San Diego County in California is among the birdiest areas in the US with 500+ species recorded there. It gives a variety of habitats from the coast, to the desert, to the mountains. Additionally, the climate is fantastic year-round (do concentrate on the overcast, cooler months of “Grey Might” and “June Gloom”). This all contributes to a wide range of chook life. We had an opportunity to expertise the beautiful climate and chook range throughout our go to to the realm.
We spent sooner or later with a improbable native birder. He drove us round all day and was decided to get me my goal birds. We began our day by heading into the mountain space, reaching a top of 5200 ft. We discovered Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Band-tailed Pigeon, and White-headed Woodpecker. My non-birder husband, who has an excellent eye, really seen the woodpeckers first and pointed them out to us. Our host joked that he was placing him out of his job. We watched the feminine woodpecker flake bark off a tree to seek out grubs to feed her fledgling son. We drove all the way down to decrease elevations for Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wooden-Pewee, Lazuli Bunting, and White-faced Ibis. We completed the day in a neighborhood park on the lookout for an elusive California Gnatcatcher, which was hanging out with a flock of Bushtits.
My backpack with my chook pins on the Pacific Crest Path marker
Later in our journey, we went out with a chook information. We birded in Kitchen Creek, which is alongside the Pacific Crest Path within the Laguna Mountains. That day I added the next lifers: Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Meadowlark, Hooded Oriole, and Bullock’s Oriole. On each days the surroundings was an added bonus. The mountains had been strewn with boulders and the valleys had been inexperienced with citrus and avocado orchards. On the finish of the day, the sundown over the mountains was gorgeous.
Black-headed Grosbeak
We explored some locations on our personal. The Chula Vista Nature Middle is positioned south of the town on San Diego Bay. We loved wanting on the displays and occurring a tour of the ability with a docent. We wandered alongside trails all the way down to the bay. We noticed a Black Skimmer zip by a pair of feeding Lengthy-billed Curlews. Scenic Level Loma gives panoramic views of the town, the bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Drive down the hill to go to the Cabrillo Tidal Swimming pools. At low tide, all types of fascinating creatures are seen. I’m certain that the realm attracts shorebirds throughout migration.
Cabrillo Tidal Pool at low tide
Tijuana Slough is a part of the Tijuana Estuary. It’s an Vital Chicken Space and is as near Mexico as you may get however nonetheless be in the US. The afternoon we had been there, we frequently noticed US Coast Guard helicopters patrolling the realm. On a visit to San Diego County, be ready to be checked out by the Border Patrol. On the day we had been out with the chook information, we went via one spot examine. Later that very same day, a Border Patrol officer seen our parked automobile and got here seeking to see who the homeowners had been. These had been undoubtedly totally different birding experiences. On the slough, the birds are used to the constantly-circling helicopters and proceed about their each day lives. I used to be delighted to seek out my lifer Clapper Rail. That chook was very cooperative – it stored wandering out and in of the reeds. We additionally noticed American Pipit, Horned Lark, Least Tern, Willet, and a pair of Yellow-crowned Night time-Herons (pictured at starting of article), which had been nesting there for the second 12 months in a row.
A really productive go to certainly!
Be aware: Backpack photograph from the Kinrys household. Different pictures from Pexels.com, a web-based supply of copyright-free pictures.
