A long road trip from Berkeley to San Diego amidst all the Christmas and New Years rigmarole! Explored several places on the way to San Diego over a week. . . The weather was unusually fantastic and the birds were everywhere!
Places visited :
1. Monterey : Moss Landing, Elkhorn Slough
2. Point Lobos State Reserve
3. Big Sur
4. Morro Bay : Montana De Oro State Reserve
5. Carrizo Plains
6. Mt. Pinos and the Pine Forest
7. Castaic Lake
8. Palomar Mountain State Park
9. San Diego : Border Field State Park, San Diego River Estuary, Farmosa Slough, Robfield
10. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park : Palm Grove, Palm Slot
11. Salton Sea : North Shore, Bombay Beach, Salt Creek Marsh Beach, Corvina Beach
12. Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
An amazing trip planned with Constantin Berzan, who's blog http://thirld.com/blog/2014/
Also, a day of birding with John Walters from the San Diego Audubon Society greatly helped in Duck & Gull identification, mostly along the San Diego River Estuary.
A summary of species spotted over the entire trip:
1. Eared Grebe - Hundreds at Salton Sea North Shore
2. Pied-Billed Grebe - 2 at Elkhorn Slough, 2 in San Diego River
3. Western Grebe - 1 at Moss Landing
4. Clark's Grebe - Several at Salton Sea
5. American White Pelican - 15 at Salton Sea
6. Brown Pelican - Large Numbers along the Western coast
7. Double-Crested Cormorant - Plentiful throughout
8. Great Blue Heron - 4 at Castaic Lake
9. Great Egret - 10+ at Salton Sea
10. Snowy Egret - 7 at Salton Sea, 2 at Moss Landing
11. Black-Crowned Night Heron - 20 at Salton Sea, 2 at Farmosa Slough
12. White-Faced Ibis - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
13. Canada Goose - 4 at Sonny Bono NWR
14. Brant - 3 at Salton Sea
15. Ross's Goose - Hundreds at Sonny Bono NWR
16. Snow Goose - Hundreds at Sonny Bono NWR
17. Mallard - 4 at San Diego River
18. Gadwall - 2 at Farmosa Slough
19. Northern Pintail - 5 at San Diego River, 20+ at Salton Sea
20. American Wigeon - 12 at San Diego River
21. Northern Shoveler - Hundreds at Sonny Bono NWR
22. Cinnamon Teal - 1 at San Diego River, 2 at Salton Sea
23. Blue-Winged Teal - 4 at San Diego River, 2 at Salton Sea
24. Green-Winged Teal - 14 at San Diego River
25. Lesser Scaup - 6 at San Diego River
26. Common Goldeneye - 1 at Salton Sea
27. Bufflehead - Several at San Diego River
28. Ruddy Duck - 3 at Salton Sea
29. Turkey Vulture - 2 at Big Sur, 1 at Montana De Oro
30. White-Tailed Kite - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
31. Sharp-Shinned Hawk - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
32. Cooper's Hawk - 3 in Imperial Valley
33. Red-Shouldered Hawk - 1 at Border Field State Park
34. Red-Tailed Hawk - 25+ throughout
35. Osprey - 2 at Robfield
36. Merlin - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
37. American Kestrel - Several in Imperial Valley, 1 at Montana De Oro
38. Peregrine Falcon - 1 at Point Lobos, 1 at Border Field State Park
39. Gambel's Quail - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
40. Mountain Quail - 1 at Palomar Mountain
41. Wild Turkey - 3 at Big Sur
42. American Coot - Hundreds near all water bodies
43. Black-Bellied Plover - 15 at Montana De Oro, Plenty at Salton Sea
44. Semi-Palmated Plover - 2 at Montana De Oro, 2 at Robfield
45. Snowy Plover - 2 at Salton Sea
46. Killdeer - 14 at Farmosa Slough, many at Salton Sea
47. Black Oystercatcher - 1 at Montana De Oro
48. American Avocet - 15 at Salton Sea
49. Black-Necked Stilt - Plentiful at Salton Sea
50. Greater Yellowlegs - 3 at San Diego River
51. Lesser Yellowlegs - 2 at Moss Landing
52. Willet - Many at Salton Sea
53. Spotted Sandpiper - 3 at San Diego River
54. Whimbrel - 25+ at Montana De Oro
55. Long-Billed Curlew - Several at Montana De Oro
56. Marbled Godwit - 14 at Montana De Oro, 3 at Elkhorn Slough
57. Sanderling - 20+ at Montana De Oro
58. Dunlin - 3 at Salton Sea
59. Western Sandpiper - Many at Salton Sea
60. Least Sandpiper - Plenty at Salton Sea
61. Long-Billed Dowitcher - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
62. Bonaparte's Gull - 40+ at Salton Sea
63. Herring Gull - Many at Salton Sea
64. Western Gull - Plenty throughout the coast
65. Glaucous-Winged Gull - 2 at Moss Landing
66. California Gull - Many at Robfield and Salton Sea
67. Ring-Billed Gull - Hundreds at Salton Sea
68. Royal Tern - 2 at Robfield
69. Caspian Tern - 1 at Robfield
70. Mourning Dove - Common in most towns
71. White-Winged Dove - 2 at Salton Sea
72. Eurasian Collared Dove - 15 at Sonny Bono NWR
73. Rock Dove - Common in all towns
74. Band-Tailed Pigeon - 12 at Palomar Mountain
75. Greater Roadrunner 1 near Castaic Lake
76. Burrowing Owl - 8 in Imperial Valley
77. Anna's Hummingbird - 2 at Big Sur, 1 at San Diego River
78. Costa's Hummingbird - 1 at Anza-Borrego
79. Belted Kingfisher - 1 at San Diego River, 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
80. Acorn Woodpecker - Plentiful at Big Sur and Palomar
81. Hairy Woodpecker - 2 at Big Sur
82. Downy Woodpecker - 1 at Point Lobos
83. Northern Flicker - 1 at Moss Landing
84. Olive-Sided Flycatcher - 1 at Big Sur
85. Black Phoebe - Plentiful throughout
86. Say's Phoebe - 2 at Salton Sea, 4 at Elkhorn Slough
87. Ash-Throated Flycatcher - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
88. Loggerhead Shrike - 4 at Carrizo Plains, 1 at Anza Borrego
89. Hutton's Vireo - 1 at Castaic Lake
90. Steller's Jay - 15+ at Big Sur
91. Western Scrub-Jay - 4 at Big Sur, 2 near Bitter Creek Wildlife Refuge
92. Common Raven - Many at Carrizo Plains
93. American Crow - Common in towns
94. Horned Lark - 25+ at Carrizo Plains
95. Tree Swallow - 4 at Big Sur
96. Oak Titmouse - 2 at Carrizo Plains
97. Mountain Chickadee- 4 at Palomar
98. Verdin - 3 at Sonny Bono NWR
99. Bushtit - 3 at Point Lobos
100. White-Breasted Nuthatch - 3 at Palomar
101. Red-Breasted Nuthatch - 2 at Big Sur
102. Brown Creeper - 1 at Big Sur
103. House Wren - 2 at Castaic Lake
104. Marsh Wren - 3 at Sonny Bono NWR
105. California Gnatcatcher - 1 at Salton Sea
106. Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher - 3 at Salton Sea
107. Mountain Bluebird - 5 at Carrizo Plains
108. Western Bluebird - 2 at Carrizo Plains
109. Varied Thrush - 3 at Big Sur
110. American Robin - 2 at Big Sur
111. Hermit Thrush - 2 at Big Sur
112. Northern Mockingbird - 2 at Montana De Oro
113. European Starling - 3 at Robfield
114. American Pipit - 3 at Montana De Oro
115. Phainopepla - 2 at Salton Sea
116. Yellow Warbler - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
117. Yellow-Rumped Warbler - 3 at San Diego River, 4 at Salton Sea
118. Common Yellowthroat - 2 at Border Field State Park
119. Spotted Towhee - 6 at Big Sur
120. California Towhee - 4 at Carrizo Plains
121. Abert's Towhee - 2 at Salton Sea
122. Savannah Sparrow - 3 at Border Field State Park
123. Golden-Crowned Sparrow - 4 at Point Lobos
124. White-Crowned Sparrow - 2 at Carrizo Plains
125. Fox Sparrow - 2 at Carrizo Plains
126. Swamp Sparrow - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
127. Dark-Eyed Junco - 40+ at Palomar and Big Sur
128. Western Meadowlark - 2 at Carrizo Plains
129. Red-Winged Blackbird - 2 at Salton Sea
130. Brewer's Blackbird - 6 at Salton Sea
131. Great-Tailed Grackle - 8 at Salton Sea
132. House Finch - 2 at Malibu
133. Lesser Goldfinch - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
134. House Sparrow - Common in towns along coast
Birding Tips:
1. Imperial Valley, along the southern side of the Salton Sea, is the best place to look for Burrowing Owls, American Kestrels and Ash-Throated Flycatchers
2. There is an Osprey nest at Robfield very visible from the parking lot. No better place to get a good view of an Osprey pair
3. The Salt Creek Marsh Beach along the northern side of Salton Sea is the best of the camps for birding. There are fewer people and many more species on this part of Salton Sea
4. San Diego River Estuary is amazing for Ducks - saw most of the ducks here!
5. Anza-Borrego is the best place for Greater Roadrunners and Costa's Hummingbirds. Didn't spot Le Conte's Thrasher or Long-Eared Owl, but they have been spotted regularly along the Western end of Anza-Borrego
6. Carrizo Plains are plentiful in raptors, and Ferruginous Hawks come in the summer. Best place to spot Mountain Bluebird, Horned Lark and Western Meadowlark
7. Very tough to spot the Brown Creeper, but Big Sur was where I found mine. They are plentiful, but difficult to find!
8. Palomar is the best place for Mountain Quail and Band-Tailed Pigeon. Both can be found fairly easily here
9. California and Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers can be found at Salton Sea along the trees near the shore
10. Sonny Bono NWR (especially the one near the SE tip of Salton Sea) is amazing for Gambel's Quail, Verdin, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Marsh Wren and Gnatcatchers apart from all the shorebirds, wading birds and ducks. Black Skimmer and Wood Stork can be seen during summer as well!
Places visited :
1. Monterey : Moss Landing, Elkhorn Slough
2. Point Lobos State Reserve
3. Big Sur
4. Morro Bay : Montana De Oro State Reserve
5. Carrizo Plains
6. Mt. Pinos and the Pine Forest
7. Castaic Lake
8. Palomar Mountain State Park
9. San Diego : Border Field State Park, San Diego River Estuary, Farmosa Slough, Robfield
10. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park : Palm Grove, Palm Slot
11. Salton Sea : North Shore, Bombay Beach, Salt Creek Marsh Beach, Corvina Beach
12. Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
An amazing trip planned with Constantin Berzan, who's blog http://thirld.com/blog/2014/
Also, a day of birding with John Walters from the San Diego Audubon Society greatly helped in Duck & Gull identification, mostly along the San Diego River Estuary.
A summary of species spotted over the entire trip:
 |
| Eared Grebe |
2. Pied-Billed Grebe - 2 at Elkhorn Slough, 2 in San Diego River
3. Western Grebe - 1 at Moss Landing
4. Clark's Grebe - Several at Salton Sea
5. American White Pelican - 15 at Salton Sea
6. Brown Pelican - Large Numbers along the Western coast
7. Double-Crested Cormorant - Plentiful throughout
8. Great Blue Heron - 4 at Castaic Lake
9. Great Egret - 10+ at Salton Sea
10. Snowy Egret - 7 at Salton Sea, 2 at Moss Landing
11. Black-Crowned Night Heron - 20 at Salton Sea, 2 at Farmosa Slough
12. White-Faced Ibis - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
13. Canada Goose - 4 at Sonny Bono NWR
14. Brant - 3 at Salton Sea
15. Ross's Goose - Hundreds at Sonny Bono NWR
16. Snow Goose - Hundreds at Sonny Bono NWR
 |
| Pied-Billed Grebe |
18. Gadwall - 2 at Farmosa Slough
19. Northern Pintail - 5 at San Diego River, 20+ at Salton Sea
20. American Wigeon - 12 at San Diego River
21. Northern Shoveler - Hundreds at Sonny Bono NWR
22. Cinnamon Teal - 1 at San Diego River, 2 at Salton Sea
23. Blue-Winged Teal - 4 at San Diego River, 2 at Salton Sea
24. Green-Winged Teal - 14 at San Diego River
25. Lesser Scaup - 6 at San Diego River
26. Common Goldeneye - 1 at Salton Sea
27. Bufflehead - Several at San Diego River
28. Ruddy Duck - 3 at Salton Sea
29. Turkey Vulture - 2 at Big Sur, 1 at Montana De Oro
30. White-Tailed Kite - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
31. Sharp-Shinned Hawk - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
32. Cooper's Hawk - 3 in Imperial Valley
 |
| American White Pelican |
34. Red-Tailed Hawk - 25+ throughout
35. Osprey - 2 at Robfield
36. Merlin - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
37. American Kestrel - Several in Imperial Valley, 1 at Montana De Oro
38. Peregrine Falcon - 1 at Point Lobos, 1 at Border Field State Park
39. Gambel's Quail - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
40. Mountain Quail - 1 at Palomar Mountain
41. Wild Turkey - 3 at Big Sur
42. American Coot - Hundreds near all water bodies
43. Black-Bellied Plover - 15 at Montana De Oro, Plenty at Salton Sea
44. Semi-Palmated Plover - 2 at Montana De Oro, 2 at Robfield
45. Snowy Plover - 2 at Salton Sea
46. Killdeer - 14 at Farmosa Slough, many at Salton Sea
47. Black Oystercatcher - 1 at Montana De Oro
48. American Avocet - 15 at Salton Sea
 |
| Brown Pelican |
50. Greater Yellowlegs - 3 at San Diego River
51. Lesser Yellowlegs - 2 at Moss Landing
52. Willet - Many at Salton Sea
53. Spotted Sandpiper - 3 at San Diego River
54. Whimbrel - 25+ at Montana De Oro
55. Long-Billed Curlew - Several at Montana De Oro
56. Marbled Godwit - 14 at Montana De Oro, 3 at Elkhorn Slough
57. Sanderling - 20+ at Montana De Oro
58. Dunlin - 3 at Salton Sea
59. Western Sandpiper - Many at Salton Sea
60. Least Sandpiper - Plenty at Salton Sea
61. Long-Billed Dowitcher - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
62. Bonaparte's Gull - 40+ at Salton Sea
63. Herring Gull - Many at Salton Sea
64. Western Gull - Plenty throughout the coast
65. Glaucous-Winged Gull - 2 at Moss Landing
66. California Gull - Many at Robfield and Salton Sea
 |
| Snowy Egret |
68. Royal Tern - 2 at Robfield
69. Caspian Tern - 1 at Robfield
70. Mourning Dove - Common in most towns
71. White-Winged Dove - 2 at Salton Sea
72. Eurasian Collared Dove - 15 at Sonny Bono NWR
73. Rock Dove - Common in all towns
74. Band-Tailed Pigeon - 12 at Palomar Mountain
75. Greater Roadrunner 1 near Castaic Lake
76. Burrowing Owl - 8 in Imperial Valley
77. Anna's Hummingbird - 2 at Big Sur, 1 at San Diego River
78. Costa's Hummingbird - 1 at Anza-Borrego
79. Belted Kingfisher - 1 at San Diego River, 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
80. Acorn Woodpecker - Plentiful at Big Sur and Palomar
81. Hairy Woodpecker - 2 at Big Sur
82. Downy Woodpecker - 1 at Point Lobos
83. Northern Flicker - 1 at Moss Landing
84. Olive-Sided Flycatcher - 1 at Big Sur
 |
| Black-Crowned Night Heron |
86. Say's Phoebe - 2 at Salton Sea, 4 at Elkhorn Slough
87. Ash-Throated Flycatcher - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
88. Loggerhead Shrike - 4 at Carrizo Plains, 1 at Anza Borrego
89. Hutton's Vireo - 1 at Castaic Lake
90. Steller's Jay - 15+ at Big Sur
91. Western Scrub-Jay - 4 at Big Sur, 2 near Bitter Creek Wildlife Refuge
92. Common Raven - Many at Carrizo Plains
93. American Crow - Common in towns
94. Horned Lark - 25+ at Carrizo Plains
95. Tree Swallow - 4 at Big Sur
96. Oak Titmouse - 2 at Carrizo Plains
97. Mountain Chickadee- 4 at Palomar
98. Verdin - 3 at Sonny Bono NWR
99. Bushtit - 3 at Point Lobos
100. White-Breasted Nuthatch - 3 at Palomar
 |
| Ross's Goose & Snow Goose |
102. Brown Creeper - 1 at Big Sur
103. House Wren - 2 at Castaic Lake
104. Marsh Wren - 3 at Sonny Bono NWR
105. California Gnatcatcher - 1 at Salton Sea
106. Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher - 3 at Salton Sea
107. Mountain Bluebird - 5 at Carrizo Plains
108. Western Bluebird - 2 at Carrizo Plains
109. Varied Thrush - 3 at Big Sur
110. American Robin - 2 at Big Sur
111. Hermit Thrush - 2 at Big Sur
112. Northern Mockingbird - 2 at Montana De Oro
113. European Starling - 3 at Robfield
114. American Pipit - 3 at Montana De Oro
115. Phainopepla - 2 at Salton Sea
116. Yellow Warbler - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
117. Yellow-Rumped Warbler - 3 at San Diego River, 4 at Salton Sea
118. Common Yellowthroat - 2 at Border Field State Park
119. Spotted Towhee - 6 at Big Sur
 |
| American Wigeon |
121. Abert's Towhee - 2 at Salton Sea
122. Savannah Sparrow - 3 at Border Field State Park
123. Golden-Crowned Sparrow - 4 at Point Lobos
124. White-Crowned Sparrow - 2 at Carrizo Plains
125. Fox Sparrow - 2 at Carrizo Plains
126. Swamp Sparrow - 2 at Sonny Bono NWR
127. Dark-Eyed Junco - 40+ at Palomar and Big Sur
128. Western Meadowlark - 2 at Carrizo Plains
129. Red-Winged Blackbird - 2 at Salton Sea
130. Brewer's Blackbird - 6 at Salton Sea
131. Great-Tailed Grackle - 8 at Salton Sea
132. House Finch - 2 at Malibu
133. Lesser Goldfinch - 1 at Sonny Bono NWR
134. House Sparrow - Common in towns along coast
 |
| Northern Shoveler |
 |
| Blue-Winged Teal & Cinnamon Teal |
 |
| Green-Winged Teal |
 |
| Common Goldeneye |
 |
| Turkey Vulture |
 |
| Red-Tailed Hawk (1st Year) |
 |
| Osprey |
 |
| American Kestrel |
 |
| Peregrine Falcon |
 |
| Wild Turkey |
 |
| Black-Bellied Plover |
 |
| Semi-Palmated Plover |
 |
| Killdeer |
 |
| Black Oystercatcher |
 |
| American Avocet |
 |
| Black-Necked Stilt |
 |
| Willet |
 |
| Spotted Sandpiper |
 |
| Whimbrel |
 |
| Long-Billed Curlew |
 |
| Marbled Godwit |
 |
| Sanderling |
 |
| Dunlin |
 |
| Western Sandpiper |
 |
| Bonaparte's Gull |
 |
| Herring Gull |
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| Western Gull |
 |
| Ring-Billed Gull |
 |
| Heermann's Gull |
 |
| Burrowing Owl |
 |
| Costa's Hummingbird |
 |
| Acorn Woodpecker |
 |
| Say's Phoebe |
 |
| Loggerhead Shrike |
 |
| Steller's Jay |
 |
| Western Scrub-Jay |
 |
| Brown Creeper |
 |
| California Gnatcatcher |
 |
| Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher |
 |
| Mountain Bluebird |
 |
| Hermit Thrush |
 |
| American Pipit |
 |
| Yellow-Rumped Warbler |
 |
| Spotted Towhee |
 |
| California Towhee |
 |
| White-Crowned Sparrow |
 |
| Dark-Eyed Junco |
 |
| Brewer's Blackbird |
 |
| Great-Tailed Grackle |
Birding Tips:
1. Imperial Valley, along the southern side of the Salton Sea, is the best place to look for Burrowing Owls, American Kestrels and Ash-Throated Flycatchers
2. There is an Osprey nest at Robfield very visible from the parking lot. No better place to get a good view of an Osprey pair
3. The Salt Creek Marsh Beach along the northern side of Salton Sea is the best of the camps for birding. There are fewer people and many more species on this part of Salton Sea
4. San Diego River Estuary is amazing for Ducks - saw most of the ducks here!
5. Anza-Borrego is the best place for Greater Roadrunners and Costa's Hummingbirds. Didn't spot Le Conte's Thrasher or Long-Eared Owl, but they have been spotted regularly along the Western end of Anza-Borrego
6. Carrizo Plains are plentiful in raptors, and Ferruginous Hawks come in the summer. Best place to spot Mountain Bluebird, Horned Lark and Western Meadowlark
7. Very tough to spot the Brown Creeper, but Big Sur was where I found mine. They are plentiful, but difficult to find!
8. Palomar is the best place for Mountain Quail and Band-Tailed Pigeon. Both can be found fairly easily here
9. California and Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers can be found at Salton Sea along the trees near the shore
10. Sonny Bono NWR (especially the one near the SE tip of Salton Sea) is amazing for Gambel's Quail, Verdin, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Marsh Wren and Gnatcatchers apart from all the shorebirds, wading birds and ducks. Black Skimmer and Wood Stork can be seen during summer as well!
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