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Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

By on November 13, 2025 in

Gray Lodge’s diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a haven for wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural lands, the approximately 9,100-acre area is managed for the wildlife that call Gray Lodge home for all or part of the year. Reflective ponds, grassy fields and wooded riparian areas provide food, water and shelter for more than 300 species of resident and migrant birds and mammals. Meet at the Kutras Park parking lot at 6:30 am sharp to carpool or at parking area 14 at the refuge at 8:30 am. Bring a lunch and water as this is an all day event. It is not unusual to see over 50 species of birds at this location and is the only place I know to commonly find all three “Teals”. We will traverse the walking trail around the ponds, to the viewing platform and back to the parking lot. Following lunch we will drive the auto tour loop. Questions? Contact Larry Jordan at webmaster@shastabirdingsociety.org

Gray Lodge Public Access Map

A CDFW Lands Pass must be in possession by each visitor who is 16 years of age or older, however, visitors who are in possession of a valid California hunting or fishing license in their name are exempt from this requirement. Lands passes may be purchased on-line, by phone at (800) 565-1458, or in-person at locations wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. They are also available in the parking area at Gray Lodge for $4.50. Here is a link to the bird list: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=88006&inline

Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

By on February 29, 2024 in

Gray Lodge’s diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a haven for wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural lands, the approximately 9,100-acre area is managed for the wildlife that call Gray Lodge home for all or part of the year. Reflective ponds, grassy fields and wooded riparian areas provide food, water and shelter for more than 300 species of resident and migrant birds and mammals. Meet at the Kutras Park parking lot at 6:30am sharp to carpool or at parking area 14 at the refuge at 8:30am. Bring a lunch and water as this is an all day event. It is not unusual to see over 50 species of birds at this location and is the only place I know to commonly find all three “Teals”. We will traverse the walking trail around the ponds, to the viewing platform and back to the parking lot. Following lunch we will drive the auto tour loop.

Gray Lodge Public Access Map

A CDFW Lands Pass must be in possession by each visitor who is 16 years of age or older, however, visitors who are in possession of a valid California hunting or fishing license in their name are exempt from this requirement. Lands passes may be purchased on-line, by phone at (800) 565-1458, or in-person at locations wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. They are also available in the parking area at Gray Lodge for $4.50. Here is a link to the bird list: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=88006&inline

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Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

By on October 15, 2023 in

Gray Lodge’s diversity and location along the Pacific Flyway make it a haven for wildlife. Surrounded by miles of rich agricultural lands, the approximately 9,100-acre area is managed for the wildlife that call Gray Lodge home for all or part of the year. Reflective ponds, grassy fields and wooded riparian areas provide food, water and shelter for more than 300 species of resident and migrant birds and mammals. Meet at the Kutras Park parking lot at 6:30am sharp to carpool or at parking area 14 at the refuge at 8:30am. Bring a lunch and water as this is an all day event. It is not unusual to see over 50 species of birds at this location and is the only place I know to commonly find all three “Teals”. We will traverse the walking trail around the ponds, to the viewing platform and back to the parking lot. Following lunch we will drive the auto tour loop.

Gray Lodge Public Access Map

A CDFW Lands Pass must be in possession by each visitor who is 16 years of age or older, however, visitors who are in possession of a valid California hunting or fishing license in their name are exempt from this requirement. Lands passes may be purchased on-line, by phone at (800) 565-1458, or in-person at locations wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. They are also available in the parking area at Gray Lodge for $4.50. Here is a link to the bird list: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=88006&inline

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Several Blue-winged Teal Were Seen at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

By on March 13, 2018 in Birds, Wildlife Areas

Blue-winged Teal Drake

The Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) is not that common in California except along the coast, so we were pretty excited to discover several pair at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area on Saturday. Click on photos for full sized images.

Blue-winged Teal Drake

Of course the drakes get all of the glory in the duck world but I think the females are just as beautiful in their own way with their heavily patterned feathers. This is the female Blue-winged Teal. Note the blue on the top of the beak.

Blue-Winged Teal Female

Blue-winged Teal breed over a large portion of North America but occur irregularly or at low densities in many portions of their range. The highest breeding densities occur in mixed-grass prairie and parklands of north-central U.S. and the prairie provinces of Canada, where the species is often the most abundant breeding duck1.

Blue-winged Teal Range Map

It was a gorgeous day at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, even though it was pretty windy and fairly cold, the sun was out.

Blue-winged Teal Drake

And just so you know…

Blue-winged Teal Drake

these photos were all taken at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge…

Blue-winged Teal Drake

from one of the photo blinds there…

Blue-winged Teal Drake

not at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area.

Blue-winged Teal Drake

Once every feather is clean and in place, it’s time to relax and enjoy a little shut eye.

Blue-winged Teal Drake

I was able to shoot some video of the Blue-winged Teal pair preening and foraging at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. A couple of Green-winged Teal drakes shared in the activity. You will also hear several Marsh Wrens in the background. They were seen and heard all over the refuge wherever bulrush was found.

This short video shows the head shaking behavior Blue-winged Teal exhibit just before they take flight when they feel uneasy or threatened. It also includes Black-necked Stilts, Green-winged Teal, and American Coots. You can also hear Red-winged Blackbirds, Western Meadowlark and more Marsh Wrens singing.

References:1Birds of North America Online

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Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area

By on January 17, 2016 in

Gray Lodge State Wildlife Area is west of Gridley about 100 miles south of Redding so this will be an all day trip. We should see Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, possible Sandhill Cranes, Eurasian Wigeon among many other species of waterfowl—all this with a backdrop of the beautiful Sutter Buttes. Bring your camera! There is a $4.32 per person entrance fee. If you have a California hunting or fishing license there is no charge. We will meet at the Redding Civic Auditorium to carpool so bring a few dollars for gas also. Your trip leader will be George Horn.