Perimeter Road

runs off of lower McCourtney Rd. into the western end of Nevada County (most maps exagerate its extent). A little used road that often is only covered with the red clay so endemic to the area. It spans a variety of Blue Oak woodlands and Dry Creek.

Site:  Perimeter Road/White Oak Road/McCourtney Road/Long Ravine Road

Elevation:  ca 500 – 1,200 feet

Directions:  From Grass Valley go south on Hwy 49 about 10 miles to Lime Kiln Road.  Turn right (west) on Lime Kiln.  Alternatively, from Auburn, go north on 49 to the intersection with Wolf Road and Combie Road.  Turn left (west) on Wolf Road.  Bear right on Duggans Road until it T’s at Lime Kiln Road.  Turn left on Lime Kiln.  When Lime Kiln ends at McCourtney Road, turn left on McCourtney.  The public part of McCourtney T’s at Perimeter Road.  Turn left.  The best birding begins after about a mile when the road opens onto open fields and oak savanna.  Perimeter Road becomes gravel after several miles.  After several more miles you can turn right on White Oak.  This T’s into a continuation of McCourtney Road.  Turn right on McCourtney.  After the bridge, turn left on Long Ravine Road.  You can get to Spenceville Refuge by continuing on Long Ravine.  When Long Ravine ends, turn right to get to Spenceville (left will take you to Camp Far West Lake).

Habitat:  Open pasture, oak savanna.

Birds:  This is one of the better areas for owls in Nevada County.  Western Screech-owls abound in the oak savanna areas along Perimeter Road from just before it turns to gravel until White Oak.  Barn Owls hunt the open fields, and Great Horned Owls can often be heard in the distance.  Northern Saw-whet Owls and Long-eared Owl have also been reported.  Common Poor-will has been heard. 

 

          Birding by day is equally exciting.  This is one of the few places to find White-tailed Kite and Prairie Falcon in Nevada County.  Breeding Wilson’s Snipe are common in the wet meadows towards the end of Perimeter, near the McCourtney Road bridge, and along the first part of Long Ravine.  Common Moorhens (not common in Nevada Co.) reside in the ponds along White Oak.  Other birds of interest include Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Phainopepla.

 

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