Birding At the Site  
The general use area around the main lake is open to the public every day of the year, except for the extreme western portion. The Nature Area in the northeast corner has a series of trails throughout, including one paved path. This area is enclosed by a fence and is usually opened at sunrise and closed at sunset; extreme weather events may result in closure, however. There are benches throughout the park, including the Nature Area. Watch out for poison oak on some of the side trails. Public restroom stalls are available in the general use area and a porta-potty at the entrance to the Nature Area. The topography of the park is totally flat. The well-worn dirt paths in the Nature Area are very well maintained, allowing safe passage during the entire year for people of all ages and abilities. Bikes are allowed, but dogs are not.

Birding at Lodi Lake Park is great year-round. It is slowest during the summer months of June and July as the number of regular nesting birds on the Central Valley floor are few, relative to the total number of birds that have been observed here. Lodi Lake is a wonderful spot to observe the few species that breed locally.

Both the spring (April-May) and fall (August-October) migration periods are excellent for migrating land birds. Occasionally, especially during spring, significant “fallouts” have occurred when large numbers of individual migrating songbirds have been observed within a few hours.

Lodi Lake may be at its best during winter months (October-March) when the significant number of wintering land birds are ofteLodi Lake Park attracts primarily riparian and open woodland birds. Despite the presence of the Mokelumne River and the lake, there are no true wetlands within the park. Bird groups such as waterfowl, divers, shorebirds, terns and rails are not to be expected in any kind of numbers either as residents or migrants. However, there are enough marginal wetlands present so that with the rich riparian woodland present, one can almost expect any bird found within the Central Valley at the proper season.

The mature trees and lawn area at the park entrance and along Laurel Ave attract a wide variety of birds all year long. Residents include Mourning Dove, Anna’s Hummingbird (check the feeders along Laurel), Nuttall’s and Downy woodpeckers; Black Phoebe, Northern Mockingbird, California Scrub-Jay, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brewer’s Blackbird, House Finch, and both Lesser and American goldfinches. During both periods of migration, nearly every species of warbler can be found, including Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s, Hermit, and Wilson’s. Other migrants to be expected include Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Spring arrivals that stay to nest in this area include Black-chinned Hummingbird; Barn, Northern Rough-winged, and Tree swallows, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Bullock’s Oriole. Birds that arrive in fall that spend the winter include Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch (rare), Cedar Waxwing, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and both White- and Golden-crowned sparrows.

When the lake is full, from about April through September, one can expect Pied-billed Grebe, Canada Goose, Mallard, and American Coot. Occasionally other species of waterfowl are present. The more frequently encountered ones include Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Duck. Spring is a great time to check the floating dock and buoys for Forster’s Tern. There are a lot of “barnyard” type ducks and geese in the area. Wild birds are usually identified by being smaller, leaner and truer to color. When the lake is drawn down from October to March, the diversity can be quite high, especially in late fall and early winter. In addition to the above-mentioned birds one can expect American White Pelican (rare), Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great and Snowy egrets, Green-winged Teal, Common Merganser, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, and California and Ring-billed gulls.

The habitat around the north side of the lake appears to be very similar to that along Laurel Ave and near the entrance to the park, yet it tends to attract some additional species. Most notable is the Acorn Woodpecker colony. This woodpecker is highly colonial and forms colonies around acorn caches. The Acorn Woodpeckers have formed some of these caches in the oaks and cottonwoods along the paved road in this area, and these are the only nesting sites for the species in the park. Northern Flickers also tend to nest more frequently in this area than other woodpeckers. During the winter, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Brown Creeper (occasionally found near marker 12), and Dark-eyed Junco favor this area.

The highlight of the park is the Nature Area in the northeast corner. As one walks toward this area, there is a picnic site on the left that is surrounded by a wall of cottonwoods on one side and a thick row of blackberry brambles on another. The picnic area serves as a good introduction to the Nature Area since the birds, both in numbers and diversity, become instantly apparent here. The entire footpath in the Nature Area has a series of markers numbered 1 through 23. While birds can be seen at any given point within the Nature Area, there are several spots that tend to be more productive than others, particularly numbers 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 18. Pig’s Lake at the east end of the Nature Area will be treated separately below.

In addition to all of the woodland birds mentioned earlier, the following can also be expected. Residents include Red-shouldered and Cooper’s hawks, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher; Bewick’s and House wrens; Hutton’s Vireo (rare but can sometimes be found near the short path that connects the paved trail and the dirt trail), Common Yellowthroat, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird. California Quail and Wrentit are rarely encountered now but used to be fairly common. In periods of migration, the entire area can become alive with migrants. In addition to the previously mentioned warblers, both MacGillivray’s and Yellow-breasted Chat can be found. Flycatchers can abound, including Olive-sided (rare), Western Wood-Pewee, Willow, Hammond’s, Dusky (rare), Pacific-slope flycatchers, and Western Kingbird. Other goodies to be expected are Vaux’s Swift, Rufous Hummingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson’s Thrush (regular in spring, very rare in fall), Cassin’s Vireo, Lazuli Bunting, Chipping Sparrow, and Hooded Oriole. Birds that appear in the fall and often remain through the winter include Pacific Wren (rare), Golden-crowned Kinglet; Hermit and Varied thrushes; Fox, Lincoln’s, and White-throated sparrows (rare), Purple Finch (rare) and Pine Siskin.

Pig’s Lake, at the east end of the Nature Area, is one of the best spots in the entire county to observe the beautiful Wood Duck up close. Nest boxes have increased their population in the area, and it is now possible to observe them at most times of the year. Best time of the year to observe these ducks and their young is during fall and winter. Other species that can be observed at the pond include Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egret, and Great Blue Heron. Occasionally, Common Gallinule has been found.n augmented by water birds attracted to the exposed lakebed of Lodi Lake. The Woodbridge Irrigation District usually drains the lake during winter months for flood control purposes, which in turn creates a marginal wetland habitat that is attractive to a surprising number of species.