Rush Ranch Open Space

Rush Ranch is a restored ranch owned originally by the Rush family. The ranch is now an education center and consists of trails that lead into both upland and wetland habitat. It is situated adjacent Suisun Slough and and a few miles from Grizzly Island. Many waterfowl including Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal and Northern Pintail as well as Great-Blue Heron, Double-Crested Cormorant are regularly found along with a plethora of shorebirds and rails that can be seen and heard within the marshes at certain times of the year. Meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrikes and Savannah Sparrows are commonly seen in the fields. Barn Owls are found in the structures and Great-Horned Owl can be spotted in the Eucalyptus groves. Black and Ridgeway’s Rails, Golden Eagle, and Tricolored Blackbird have been reported in the past.

Common Residents and Breeding Birds:
Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked Pheasant, Killdeer, Anna’s Hummingbird, Acorn, Nuttall’s and Downy Woodpeckers, Great Blue Heron, Great and Snowy Egrets, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels, Marsh Wren, Barn, Cliff and Tree Swallows, Western Meadowlarks, Song and Savannah Sparrows, California and Spotted Towhees,House Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Red-wing, Tricolored and Brewer’s Blackbirds, Common Raven, and Bullock’s Oriole are commonly found along the trails and near the Education Center. One can hear Barn and Great Horned Owls calling at night.

Migrants: Fall Migration brings a variety of ducks to Rush Ranch including American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and an assortment of Western passerines including Western Wood-PeWee, Western and Willow Flycatchers, Black-throated Gray, Nashville, MacGillivray’s, Yellow and Yellow-rump Warblers. You can usually spot a Say’s Phoebe perched on the fence lines or feeding in the fields and White-crowned, Golden-crowned, Lincoln’s and Fox Sparrows overwinter along the trail and in brushy areas. Ferruginous Hawks and occasional Short-Eared Owls join the residents.