Birders can view the riparian habitat along the Salinas River from almost treetop level from the Bradley Bridge, just north of town, which provides entrances to Highway 101. There are very narrow pedestrian paths on raised cement, but it would be unsafe for children or disabled persons to use them; care is needed even from able-bodied folks. Traffic is fairly light but travels fast over the bridge.

Because one is so high over the river, and the nearest cottonwoods are a fair distance away both upstream and downstream, one searches the river for ducks or waders, watches for raptors or swallows, but mostly listens for birds in the cottonwood/willow habitats below.

In recent times -- without access to the river directly at Bradley -- the birds of most interest are probably a chance for Wood Duck or Common Merganser; views of various swallows and hope for raptors (Bald Eagle is scarce but present); and watch for migrants in spring and fall. Phainopepla has occurred. The riparian below hosts breeding Black-chinned Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, Yellow and Wilson's Warbler, and Black-headed Grosbeak, among others.

Long ago, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, birders waded the river in summer (June-July) to survey riparian species. This was the northmost location for nesting Bell's Vireo (and only one nest was found), but cattle grazing on the understory here on private land -- along with an abundance of cowbirds -- extirpated whatever tiny population that was once present. Now, all the riparian habitat is on private land and fenced. The habitat is still remarkably intact, though, so it would be suitable for restoration if there were funds to purchase land for recovery.

Bradley is a tiny town (pop 63) on the east bank of the Salinas River, 20 miles north of Paso Robles, and just north of the junctions of the Nacimiento River, and then the San Antonio River, both tributaries of the Salinas River that flows northward through the Salinas Valley to the sea. The riparian habitat on both sides of the river at Bradley is probably the widest and best riparian habitat in Monterey County. Alas, all the land on both sides of Bradley is privately owned and not accessible to the public. This prime habitat can be viewed only from the Bradley bridge, on buttresses high over the river, on narrow pedestrian paths that are not wide enough for wheelchairs.