From Highway 395, at the south edge of Alturas, go east on County Road 56. Modoc National Wildlife Refuge is directly to the south, and County Road 115, on your right in .6 mile, will take you to the refuge headquarters and auto tour route. In summer watch for White-faced Ibis, Swainson's Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Short-eared Owl, and Bank Swallow along roads on and near the refuge (more wetland habitat can be viewed from Highway 395 south of Alturas). 
     Continue east on County Road 56 to Dorris Reservoir (3.8 miles). Juniper Titmouse is an uncommon resident of the juniper woodland north of the reservoir. In this same area watch for Scott's Oriole (rare) in summer, and for Townsend's Solitaire (common) in winter. The reservoir itself is good for Clark's Grebe in summer, and for shorebirds during migration. 
 

     From Alturas, take County Road 56 east. It eventually becomes West Warner Road (a.k.a National Forest 5). In 23.8 miles turn left at a small sign for the Pine Creek Trail (this turnoff is about a mile after you cross the North Fork of Fitzhugh Creek). It is another 1.5 miles to the trailhead. Alternate route: Take Highway 395 to Likely, and go east on Jess Valley Rd. In 9.3 miles follow National Forest 5 to the left. In 2.8 miles you will pass the turnoff to Clear Lake, and in another 6.5 miles the road to the trailhead will be on your right.  
     Along the trail, and in the vicinity of the trailhead, you may find Williamson’s Sapsucker, Black-backed Woodpecker (rare), Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers, Clark’s Nutcracker, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Western Tanager, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak, and other montane forest birds. Listen for the Winter Wren’s fancy song in shaded woods along the creek. A Three-toed Woodpecker was reported from this drainage in November 1985. 
     The scenic Pine Creek Basin is about 2 miles up the trail. Look for Spotted Sandpiper, Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds, Dusky Flycatcher, and White-crowned Sparrow in its wet meadows. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches have been seen in autumn along the crest east of the basin.

     To reach this site from the Pine Creek Trail, continue south on National Forest 5 (Flammulated Owl has been found in pine forest along the road at night). In 6.5 miles the pavement resumes at a cattleguard. Turn left just past the cattleguard, and follow the road to Mill Creek Falls Campground (2 miles). Alternate route: Take Highway 395 to Likely, and go east on Jess Valley Rd. In 9.3 miles follow National Forest 5 to the left. In 2.8 miles the turnoff will be on the right.  
     Check the campground area for Northern Pygmy-Owl. This is a particularly good spot for woodpeckers—Williamson’s Sapsucker and Black-backed Woodpecker have been sighted along the trail between the campground and Clear Lake. Around the lake, and along its inflow, look for Osprey, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, American Dipper, and MacGillivray’s Warbler. 
 

     Take National Forest 5 south from the Pine Creek Trail, or north from the turnoff to Clear Lake, and follow Forest Service Road 40N24 east to the campground and trailhead. Goodies like Red-naped Sapsucker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Gray Jay have been found along the trail. 
 

     Take Highway 395 to Likely, and go east on Jess Valley Road. In 9.3 miles the road forks; National Forest 5 (to Clear Lake, Soup Springs, and the Pine Creek Trail) is to the left, and National Forest 64 (to Blue Lake, Parsnip Springs, and Surprise Valley) is to the right. 
     From National Forest 64 you can survey the west side of Jess Valley. Scan the pastures and wetlands of the valley floor for Sandhill Cranes and a wide variety of water birds. Watch for Bald and Golden Eagles, Common Snipe, Black Tern, Common Nighthawk, and several species of swallows in summer. 
 

     Take Highway 395 to Likely, and proceed east on Jess Valley Rd. Go past the junction with National Forest 5 (9.3 miles), and in another 6.6 miles turn right at the sign for Blue Lake, from which it is 1.5 miles to the campground by the lake. 
     Search the campground area for Williamson’s Sapsucker, Hairy and White-headed Woodpeckers, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, Mountain Bluebird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Western Tanager, and Cassin’s Finch. The flycatcher is also partial to the woods near the boat launch. Bald Eagles have nested right in the campground, and can often be seen from the lakeshore. Flammulated Owl has been found along nearby roads at night.

     Update: I was recently informed that the entire area around Blue Lake was devastated by fire in August, 2001. Thousands of acres burned, and some of the other sites described below may also have been effected. It could take many years for the forest to fully recover.       

     Backtrack from Blue Lake to National Forest 64, and turn right. The road is unpaved from here to Surprise Valley. 
     Throughout the Warner Range stands of aspen serve as nesting and foraging habitat for an abundance of bird life. Parsnip Springs (.7 mile) presents a perfect example. Amid its groves of aspens and willows dwell Red-naped (rare) and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Hairy Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Tree Swallow, House Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, and Cassin’s Finch. The adjacent sagebrush is good for Green-tailed Towhee. 
       Continue on National Forest 64, following signs for Eagleville. In 5.2 miles the road crosses East Creek. Go across the bridge, park, and walk the road to the right, where Calliope Hummingbird can usually be found in June—check perches atop the willows for territorial males. 
     Brewer’s, Vesper, Savannah, and White-crowned Sparrows are summer residents of the sagebrush-grasslands at Patterson Meadow and Homestead Flat. 
     In 5.8 miles, where the road reaches its summit (7,500 feet), there is a broad sagebrush flat bordered by aspens and conifers. Among the birds to look for in this area are Red-breasted and Williamson’s Sapsuckers, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, and Chipping, Brewer’s, Vesper, and White-crowned Sparrows. Who knows?  A Golden Eagle or Northern Goshawk might even make an appearance. 
     From there it’s all downhill. The road descends steeply, affording a panoramic view of Surprise Valley far below. In 8.2 miles you will arrive at the junction with Surprise Valley Road.

     Birding in Surprise Valley is at its best in winter, when raptors seem to occupy every available perch, and Northern Shrike is actually to be expected. In some winters large numbers of Bohemian Waxwings invade Fort Bidwell, at the northern end of the valley. In summer watch for Sandhill Cranes in the pastures, and for Sage Thrasher and Brewer’s, Vesper, and Sage Sparrows in areas of sagebrush. Black-billed Magpie is common year-round. Surprise Valley Road is the valley's main route, but many side roads invite further exploration. 
 

     Either take Highway 299 east from Highway 395, or west from Cedarville. In the vicinity of the pass (6,305 feet) look for Common Poorwill, Rufous Hummingbird, Red-naped and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Dusky and Cordilleran Flycatchers, Warbling Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, MacGillivray’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Western Tanager, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, & Lazuli Bunting. Stough Reservoir Campground, just east of the pass, and Cedar Pass Campground, 1.6 miles to the west, are good birding and camping spots. The latter site is well populated with Cordilleran Flycatchers.