Today we hit the road up and over the mountains and into the desert. Our big loop includes several hotspots in varied habitats – Kitchen Creek for possible Mountain Quail, Lawrence’s Goldfinch and Acorn Woodpecker; Lake Cuyamaca for waterfowl and possible Tricolored Blackbird; Santa Ysabel for an amazing bakery stop; and then to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where the geology is sure to astound. Anza-Borrego residents include Costa’s Hummingbird, Greater Roadrunner, and Black-throated Sparrow – arguably one of North America’s most beautiful sparrow. Lots of miles today, but lots of birds, too!

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express San Diego – Mission Valley

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today, we head south toward California’s southern border. We’ll bird the Tijuana River Valley with stops to include Dairy Mart Ponds for kingfishers, raptors, waterfowl and waders, Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Ranger Station trails for possible California Gnatcatcher and Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and Bird and Butterfly Garden for overwintering passerines and hummingbirds. A long-residing Black-throated Magpie Jay might even show its face along Hollister Street! Next, we’ll visit Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, where our main target will be Ridgway’s Rail and the endangered Belding’s subspecies of Savannah Sparrow. Lots of additional waders, waterfowl, raptors and hummingbirds abound. Finally, we’ll visit additional coastal or inland open water sources in the Imperial Beach area based on recent sightings and the group’s interest.

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express San Diego – Mission Valley

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

The chaparral habitats and riparian areas on the east side of San Diego have been impacted by development, but county and regional parks offer refugia for interesting birds and other wildlife. At Lake Murray Community Park, the paved trail on the northwest side offers access to hillside chaparral adjacent to the lake where California Towhee, Thrasher and Gnatcatcher, Cassin’s Kingbird, Hutton’s Vireo, Wrentit, and Scaly-breasted Munia reside. Next, we’ll visit Lindo Lake and Lakeside County Park known for waterfowl, Black-crowned Night Heron, possible Tricolored Blackbird and for flocks of parrots. Finally, we’ll visit San Diego Audubon’s Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary where Oak Titmouse, California Quail, overwintering warblers and others are possible. 

Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express San Diego – Mission Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Farewell Dinner

Birding La Jolla Cove and Point La Jolla can be incredibly exciting. First off, the area has both Pacific harbor seals and California sea lions hauled out on the beaches and rocks. Pacific Brown Pelicans, Brandt’s and Pelagic cormorants, and numerous gulls nest on the rock cliffs above the water. Wandering Tattler, Spotted Sandpiper, Black Turnstone, and possible Black Oystercatcher can also be found. Peregrine Falcons often perch on the cliffs nearby. Next, we’ll head a little north to Torrey Pines State Reserve where coastal pine groves overlook the ocean. This juxtaposition puts coastal birds and forest birds on the same checklist and the scenery has to be seen to be believed. Time will dictate other stops before our afternoon return to the airport in time for evening flights home.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Plan to depart SAN Airport at 5:30 pm or later today.