Huichica Wetlands

The Huichica Creek Wetlands are a small part of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Complex. The Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area is approximately 15,200 acres of baylands, tidal sloughs and wetland habitat. Many waterfowl species and shorebirds including the California Ridgeway’s Rail can be found here. The Huichica Wetlands are a hotspot for fall and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. Many interesting birds have been reported in the area in the past.

Common Resident and Breeding Birds: Black-Necked Stilts, American Avocets, Double-Crested Cormorants, Pied-billed Grebes, and American White Pelican along with Great and Snowy Egrets and Great Blue and Black-crowned Night Herons. You are likely to find Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, and Cinnamon Teal throughout the year. Virginia, Ridgeway’s, and Black Rails can be heard and sometimes found during breeding season along the entrance trail and near Coon Island. California and Ring-bird Gulls visit regularly. Forster’s and endangered Least Terns nest in the vicinity and visit the ponds to feed during breeding season and a few Forster’s and Caspian Terns overwinter. Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, White-Tailed Kites, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Great Horned Owls and Turkey Vultures are some of the raptors that visit the marshes and frequent the Eucalyptus groves.  Occasional Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles visit in search of shorebirds and fish that they prey upon. Marsh Wrens, Song and Savanah Sparrows along with Common Yellowthroats are common breeders and year-round residents.

Migrants: Green-Winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Ruddy, Bufflehead, Canvasback and Redhead Ducks are frequent visitors during the winter months. Sora Rails can be heard during spring migration at the entrance marsh to the West of the Main Trail.  Least and Western Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin, Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plovers, Red-necked and Wilson’s Phalaropes all visit during Migration. During the Winter months you may be treated to Merlin, Short-Eared Owls, and Bonaparte’s Gulls.

Rare Migrants: Eurasian Wigeon, Semipalmated, Pectoral and Ruff Sandpipers. are occasionally found on the mudflats in some years. Sage Thrashers, Brewer’s and Clay-colored Sparrows are other rare visitors that have been found in the Coyote Brush and thickets along the trail to the abandoned warehouse and along the railroad tracks.