River Valley Birds

Sikes Farmstead

River Valley Views

Lagoon Day Winners

Lagoon Restoration Dedication

BIRD WALKS

FIELD GUIDE

Pelicans & Cormorants

Birds of the San Dieguito River Valley

Bird Walks

< November 16, 2011

Black Phoebe. Photo © Paul Haydu — Riparian Birds

Calling Kingfisher. Photo © Paul Haydu — Shorebirds

Lesser Yellowlegs. Photo © Paul Haydu — Shorebirds

< October 4, 2011

A green heron, seen from the Grand Avenue Bridge. Photo © Paul Haydu — Heron-like Birds

The view from the Grand Avenue Bridge. Photo © Paul Haydu

< September 30, 2011

An osprey in flight, seen from the Grand Avenue Bridge. Photo © Paul Haydu — Birds of Prey

enlargement Note that the osprey's face is in focus!

< July 26, 2011

Cliff Swallows on the Grand Avenue Bridge. Photo © Paul Haydu - Upland Birds Note: It is unusual to see these birds perching.

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< July 1, 2011

Hummingbird. Photo © Paul Haydu - Hummingbirds

< April 22, 2011

See also the River Valley Bird Count page here.

Hooded Oriole. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

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Western Tanager. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

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< April 3, 2011

Red Shouldered Hawk. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Birds of Prey

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< March 8, 2011

Spotted Sandpiper. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

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Spotted Sandpiper. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

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Spotted Sandpiper. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

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Spotted Sandpiper. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

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< March 8, 2011
along San Dieguito Drive

Red-winged Blackbird. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

Nuttall's Woodpecker. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

California Thrasher. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

< February 25, 2011
from the Grand Avenue Bridge before the rain

Great Egret eating. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

Least Sandpipers Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

< January 20, 2011
along the San Dieguito Lagoon

Bufflehead. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Hooded Merganser pair. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Ruddy Duck. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Pintail group and Ruddy Duck. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Belted Kingfisher. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Riparian Birds

Whimbrel. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

Long-billed Dowitcher. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

Long-billed Dowitcher Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

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Long-billed Dowitcher. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

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Snowy Egret. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

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Snowy Egret. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

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King of the Hill. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

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< January 7, 2011
along the San Dieguito River behind Horsemen's Park

Black Phoebe. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

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Say's Phoebe. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

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< January 7, 2011
along the San Dieguito Lagoon

Long-billed Dowitcher. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

Eared Grebe. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Diving Birds

Eared Grebe underwater. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Diving Birds

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Mallard Pair. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Juvenile Red-breasted Mergansers. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Red-breasted Merganser. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

< December 18, 2010

Lesser Scaup. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Northern Shoveler male. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Ducks

Cooper's Hawk, juvenile. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Birds of Prey

< November 24, 2010

Coots. Photo © Paul Haydu. — water fowl

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Coot. Photo © Paul Haydu. — water fowl

Double-crested Cormorant. Photo © Paul Haydu. — pelicans & cormorants

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Cooper's Hawk. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Birds of Prey

< November 16, 2010

Double-crested Comorants in formation. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — pelicans & comorants

White-tailed Kite. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Birds of Prey

Red-tailed Hawk. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Birds of Prey

Cassin's Kingbird. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

Nutall's Woodpecker. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

Black Phoebe eating a Dragonfly. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

Dowitcher. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

Kildeer. 11/16/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

< Three-shot sequence of Great Egret
November 17, 2010

Great Egret fishing. 11/17/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

Splash!. 11/17/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

Got it!. 11/17/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

< A Rare Find
November 16, 2010

Cactus Wren. 11/16/10 Very few of them are seen in San Diego, so it's a special bird. Photo © Steve Brad. — Upland Birds

< A Clear Day on the San Dieguito Lagoon
November 13, 2010

Green Heron. 11/13/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

Snowy Egret. 11/13/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

Greater Yellowlegs. 11/13/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Shorebirds

Osprey. 11/13/10. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Birds of Prey

< Birding in Fairbanks Ranch
October 19, 2010

Paul and Ed Mirsky went to Fairbanks Ranch on October 19, 2010 to look for Cowbirds .... but ended up seeing everything else!

San Dieguito River near Fairbanks Ranch. Photo © Paul Haydu

Say's Phoebe at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

Common Yellowthrot Pair at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Upland Birds

Great Blue Heron at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010. Photo © Paul Haydu. — Heron-like Birds

Many Black Crowned Night Herons can you see?
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Field Guide

< Diving Birds

< Ducks

< Water Fowl

< Quail

NEW: Quail Covey

Quail like Coyote had nearly disappeared from Crest Canyon after it was opened to all for trail walking. Many people still let their dogs off-leash, and they disturb dens, nests and denizens of the chaparral. Quail unlike Coyote have had a resurgence, and during my walk today off San Dieguito Drive ... this covey of Quail came over to us, and perched within spitting distance. I almost couldn't use my full telephoto because they were so close!

< Heron-like Birds

Herons and egrets. Taken from the Grand Avenue Bridge lookout. There
are 4 birds in the picture. Photo © Paul Haydu enlargement

< Shorebirds

Black-necked Stilt on her nest. All three pictures Taken on a pond near the DM Public Works, near the river-mouth. Photo © Paul Haydu

< Pelicans and Cormorants

< Gulls and Terns

< Birds of Prey

< Hummingbirds

< Riparian Birds

< Upland Birds

Cliff Swallow Nests. on the underside of I-15 at the east end of Lake Hodges. Photo © Paul Haydu

Cliff Swallows collecting mud for nests across from the Grand Ave. Bridge. Photo © Paul Haydu

Cliff Swallows have returned! Cliff Swallows have returned to the San Dieguito Lagoon after spending the winter in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. They may be seen at the Grand Avenue Bridge gathering mud along the shore. Look for groups of birds standing on the mudflat picking up mud as they flutter their up-stretched wings. Their domed nests are constructed under the bridge, one dollop at a time, from mud carried back in their bills. As the number of nests increases they may become closely packed forming a “condominium complex.” Remember to be quiet and don't disturb the birds. Photo © Paul Haydu 03/30/2010