This morning I went to the eBird hotspot UC Santa Barbara Lagoon, and learned when I got there that parking near there is a big problem. As best I could tell there are 2 spots that you can use hours other than 7:30 Am- 5 PM M-F if you have a Beach Access Permit ?? Read More…
Category: California
Devereux Slough and Coal Oil Point this Morning
A beautiful morning in Santa Barbara today, and I don’t work until afternoon, so I headed back to a more leisurely walk at this spot. Highlights were lots of Snowy Plover chicks. new shorebirds moving south, I saw 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 BBPL, 14 SPPL, 8 Whimbrel, 1 LB Curlew as likely migrants, along with Read More…
Out and About Santa Barbara
I had planned to head into the mountains east and north of Santa Barbara today, but the Sherpa Fire made me skeptical of air quality, so I stuck close to town. I looked into going to Santa Cruz Island, but the boats are all full for the whole weekend, so no to that too. First Read More…
Pinnacles NP but no California Condor
Kay and I went to Pinnalces NP today hoping to see a California Condor, but struck out today. We first went to the west entrance, and after hearing that CACO had been seen often on the High Peaks Trail. We started a hike up the trail, but after about 1 1/2 miles headed back down Read More…
Black Rail at Benicio SRA
Kay and I are on our way back to WA from Orange County. We left midday yesterday and visited Mic, our nephew at U.C. Santa Barbara for dinner. Today we went north to see Chris, another nephew at Cal Polytech at St. Luis Obispo. Had a nice brunch with him and had another great visit. Read More…
Bolsa Chica and Harriet M. Weider Regional Park
This morning I got up early enough to be at Bolsa Chica while it was still easy to get Ridgeway’s Rail, arriving abut 7:10 gate open at 7 AM). The rails did not disappoint, I saw at least 5 individuals. Surprising was a large flock of Red Knots in various stages of PA molt. Some Read More…
Big Morongo and Black Rock Canyon Campground
Today Kay and I headed east for what we planned to be an overnight 2-day trip to the Joshua Tree area and other places nearby. Turned out that it’s a very popular weekend everywhere near Palm Springs, rooms were hard to come by and high priced, and we decided to just drive home tonight. We Read More…
Oak Glen Preserve and UC Riverside Botanial Gardens
Today I headed east to explore a new area Oak Glen Preserve in the San Bernadino Mountains foothills. Got there just as it opened at 8 AM, about 1 hour 25 minutes from Fullerton following google maps directions from eBird hotspot map. It was very birdy early, taperd off about 9 AM but still a Read More…
Anza Borrego and Salton Sea
Kay and I took a two day trip to Anza Borrego State Park and a drive around the Salton Sea. For me the highlights of the trip were not birds, but seeing the Colorado Desert in bloom. A desert in bloom is more subtle than seeing the wildflowers of an alpine meadow, but spectacular in Read More…
Irvine Regional Park Morning
Today I headed for Irvine Regional Park, getting there just at 8 AM when it opened and was amazed at the que at the check in kiosk. Obviously a very popular place on a sunny Saturday morning. I was hoping to find a couple of first for me CA birds here, Lewis Woodpecker and White-breasted Read More…