Our first birding trip to the Temecula Wine region was a memorable one. We stayed at the beautiful Carter Estate Winery, enjoying stunning views of rolling vineyards, snow-capped mountains, and hot air balloons right from our room. While we only spotted six species, we were thrilled to see this Say’s Phoebe perched in the vines. The wine is a must-try, so be sure to visit the tasting room!
The next morning, we joined the San Diego Audubon for a fantastic bird walk at the Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary. We spent four hours exploring the lake and the adjacent water treatment plant, and the effort paid off in a big way—we spotted an incredible 59 species!
Some of our most anticipated Western birds were located, including the Eared Grebe, White-faced Ibis, White-throated Swift, and White-tailed Kite. A Spotted Towhee tucked away in the bushes was a real treat, as it’s an unusual find here. The burnt area had many kingbirds, and we got great scope views of a Vermillion Flycatcher.
The next morning, we met up with the San Diego Audubon for the Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary walk around the lake and adjacent water treatment plant. There are so many highlights in the 59 species observed during the four-hour walk. We picked up some of the western birds we hoped for: Eared Grebe, White-faced Ibis, White-throated Swift, and White-tailed Kite. A Spotted Towhee in the bush is unusual here. Many kingbirds in the burn area and good looks through a scope at a Vermillion Flycatcher. You can check out our full list on eBird.
San Diego Area
After a quick lunch, our birding journey took us to the San Diego River tidal flats. We were lucky to meet a friendly local birder named Michelle, who was a fantastic guide. This stop was another huge success, with 49 species tallied and a wonderful variety of shorebirds. We spotted Whimbrels, Long-billed Curlews, and Marbled Godwits, along with plenty of “peeps” (small sandpipers).
While the birding was great, we did notice some concerning issues, like ground squirrels eroding the riverbank and dogs walking in sensitive beach areas preferred by the birds. Our target birds for the day were the elusive Lapland Longspur (no luck there, it was last seen on November 27th) and American Pipits (we found 18!). The true highlight, however, was an unexpected sighting of a beautiful leucistic Brant. See eBird List.
Our final stop of the day was Point Loma, where we took in the historic lighthouse and sweeping views of downtown San Diego. While the tidal pools were quiet, we did manage to spot a Greater Yellowlegs. It’s a fantastic location to catch a sunset. This was also a good opportunity to tick an item off our to-do list: we picked up our lifetime National Park admission card!
Mountain Birding
Our quest for snow led us to the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains. The Idyllwild Nature Center was a winter wonderland for local families, but we opted for a quieter, less-crowded parking area to search for birds. It turned out to be a great move! We were thrilled to add a Mountain Chickadee and a Pygmy Nuthatch to our list. Best of all, we successfully found our primary target for the trip, the White-headed Woodpecker.
After our birding, we had a fantastic lunch with pork belly bao rolls and fried rice at the Mile High Cafe (highly recommended with awesome American and Asian fare). Our next stop was McCall Memorial Park, where we chatted with the friendly camp hosts and were rewarded with sightings of Northern Flickers and Stellar’s Jays. The views of the valley from here were absolutely stunning.
Desert Birding
With our coastal and mountain birding complete, it was time to head for the desert. On our way to Joshua Tree, we made a crucial stop at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. We were rewarded with another 17 great birds by checking the feeders and walking the trails and boardwalks through the cottonwoods and open desert. Our new year birds for this location included the Oak Titmouse, Verdin, and Rock Wren.
Our new park pass got its first use at Joshua Tree National Park. We headed to the Black Rock Campground, where we were rewarded with some classic desert birds. Our sightings included a Loggerhead Shrike, Cactus Wren, California Thrasher, and the striking Phainopepla.
Next on the itinerary was solo birding for Mike. An early morning drive through Griffith Park found the usual suspects: California Scrub-Jay and Towhee, Bushtits, and a nice Oak Titmouse at the end. The next stop was White Point Park, one of our past favorites, where he added Black and American Oystercatchers to the list. Nearby, the Cabrillo Beach pier was a hive of activity, with Black and Surf Scoters, and too many grebes to count.
For our final night, we had dinner at NiKo Niko, arguably the best sushi spot in Burbank. It was a memorable evening for more than just the food. We met Chris Spino, an up-and-coming musician whose band, Coma Girls, recently relocated from Atlanta. Their sound is a modern take on 60s-style rock, and we highly recommend checking out their video for “Car Alarms.” Dinner was full of interesting people, including the fascinating clown featured in the same video.
As always, we had a fantastic time birding in California. This trip was particularly special, adding four new California life birds to our list: a Little Blue Heron, Common Gallinule, Rock Wren, and Vermillion Flycatcher. It’s trips like these that prove there is always something new and interesting to discover, whether it’s on a trail or at a dinner table.
Trip Birds: 113 Year Birds: 18 Life Birds: 0
Next Up: Back to Northeast Florida
You must be logged in to post a comment.