Little Washoe Lake Birding Guide

WHAT TO EXPECT
Washoe Valley is located between Reno and Carson City. Little Washoe Lake is at the northeastern  end of the Valley and is part of Washoe Lake State Park. Entrance fees are on the website and a day use permit is  valid at all entrances. Habitat surrounding the lake is sandy shoreline with marshy areas on the west and south sides and a mature cottonwood grove on the northeast corner. The surrounding uplands are dominated by sagebrush and bitterbrush. The Virginia Range is on the east side of the valley and the Carson Range on the west. The lake is a popular watering area for wild horses.
 
Best time of year: Birding is good year-round, however a greater variety of birds are found in the spring and early summer. Raptors can be seen throughout the winter, with Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks nesting in the area.
 
Notable species: eBird Hotspot Link
Common water birds include American White Pelicans, Canada Geese, Coots and a variety of ducks, grebes and gulls. Raptors include Bald and Golden Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks and American Kestrals. Although not abundant, shorebirds can be seen along the shallow edges of the lake. Great Blue Herons, Night-crowned Black Herons and Great Egrets are normally present. Warblers, finches, sparrows and wrens frequent the willows. Bullock’s Orioles, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest here in the spring. Large flocks of Eared Grebes can be seen in late winter.
 
HOW TO GET THERE:  Google Map of the Area 
From Reno, take I-580/US-395 South to Exit 25B, Washoe City/S. Virginia St. Continue 7 miles on Alt-395 South through Pleasant Valley. At the top of the hill between Pleasant and Washoe Valley, go South (left) on to Eastlake Blvd/Co. Road 101. The access to Little Washoe Lake is .3 miles on the right.
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Little Washoe Lake has 3 access areas:

1. The main paved parking area directly past the entrance booth, with a restroom, picnic tables and boat launch
   
2. The north beach under a mature cottonwood grove, accessible from a dirt road immediately past the entrance booth (road is not maintained)
   
3. A south parking area with a restroom accessed via a maintained gravel road that goes past the main paved parking area.

POPULAR BIRDING ROUTE

1. Park in the main paved parking area. Look for ducks, grebes and pelicans on the lake; warblers and wrens in the willows, and sparrows and towhees in the upland shrubs.
2. Walk along a path going north toward the cottonwood grove where woodpeckers, orioles and warblers can be found.
3. After returning to the parking area, walk (or drive) south around the southeast side of the lake to get a closer look at the waterfowl along the western shoreline. The dirt road separates Little Washoe Lake from Scripps Wildlife Management Area to the south. Check the pond on the south side of the road for White-faced Ibis along with other waterfowl and shorebirds.

 
Optional Side Trips:  To continue birding around the east side of Washoe Lake, return to Eastlake Blvd and turn right/south to get to the Washoe Lake State Park’s south entrance (7 miles). See the guide for Washoe Lake.
 
Deadman’s Trail is .2 miles past the south Park entrance, on the right. It goes up through a small riparian area to a gazebo with a great view of the valley (.5 miles for a short loop through the riparian area or 1.5 miles round trip to the Gazebo up the hill.
 
Continuing south on Eastlake Blvd, stop at the Washoe Wetlands and walk out to the viewing platform. A spotting scope is helpful.
 
If returning to Reno via US395, stop at the Bellevue Exit to look for shorebirds and pelicans.
 
Davis Creek Park is located on the northwest side of Washoe Valley, with a description provided in a separate guide.

Photo by Lori Bellis