low. Most regular are Greater Yellowlegs and Least Sandpiper. Black Oystercatchers frequent the offshore rocks. Surf and White-winged Scoters are regular. Black Brant are not uncommon.

Offshore scoping has produced Sooty and Black-vented Shearwaters. A good variety of gulls is always present on the sandy beach to the south of the river mouth.

Regular alcids are Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled Murrelet, and Rhinoceros Auklet. At Fish Rock, about four miles to the north, is a famous sea bird nesting site, including a few pairs of Tufted Puffins.

In Summer many interesting birds can be found. Purple Martins nest in the concrete bridge over the river, using holes under the bridge on the Sonoma County side. Tree, Cliff, Rough-winged and Violet-green Swallows are common. Red-breasted Sapsuckers are frequently seen near the Sonoma County campground. Hairy and Acorn Woodpeckers are always present in the same area along the river. Orange-crowned, Yellow, Wilson's, MacGillivray's Warblers and Yellow-breasted Chat nest in the riverside riparian growth. Common Yellowthroats nest in a small marsh just north of the bridge. Warbling and Hutton's Vireos are common. Hermit Warblers are surprisingly common in the nearby Douglas firs. Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, and Olive-sided Flycatcher are easily observed. Winter Wren is a common resident and its beautiful song can be heard almost throughout the year.

A number of rarities have been seen in the area including Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia and Chestnut-sided Warblers, and there is also a record for a Canada Warbler nearby at the Sea Ranch. A pair of Gray Jays stayed in the area for three years and nested on at least one occasion. A Franklin's Gull was seen in June of '91.

Owls in the area include Great Horned, Western Screech, Northern Saw-whet, Pygmy, and Spotted.

Formerly, Common Nighthawks were here annually. They should be looked for again.

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