How to get there:
(map)
Exit U.S. 101 at Main Street in Santa Maria and drive west 11
miles to the entrance of
Rancho Guadalupe Dunes park and the Santa Maria River estuary. Continue past the kiosk 2 miles to the parking lot.
A short walk north on the beach takes you to the river mouth. *Note- much of the estuary and inland dunes are closed during California Least Tern and
Western Snowy Plover nesting season from March through September.
Rewards: Strategically positioned on the San Luis Obispo and Santa
Barbara County line, the mouth of the Santa Maria River is without question some
of the best shorebird habitat in the county. During fall months (mid July
through October), the mudflats are teeming with activity. Sandpipers, wading
birds, pelicans, gulls and terns are often common here during peak migration
periods. When flooded, the estuary is a haven for waterfowl. Pelagic species can be easily spotted
offshore from the beach. At the entrance park just outside the gate and bird the willows along
the entrance road for migrant land birds (no trespassing beyond the fence). Pacific-slope
Flycatchers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Swainson’s Thrushes and Wilson’s Warblers nest in the willows
here. The list of rare birds found at this location is long! Two Red-necked Stints,
Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Pacific Golden-Plovers and a
Little
Curlew are among the rarities seen in the estuary, while the willows
from the gate to the sand mining plant have produced
Tropical Kingbirds, Great-crested Flycatcher,
a Gray
Catbird and numerous vagrant warblers.
2.
GUADALUPE PASTURE & JACK O'CONNELL PARK
How to get there:
(map)
Exit U.S. 101 at Main Street in Santa Maria and drive west
approximately 9 miles to the town of Guadalupe. Proceed past the four way stop
at West Main Street and Guadalupe Street (Highway 1) where you see the cemetery.
Beyond the last subdivision "Riverview" on the right look for the football field at Jack
O'Connell Park. Park in the lot off Calle Cesar Chavez or in the lot on the west
edge of the park behind the softball field which is accessible from the entrance road
to the Guadalupe sewage plant.
Rewards:
Guadalupe Pasture is one of the more productive
north county hot spots in fall. The cow pasture found at the end of the road
next to the sewage plant entrance is a shorebird haven when the pasture is
partially flooded. A spotting scope is helpful to watch the birds as they
move in and out of the furrows. Walk the dirt road around the house, barn and cow pen to parallel the pasture, but do not trespass
into the fields as this area is considered private property. Birders have been
tolerated, but it is best to avoid the road when there is crop harvesting
activity. Sort through the flocks of blackbirds around the cow pen in fall for a
possible Yellow-headed Blackbird. Among the more common sandpipers and wading
birds, Ruff, Pacific Golden-Plover (occasionally
winters), American Golden-Plover,
and Stilt Sandpiper have all been found in
the pasture, as well as flocks of geese. The grassy fields in O'Connell
Park can sometimes contain a few Golden-Plovers. Other rarities have included
Vermilion Flycatcher,
Bobolink and Red-throated Pipit.
3.
SANTA MARIA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT*
How to get there:
(map)
Exit U.S.
101 on Main Street in Santa Maria and drive west 4 miles to Black Road. Turn
left (south) on Black Road to the entrance about one-half mile on the right.
The management is very accommodating to birders and the facility is open each
weekday from about 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Birders must check in at the office
and sign-in prior to entering. *Note- this facility is
closed to public access during heightened Homeland Security threat levels
(Code Orange).
Rewards: The Santa Maria Sewage Ponds are most productive in
spring, fall and winter. In recent years the facility has expanded with the
creation of new settling ponds at its west end. When water levels are low there
can be good numbers of shorebirds working the muddy bottoms in late summer and
fall, and waterfowl numbers are multiplied each winter in filled ponds. A check
of the clarifying tanks will guarantee Mew and
Bonaparte’s Gulls in winter. Several rare birds have been found here including
Little
Gull, Stilt Sandpiper,
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
Ruff, and the second southern California
record of
Spotted Redshank.
4.
SANTA MARIA CITY PARKS
How to get there:
Currently there are three sizeable city parks worth birding in Santa
Maria Valley. Each offers a unique habitat type worth exploring. A bird list
for three Santa Maria area parks can be found
here.
Preisker Park- (map)
This park is located off North Broadway at the extreme north end of
town near the county line. Take Preisker Lane left (west) from North Broadway and drive to its end at
Hidden Pines Way. Turn left (west) and look for the park entrance on the left.
Gate closes at dusk.
City Park at River Oaks- (map)
You can reach River Oaks Park by exiting Highway 101 at Donovan Road. On the
east side of the overpass turn north onto North Carlotti Drive. Continue north
until you reach East Stanford and turn left (west) just before
the school and drive to the end of the street.
Pioneer Park- (map)
Unique to the Santa Maria Valley, this park contains a small oak woodland. It is
located on West Foster Road from South Broadway (135) in Santa Maria. Foster
Road is south of the Santa Maria Municipal Airport. Look for the parking lot at the
west end of Foster Road.
Rewards: Preisker Park is Santa Maria's largest city park at
40 acres. Sycamores, alders, pepper trees, holly-oaks and pines often attract
migrant passerines in spring and fall. Most common western species have been seen
during
migration. Lawrence's Goldfinch, Allen's Hummingbird and occasionally Tree
Swallows nest here. Located in the center of Preisker Park is a running creek
water-feature and pond which can also attract various species. Unusual birds
found here include
Northern Waterthrush,
Black-and-white Warbler and
Summer Tanager.
Yellow-bellied and Red-naped Sapsuckers have been seen in winter in the pepper trees
with some regularity.
City Park
at River Oaks
is a recent city park addition utilizing two existing flood control ponds.
The largest pond is surrounded by a pathway which
allows close views of the shoreline.
It is situated to the south of the Santa Maria River which is a corridor for
wintering gulls moving from the coast to the city landfill.
Several gull species can be seen in winter here including Thayer's, Herring, Glaucous-winged
and Mew Gulls.
Other interesting birds found here are American White Pelican, Solitary
Sandpiper, Yellow-headed Blackbird
(spring and fall), Osprey and Ross's Goose. Winter records of Baird's
Sandpiper and Eastern Phoebe
are among the more unusual sightings.
Pioneer Park has an oak grove just
inside the entrance and several trails meander through this rustic setting.
Birds observed here include Oak Titmouse, Hutton's Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Cassin's Kingbird and Lark Sparrow. A search of the oaks during migration may
provide Hermit Warbler and Varied Thrush (rare).
5.
WALLER COUNTY PARK
How to get there:
(map) In Santa Maria from South Broadway
(135), exit at Waller Lane or Goodwin Road. The park entrance is between these
two streets located on Orcutt Road. A second entrance is available at the end of
Goodwin Road.
Rewards:
Waller Park consists of 153 acres of lawn, sycamores,
small oak groves, and its most prominent feature; towering Monterey pines. Many
more than 60 years old. There are two ponds in the park and both have attracted
odd “wild” ducks and geese such as Ross's and Cackling Goose, Wood Duck and
Common Merganser. Nearly 150 bird species have been recorded in Waller Park.
Many of these are migrants in spring and fall, but the winter season has proven
to be equally as good. Lawrence’s Goldfinch and
Allen's Hummingbird are specialties in spring and summer, and winter brings Brown Creepers, Chipping Sparrows,
Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hermit and Varied Thrushes (rare). Occasionally Red-breasted, White-breasted
and Pygmy Nuthatches (rare) can all be seen in winter. Exceptional birds found in Waller Park include
Prothonotary Warbler, Grace's
Warbler, Pine Warbler, and an
unexpected county first
Wood Thrush.
6.
SAN ANTONIO CREEK & BARKA SLOUGH
How to get there:
(map) From Santa Maria/Orcutt at Clark Avenue, drive 8 miles
south on Highway 135. Be sure to keep right at the Highway 135-Highway 1
junction (not going under the bridge) and continue toward Vandenberg AFB and the
city of Lompoc. At the bottom of the valley
just beyond the bridge turn left (east) onto San Antonio Road off
Highway 1. Barka Slough can also be
reached by exiting Highway 101 in Los Alamos at Highway 135 and driving west 9.5
miles to San Antonio Road. Birding is best within a 2-mile stretch along this
road. Park where safe to pull out and do not
trespass into the adjacent property.
Rewards: This dense willow-riparian habitat is excellent in spring for migrant birds and local breeders. Although devastated by a fire in 2000 that burned much of the dense
underbrush, the area is growing back lush and full and still attracts nesting Orange-crowned, Wilson’s and
Yellow Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats and Blue Grosbeaks in addition to many
other resident birds. Look for Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Coopers Hawks,
Ash-throated Flycatchers, Hairy and
Downy Woodpeckers. The grassy hillsides to the south are good for Grasshopper
Sparrows in spring and early summer.
7.
SANTA YNEZ RIVER ESTUARY
(OCEAN BEACH COUNTY PARK)*
How to get there:
(map)
From H
Street in Lompoc (Highway 1), go west about 8 miles on Ocean Avenue (Highway 246) to
Ocean Park Road and the entrance to Ocean Beach County Park on the right. Drive about 1 mile to the parking lot. Much of the surrounding area is Vandenberg
AFB property and is off limits to the public. *Note- the beach is
closed during the California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover nesting season
from March through September.
Rewards: Extensive Salicornia marsh makes up much of the
habitat along the entrance road to the estuary where kites and harriers are
occasionally observed
hunting. Look for Marsh Wren and Savannah Sparrow, including the "Large-billed"
race in winter. The edge of the river is typically mudflat during low water
levels creating good shorebird habitat. When flooded, waterfowl, loons and
grebes are present. A look through the park shrubs in fall will sometimes yield a rarity
in addition to the resident "Nuttall's" White-crowned Sparrow. Follow the
path under the train trestle toward the beach and river mouth overlook where
you will encounter pelicans, gulls, terns, and shorebirds. Shearwaters are often in abundance in summer and
fall just offshore. Short-eared Owl is rare but regular at dusk over the marsh
in winter. A number of rare birds have been found here including a county first
Gull-billed
Tern, Curlew Sandpiper,
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow and
American Tree Sparrow.
8.
LA PURISIMA MISSION STATE PARK
(fee)
How to get there:
(map) Exit U.S. 101 at Buellton and drive west on Highway
246 about 18 miles. As you approach the city of Lompoc, turn right onto Purisima Road beyond the La
Purisima Golf Course. Drive about 1 mile to the park entrance on the right.
Rewards:
In addition to enjoying the history and scenery
of a California Mission, a stroll through the garden, fields and chaparral
covered hills around this property will provide a good variety of birds
such as Purple
Finch, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit, Hutton’s Vireo and California Thrasher. "Bell's"
Sage Sparrow (rare) should be looked for in the chaparral. In spring, check the
dense creek foliage near the park entrance for migrant passerines such as tanagers, orioles,
flycatchers and warblers. Both
Rose-breasted
Grosbeak and Summer Tanager have been seen around the mission
garden.
9.
MIGUELITO COUNTY PARK
How to get there:
(map) Exit U.S. 101 at Buellton and drive west on Highway
246 25 miles into Lompoc. At the intersection of 246 and Highway 1 (“H” Street), continue west 0.25 miles and turn left (south) at “I”
Street. As you drive south on "I" this becomes San Miguelito Road. Continue 3.5 miles to the park
entrance on the right. Gate closes at dusk.
Rewards:
Miguelito County Park is located in this attractive oak
woodland canyon close to the city of Lompoc. The best seasons for birding are
spring, fall and winter. Nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows, juncos and
occasionally a Varied Thrush (rare) can be found here in winter.
Band-tailed Pigeon is regular, and Common Poorwill can be found at night along
San Miguelito Road. Search for activity along the creek
riparian habitat when spring migrants move through. This park has hosted a few rare birds in fall and
winter including a Golden-winged
Warbler and an unexpected county first Louisiana Waterthrush.
10.
SWEENEY ROAD & RIVER PARK
How to get there:
(map)
Exit U.S. 101 at Buellton and drive west on Highway
246 about 24 miles to Lompoc. Turn left (south) opposite River Park just before
the Santa Ynez River bridge. Sweeney Road terminates 5.8 miles ahead but a good
position overlooks the Santa Ynez River riparian habitat about one mile up the road. Do not walk down into
the habitat here as this is private property. View from the pull-out above the
river. River Park to the north of 246 can be good in
spring, fall and winter.
Rewards:
Peering into the dense river bottom habitat from Sweeney Road in spring and summer
allows one to see Swainson's Thrush, Wilson's and Yellow Warblers,
Yellow-breasted Chat, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and occasionally a Northern Pygmy-Owl.
Summer
Tanager has been seen in summer in the tall cottonwoods here. Drive south along
this road for Ash-throated Flycatchers, Lazuli Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks and
Grasshopper Sparrows. Rarities spotted along Sweeney Road are
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
and Eastern Phoebe. Return to 246 and cross
over to the entrance to River
Park. Check the willows and cottonwoods adjacent to the Santa Ynez River, and
search through the pines for warblers in fall and winter. The park pond has had
Ross's Goose and Eurasian
Wigeon.
SOUTH
COAST
(COUNTY MAP)
11.
GAVIOTA, REFUGIO & EL CAPITAN STATE
BEACHES
(fee)
How to get there:
From Santa Barbara, head west on U.S. 101
approximately 20
miles to El Capitan State Beach (map); 22.8 miles to Refugio State Beach
(map); and 32 miles
to Gaviota State Beach (map). Camping is available by reservation,
but all offer day use. Your day-use fee will allow entrance into all three
state beaches.
Rewards:
These state beaches and campgrounds provide a mix of coastal scrub,
willow-riparian habitat and stream and canyon woodland on the south coast of
Santa Barbara County. Each
canyon empties at the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean where fall land birds
become "trapped" and sometimes linger in the trees and shrubs before continuing
south. September through October is best, but spring birding can also be
good. Many
rare birds have been recorded at all of these sites and include:
Great-crested
Flycatcher, Black-throated Blue Warbler,
Mourning Warbler,
Brown Thrasher and Painted Redstart. Regular
fall rarities include Virginia’s Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and Clay-colored
Sparrow, plus most of the common western migrants. Resident species typical of coastal
sage scrub include Wrentit, Bewick's Wren, California Thrasher and
California and Spotted Towhees. Ocean birds can be spotted just offshore at each
park.
These
hot-spots are a must when looking for fall rarities!
12.
DEVEREUX SLOUGH
(Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve) (parking fee)
How to get there:
(map) From U.S. 101 in Goleta, exit at Storke Road/Glen
Annie Road and drive south, crossing the Hollister Avenue intersection. Where Storke Road veers to the left becoming El Colegio Road, stay to the right at
the entrance road to West Campus and slough. There are two pull-outs from which
you can look into the slough but you must remain by your vehicle. If parking in
the Cliff House lot at the end of the road, a parking permit is required and
must be obtained from Parking Services on the UCSB campus prior to visiting. You
can park on side streets in Isla Vista (Camino Corto or Del Playa
Drive) off El Colegio and walk west to the point and slough.
Parking regulations are strictly enforced. Look for UCSB Parking Services
(campus map)
near the Main Campus.
Rewards: Productive birding in Devereux Slough is highly dependent on water levels, but this location can be very good in fall and winter for
a variety of waterfowl, herons, egrets and shorebirds. Many rare birds have
been found here including Tropical Kingbird,
Ruff, Stilt and
Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers, Little
Blue Heron, "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal,
Franklin’s and Laughing
Gull.
Most unexpected was a
White Wagtail
sighting and a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher on the same day! Scan the ocean from Coal Oil Point for pelagic
birds, and check the pines and eucalyptus trees around the parking area and
entrance road for passerines in fall and
spring.
13.
GOLETA SLOUGH, GOLETA POINT & CAMPUS LAGOON
(UCSB Campus) (parking fee)
How to get there:
(map) From U.S. 101 in Goleta, exit Highway 217 (Ward
Memorial Blvd. - UCSB exit) and drive south to the East Gate campus entrance kiosk. Ask
for a campus map. To reach the Goleta Slough Overlook,
turn right on Mesa Road and continue west to Ocean Road. Look for metered
parking spaces here and in regular C lot spaces in
this same lot (16) or in lot 31, next to facilities management. To reach Goleta (Campus) Point, take Lagoon Road and go past the Marine Science Building.
You can park in the metered spaces in the Marine Sciences lot if any are available, or
you can go here in the evening or on a weekend and park for $2 in the regular
spaces. Head down to the beach and walk the
trail up to the bluffs
(campus map).
Rewards:
Goleta Point is an excellent promontory for watching
migrating seabirds in spring. Hundreds of scoters, loons, shearwaters, jaegers,
gulls and terns can be seen moving west offshore from March through May. Daily
totals are impressive. A
check of the rocks below will provide turnstones in fall and winter.
In April of 2006 an American Oystercatcher was found here. Birding at
Campus Lagoon is good for waterfowl in winter where one
can see American Wigeon, Redhead, Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals (rare) in
addition to several other expected species. When conditions are right, a variety
of shorebirds will frequent the slough. A spotting scope is helpful
at both locations. A look through Manzanita Village near the lagoon can be good
for land birds during migration periods and in winter.
14.
LAKE LOS CARNEROS COUNTY PARK &
STOW HOUSE
How to get there:
(map) From U.S. 101 in Goleta, take Los Carneros Road exit
and drive north 0.4 miles to the park entrance on the right next to the fire
station.
Rewards: Around the historic old Stow House
there is a lush garden of exotic plants and trees worth
exploring. This habitat can be good for migrants in spring, fall
and winter with the occasional rarity being spotted. Yellow-green Vireo is
one such unexpected sighting in fall. A walk around the lake trail is good for
waterfowl, grebes, egrets and herons. Virginia Rail, Sora, Least Bittern and
Common Moorhen (both rare) may be spotted in the reeds from the wooden footbridge at the
north end of the lake.
15.
GOLETA BEACH COUNTY PARK & SLOUGH
How to get there:
(map)
From U.S. 101 in Goleta, exit Highway 217 (Ward
Memorial Blvd. - UCSB exit) and drive south to Sandspit Road. Turn left (south)
to Goleta Beach entrance.
Rewards: At the east end of the park in the channel look for
egrets, herons, gulls and terns. More herons can be seen feeding in the upper portion
of the channel where the entrance road crosses, and an active heron rookery can
be seen in the eucalyptus trees across from the parking lot.
Scoters and loons can be seen offshore from the beach and pier. Rare
birds
in the estuary and on the beach include Tricolored Heron,
Reddish Egret, Rusty
Blackbird and Laughing Gull.
16.
GOLETA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
(GOLETA SANITARY DISTRICT)
How to get there:
(map)
From U.S. 101 in Goleta, exit on Fairview Avenue
and drive south, crossing the Hollister Avenue intersection, about 1.5 miles.
Eventually the road makes a sharp turn to the right (west) becoming Fowler Road.
Continue south
past the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
terminal building and look for the sewage treatment plant
entrance on the left at
One William Moffett Place.
The management is very accommodating to birders and the facility is open each
weekday from about 8:30 to 5:00 (4:30 on Fridays). Visitors must sign-in at the
office prior to birding. Park only in the lot near the office- do not park near
the ponds. Birding is
allowed around the parking area near the
office and around the ponds.
Trespassing is not allowed in
sensitive habitat areas outside the plant and specific places within the
facility so ask where you can go.
Rewards.
Look for shorebirds from late summer through fall. At the height of
migration look for Western, Least, Baird's, Pectoral, and Semipalmated
Sandpipers (rare) as they move south in late summer. Also check the myoporum and other trees on the west side of the ponds
for passerines. Facility rarities have
included Curlew Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Yellow-green Vireo,
and a county first Sedge Wren was found
in an adjacent marsh. Numbers of
waterfowl also frequent the ponds nearly year-round. Blue-winged Teals and Wood Ducks
may be
seen, and an accommodating Fulvous Whistling-Duck was present for months
in 2006.
17.
ATASCADERO CREEK
How to get there:
(map)
Exit U.S. 101 in Goleta at Turnpike Road and drive
south, crossing the Hollister Avenue intersection to its dead-end and walk the
path to the creek.
Atascadero Creek is also accessible from the 101 at South Patterson Road,
turning right (west)
on Hollister Ave. to Ward Drive (left) and continuing to its end. Bird along the edge of the bike path running parallel
to the creek.
Rewards:
Fall birding is best along this willow-riparian
corridor. Migrant land birds regularly filter through this stretch of Atascadero
Creek from August
to October. Unusual migrants and rarities include Palm Warbler, Swamp Sparrow,
Bobolink, and the only county record of Groove-billed
Ani! This can be a great place for Blue
Grosbeaks and buntings from August to October, and it has been one of the
best places in coastal California for Indigo and
Painted Bunting.
18.
MISSION CANYON & COUNTY PARKS
How to get there:
(map) There are several wonderful parks worth exploring in
the oak covered
foothills of Santa Barbara. A few of these parks are accessible from the Mission Street
exit off U.S. 101. Drive north 4 blocks to State Street and turn left (west).
Go 2 blocks and turn right (east) on Los Olivos heading past the Santa Barbara
Mission. At the fork in the road, stay left to Mission Canyon Road.
Rocky Nook Park- Enter from Mission Canyon Road a quarter mile past the mission on the
right. Bird along Mission Creek the entire length of Rocky Nook Park for oak
woodland birds and migrants. A Hepatic Tanager wintered
at this location for 12 consecutive years!
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History- (fee) Birding through the museum grounds can be
productive in spring and winter for a nice variety of woodland birds. The Natural History Museum is walking distance
from Rocky Nook Park by crossing Mission Canyon Road, or drive one block north
to Las Encinas Road on the left and follow the signs to the parking lot at the
end of Puesta del Sol Rd. The exhibits in the museum are well worth the price of
admission alone, including the Bird Diversity Hall with an amazing display of
mounted specimens complete with
California Condor, and a large collection of bird nests from the region.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden- (fee) Continue north
on Mission Canyon Road to its intersection at Foothill Road. Turn right (east)
on Foothill for 2 blocks, then left again to resume Mission Canyon Road heading
north and bear right at the fork. Drive about 1 mile to the entrance at 1212
Mission Canyon Rd. Stroll through the grounds to see a
vast garden of native plants, shrubs and trees, and follow the trail down to
Mission Creek to explore shaded stream and canyon habitat. Birding here in spring, early summer and winter is best.
Rewards:
The parks in this oak woodland in Santa Barbara’s Mission Canyon are home to a variety of nesting and seasonal birds including Hooded
Orioles, Allen’s and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Canyon Wrens, Black-headed
Grosbeaks, Cedar Waxwings, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers and Band-tailed Pigeons. There
are other nearby parks worth visiting as well. From the Santa Barbara Mission on Mission Canyon Road
take Alameda Padre Serra Road east to
the intersection of Moreno Rd. to visit Orpet (Hillside) Park. Francecschi Park
is accessible along Mission Ridge Road nearby to the east (map). Winter birding in the exotic plants and trees in these park settings on the Riviera occasionally turns up
unusual birds. From the intersection of Mission Canyon Road and
Foothill Road, drive west on Foothill under Highway 154 (this becomes Cathedral
Oaks Road) to reach
Tucker’s Grove County Park, and Stow Grove County Park
(map).
19.
ANDREE CLARK BIRD REFUGE
How to get there:
(map) Exit U.S. 101 in Santa Barbara at Hot Springs Road.
Cross under the freeway on Cabrillo Blvd. and immediately turn right (west) on
Los Patos Way. The parking lot is to the left at the edge of the lake.
Rewards: The bird refuge lagoon often contains a variety of
common gulls, ducks, grebes and phalaropes in season. Many of these birds are
tame and approachable owing to handouts from park visitors. Wood Ducks are
present in fall and winter. Look for night-herons, egrets and cormorants roosting
on the islands in the center of the lake, and walk the trail from the parking lot westward to find Marsh
Wrens, Common Yellowthroats and winter sparrows. Great-tailed Grackle is now a common
fixture at the Bird Refuge. Palm
Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Red-necked Grebe, Tropical and
Eastern Kingbirds have all been found here.
20.
SANTA BARBARA BEACHES (parking fee)
How to get there:
(map) To reach East Beach, Chase Palm Park and Stearns
Wharf, Exit U.S. 101 in Santa Barbara at Hot Springs Road to East Cabrillo Blvd.
and drive south and west along the beachfront about 3 miles
to the intersection at Santa Barbara Street. Turn left (south) into the public
parking lot.
Rewards:
Outfall channels from Garden Street create pools in the sand and are a
common gathering spot for gulls and terns. The county's largest concentration of Black
Skimmers are common at East Beach and are approachable for study or photography. At the Mission Creek and
Garden Creek outfalls there have been as many as ten gull species in winter,
including Thayer's Gull. Rare birds found here include Black-headed Gull,
Glaucous
Gull and exceptionally, a Wilson’s Plover on the beach! Scan
offshore for loons, grebes and scoters. Walk along the beach to check for
gulls and wading birds in the wet sand. Snowy Plover is fairly common here.
Across East Cabrillo from the beach is Chase Palm Park. This narrow park
strip can be worth checking in fall. Bird the willows and weedy
edges along Laguna
Creek for migrants. This is where
Lucy's Warblers have
been consistently found in late summer and early fall.
21.
SANTA BARBARA HARBOR (parking fee)
How to get there:
(map) Continue west on East Cabrillo Blvd. to Santa Barbara
Street about 1 mile to reach the harbor entrance on the left.
The harbor can also be found by exiting Highway 101 at Castillo Street. Park in the lots
near the marina.
Rewards: Wintering loons, scoters and grebes are a common
sight in the harbor. Red-throated, Common and Pacific loon can be seen here. In
fall, winter and spring, walk the breakwater for rocky shorebirds. Look for
Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Surfbird and Wandering Tattler.
Long-tailed
Duck has been found here among the rocks.
22.
CARPINTERIA CREEK &
SALT MARSH RESERVE
How to get there:
(map)
To reach Carpinteria Creek- from U.S. 101 at the town of Carpinteria, exit at
Casitas Pass Road and drive one block south to Carpinteria Avenue. Turn right
(west) on Carpinteria Ave. then make an immediate left on Palm Avenue. Follow Palm 2
blocks to 6th Street and turn left (east) into a parking lot at the end of
the road. To visit the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve,
return to 6th Street and drive west to Linden Ave. Turn left (south) on Linden
and drive to the end of the street at Sandyland Rd. Head west on Sandyland to
Ash Ave. You can park along the length of Ash to access a couple of viewing
points that overlook the canal at the east end of the marsh.
Rewards: The narrow riparian corridor of
Carpinteria Creek is good for fall and
spring migrants including Nashville Warbler,
Western Wood-Pewee, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Bullock's Oriole
and Western Tanager. A small sampling of the rare birds found here include:
Yellow-billed
Cuckoo, Philadelphia Vireo,
Golden-winged Warbler and
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher! Fall is most productive, but winter can be
rewarding by checking the blooming eucalyptus that often attract over-wintering
birds. Visiting the Salt Marsh at the Ash Ave. overlooks can be good for egrets,
herons and waterfowl. Little Blue Heron and
Reddish Egret have been recorded in the Reserve.
INTERIOR
(COUNTY MAP)
23.
LOS ALAMOS COUNTY PARK
How to get there:
(map) From U.S. 101 at the town of Los Alamos, take 135
(Bell St.) west into town to Centennial St. Turn left (south) and drive a short distance
past the elementary school to the park entrance on the left. Gate
closes at dusk. Continuing past the park will take you up scenic Drum Canyon for
a variety of woodland and chaparral birds.
Rewards: This small county park provides a variety of common California specialties such as
nuthatches, wrens, woodpeckers, Western Bluebird, Oak Titmouse, California Thrasher,
and Wrentit. Yellow-billed Magpies can be common here at times or just outside
the park in and around town. A short drive up Drum Canyon and you may find Lazuli
Buntings, Ash-throated Flycatchers and occasionally a Phainopepla in spring.
24.
NOJOQUI FALLS COUNTY PARK
How to get there:
(map) Drive 4 miles
south of Buellton on U.S. 101 to Old Coast Road. Exit 101 here and drive 1 mile
and turn left (east) onto Alisal Road. The park entrance is to the right 0.8 miles. From the town of Solvang
(246), follow Alisal Road south about 6.5 miles to the
park entrance. Gate closes at dusk.
Rewards:
Nojoqui Park is home to a small breeding population
of Purple Martins in the county. Look for them in spring and summer around the sycamore trees near
the entrance to the park. A few of these large swallows can be seen circling
overhead or flying into nest holes. Walk up the trail into the cool, shaded
canyon to see the cascading falls at the end of the trail (best in spring) and check for birds all
along the way. Look for Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Band-tailed Pigeons,
Warbling Vireos and migrant warblers, grosbeaks and orioles. Winter
is good for White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows, kinglets, thrushes and
occasionally Winter Wren. This park has been an irregular breeding spot for
Northern Parula (rare) in the county. In
early summer a pair may be found in the canopy of oaks with hanging lichen near the
front of the park. A drive north of Nojoqui Park to the Alisal Guest Ranch and Golf
Course will often provide more Purple Martins around the golf course sycamore trees. Birding
along much of Alisal Canyon is also very good for woodland birds.
25.
REFUGIO CANYON
How to get there:
(map) From U.S. 101 at Buellton, drive east on Highway 246
approximately 6 miles to Refugio Road. Turn right (south) and cross over the
Santa Ynez River into Quiota Canyon. Birding can be done at several places
along the road where you can pull out.
Rewards: This 7 mile drive along Quiota Creek
and up the canyon is excellent in spring and early summer for resident and
migrant birds. Check the riparian habitat along the creek for warblers, vireos
and orioles. A few rarities have been recorded along this stretch of creek
including five
Hooded Warblers
in 1992. As you near the top of the Santa Ynez
Mountains (unpaved road) look for nesting Chipping Sparrows, Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers and Black-throated Gray Warblers.
26.
FIGUEROA MOUNTAIN (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
Take Highway 154 east at its junction with U.S. 101
and drive about 3 miles to the town of Los Olivos (map).
Turn left (north) from 154 on Figueroa Mountain Road
(opposite Grand Ave.). Be sure to look for Yellow-billed Magpies around town
before ascending Figueroa Mountain Road. To reach the mountain, continue north some 13 miles
to the summit (elevation, 4528’). Continue east to
Figueroa Campground, Ranger Peak (elevation, 4652’) and Davy Brown trailhead.
Continuing east from here will take you down to Happy Canyon and Sunset Valley
Road. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a
vehicle on forest roads and must be obtained prior to entering. A
list of Forest Adventure Pass vendors is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards:
Drive up Figueroa Mountain Road in spring (April
and May) and you will be treated to incredible displays of wildflowers and amazing views
of much of the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley below. Birding can be done all
along this road as you ascend toward the top. The habitat is a mixture of
oak-savannah, grassland and chaparral at lower elevations, and oak, pine and fir forest
at the top. A short distance past Catway Rd.
(map) is a 1.5-mile unpaved road to the Pino Alto Day Use
Area and old fire lookout at the summit. The road is fine for
most passenger cars and the Day Use Area provides some of the best birding on
Figueroa Mountain. An interpretive trail
loops through forest habitat where you can find Pygmy Nuthatches,
Olive-sided Flycatchers, Steller’s Jays, Mountain Chickadees, Black-throated
Gray Warblers, Western Tanagers, Chipping Sparrows and Brown Creepers in early summer. Looking north and east into the backcountry wilderness from the Figueroa Mountain fire lookout is a sight to
behold! The reintroduced California Condor (very rare) has been seen from this
spot. While at the top, look for hawks and swifts. A drive along Figueroa
Mountain Road at dawn or dusk is also good for
Common Poorwill. Winter birds may include Red Crossbill (occasionally in summer
too), Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-headed Woodpecker
and Williamson's Sapsucker (both rare).
Evening Grosbeak
and Clark's Nutcracker have been recorded
during invasion years.
27.
HAPPY CANYON & SUNSET VALLEY ROAD (forest pass required)*
How to get there: Take Highway 154 east at its junction with U.S. 101
and drive about 8 miles to Highway 246/Armour Ranch Road (map). Turn left (east) on to Armour Ranch and drive about 1.5 miles to Baseline Road. Turn
left on Baseline and drive 1.1 miles. Happy Canyon Road is on the right a short
distance ahead. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is required
to park a vehicle on forest roads and must be obtained prior to entering. In
addition, a Wilderness Pass is required to hike beyond Nira Camp. A list of Forest Adventure Pass vendors is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: This scenic drive through ranchland in the Santa Ynez Valley is good for oak-savannah birds such as Lark Sparrow, Acorn Woodpecker,
Bullock’s Oriole, Yellow-billed Magpie and Western Kingbird. Lewis’s
Woodpeckers and Mountain Bluebirds are both irregular visitors some winters. As
the road winds upward, you eventually enter the Los Padres National Forest.
Golden Eagle is a possibility here. A stop in Cachuma Campground for birding
along the creek is productive for migrants in spring. Cassin's and Warbling
Vireos, Black-chinned Hummingbirds, tanagers and warblers are regular. Beyond
the fork at Figueroa Mountain Road this road becomes Sunset Valley Road
(map). Birding
anywhere along this stretch of canyon is well worth the effort. Continue on to
shaded Davy Brown campground for riparian habitat and a check for more
spring migrants. The road eventually terminates at Nira campground and Manzana
Creek at the San Rafael Wilderness a short distance ahead. Mountain Quail,
Ash-throated Flycatchers, Phainopeplas, Costa’s Hummingbirds and Townsend’s
Solitaire (winter) have been seen here.
28.
CACHUMA LAKE RECREATION AREA (fee)
How to get there:
(map) From Santa Barbara, take Highway 154 (San Marcos
Pass) from U.S. 101 north about 20 miles to the lake entrance on the right.
Coming from the north, take Highway 154 east at its junction with U.S. 101 and
drive about 20 miles to the lake entrance on the left. Camping, Eagle Cruises
and boat rentals are available.
Rewards: Lake Cachuma County Park is the largest body of fresh water in the
county. Each winter a multitude of waterfowl along with cormorants, grebes and
loons can easily be spotted from various sites along the south
shoreline. These include: Hooded and Common Mergansers, Greater and Lesser Scaups, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Western and Clark’s Grebes and
occasionally American White Pelicans and Tundra Swans. Bald Eagles and Ospreys are regularly
spotted on the lake’s Eagle Cruise. Oddities at Cachuma Lake are
Parasitic
Jaeger, Long-tailed Duck,
Tufted Duck and
Barrow’s Goldeneye.
29.
BRADBURY DAM*
How to get there:
(map) Continue north of the Lake Cachuma County Park main
entrance about 1.2 miles on Highway 154 to the Bradbury Dam Vista Point road on
the right. Drive a short distance to the parking area.
*Note- this area is closed to public access during heightened Homeland Security threat levels
(Code Orange).
Rewards: This overlook of the Cachuma Lake dam and spillway
will often be good for more waterfowl and loons that congregate at the lake’s
west end. A spotting scope is helpful since many of the birds are some distance
away. Oak woodland birds are around the parking lot.
30.
PARADISE ROAD (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
(map) From Santa Barbara, drive north on Highway 154 (San
Marcos Pass) about 10 miles to the Paradise Road exit on the right. Drive east
on Paradise Road for approximately 10 miles into Los Padres National Forest and
Paradise, Los Prietos, Upper Oso and Santa Ynez camps. Continue to the
end of the road at Live Oak Picnic Area. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass
is required to park a vehicle on forest roads and must be obtained prior to
entering. A list of Forest Adventure Pass vendors is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: This narrow, interior stretch of the upper Santa Ynez
River offers a mix of arid, rocky canyon and riparian habitat and is excellent in early summer for Swainson’s Thrush, Yellow Warbler,
Cassin's, Warbling, and the endangered “Least” Bells Vireo. Many other migrant
passerines can be found here in spring.
31.
EAST CAMINO CIELO ROAD (UPPER SANTA YNEZ RIVER) (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
(map) From Santa Barbara, drive north on Highway 154 (San
Marcos Pass) about 8 miles to the turn off at East Camino Cielo Road on the
right. Drive east on East Camino Cielo 11 miles to the fork at Gibraltar Road.
Keep left at the fork and continue east along the ridge for about 6.7 miles
where it descends down the north side (unpaved road at this point). It is about
5.5 miles to Juncal Campground. The Mono Debris Dam and Mono Camp are another
7.8 miles farther. This road is not recommended for low clearance vehicles or
after heavy rains. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is
required to park a vehicle on forest roads and must be obtained prior to
entering. A list of Forest Adventure Pass vendors is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: Birding along East Camino Cielo Road is good for resident chaparral species like Greater Roadrunner, Mountain
Quail, Rufous-crowned and Sage Sparrows (rare). Costa’s Hummingbirds,
Black-chinned Sparrows and Lazuli Buntings arrive by April. In invasion years,
montane species have been seen up here including Clark's Nutcracker,
White-headed Woodpecker and Cassin's Finch. Continue driving
east beyond La Cumbre Peak to reach the Mono Creek area. Similar in habitat to
lower Paradise Road, spring and early summer birding in the backcountry is
best. This is home to breeding Spotted Sandpipers in the creek, Tree Swallows,
Swainson’s Thrushes and Yellow-breasted Chats. The endangered “Least” Bells
Vireo can be found along Mono Creek and at the upper end of Gibraltar
Reservoir.
HIGHWAY
166 to CUYAMA VALLEY
(COUNTY MAP)
32.
SIERRA MADRE ROAD & MIRANDA
PINE MOUNTAIN (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
(map) From Highway 166 at its junction with U.S. 101 near
Santa Maria, drive east about 26 miles to Sierra Madre Road and Miranda Pine
Mountain. This is opposite the Rock Front Ranch on the north side of the highway
just past Cable Corral Road. The road to Miranda Pine Campground is unpaved but generally passable except after rains. Low
clearance vehicles should avoid this drive however. *Note- A Los Padres National Forest
Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on forest roads and must be
obtained prior to entering. A list of Forest Adventure Pass vendors
is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: This road meanders through oak-savannah where
bluebirds, wrens, nuthatches grosbeaks and hawks abound. As you approach the
top of the Sierra Madre Range, the habitat opens to a mix of chaparral, manzanita and grassland where singing Lazuli Buntings are abundant in spring.
“Bells” Sage and Rufous-crowned Sparrows reside, and Black-chinned Sparrow is
found in spring and summer, but are more often heard than seen. There are few
pines at Miranda Pine Mountain Campground but the elevation (4061’) provides for
a few interesting birds such as Hairy Woodpecker and Mountain Quail. The
spectacular view from this ridge is worth the drive alone! A recent
Zone-tailed Hawk sighting in early summer
from this area is most unusual considering the location and time of year. Continuing east on Sierra Madre Road
about one mile will take you by Timber Peak (4758’) where there are more pines,
and on to Bates Canyon approximately 13 miles to the east.
33.
COTTONWOOD CANYON & BATES CANYON (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
(map) From Highway 166 at its junction with U.S. 101 near
Santa Maria, drive east about 40 miles to Cottonwood Canyon Road on the right
(south). Continue south on Cottonwood Canyon Road, turning right (west) on
Foothill Rd. following the sign to White Oaks Station and Bates Canyon
Campground. Bates Camp is about a 10-mile drive south from 166. Beyond
Bates Camp the road is unpaved but it is possible to drive to the top and along
the Sierra Madre Mountains east to McPherson Peak (5749’), however, low clearance
vehicles should avoid this stretch of mountain road. *Note- A Los Padres
National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on forest roads
and must be obtained prior to entering. A list of Forest Adventure
Pass vendors is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: Raptors inhabit the lower elevations of Cottonwood
Canyon and include Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel and
Golden Eagle. Yellow-billed Magpies are often present around the wash in the
bottom of the canyon. Continue driving into the oak forest and look for
nuthatches, bluebirds, titmice and wrens in spring and summer. At the fork in
the road, as the sign reads, head left to White Oaks Station and into Bates
Canyon and campground. Look for Phainopepla, Bullock’s Oriole and Purple Finch
among other oak forest birds. Black-chinned Sparrows and “Bell’s” Sage Sparrows
can be heard singing in spring in the chaparral covered hills. The cool,
shaded, northern edge of the Sierra Madre Mountains is home to nesting Cassin's
Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Spring migrants often move along this
transverse ridge so the
birding can be prolific in April and May. A view from the ridge top is a
spectacular sight! Although exceedingly rare, this is California Condor country,
but no promises are made.
34.
CUYAMA VALLEY
How to get there:
(map) From Highway 166 at its junction with U.S. 101 near Santa
Maria, drive east about 56 miles to the town of New Cuyama. Birding along the
immediate highway is not considered safe due to traffic, but there are a few places to pull off the road
near the town of New Cuyama.
You can pull off the highway along Wasioja Road and Aliso Canyon Road between 2
and 5 miles west of town, and the agriculture fields south and east of town off
Bell Road are good for winter birding.
Rewards: Winter is the best season for birding in the Cuyama
Valley. Look for Northern Harriers,
Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons and Rough-legged Hawk (rare).
Common Raven is always seen. Mountain Bluebirds (irregular) can occasionally be
found perched along fence lines. Many of the short-grass fields and open
rangeland can contain hundreds of American Pipits and Horned Larks. Occasionally,
a Lapland or Chestnut-collared Longspur can be found in these flocks. In the
town of New Cuyama right off Highway 166 and Hubbard Avenue is the small
Richardson County Park. Migrants such as Varied Thrush and sapsuckers can
sometimes be found in the park poplar trees in spring, fall and winter. Flocks of Tricolored Blackbirds are frequently spotted
in Cuyama Valley. Look for them around pastures, cattle pens and farm ponds. Look for Sage Thrasher (rare) and Vesper Sparrow in the valley semi-desert
scrub in fall
and winter.
35.
BALLINGER CANYON (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
(map) From the north, take Highway 166 at its junction with
U.S. 101 near Santa Maria, drive east about 62 miles to Highway 33 past the town
of New Cuyama. Turn right (south) on 33 about 3.5 miles to Ballinger Canyon
road. From the south, take Highway 33 from the town of Ojai in Ventura County
and drive north 57 miles to Ballinger Canyon. Drive this road to its end 3.3
miles to reach Ballinger Campground located just inside Ventura County. *Note-
A Los Padres National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on
forest roads and must be obtained prior to entering. A list of
Forest Adventure Pass vendors is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: This arid, high-desert habitat features
pinyon-juniper woodland and sage scrub. It is home to a unique variety of birds found
only in this corner of Santa Barbara County. Spring and early summer is best,
and early mornings are more productive before the heat of day reduces bird
activity. Walk in the canyon wash and scan the hills to find Black-throated,
Brewer’s and Sage Sparrows, Greater Roadrunner and Costa’s Hummingbird. Lesser
Nighthawk hunts at dusk in this part of the county. Prairie Falcon is resident. This spot is
also home to a small introduced population of Chukar. Plan your visit during the week
and avoid the weekend motorcycle
crowd since they use a network of trails around the campground.
36.
SANTA BARBARA CANYON (forest pass required)*
How to get there:
(map) From the north, take Highway 166 at its junction with
U.S. 101 near Santa Maria about 56 miles east to just beyond the town of New
Cuyama. Turn right (south) from 166 at either Bell Road (2 miles east of town)
or Kirschenmann Road (5 miles east of town). Drive south to Foothill Road. Turn
left (east) and drive to the entrance of Santa Barbara Canyon. From the south,
take Highway 33 from the town of Ojai in Ventura County and drive north about 60
miles to its junction with Highway 166. Turn left (west) and drive about 4.5
miles to Kirschenmann Road. Beyond the creek crossing the road is not paved. A four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary
to continue into the Los Padres National Forest several miles up Santa Barbara
Canyon. *Note- A Los Padres National
Forest Adventure Pass is required to park a vehicle on forest roads and must be
obtained prior to entering. A list of Forest Adventure Pass vendors
is here.
There can be seasonal closures so check current conditions here.
Rewards: At the lower elevations the habitat is primarily
grassland and is a good spot for wintering Mountain Bluebirds. Similar in habitat to Ballinger Canyon, lower
Santa Barbara Canyon’s desert-like sage scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland is home to a variety of
interesting birds. Spring and early summer is best when birds are singing. Check for Scott’s Oriole
and some of the same sparrows found in Ballinger Canyon. If your vehicle is
so equipped and the gate is open, continue to the higher elevations along the jeep trail to Dry Canyon
and Tinta Creek. The habitat eventually changes to pine and fir forest where
the elevation reaches 5000’. In “invasion” years, Pinyon Jay,
Clark’s
Nutcracker and Cassin's Finch have been recorded.
CHANNEL
ISLANDS
(MAP)
37.
CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
(fee)
How to get there:
Whale watching and pelagic birding trips are available
through the following charter companies: Condor Cruises: (805) 882-0088, Island
Packers: (805) 642-1393, and
Truth Aquatics: 805-962-1127.
Channel Islands Aviation (805) 987-1301 offers flights to Santa
Rosa Island from Santa Barbara and Camarillo.
Camping is available
to visitors in the Channel Islands National Park but reservations are required
and transportation is only available through authorized park concessionaires.
Links are provided below.
Rewards:
Pelagic birding in the Santa Barbara Channel is
best during the spring and fall passage of ocean birds. Birding trips are
targeted during these seasons for optimal rewards, but taking a whale watching trip
will also provide a variety of birds with the added bonus of close-up views of
migrating cetaceans.
Birds closer to shore are those species usually visible from land such as
scoters, Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants, loons, grebes and several species of
jaegers, gulls and terns. In summer, Sooty Shearwaters are encountered in good
numbers, and Black-vented Shearwater is fairly common in fall and winter. Birds
regularly found in the Channel include: Pink-footed Shearwater, South Polar
Skua, Sabine's Gull, Xantus's Murrelet, Cassin's and Rhinoceros Auklets, Red
Phalarope, Black, Leach's and Ashy Storm-Petrels, Arctic Tern and Northern
Fulmar (winter). Black-footed and
Laysan
(rare) Albatrosses are found well
offshore. Among the more spectacular sightings in county waters;
Red-tailed
and
Red-billed Tropicbirds,
Magnificent
Frigatebird,
Brown
