Names of San Diego Birding Localities
These are places that the local birders know, but the names may not exist on maps or the names have changed. Click on the Titled area, and a Map will appear of the area that's highlighted. If you know of any names missing from this list, please send them to me at doug@basiclink.com
Located south of Imperial Beach and run along the U.S./ Mexican border from San Ysidro on the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. Most of the land is now owned by either the Federal, State, or Local Governments, and is open to the public. There are only 5 Major roads in the valley. Dairy Mart Road, Saturn Blvd. and Hollister Rd run North-South, and Monument Rd and Sunset Rd. run East-West.
Dairy Mart Ponds- These are fresh-water ponds located on Dairy Mart Road immediately to the south of Interstate 5, south of Imperial Beach. Take the Dairy Mart Rd. exit and turn right. The first street on the right is Servando, which is the Northern border of the "West Pond". There is two ponds with their own areas of Riparian Habitat. Park on Dairy Mart, and you can walk throughout the area.
The A & G Sod Farm- This sod farm is located further to the south on Dairy Mart Pond Rd. on the east side of the road, before you cross over the very large bridge. You can drive along the dirt roads of the sod farm, but stay off of the grass, and do not get in the way of the workers.
Myer's Ranch / Effie May Farms- This area is currently serving as the Headquarters area for the Tijuana River Valley Region Park. It is located on Hollister Rd. on the west side, immediately south of the "Metal" bridge, if your coming from the north. There are 2 bridges on this stretch of road.
Windover Ranch & Smuggler's Gulch- is located along Monument Rd., west of the Intersection with Hollister Rd. It is on the south side of the road, about 200 yards from the Intersection, and right before Monument Road makes a hard right hand turn.
Border Field State Park- Located along the U.S./ Mexican Border at the west end of Monument Rd. and ends at the Pacific Ocean.
"The Old 19th Street Ditch"- This is the hard one, as 19th Street no longer exist. The road is now called Saturn Blvd., and it's not much of a Blvd. As you are heading South into the valley from Imperial Beach, you'll drop into the Valley, and notice that it is pretty much flat, with a large Riparian Habitat running through the middle (east to west) of it. You'll pass a road on right, where a large sign tells you that the U.S. Border Patrol's office is located to the west. Continue south and there will be some farm fields, and then a very small "dip" in the road with a ditch running east to west with willows and other bushes growing in it. This is "The Old 19th St. Ditch", if you hit the intersection with Sunset Rd. you've gone to far. You can walk along the ditch, but stay out of the farming fields.
The Point Loma area is probably the best birding spot in all of Southern California during the Spring & Fall period migrations. The Point is a peninsula that juts out from mainland San Diego into the Pacific Ocean and acts as a Migrant Trap for those migrants heading up and down the coast. During the Fall season, local birders pray for Foggy nights, as it seems that Pt. Loma will be dripping with Eastern vagrants the next morning.
Pt. Loma College- This is a private college with a beautiful campus that allows locals to walk around the campus with no interference. The access is best from the west end of Dupont Ave., off of Catalina Blvd. Walk along the nature-trail / fence-line which runs south to north through pines and brush. The north end of the campus has more mature trees and can yield more migrants.
The Residential Area- The Military part of Pt. Loma is open from 5:30 a.m. til sunset, when the public is allowed in, but on weekends and holidays, the Military will not let you end until 9:00 a.m. at the request of the National Monument people. So..... the local birders hit the "Residential Area" to look for migrants. The is area is very lush with plantings, and after so many years of birders roaming the neighborhoods, the residents don't mind these strange people with binoculars.
The area is bordered by Pt. Loma College to the west, and Silvergate to the east. From Lomaland on the north to Rosecroft on the south. There are alleys between the streets on the east of Catalina Blvd. (which runs right through the middle of the "residential area", and up to the gates of the Military reservation). Walk up and down the streets and alleys, and you'll find something interesting. One place in particular is "The Ficus Tree", located at the corner of Garden St. and Catalina Blvd., it is a huge Ficus that in the fall season fruits, and is full of Robins, Tanagers, Waxwings, Warblers, and Vireos. Vagrant Birds that have been seen in this tree are Summer Tanagers & Scarlet Tanagers, Philadelphia & Yellow-Green Vireos, many Eastern Warblers throughout the years.
Now onto the Military reservation area of Pt. Loma.
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery- First things first, show RESPECT when at the Cemetery, please no screaming and yelling, no pets, do not sit on the tombstones. This is a wonderful Migrant Trap, as the place is full of trees. The cemetery is divided into 2 sections as Catalina Blvd. runs through the middle of the cemetery on it's way to Cabrillo National Monument. The Cemetery is very large and can be broken up into sections. There are 6 Entrances, with 3 on each side of Catalina Blvd. Below are areas within F.R.N.C.
The Bennington Monument is located on the east side, just to the north of the eastern Main entrance. It is surrounded by mature Cypress Trees. It is a very large gray obelisk monument.
The Wall or The Eucalyptus Grove- is located on the east side along the eastern fence line, south of the residence's house. You can't miss it, as it's the only Eucalyptus Grove left on the Cemetery.
The Dip- This is a large depression area on the west side of the Cemetery along the western fence line. It is south of the Administration Office. You can't miss it as it is a large downward sloping area.
On to Cabrillo National Monument
CNM- is located at the end of Catalina Blvd. It used to be "The BOMB", as this is where Vagrant after Vagrant bird could be found in the right season. That National parks people have basically destroyed the area in order to draw more foreign tourist to the area. They have ripped out the Eucalyptus and Myroporium Trees that once covered the area, and ripped out the undergrowth which attracted the birds. What we have left is a small area know as the "Myroporium Grove". It is located just pass the main (fee area) entrance, and the 1st Parking lot. Inside the grove is a leaking water pipe, some people call "Virginia's Drip". It is here that most of the birds can be seen. Also check out the tidal pools on the Ocean side of the Point. There is a road going down to them, right before you reach the entrance to the Monument. The Visitor's Center used to be a great area to bird, but only occasionally holds some birds now. The National Parks people ripped up all of the undergrowth stating that they were mandated to get rid of "Non-Native Vegetation", so they replanted with African Daisies, Pansies, and other "Non-Native Plantings".
They charge alot of money to get into this place, so many of the locals either buy the Year-long Pass or go Mondays through Fridays before 9:00 a.m., and can get in for Free.
Pt. La Jolla- is located in Ellen B. Scripps Park along Coast Blvd. This is the premier Pelagic birding spot in the County, as it sits above the undersea La Jolla Canyon, where the currents bring in the food for marine life and birds.
