Birding San Diego, California, USA - May 2017 - Part 1

A change is circumstances at work this year meant that I became part a big global team. Even better, I joined just in time to be invited to the team gathering in sunny San Diego! Maybe working for The Man isn't so bad...

 Song Sparrow, Mira Mesa, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

My trip was in early May, and I decided to travel in my own time over the weekends, giving me some free time in San Diego for birding before and after the team summit. I didn't have much time, but I was determined to make the most of an opportunity that (for me) doesn't come around that often.

One of the reasons for writing this particular blog post is to assist other birders, if they find themselves working in the same area, to get the most out of their limited time - I certainly felt I did.

I've split this blog post into two parts - the number of photos would be too cumbersome for one post. Part 1 is covers the my wanderings around Sorrento Valley. Part 2 covers Balboa Park, La Jolla, San Diego River and Mission Bay.

The hotel (and nearby company office) was in the Mira Mesa area of Sorrento Valley, north of San Diego. The two best-looking birding areas, that were also within 15-minute walking distance, were El Camino Memorial Park and the Lopez Canyon Trail.

I was up early on Monday 1st May, having arrived late the night before, and headed out to El Camino Memorial Park after breakfast. As a native of the English Pennines, I found the sun and heat quite intense even at the time of day in early May.

The Memorial Park looked just as crematoriums appear in US movies: lush, green, and impeccably manicured. As a courtesy, I asked at the office if I may go birding on site, including taking photos, and was told. "No problem - it's joggers we don't like...".

Black Phoebe, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

I found the area along the southern edge the most productive (Fenton Road, according to Google Maps). It was quieter here, and not manicured, with a dry river valley to explore.

The habitat south of El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA

Orange-crowned Warblers in in the trees around the picnic area, and nesting pair of Bewick's Wrens taking food into a hole in a roadside tree.

 Orange-crowned Warbler, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Bewick's Wren, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

A major highlight was seeing my first hummingbird. Probably an Anna's Hummingbird - I have to admit I was just blown away by the action of the beautiful little dynamo that I didn't take much notice of the plumage of the first hummer I saw. I was particularly taken by the way it was hawking for insects. I eventually saw several hummers whizzing by and occasionally settling in the trees, including this Black-chinned Hummingbird.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Not all of my photos turned out so well, and here a few record shots of other birds from along that roadside.

Hooded Oriole (female), El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Hooded Oriole (male), El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Brown-headed Cowbird, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

House Finch, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Lesser Goldfinch, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

I headed down the dry river valley, and soon came across a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. In fact, there were loads of these around, and I seen one earlier but just not clocked the species. These are an absolute beauty of a bird, a little dynamo flycatching in the shade of the low-hanging branches.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Along this river valley were a pair of Nuttall's Woodpeckers, picked up initially on call, and noisy Bushtit family, not dissimilar to Long-tailed Tits back home.

Other birds in the Memorial Park included a fly-over Snowy Egret, Red-shouldered Hawk, California Towhee, American Crow, Eurasian Starling, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Anna's Hummingbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-headed Grosbeak, Song Sparrow, and a fair few others where I just couldn't clinch the ID (including hirundines over the lake as I was heading back).

Red-eared Slider, El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

It was getting very hot as midday approached, and I eventually headed back to the hotel on Misa Mesa Blvd to meet up with colleagues for lunch. It turned out we didn't have any work planned for the afternoon, and some had jet lag to contend with. I decided to head out again, this time to the Lopez Canyon Trail, which was only around 12 minutes walk away.

A note of caution: the canyon is home to various snakes, some of which are venomous, so please listen out and watch where you tread.

Offices on Mira Mesa, San Diego, California, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

The view from the top of Lopez Canyon

The view from the bottom of Lopez Canyon

One of several signs along the top of Lopez Canyon, none of which I saw until after three days traipsing around the area!

This area also turned out to be great for birding. Looking north from the top of the canyon afforded great views across the grassy landscape, and it was hard to believe I was only 20 minutes from downtown San Diego, especially when stood at the bottom of the canyon.

The first bird I saw here was a fabulous White-tailed-Kite. Flying at eye-level, from my vantage point near the top of the canyon. A really striking bird, bright white and stark greys, with black shoulder patches. It frequently hovered over the grassland, working hard as there was no wind to help, as it looked for prey. I saw five birds in total, which I assumed was a family group, with adults teaching second calendar year (2cy) birds. Unless the birds were fledged this year, which seems too early.

White-tailed Kite (adult), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

White-tailed Kite (three immature birds), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

White-tailed Kite (immature left, adult right), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

White-tailed Kite (immature above, adult below), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

I managed only a brief view of another raptor: a Red-shouldered Hawk. These certainly seem common in these parts, having seen one earlier, and would see more from the office during the week, plus one in Balboa Park.

Red-shouldered Hawk, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Higher up, the canyon was filled with the song of the Northern Mockingbird, singing from the top of a tree.

Northern Mockingbird, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Lower down, a Western Scrub-Jay was sat, predictably, in the scrub.

Western Scrub-Jay, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

On the grassy slopes, a couple of Ashy-throated Flycatchers were actively feeding in the sunlit patches.

Ashy-throated-Flycatcher, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA
Monday 1st May 2017

Along the canyon floor is a tree-lined riverbed, made up mostly of dry rocks and fallen branches (watch out for snakes under these). Here I struggled to ID several passerines from their calls and odd brief view as they flitted among the foliage.

Wilson's Warbler, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

Bewick's Wren, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

I came across a small pool in the riverbed, and as the light faded several birds came to bathe, such as House Finch, Bewick's Wren, and a striking Lazuli Bunting.

Mourning Dove, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

California Towhees are ubiquitous here, and seeing them is easy, especially as they as so ungainly and inelegant as the crash through the scrub.

California Towhee, Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

It wasn't all birds of course; I saw reptiles and insects too, although I wasn't so focused on them.

Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA

Monday 1st May 2017

Mourning Cloak Butterfly - known as Camberwell Beauty in Britain - (Nymphalis antiopa),
Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA - Monday 1st May 2017

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA

Thursday 4th May 2017

Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), Lopez Canyon, San Diego, USA

Monday 1st May 2017

Click here for Part 2, covering Balboa Park, La Jolla, and the San Diego River and Mission Bay...