Highway 36 Causeway (east of Chester about 1 mile): best place to see large numbers of waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds, including Canada Goose, Tundra Swan, dabbling and diving ducks, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Osprey (be extremely careful of traffic).

Feather River in Chester: One of the best walks in town is along the railroad tracks to the Feather R. Access is from First Street. Drive south to the tracks and park. Walk northeast along the tracks until you come to the Feather R. You can continue this hike by dropping down into a meadow and continuing to parallel the river. This can get wet and muddy (and snowy) in certain seasons, but with the right footwear, you can get to the mouth of the Feather. The walk along the track is much more civilized. Birds seen here include Wood Duck, Red-shouldered Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Hairy & White-headed Woodpeckers, Willow Flycatcher (nesting area), 4 species of Swallows, Pygmy Nuthatch, MacGillivray’s, Yellow, Wilson's, Orange-crowned Warblers, Lesser Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, and more. A few unusual birds here include Virginia Rail (Christmas Bird Count), Blue Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, Swainson’s Thrush, W. Scrub-Jay.

Chester Sewage Ponds: Located off First street which is just east of the Feather River. Take First Street south. The ponds are just past the railroad tracks on your left. Wood Ducks, diving, and dabbling ducks (including Barrow's Goldeneye occasionally in winter). View from the adjacent road outside the fence or ask permission to bird there at the office on Main Street (Hwy. 36) next to Ayoob’s Department Store which is west of the Feather R. on Hwy. 36. They are creating a bit of a wetland south and east of the sewage ponds and could become used to birders, but permission is needed because of the liability.

Almanor West Inlet: is reached by driving west from Chester on Hwy. 36 to Hwy. 89, then proceeding south. There are several dirt access roads east of the highway. Good for ducks, swans, Bald Eagle, Osprey, shorebirds, flycatchers, woodpeckers, and other land birds among the trees.

Prattville-Almanor Campground: south along Hwy. 89 about 5 miles from Hwy. 36 is a turnoff to the campground and Prattville. Osprey, Pileated and White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Bluebird, White-breasted Nuthatch

Rocky Point and South End of Lake: loons, grebes, Osprey, Bald Eagle, diving ducks, shorebirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers, swallows, Hermit Thrush, finches.

Hamilton Branch: along the river above the lake is reached by driving east from Chester to A13 (about 5 miles), then southeast about 4 miles. The branch is just before the junction with Hwy. 147. It's a good place for dipper, Common Merganser.

Last Chance Campground Rd: is reached by going east on Hwy. 36 about 1.5 mi. from Chester. It goes north from the highway. Bird all the way to the Lake stopping in various habitats. The opposite side of Hwy. 36, toward the Lake, is also accessible. As you drive south from this same junction (with Last Chance Campground) you will take an immediate left (east). This becomes a fairly bad dirt road. You can either park or drive parallel to Hwy. 36 until it curves south and park. There is a private campground to the west which is off-limits. The Lake edge (I believe to the 5000’ level) is PG&E property and is accessible if you can get to it.

Butt Valley Reservoir: the road to the reservoir is about 8 miles south on Hwy. 89 from the junction with Hwy. 36: nesting cormorants, Bald Eagle, Osprey, diving and dabbling ducks, American Dipper (Butt Creek)
Domingo Springs: is reached by driving north from Chester from the Fire Station (opposite First St.) following signs to Drakesbad. At the Drakesbad junction take the left fork and continue on to Domingo Springs. It is about 8 miles from Chester. Mt. Quail, Goshawk, N. Pygmy-Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, kinglets, dipper, warblers, finches are all possible at Domingo. Or, take the right fork to Drakesbad which is also good birding.

Bailey Creek Road (10 Road): go east from Chester to A13 (about 5 miles). Turn left. Go a very short distance and turn left again. You will cross over Bailey Creek. In about 1/4 miles turn right and you are on Rd. 10, a dirt road: higher elevation forest birds including the uncommon Williamson's Sapsucker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Gray Jay.