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Green Valley and Wheelock Roads |
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These rural roads north of Watsonville pass through orchards, pasture, riparian, live oak, and redwood forests. They are birdy year round, with rarities appearing at Casserley Creek in the fall and winter. From Hwy 1 southbound, take the Hwy 152 exit at Watsonville and go left (east) on Green Valley Rd. Drive 4.6 miles, then park on the right side just after the road crosses Casserley Creek. Check the riparian forest, fields, and orchards near the creek; walk up Litchfield Lane for more access to riparian habitat on the west side of the road. Continue up Green Valley Rd, past Wheelock Rd, for as much as about four more miles to its end. Along the way stop to search for Western Bluebird, various raptors (including Ferruginous Hawk in winter), and nesting Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Yellow Warbler, and Bullock’s Oriole. Some good stops with riparian forest are at 5.3, 6.3, and 6.7 miles from the intersection of Green Valley Rd and Hwy 152 intersection. Walk on from the 6.7-mile stop for 0.2 mile to visit a stand of Monterey pines on a slope with grassland and scrub. Golden-crowned Kinglet, Northern Pygmy-Owl and Pileated Woodpecker reside in the redwood forest toward the end of the road. Double back along Green Valley Rd and turn left on Wheelock Rd. An orchard of persimmon trees along Country View Lane (0.15 mile in from Green Valley Rd) can be bustling with activity in late fall and early winter, when the fruit attracts hordes of American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, European Starlings, and others. Continue for one mile to the other end of Wheelock and park on the right just before its intersection with Casserley Rd. Walk back from here on Wheelock Rd to explore a nice section of riparian (with a history of winter rarities) along Casserley Creek and simply continue and bird along the road. In winter look for various raptors, White-throated Sparrow, California Thrasher (resident), Western Bluebird, and Western Meadowlark. Winter birding is also worthwhile along Gilchrist Lane, which joins Wheelock Rd 0.5 mile from the parking spot near Casserley Rd.
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