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 North Coast
A1
Santa Maria River Estuary - Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 171) US 101 at Main Street-State Highway 166 in Santa Maria and drive west
11 miles to the gate and kiosk marking the entrance to Rancho
Guadalupe Dunes County Park. Continue past the kiosk about 2 miles
to reach the parking area. From the parking lot a short walk north on the
beach takes you to the river estuary,
while a long trek in the sand to the south will take
you to Mussel Rock. Note- much of the estuary and inland dunes are closed
during the Western Snowy Plover and
California Least Tern nesting season from March 1 - September 30 each
year.
 Rewards:
Positioned on the Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo county line, the mouth of
the Santa Maria River is without question one of the best shorebird sites
in all of coastal Santa Barbara County. It is recognized as a National
Audubon Society "Important Bird Area" as part of the Santa Maria River
Valley (link). You can park just outside the entrance gate and bird the
willow-riparian habitat and pasture along the road all the way to the sand mining
plant to look for migrant passerines. Breeding species such as Hutton's
Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Swainson's Thrush and Wilson's Warbler
are present in spring and summer.
During fall migration (late June through October) the estuary can be
teeming with activity as sandpipers, wading birds, pelicans, gulls and
terns often migrate through here in large numbers. When the estuary is flooded
waterfowl are often present along the eastern shoreline. Pelagic birds can be
spotted offshore from the beach and include loons, grebes, scoters, shearwaters
and the occasional alcid.
The list of rare birds found here is long! Red-necked Stint, Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Magnificent Frigatebird
and Little Curlew have been
spotted near the beach. Several Tropical Kingbirds,
a Great Crested Flycatcher,
Gray Catbird and numerous vagrant
warblers have been found in the willows during fall migration.
Photo: Santa Maria River Estuary
A2
Guadalupe Pasture, Sewage Ponds & Jack O'Connell
Park
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 171) US 101 at Main Street-State Highway 166 in Santa Maria and drive west
approximately 9 miles to the town of Guadalupe. Continue past the cemetery
and four way stop at West Main Street and Highway 1 intersection to Jack O'Connell
park a few blocks to the west. Just beyond the last subdivision of homes
named "Riverview"
take Calle Ceasar Chavez to the right to a paved parking lot in the park. You can
also park in a dirt lot behind the softball field back-stop which is accessible
from the entrance road
(8th Street) to the Guadalupe
Sewage Treatment Plant immediately west of the field. From this lot you can
walk behind the old house onto the road that parallels the pasture field. Birders have been
tolerated but it is best to avoid this area when crop harvesting
activities are ongoing as it is private property. Do not
trespass. The sewage plant is not open to birders but a portion of it is
visible from the north side of the softball field inside the park.
 Rewards:
The pasture at the end of the sewage plant entrance road can be great
for shorebirds from mid-June through winter. You can also walk the
dirt road behind the house, barn and cow pens to scope the field and
distant pond to the north which often contains ducks and geese.
Oddities around the pasture have included Red-throated Pipit,
Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird and
Bobolink. Tricolored Blackbird is regular in fall and winter,
and the occasional Yellow-headed Blackbird,
White-faced Ibis or Cattle Egret
may also be found during migration. Peregrine Falcon and
Ferruginous Hawk can be seen here. Vagrant shorebirds have included
Ruff, American
Golden-Plover, Stilt Sandpiper and
Pacific Golden-Plover, the latter
usually wintering in small numbers annually. Golden-Plovers can
occasionally be found on the football or softball fields very early in the
morning. A county first Garganey was found in the pond in 1989, and Tufted Duck has also
been found in winter. From the berm next to the softball field you can peer into three
of the ponds inside the sewage plant for gulls, shorebirds and waterfowl.
Photo: Ruff at Guadalupe Pasture. Wes
Fritz
A3
Point Sal
State Beach (map)
Directions:
From Highway 1 at Highway 166 intersection in
Guadalupe drive south on Highway 1 about two miles to Brown Road. Turn right (west) on Brown Road and continue approximately
four miles to its end to reach the Point Sal Trailhead - a closed dirt
road and pedestrian hiking path only. Stopping periodically along Corralitos Canyon as you drive
to the gate is good for spring and summer birding in the willows and
cottonwood trees. Do
not trespass into adjacent private property. Formerly accessible by vehicle, Point
Sal State Beach was unique with its rugged, rocky
coastline habitat like much of the north coast of Santa Barbara County,
most of which is not publicly accessible. Heavy rains washed out the road to the beach and
prompted the eventual closure of the beach area. Vandenberg AFB and County Officials reached an agreement to grant public access again to the
area in May of 2008. However, with no vehicle access available this is a
long and arduous hike to reach the beach area, but a hike along Point Sal
Ridge is worth the effort. Access is only permitted
from sunrise to sunset. There are no facilities at the beach. Check current access conditions
here.
Rewards:
Hiking to the coast is worth the trip alone
for the incredible views of the ocean below the ridge and Santa Maria
Valley to the east. The
birdlife of the Point Sal area is busy with roosting Brown Pelican, Pelagic and Brandt's Cormorants,
Pigeon Guillemot, and winter loons, grebes,
and "rockpipers" such as Black Oystercatcher, Wandering
Tattler, Surfbird and turnstones. The relatively sheltered bay off Point
Sal Beach is good for wintering scoters where Black Scoter is
sometimes found. Harlequin Duck is also a
possibility in winter. The drive up Corralitos Canyon to the trailhead provides good spring and early
summer birding where you will find Swainson's Thrush, Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Wilson's Warbler, Pacific-slope and Ash-throated Flycatcher,
Lazuli Bunting and Hutton's and Warbling Vireos, in addition to western migrants
in spring and fall.
Grasshopper Sparrow is found through summer in the grassy hills, and Blue
Grosbeak and Costa's Hummingbird may be found at the start of the
trailhead along the margins of the creek.
A4 Santa Maria
Wastewater Treatment
Plant
(map)
Editors note: The wastewater treatment
plant is currently closed to birding due to an ongoing construction
project but is expected to reopen sometime in late 2009.
Directions:
(Exit 171) US 101 at Main Street- State Highway 166 in Santa Maria and drive
west through town approximately 4 miles to Black Road. Turn left (south)
on Black Road to reach the entrance about 1/4 mile on the right.
The management is very accommodating to birders, but you must sign in at
the office prior to birding. Vehicles are allowed to drive around the
settling ponds if there is no heavy equipment operations. Inquire from the
office what areas are closed to vehicles. Hours are Monday
- Friday from 8:00 to 4:00. The facility is closed on weekends and major holidays.
Rewards:
The Santa Maria Wastewater
Treatment Plant is most productive in spring, fall and winter. When water
levels are low there can be good numbers of shorebirds feeding in the
muddy shallows during spring and fall migration. Waterfowl are usually
found in the flooded ponds to the west of the facility by driving around
the settling pond levees. Irregular breeders include Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet. Baird's, Pectoral and
a few Semipalmated Sandpipers are regular in fall among the scores of migrating peeps that move through. Yellowlegs,
both dowitchers and phalaropes are regularly
seen here. A check of the clarifying tanks will guarantee
Bonaparte's Gull and Mew Gull in winter with the occasional
Thayer's Gull in the mix. Rare birds
have included Barrow's Goldeneye,
Little Gull, Franklin's Gull, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
Ruff, Stilt
Sandpiper, Rusty Blackbird, and exceptionally, a county
first Spotted
Redshank in October of 1985- a second southern California record.
A5
"A" Street Ponds
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 169) US 101 at Betteravia Road and drive west through the city. Beyond
Blosser
Road/Skyway Drive intersection, continue west two blocks to A Street.
Turn right (north) and drive two blocks until you see the large
retention pond on your right. Continue north past Battles Road to look
into the flood control channel that parallels the road.
Rewards:
This flood control pond in Santa
Maria can be good for the odd gull, tern, duck or small numbers of
shorebirds during periods of migration. Fall through spring is best and is
dependent on varying water levels due to seasonal rainfall. The large pond
typically has some water in it no matter the time of year. Look through
the channel at the end of the street for more shorebirds. Birds usually
seen are yellowlegs, dowitchers, peeps, avocets and stilts. Swallows are
frequently seen during migration over the large pond. Unusual birds found
here include Red-necked Grebe, Stilt Sandpiper, and inland Least
Terns.
A6
Santa Maria Valley Parks
Two city parks and two county parks in Santa Maria are well worth exploring. Each offers a
uniquely different habitat type in the Santa Maria Valley with a nice
variety of birds
at different seasons. A bird list from these parks can be
found
here
-
 WALLER COUNTY PARK:
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 169) US 101 at Betteravia Road
and drive west to South Broadway (State 135). Turn left (south) and
continue to Waller Lane or Goodwin Road and turn right (west). The park
entrance is located at 3107 Orcutt Road which parallels Broadway-135. Rewards:
Waller Park consists of 153
acres of lawn, deciduous trees and oak groves, and its most prominent
feature - towering Monterey pines - many of them over 60 years old. Nearly
150 species have been recorded in the park. Most of these migrants in
spring and fall, but winter has proven to be quite good for birding as
well. Lawrence's Goldfinch and Allen's Hummingbird nest here. Winter brings montane species such as Red-breasted,
Red-naped and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers,
Chipping Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Pygmy Nuthatch, Varied
Thrush and Golden-crowned Kinglet. A check of the front pond will often
produce a couple of wild geese and "legitimate" ducks among the resident waterfowl
population. Rare birds have included White-headed
Woodpecker, Plumbeous Vireo,
Prothonotary Warbler,
Painted Redstart,
Grace's and Pine Warblers.
An unexpected Wood Thrush
appeared
in autumn of 2005 marking a first for the county. Photo: Waller Park Wood Thrush.
Brad Schram
- ORCUTT COMMUNITY PARK: (map) Directions:
(Exit 164) South of Santa Maria near Orcutt
exit US 101 at Clark Avenue and drive west to Bradley Road intersection.
Turn left (south) on Bradley and continue to the top of the hill at Rice
Ranch Road (the eventual park entrance will be 5800 Bradley Road).
Turn right (west) onto Rice Ranch Road until you see the entrance to the
Rice Ranch development on the left. Turn left (south) on Sage Crest and
follow the street to its end at the park entrance.
Rewards:
The 26 acre Orcutt Community Park is a new
county park within 300 acres of preserved open space as part of the Rice
Ranch development in the Orcutt Hills. Species not usually spotted in
the lower Santa Maria Valley are found here such as Wrentit, Western
Bluebird, Oak Titmouse, Golden Eagle and Lark Sparrow. Other birds
typical of oak woodland and chaparral are found along the nature path
above the park. The footbridge over Pine Creek may be good for finding
spring migrants in the narrow riparian strip. This is a good place to
watch winter sparrows. An Eastern Phoebe was found in 2006 during
the development of the property.
- PREISKER PARK:
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 173) In Santa Maria exit US 101 at
North Broadway (State Route 135) which is the northern most exit into Santa Maria and
head immediately south. Turn right (west) at Preisker Lane and drive to
its end at Hidden Pines Way. Turn left (west) to reach the park entrance
on the left.
Rewards:
Preisker Park is Santa Maria's largest city
park at 40 acres. The pines, holly oaks, sycamore and alder trees in the park can attract
several
western migrants in spring and fall and the occasional winter vagrant. Lawrence's Goldfinch and Allen's
Hummingbird nest here. Red-breasted,
Yellow-bellied and Red-naped
Sapsuckers have been found in winter in the pepper trees
scattered throughout the park. Other unusual birds have included
Summer Tanager,
Black-and-white Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Red
Crossbill.
- "JIM MAY" CITY PARK at RIVER
OAKS: (map)
Directions:
(Exit 172) In Santa Maria exit US 101at Donovan Road and
immediately take North Carlotti Drive located on the east side of the overpass
next to the corner market.
Drive north
about two blocks to East Stanford which is just before the elementary school. Turn left
(west) on East Stanford until you reach the park on the right.
Rewards:
River Oaks (Jim May) Park is a
recent city park addition utilizing two retention basin ponds. Just the
lake portion alone is more than 11 acres in size. A pathway
encircles the entire area for easy walking. These ponds are home to one of the larger
breeding colonies of Great-tailed Grackles in the county. This can also be
a reliable place to test your skills at identifying
winter gulls as they make their daily pilgrimage from the
coast to the inland city landfill, and back again in the late afternoon. When gulls drop into
the lake there can be hundreds including Herring,
Glaucous-winged, Mew, Bonaparte's, California, Ring-billed, and the
odd inland Western Gull and Thayer's Gull.
American White Pelican is regular in winter in small numbers.
Geese are sometimes present. Occasionally in late summer and early fall
shorebirds are spotted along the muddy edges of the lake including a
rare Solitary or Baird's Sandpiper. Rarities here are Swamp Sparrow,
Least Tern, Clay-colored Sparrow,
Northern Waterthrush and
Eastern Phoebe.
A7
Allan Hancock College
(map)
(parking
fee)
Directions:
(Exit 170) US 101 at Stowell Road. On the west side of the overpass immediately
take Bradley Road north and drive approximately 1 block to the campus parking
lot entrance on the left. Fall, winter and early spring are the most
productive seasons here and can vary from year to year. Weekends and
holidays are best when there are no classes in
session. There is a parking fee during the week available from self-pay
parking meters. Campus map
here.
Rewards:
The pines and various deciduous trees and shrubs around this
Santa Maria community college
campus have been attractive to wintering birds such as sapsuckers,
sparrows, kinglets and a few unusual
over-wintering warblers such as Nashville and Hermit Warbler.
Black-throated Green and Black-and-white Warbler have also
been found in winter. Other unusual birds have
included Ovenbird, Harris's Sparrow,
Red Crossbill and Scarlet Tanager.
A8
Barka Slough
(map)
Directions:
(Exit 164) US 101 south of Santa Maria exit at Clark Avenue and continue west toward the
small town of Orcutt. At South Broadway-State
135 turn left (south) onto 135 (becomes Highway 1) and drive approximately eight miles to reach the
slough. Be sure to veer right at the Highway 1-Highway 135 junction about 4.5 miles
south of Orcutt (not going
under the bridge). Continue over the hill and down to the bottom of the
valley. Turn left (east) onto San Antonio Road East from Highway 1 which
is just
beyond the bridge. Barka Slough is also accessible from US 101 in Los
Alamos by driving west 9.5 miles on State 135 to San Antonio Road East.
Birding is best along a two mile stretch closest to Highway 1. Park where
safe to pull out and do not trespass into adjacent private property.
Rewards:
The dense willow-riparian habitat here
is excellent in spring and summer for a host of local breeding
specialties. Regular nesting birds include Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
Allen's Hummingbird, Orange-crowned, Wilson's and
Yellow Warblers, Hutton's Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat,
Lazuli Bunting
and Blue Grosbeak. Cooper's Hawk,
Ash-throated Flycatcher and Hairy Woodpecker are also found in spring and
summer. In the
grassy hillsides to the south of the road singing
Grasshopper Sparrow is regularly found in early summer.
A9 Santa Ynez River Estuary - Ocean Beach
County Park
(map)
Directions:
From H Street-State Highway 1 in the city of Lompoc
take West Ocean-State 246 and drive west
about 8 miles to Ocean Park Road on the right as you approach the coast.
Continue on Ocean Park Road to its
end to reach the parking lot at Ocean Beach County Park. Note- the beach
is closed during the Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern
nesting season from March 1 - September 30 each year. Birding is permitted
all year around the park but do not trespass into the adjacent estuary
habitat.
 Rewards:
This estuary is recognized as a National Audubon Society
"Important Bird Area" as part of Vandenberg Air Force Base (link). Extensive salicornia wetland make up much of the habitat along
the entrance road to the park where White-tailed Kite and Northern Harrier
may be seen hunting. The occasional
Short-eared Owl (rare) may be spotted over the marsh at dusk in winter.
Look for "Large-billed" Savannah Sparrow in winter months from the
margins of the marsh next to the parking lot. When the estuary is flooded rails
may also be seen.
Shorebirds can number in the hundreds during fall migration when the
estuary is shallow, and waterfowl, cormorants, loons and grebes may be
found when the estuary is flooded. Look through the park cypress trees and myopurum
hedge next to the railroad tracks for migrant passerines and vagrant
warblers in fall. A number of rare birds have been found here including Tricolored Heron, Little Blue
Heron, Reddish
Egret, Gull-billed Tern,
Curlew Sandpiper, Nelson's Sharp-tailed
Sparrow, Pine Warbler and
American Tree Sparrow.
Photo:
Santa Ynez River Estuary at
Ocean Park
A10
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
(map)
(fee)
Directions:
(Exit 140A) US 101 in the town of Buellton at State Highway 246 and drive west 25
miles to Purisima Road (right) as you approach the city of Lompoc. Drive
about 1 mile to the La Purisima Mission entrance on the right.
Rewards:
In addition to enjoying the rich
history of La Purisima Mission, a stroll through the central
garden trails or pathways into the brushy chaparral slopes can be good for a variety of
common western birds. Regular species include Purple Finch, Western
Bluebird, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit,
Hutton's Vireo, Nuttall's Woodpecker and California Thrasher. "Bell's"
Sage Sparrow (rare) may be found in the chaparral. A check of the riparian
habitat along the stream in spring is good for migrant passerines such as tanagers,
flycatchers, warblers and vireos. Summer Tanager
and Rose-breasted Grosbeak have been
recorded in the Mission garden.
A11 Miguelito County Park
(map)
 Directions:
From West Ocean-Highway 246 in the city of Lompoc drive south on "I"
Street into the adjacent canyon which becomes San Miguelito Road. Continue
south 3.5 miles to the park entrance on the right.
Rewards:
Miguelito County Park is located
in stream and canyon oak woodland south of Lompoc. It is home to
numerous western regulars such as nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows and
juncos. Band-tailed Pigeon is fairly common in the coast live oaks here
as well as Western Screech-Owl. Common Poorwill is regular in spring and summer at night along the canyon road
around the 6.0 mile marker.
Varied Thrush may be found in the park in winter. Search for migrant bird activity along the creek riparian habitat in
spring. This park has hosted a few rarities in the past including
Black-throated Blue Warbler,
Golden-winged Warbler and an unexpected county first
Louisiana Waterthrush- the latter two over-wintering birds
in the park.
In spring of 1987 a most unexpected Cassin's Sparrow was found in
upper Miguelito Canyon. Photo: Black-throated
Blue Warbler. Brad Hines
A12 River Park & Sweeney Road (map)
Directions:
River Park is located in Lompoc off State Highway 246 near the Highway 1
junction immediately east of the Santa Ynez River bridge. Drive the
entrance road into River Park and park in one of the lots near the end of
the road. Sweeney Road is opposite (south) of the River Park entrance.
Sweeney Road terminates approximately 5.8 miles ahead, but a good position
overlooks the river at a pull-out about 1 mile on the right. Birding is
only permitted from the road as the river bottom habitat is private
property.
Rewards:
River Park is best in spring, fall and winter. Check
the willows and cottonwoods adjacent to the river for migrant passerines.
Look through the park pines for warblers and along the willows next to the river for sparrows. A check of the pond is occasionally
good for waterfowl. Eurasian Wigeon
and Ross's Goose
has been seen. Another bonus is the regular turnover of gulls that
make their way to and from the coast. This pond is a reliable place for
Thayer's Gull. In 2009 a probable Kumlien's Iceland Gull and a
Glaucous Gull were found among the gull flock. The dense riparian habitat along Sweeney Road
allows one to see breeding species like Swainson's Thrush, Wilson's and
Yellow Warblers, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, White-throated Swift and
Yellow-breasted Chat. Occasionally a
Pygmy Owl may be heard calling from
within the dense under-story or seen in the cottonwood trees. Lazuli
Bunting, Blue Grosbeak and Grasshopper Sparrows are regular along the road
in summer. Rare birds include
Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
Eastern Phoebe and Summer Tanager.
A13 Jalama
Beach County Park (map)
(fee)
 Directions:
In the city of Lompoc take Highway 1 at it's
junction with Highway 246 and drive south approximately four miles to
Jalama Road (exit right). Continue west on Jalama Road to it's end at
Jalama Beach Park - a 14 mile
drive to the coast. If driving north from Santa Barbara, Jalama Road is
also accessible from the Highway 101 - Highway 1 junction (Exit 132) about 15 miles
south of Lompoc. There is a day use fee and camping is available by
reservation. Photo: Jalama Creek Mouth
Rewards:
Jalama Beach County Park is one
of few north coast beach access points in Santa Barbara County. It is
situated mid-way between Point Arguello on Vandenberg AFB and Point
Conception to the south. The drive along Jalama Road is characterized by
grassy coastal foothills with areas of riparian habitat and oak woodland.
In spring look for Ash-throated Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lazuli
Bunting and Blue Grosbeak. Grasshopper Sparrow is a possibility in the
grassy hills. Resident species include Nuttall's Woodpecker, Wrentit,
Western Scrub-Jay, and California Thrasher. At Jalama Beach Park numerous gulls,
terns, pelicans and shorebirds are found at the beach and creek estuary, and loons, grebes
and cormorants in the surf. Spring and fall migrant passerines or an odd
vagrant may be seen in the shrubs in the campground area and in the willows at Jalama Creek mouth.
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