Famosa Slough is a 37 acre Marine Conservation Area which protects fragile wetland habitat near the point where the San Diego River meets the Pacific Ocean. While the surrounding area has been heavily developed, this small portion of wetland provides a peaceful patch of nature. The Slough is a popular spot for birdwatchers year-round, and a frequent stopover point for migrating birds in the winter. Over 190 species of birds have been spotted here. Continue reading Famosa Slough
Category Archives: Birding
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park – Southwest
The Tijuana River has a reputation for being a rather unclean watercourse, and deservedly so. A multitude of political and socioeconomic factors contribute to the pollution of the river, which flows north from Mexico into the U.S. before reaching the Pacific Ocean. While both countries have been working together to clean up the river and address the sources of pollution, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
When one hears about the trash and sewage contamination that plagues the Tijuana River, its natural to assume this is not a desirable area to visit and hike. But despite these issues, the Tijuana River Valley is home to miles of fantastic trails that wander through a variety of landscapes. There are paths with dense vegetation close to the river, large ponds and coastal wetlands full of migratory birds, open grasslands, and beaches. Here, nature demonstrates its incredible resiliency with a showcase of birds, mammals, butterflies, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Continue reading Tijuana River Valley Regional Park – Southwest
Mount Calavera
Lake Calavera Open Space Preserve is a very popular North County destination for hiking, biking, dog walking and trail running. There is an elaborate network of formal and use trails running throughout the preserve which makes it an excellent spot for exploration if you are so inclined. The route we followed is a fairly straightforward course that visits the area’s major features: Mount Calavera and Lake Calavera. Continue reading Mount Calavera
Marsh Trail and Desert Overlook
We had taken a couple days to camp at Agua Caliente County Park out in Anza-Borrego and explore some of the trails in the area. Agua Caliente is best known for its heated therapeutic pools fed by the naturally occurring mineral springs in the park, but there’s a handful of nice little hiking trails that start from the campground as well. We had explored Moonlight Canyon the evening before, and once the sun was finally up in the morning, we set off to explore this small network of trails on the other side of the park. Continue reading Marsh Trail and Desert Overlook
Moonlight Canyon
Agua Caliente County Park near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is definitely one of the more remote County Parks in San Diego, but it has a lot to offer. Besides a fully-equipped campground with a variety of tent, RV, and cabin sites, it offers several therapeutic pools and spas fed by naturally occurring mineral springs. The indoor spa, heated to a relaxing 102 degrees, is an awesome way to relax after a day of desert hiking. The campground is surrounded by numerous springs which attract all kinds of interesting desert wildlife, making it a great spot for bird-watching. Continue reading Moonlight Canyon
San Dieguito Lagoon
Originating from a spring on Volcan Mountain in Julian, the waters of Santa Ysabel Creek combine with other streams and creeks to form the San Dieguito River. This watershed traverses a 55 mile corridor across the county, eventually flowing into the Pacific Ocean at the San Dieguito Lagoon in Del Mar. Eventually, the Coast to Crest Trail will span that full distance, but as of now it exists as a series of non-contiguous (but ever-growing) series of trail segments. Continue reading San Dieguito Lagoon
Chollas Lake
Southeast San Diego isn’t exactly renowned for its outdoor recreational opportunities. But like so many other areas in the county, one can find small islands of natural areas tucked away amid the urban sprawl. One such example is Chollas Lake Park, located about a quarter mile up the road from a large shopping center in Oak Park, just off Highway 94. Continue reading Chollas Lake
Batiquitos Lagoon
Batiquitos Lagoon is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands in southern California. Located between Carlsbad and Encinitas, the Lagoon was chosen as a mitigation site in the 1980’s to offset development in San Pedro Harbor by the Port of Los Angeles. As a result, Batiquitos was dredged to remove accumulating silt and restore tidal flow to the Lagoon. Today Batiquitos Lagoon has been restored to a beautiful 610 acre preserve that is home to numerous fish, birds, plants, and mammals, and serves as a popular recreation spot for San Diegans looking for an easy, coastal stroll. Continue reading Batiquitos Lagoon
Walker Preserve Trail
The Walker Preserve Trail is the most recently completed section of the San Diego River Trail. This section encompasses over 100 acres of mixed sage scrub, riparian and wetland habitat capable of supporting at least 3 federally protected bird species (the Southwestern willow flycatcher, the California gnatcatcher, and the least Bell’s viero). This area was once part of the Walker Family Dairy Farm, and until recently was off-limits to the public as it was used for sand mining. A combination of funding from the City of Santee and various grants were used to purchase the land and construct a beautiful riverside trail that was opened to the public in April 2015. Continue reading Walker Preserve Trail
Los Jilgueros Preserve
Los Jilgueros is a small, yet very scenic Preserve located on the south side of Fallbrook. Nestled in between a busy road and residential developments lies a small network of trails which will take you by ponds, freshwater marshland, and grassy fields. The Preserve is owned and maintained by the Fallbrook Land Conservancy who has done an amazing job preserving and protecting native habitat in North County. Continue reading Los Jilgueros Preserve