Carter Estate Winery
Southern California Birding: From Wine Country to Desert Peaks
Explore Southern California's birding diversity—from San Diego's tidal flats and Joshua Tree's desert peaks to mountain trails in the San Jacinto range.
Brand Park - Burbank
Burbank to Ventura: California Birding
Business in Burbank turned into a birding bonanza this September! From the canyon trails of Griffith Park to the rich coastal wetlands of Malibu Lagoon, we explored the best of Southern California birding. Join us as we tally 84 species, discover western specialties, and wrap up a successful trip with the Ventura Audubon.
San Francisco Coast
San Francisco Layover: A West Coast Birding Guide
Only have a few hours near SFO? We turned a simple layover into a coastal birding adventure! From the sparrow-rich habitats of Mori Point to the stunning shorebirds of Pescadero State Beach, discover our top tips for maximizing your time and spotting West Coast specialties like the Anna's Hummingbird and Black Oystercatcher.
Big Year Reflection: The Journey to 500
Our 2015 Little Big Year pushed us across deserts, mountains, coastlines, and countless miles of weekend travel. Along the way we met incredible guides, discovered unforgettable places, and learned just how much you can accomplish with planning, persistence, and a love for birds. We ended the year with 519 species—and a lifetime of memories.
Angel's Lighthouse
December 27 – California, The Final Trip
Our final Big Year adventure took us to Southern California, where coastal preserves, urban parks, and mountain trails delivered the last birds of 2015. From grebes and loons along the Pacific to a lifer California Gnatcatcher and the unforgettable Williamson’s Sapsucker on Mount Wilson, this trip was the perfect finale to an incredible year of birding.
Bixby Bridge
September 12 – California Coast and Pelagic Birding
Just days after leaving Arizona, we traded desert canyons for the California coast. From Pinnacles National Park to Carmel River State Beach and a spectacular Monterey Bay pelagic, the weekend delivered Elegant Terns, albatrosses, murrelets, and a final lifer Pacific Wren in Big Sur.
April 8 – From California to the Texas Coast
A spring migration trip to California followed by a spontaneous dash to Texas added 16 year birds and moved our 2015 list from 176 to 192 by April 11. These back‑to‑back trips marked the moment our Little Big Year truly began to take shape.