MORE BIRDING SPOTS IN ALPINE COUNTY
by John Luther

Kirkwood Meadows - Kirkwood Meadows is on highway 88 east of Silver Lake and west of Carson Pass. There is only one exit off of 88 into Kirkwood Meadows. Check your maps carefully and note that the Amador/Alpine county line goes at an angle through Kirkwood Meadows. Most of the east side is in Alpine County and the west side is in Amador County. To bird Alpine County I suggest you drive past all of the condos and lodges and park at the north end of the large parking lot which is on the southeast side of the meadow. You might notice the tennis courts on the edge of the meadow to the northwest of the parking lot. The Red Fir forest, the low shrubs and junipers above the forest, and the meadow are good for a variety of birds including White-headed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Mountain Quail, Green-tailed Towhee, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Townsend’s Solitaire, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Wilson’s Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Cassin’s Finch, Raven, and Clark’s Nutcracker. Spotted Sandpipers nest along the creek in the meadow. If you like hiking the ridge top east of the meadow has had Rosy Finch, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Prairie Falcon, and Mountain Bluebird.

Hope Valley - Hope Valley is east of Carson Pass on highway 88. It is good for Snipe and Common Nighthawk in the summer and Rough-legged Hawk in the winter.

Cloudburst Canyon - 3 to 4 miles east of Pickett’s Junction (junction of highways 88 and 89 in Hope Valley) is the area to look for Black Swifts. Black Swifts nest in Cloudburst Canyon on the south side of highway 88, but the waterfall and nest site cannot be seen from the highway. Your best chance of seeing Black Swifts is to scan the sky and cliffs from this area of highway 88.

Grover Hot Springs - This state park is reached by turning south off 88 at Woodfords. You are now on highway 89. You immediately pass over a bridge which Dippers nest under. In Markleeville (the county seat) turn right at the first street (there are only two - the second street is on the south side of a bridge which also has an active Dipper nest). Follow this street and the signs to Grover Hot Springs at the end of the road (about 4 miles). You can drive up to and park at the hot springs between 9am and 9pm (or walk up at other times). The trail beyond the hot springs on the south side of the meadow and into the forest along the creek is good for owls (Spotted, Great-horned, Pygmy, Saw-whet). Common Nighthawk and Snipe use the meadow and Spotted Sandpiper nest along the creek. White-headed Woodpecker, Western Tanager, Red Crossbill, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher and other mountain forest birds can be found along the trail, the willows in the meadow, and in the campground.

Markleeville - A walk around Markleeville is recommended. Look for Black Phoebe, Wilson’s Warbler, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Spotted Towhee, Cedar Waxwing, and goldfinches. Anything might show up in the large trees along the creek. Pinyon Jays and Clark’s Nutcrackers have been seen in town.

Monitor Pass and area near Mono County line - To reach this area continue south through Markleeville on highway 89 about 5 miles to the junction of highways 4 and 89. Highway 4 goes straight following the river. You turn left continuing on highway 89. The willows and cottonwoods in the canyon can be birded for Black-headed Grosbeak, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Fox Sparrow, and possible vagrants. Plumbeous and Cassin’s Vireos have been found in the canyon as well as Pinyon Jays and Clark’s Nutcrackers. Heenan Lake will be on your right about 3 miles from the junction. It often has no birds, but has had Surf Scoter and Pacific Loon so is worth a quick scan. Monitor Pass has a nice group of aspens and you will see similar aspen groves all over this area. Virginia’s Warbler has nested here at least once. Dusky Flycatcher, White-crowned Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, and House Wren are common here. Continue east on 89 to the Mono County line. Then turn around (still on 89) and drive back west about 100 yards back into the shallow valley that goes north. Take the first dirt road off 89 to the right. Drive this dirt road along the east edge of the valley and look and listen for Brewer’s, Vesper, and Sage Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, Green-tailed Towhees, and Gray Flycatchers. You might want to check various aspen groves for Red-breasted Sapsuckers and during the fall and spring look for migrants.

Indian Creek Reservoir - To reach Indian Creek Reservoir go north from Markleeville on highway 89 about 3 miles (or south from Woodfords about 4 miles) and turn east on Airport Road. About 2 miles up the road make a quick stop at Curtz Lake to check for ducks and phalaropes and to bird the pines. Be alert for Goshawk and Pinyon Jay as you drive to the reservoir. From the campground road, the campground, and the dirt road check all sides of the reservoir for shorebirds, gulls, ducks, Double-crested Cormorants, White Pelicans, Bald Eagle, and Osprey. Lewis’ Woodpeckers, Western Bluebirds, Chipping Sparrows and Kestrels are often found in the trees east of the dirt road that runs along the east side of the reservoir. Stop at the north end of the reservoir on the dirt road just after you pass the east of the dam. This is a good place to scope the waters north of the dam. This area often has hundreds of ducks, mergansers, and geese.

Diamond Valley - After birding Indian Creek Reservoir continue north on the dirt road about 2 miles until it ends at Diamond Valley Road (paved). Turn left to bird the marshes and pastures. Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds and Marsh Wrens nest here. Listen for Sora and Virginia Rail. This is a good place for a variety of raptors such as Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, and Northern Harrier. So be sure to check all fence posts and scan the sky. White-faced Ibis have been seen here and shorebirds and ducks may be present depending on the amount of water available. When you reach the west end of the pastures turn around and go back through the valley (past the dirt road to Indian Creek Reservoir). The junipers on your left have Juniper Titmouse and the hill on your right has Rock Wren. In the fall and winter this is a good area for sparrow flocks as well as in Diamond Valley. Continue east into the next valley and ranch where you should find Crows and Black-billed Magpies. Ibis, Great Blue Heron and shorebirds may be present if there are flooded fields.

Highway 88 Pasturelands - Continue on Diamond Valley Road (paved all the way) until the stop sign at highway 88. Turn right onto 88 to go down into the pastureland. It is only about 3 miles to the Nevada state line. Check all of the side roads and ranches for Western Meadowlark, Western Kingbird, and Bullock’s Oriole. Check wet spots for shorebirds. This and Diamond Valley are areas to look for Barn Owls.

Clark Fork Road - This area is in southwestern Alpine County and quite a distance from the areas mentioned above. From the town of Sonora (in Tuolumne County) go east on highway 108 about 45 miles to the Clark Fork Road. This road goes off highway 108 to the northeast which means that you turn left. In general the north side of the road is in Alpine County and the south side is in Tuolumne County. Along the road (it dead ends after about 10 miles) there is some mountain chaparral and forest with incense cedar and pines, but no oaks. At the end of the road there is a great meadow. Species to be expected along the road or in the meadow include Mountain Quail, Calliope Hummingbird, White-headed Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood Pewee, Stellar’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Bewick’s Wren, Dipper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Robin, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivrays’ Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, and Cassin’s Finch.

Additional information on Alpine County birds and birding locations would be greatly accepted. Please send additions or comments to:

John Luther
6511 Exeter Drive
Oakland, CA 94611
aplomado-falcon@worldnet.att.net