LUKE'S EASY GUIDE TO BIRDING IN KINGS COUNTY
Kings County is in the southwestern part of the San Joaquin Valley, with almost all of its land area comprised
of the flat valley floor and some, in the west, comprised of the rolling hills of the Kettleman and Kreyenhagen
Hills. Kings County's primary industry is agriculture, and most of the flat land in the south and west is under
cultivation for row crops like cotton, wheat and alfalfa; that in the north and northeast has some orchards and
a number of dairies. Highway 5 runs right through the western portion of the County (that's how you all have Raven,
but only Raven, on your County lists!), and the eastern part of the County is just off Highway 99.
The key to birding in the County is the level of water, which shifts from season to season. When there is ample
water, the County is great for shorebirds and waterfowl, and interesting gulls seem to turn up regularly. Water
level is also key to some roads, as the dirt ones turn to mush and the paved ones flood out in wet winters (like
1997-98).
Kings County has few active birders, so there is plenty of unknown territory to be explored! Let me know what
you find out there, and where you find it.
I have arranged this in a clockwise fashion, beginning in the northeast. Note that I have omitted several hotspots
that are on private property.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: There are three main places to stay in motels/hotels in Kings County: the capital, Hanford, in the northeast, has several different hotels; the second largest city, Corcoran, in the southeast, has two; and Kettleman Junction, at Highways 5 and 41, has two as well. Although this is a relatively compact county, there are long stretches of road without gas or services, particularly in the southern half of the county, so check those gauges, and it is always a good idea to bring lots of water. Rattlesnakes are present but generally let you know before you step on them. If a road is muddy, my advice would be to go gently or not at all – gumbo mud created by the Corcoran clay can make these roads impassable quickly.
Northeast
BURRIS PARK (Delorme Socal p. 36, A1), off Clinton just W of 6th Ave. This County park is a fine stand of
mature deciduous, live oak and conifer trees that is a great migrant trap and has interesting birds year round;
my personal list for the park has 77 species on it. The edges of the park often have sparrows (winter) and migrants
(spring/fall) in the shrubs, and if the water is high, there is often water on the N, E and W of the park, which
can have interesting ducks and the occasional shorebird. Best spot in the County for Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's
Woodpecker, Bullock’s Oriole, Bushtit, Wood Duck (summer), Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, White-breasted
Nuthatch, and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks both nests, the former on the south
end of the park, the latter near the entrance gate. It is also great for warblers at the appropriate season (I
have had Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s, Wilson’s and Hermit
here). Other birds regularly found here in season include Lesser Goldfinch, House Wren, Western Tanager and Black-headed
Grosbeak. Listen along the south edge of the park for California Quail; this area is where Kent Van Vuren found
the county’s first (and only) record of Indigo Bunting. N.B.: Kings County closes Burris Park because of insurance
problems from November to March; if you find the gate closed, you can bird the edges. Burris Park and all Kings
County parks (like Hickey Park, see below) are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It is also a popular park during
summer weekends. If the park is closed or too crowded, many of the same birds can be found at Kings Row, just 1/2
mile south off 6th Ave.
KING'S ROW (Delorme Socal p. 36, A1), W off 6th Ave ½ mile south of Clinton. This seemingly abandoned
road is the old entrance to Burris Park (you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the stone gateposts
with "BURRIS" on one and "PARK" on the other) is just south of Burris Park, and has many of
the same birds. It has a major stand of oak along a dry creek bed. Best spot in the County for Black Phoebe, Oak
Titmouse, California Quail (listen on the west end), House Wren, Western Scrub Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Fox Sparrow,
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted and California Towhees. John Luther and a Big Day team had Lawrence’s Goldfinch
here in May 1999. Kings Row also has Bushtit, Bullock's Oriole and woodpeckers, like Burris Park. If there are
lots of picnickers or loud music at Burris, this is a quiet spot nearby to find birds.
7TH AND IONA PONDS (Delorme Socal p. 36, B1 (marked "percolation pond")), south of Houston. If
it is full of water, which it usually is, it is interesting birding in any season. Winter can bring hundreds of
Ring-billed Gulls and also waterfowl; scan carefully, as I had Franklin’s Gull here in December 1997. Spring brings
lots of activity, with a fair smattering of shorebirds, and Blue Grosbeak and Yellow-headed Blackbird among other
passerines; we had a migrant Rock Wren (!) here in April 1999. This is a good spot for some harder waterfowl, such
as Blue-winged Teal, Canada Goose (winter) and American Wigeon (spring). Stilts and Avocet nest here when there
is water, as do Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, and Blue Grosbeak. You can drive the dike road around the pond, but don't
try it if it looks muddy as you can get stuck; if it is very dry, roll up your windows as the very fine dust will
quickly coat the inside of your car (and optics!). A scope is helpful but not absolutely necessary.
NEVADA AVENUE PONDS (also known as CORCORAN RESERVOIR or the CORCORAN IRRIGATION DISTRICT (CID))
(Delorme Socal p. 36, C1), north of Nevada between 6th and 4th. This excellent area is birdy all year round. It
is the most reliable spot in the County for aechmophorous grebes, both Western and Clarks, which nest here when
water levels are right. It is also good for Gadwall and Cattle Egret (watch for flyovers, especially early in the
morning), and I had my only county Common Loon here one May. One of the most productive spots is the northern-most
area of the ponds, accessible from 6th Ave (park along the road and walk up to the dike). Gulls, terns,
White Pelicans (sometimes), Cinnamon Teal (and the occasional Blue-winged), Double-crested Cormorants and hundreds
of coots abound in summer, and shorebirds are around in numbers if the water level is right. Horned Lark sing from
the fields and fences along 6th Avenue. The land birding can also be very good, particularly to the
east of the ponds along Nevada, where White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, and Loggerhead Shrikes hunt in the
grasslands, and Lincoln's Sparrow can be found. Search those swallows for the tough ones -- both Violet Green and
Bank have been here. (Note that south of Nevada Ave at the most eastern part of this grassy area is Tulare County.)
When there is lots of water, there are nesting waterfowl south of Nevada Avenue as well. The pond just north and
west along Highway 43 is also worth a check; if there is water, there are often scads of waterfowl, though generally
the same species as found on the Nevada Avenue ponds but farther away and more difficult to see.
Southeast
6TH AVENUE south of Corcoran (also known as DAIRY AVENUE) (Delorme Socal p. 48 at A1-B1). Depending
on water levels, look for waterfowl in winter. Check the telephone poles for raptors, including Ferruginous Hawk
(winter), Swainson’s Hawk (summer) and Peregrine Falcon. This road is great when the agricultural fields are flooded,
as the fields teem with shorebirds. Watch for White Pelicans overhead, and herons and egrets along the levees.
About 2.5 miles south of Virginia Road (the road to Alpaugh), you can exit the road and drive on the levee parallel
to the road to the west; this gives you sight access to a major holding pond, which, when it has water, has birds
including Double-crested Cormorant and Forster’s and Caspian Terns. Flooding closed 6th Avenue in spring
1998.
HOMELAND CANAL (Delorme Socal p. 48 at B1) . At the intersection of 6th and the Homeland Canal, in dry weather you can drive west on the levee north of the Homeland canal. The Brown Pelican (2nd county record) that hung out over the winter of ‘98-99 spent lots of time at this very intersection, so keep your eyes open. A several-mile drive up the levee road will yield gulls, herons and egrets, terns, Double-crested Cormorants, coots and some waterfowl. I found the county’s first record of Glaucous-winged Gull along this very levee in March 1999. At the intersection of the canal and 10th Ave is the South Wilbur Flood Area, a massive water holding basin that is very productive for grebes, herons, ducks, cormorants (nesting in the trees), swallows (spring-summer-fall), White Pelicans, coots, shorebirds, gulls and terns. South of this intersection is private property, but you can drive north on 10th (the dirt road heading north).
10TH AVENUE north of Utica Avenue (Delorme Socal p. 35, C7-D7, and page 47, A7). This road, mostly dirt,
traverses many fields which are often flooded in fall, winter and spring, with good waterfowl and shorebirds. The
flooded fields on either side have yielded such interesting birds as Pectoral Sandpiper (fall ‘97), Burrowing Owl,
and Sabine's Gull (September 1997). Caspian terns and interesting gulls (including sometimes Herring) are along
the canals.
UTICA AVENUE (Delorme Socal p. 47-48 at A), is an exit off of Highway 5, and runs east from Highway 5 almost
to the Tulare County line, about 19 miles. Utica can be feast or famine, depending on water levels. It offers one
of the easiest, most accessible ways to see flooded agricultural fields and ponds, and there is a ditch along the
south side of the road that is excellent for shorebirds in season. Usually lots of egrets and herons along the
way. Driving Utica at night is a good way to catch tantalizing glimpses of Short-eared Owls as they fly through
your headlights – bring a spotlight and you may be able to find them hunting over the levees.
There are other good spots but they are on private property. OBEY ALL SIGNS. The areas marked "Private Property" are often patrolled by people in pick-up trucks with rifle racks who are serious about the idea of private property. Roads that are not marked are generally okay. Most growers and farmworkers are friendly to folks driving the back roads through ag land, but know that environmentalists are not high on most people's popularity list in this conservative, rural county. I always ask for permission if I am going to be going too far off the beaten track, particularly on the Boswell holding in the southeast part of the County.
Southwest
TAR CANYON ROAD (Delorme Socal p. 46 at A-3), used to be the only public access to the foothills that was
worth birding, but the county officially "abandoned" it in early 1998 and it is now blocked by a locked
gate. A bike, or an intrepid hiker (its about 6.2 miles to the end of where you used to be able to drive), would
pick up Horned Larks, Says Phoebe (winter and nesting), California Towhee, and Lesser Goldfinch. At the higher
reaches (mile 6.0), there are nesting Bullock's Orioles, Brewers Blackbirds, Loggerhead Shrikes and Western Kingbirds.
Rock and Canyon Wren, both rare in the County, have been found here with some regularity (mile 5.6 at the rocky
outcropping). The road is also a sparrow paradise in season – Grasshopper (sings from the hillside above the second
gate in spring), Lark, Vesper, Rufous-crowned, Sage and more, though by the winter the White-crowned predominates.
In the hills, watch for Prairie Falcon and Kestrel, in the flats watch for other raptors such as Ferruginous Hawk
(winter) and Swainson’s Hawk (spring and fall).
One can check out the County's foothills by travelling down Highway 41, but there is lots of traffic (big semis
headed for the toxic waste dump between Highway 33 and Highway 5 along Highway 41) and few birds. This part of
the county is the best for Turkey Vultures and Ravens, so keep your eye out overhead.
AVENAL (Delorme Socal p. 46 at A3 and 34 at D-4) is generally not worth a stop except to get a bite to eat
or something to drink, but in migration, its worth checking the mesquite groves around town for flycatchers and
warblers. Turkey Vultures are common overhead.
HIGHWAY 41 FROM KETTLEMAN CITY TO STRATFORD (Delorme Socal p. 35, D5-C6) is another trafficky stretch, but
you can see herons, egrets, Caspian and Forsters Terns, coots, and the occasional duck in the canal to the right
of the road as you go north. Double-crested Cormorant is around, and in spring, summer and fall it is tough to
miss Cliff Swallow. Check the huge metal high tension towers right at Kettleman City for Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed
Hawks. Kettleman Junction (41 at Hwy 5) has more fast food places than you can possibly imagine (Carl's Jr. is
my fave), and if you are looking for House Sparrow or Brewer's Blackbird, you won't be disappointed. If you are
really lucky, you'll pick up Starling at this scenic spot, too.
Northwest
KENT AVENUE PONDS (Delorme Socal at p. 35, C6), are at the northwest corner of Highway 41 and Kent Ave,
and continue for perhaps a mile north along 41. The best pond is the southern-most one, which also has a road around
it (check the status of the MUD before you attempt this -- even if everything looks dry, the section from the paved
road up onto the levee has swallowed more than one birder's car -- walk it first unless you have a cell phone,
AAA membership, and an hour to wait for the tow truck). This is the best accessible place in the County for Eared
Grebe (lots in winter), Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Wilson's Phalarope and Red-necked Phalarope (migration). It is
decent for Black Tern and Bonapartes Gull, occasionally has Yellow-headed Blackbird, and is the best spot accessible
to the public for shorebirds such as Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper and Dunlin. The ponds further north are
generally less productive as they are deeper, but grebes and Ruddy Ducks abound in season.
GRANGEVILLE ROAD (Delorme Socal p. 35, B5-B6) is most interesting when you go west from Highway 41 and then
the road turns north and northwest past the entrance to the Lemoore Naval Air Station. There are several ponds
on the left (heading west) that are great for Marsh Wren and Coot, ducks and Lincoln's Sparrow. BE CAREFUL PARKING
HERE -- there is lots of traffic, the best bird spots are just around blind corners, and the shoulder is SOFT.
Best to drive further on to hard ground on a straight-away, and then walk back. The dairies along the part of Grangeville
west of the NAS entrance (north at 24th, for instance) are great for blackbirds, including Tri-colored.
KINGS RIVER (Delorme Socal p. 35, B5-B6) is bounded by levees that you can often get access to and drive
or walk along -- explore back and forth through this area for Black-crowned Night-heron, Green Heron, Red-shouldered
Hawk, lots of passerines in season (Blue Grosbeak in summer, sparrows in winter), the occasional moorhen, duck,
or, if you're lucky, American Bittern.
BOGGS SLOUGH (off 26 1/4 AVENUE) (Delorme Socal p. 35, B5). North of Elgin, there is a small pond with dead snags to the right (east) of 26 ¼ Avenue. This is the most reliable spot I’ve found for Common Moorhen. It may also have Great-tailed Grackle (it has in the past), which is just now colonizing the county. Listen for pheasant out in the fields, and watch for White-tailed Kites hunting around. Our Big Day team of Rob Hansen, Don Roberson, Jeff Seay and I had a Solitary Sandpiper here in Spring 1999.
JACKSON AVENUE east of Highway 198 and the Avenal cut-off (Delorme Socal p. 35, B5-B6) has another nice slough area on both sides of the road where it crosses the Kings River, and is the best place in the county for Great-tailed Grackle, which nested here in 1999. There are several pull-offs where local fishers park, and swallows are around in numbers in the summer, herons and egrets all year round.
General
Throughout the County you will find flooded agricultural fields, which change from week to week -- check them for
shorebirds, waders and waterfowl. The numerous dairies are blackbird magnets, and the patient observer can find
Tri-colored in among the thousands of more common blackbirds -- try dairies in the northwest especially for Trike
(24th and Grangeville is a good spot). The fields in the northeast have pipit in winter, and fields anywhere can
have Swainson's Hawks (sometimes in impressive concentrations) in migration (spring and fall).
Good birding -- and keep me posted on your favorite sites in the County, or birds you've seen at mine.
Please document and report all birds marked with an asterisk on the accompanying County list to me so they can be written up for North American Birds (formerly Field Notes).
Luke Cole
561 Hill
San Francisco, CA 94114
luke@igc.org