Lake Natoma, Folsom, California

Some people local to this area may not know that there is a free parking lot leading to a small network of biking and hiking trails around Lake Natoma in Folsom. I didn't until today. Take Folsom Blvd. (from Sacramento) past Blue Ravine Road and turn left on Parkshore. There's always nice birding at L. Natoma. Sometimes I see an osprey hunting. I once saw a hooded merganser. Today I saw a great egret up close, a flock of gulls, a female robin, a black phoebe, and heard a towhee (I think--I'm not skilled at birding by sound). I was only taking a short walk and sat for a few minutes to rest and it was the middle of the afternoon, so imagine spending a few hours in the early morning there.