<024FB3728D2AF00C*/c=US/admd=ATTMAIL/prmd=GOV+NOAA/o=CCNMFS/s=Wade/g=Paul/ at MHS>


Responding to Deborah,
Having gone to grad school in San Diego, and worked there after, I can add a
little on birding places in San Diego from my experiences.

San Elijo and Bataquitos Lagoons (north coastal S.D.)
As Joe stated, San Elijo Lagoon is a wonderful place to birdwatch and hike, but
it does not have too many unusual birds, such as you put on your list. Of most
interest, perhaps, I have often seen flocks of white-faced ibis in these two
lagoons, most often on the inland side (east of the freeway which unfortunately
cuts through these marvelous habitats). I also once saw a roadrunner on the
east side of San Elijo. The west side is great for ducks and shorebirds, the
east side is a bit drier and more upland, and is better for raptors (can often
see kites, red-tailed, cooper's, harrier, and at the most eastern end,
red-shouldered). Two other interesting birds I have seen and heard on the east
side are Clapper rails (I believe a state listed bird in California) and
California gnatcatchers (federally listed). San Elijo is between Solana Beach
and Cardiff on the coast, Batiquitos is further north between Encinitas/Leucadia
and Carlsbad.

South San Diego Bay
This is the place for black skimmers. There are breeding skimmers here, I
believe, and I also believe they are resident year round, although I have only
birded there twice (It is far from where I lived in the north). I have also
seen skimmers more rarely feeding in northern lagoons (sometimes in fall/winter
(I believe it was) I would often see them skimming in a small pond by the
racetrack in Del Mar, 50 feet from the stop-and-go traffic snarl that occurs
every morning and evening. BTW, I have also seen gray whales and surfing
bottlenose dolphins from my car sitting in traffic in Del Mar, so it is one of
the better spots for commuter wildlife watching). Red phalaropes are certainly
around just offshore of San Diego Bay, but I believe (cannot remember!) that we
also saw some inside the bay itself in the southern end. The Tijuana River
Valley & Estuary is also a great spot, and is not too far from here, so it would
not be hard to do both in the same day. Curiously enough, there are also some
green sea turtles that live in South San Diego Bay, so keep your eyes out for
them as well. Other great birds can be found in South San Diego Bay. On one of
the trips (in May) I saw both horned and eared grebes in spectacular breeding
plumage (oops, I mean alternate plumage, I think!). Also saw a Little Blue
Heron there in the marsh, which seems far out of its described range in the
field guides, but I believe it is a known occaisonal stray in San Diego. Was
fairly certain about the ID, as I had previously seen Little Blues in Baja and
along mainland Mexican coast.

Anza-Borrego
Getting out to the desert is a fair drive, but it is worth it, as it is very
beautiful, and the birding can be rewarding. Of the birds you mention, in A-B I
have seen definitely seen white-throated swift, cactus wren, phainopepla fairly
easily. I have also seen Costa's hummingbirds in A-B. A great all day birding
trip for you would be to combine Anza-Borrego with a trip to the nearby Salton
Sea, but getting out to Salton will add considerable time. I am sure with some
effort you could find most of the desert birds you mention.

Point Loma
As Joe pointed out, this is the place for passerines, especially during
migration.

Other
Black phoebe are everywhere in the city and surburbs, so you should see them
easily.

Cheers,
Paul Wade
paul.wade at noaa.gov