Start birding this road as soon as you turn off Farm-to-Market 473.

The first part of this road has good understory vegetation on either side of the road. Look and listen for wrens, thrushes, and other woodland species.

The fields further along may produce grassland species.

Continue driving slowly along the road, always being mindful of traffic coming from either direction. During the winter months, this road might not be very busy. But it could be a very different story during the summer months when folks are heading to the river to swim, picnic and cool off.

Check the tops of telephone poles for Merlin and other raptors. 

Drive slowly across the river. Here you might find herons, egrets, and kingfishers.

In springtime, the tops of the cypress trees at the river may produce warblers such as Yellow-throated Warbler. Canyon Wren has been heard singing its lovely song that bounced and echoed off the railroad abutments. Look for Orchard Oriole, Summer Tanager and Bell's Vireo.

Again, being mindful of traffic, continue slowly along the road to the entrance to the James Kiehl Riverbend Park. Along this way, you may encounter winter sparrows such as Vesper, Savannah, and Field. Dickcissel may be found here during spring migration time. Lark Sparrow should be a year-round bird but becomes more prevalent in spring, summer and early fall.

Winter sparrows. River birds such as Eastern Phoebe, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher. Woodland birds in spring migration.

James Kiehl River Bend Park is just a short distance down the road.

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