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.

enlargement


< July 1, 2011

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 

Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu -  Hummingbirds 


< April 22, 2011

See also the River Valley Bird Count page here.

Hooded Oriole.  Photo © Paul Haydu.  —   Upland Birds

enlargement

Western Tanager.  Photo © Paul Haydu.  —   Upland Birds

enlargement

< April 3, 2011

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

enlargement


< March 8, 2011

Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo © Paul Haydu.  —   Shorebirds

enlargement

Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo © Paul Haydu.  —   Shorebirds

enlargement

Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo © Paul Haydu.  —   Shorebirds

enlargement

Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo © Paul Haydu.  —   Shorebirds

enlargement

 

< March 8, 2011
along San Dieguito Drive

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

Nuttall's Woodpecker.  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 

enlargement

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

enlargement

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

enlargement

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

enlargement

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

enlargement

 

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

Black Phoebe. Photo © Paul Haydu.  —  Upland Birds

enlargement

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

enlargement

 

< 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

enlargement

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

enlargement

Coot.  Photo © Paul Haydu. —  water fowl

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

enlargement

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

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        

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

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

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 

Black Crowned Night Herons at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010Photo © Paul Haydu. —  Heron-like Birds 

Many Black Crowned Night Herons can you see?  
Enlargement

Black Crowned Night Heron at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010.   Photo © Paul Haydu. —  Heron-like Birds    

White-faced Ibis at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010.  Photo © Paul Haydu. —    Heron-like Birds    

Greater Yellowlegs at Fairbanks Ranch October 19, 2010.   Photo © Paul Haydu. —    Shorebirds

  

 


Field Guide

< Diving Birds

Nesting Clark's Grebe.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Eared Grebes.  Photo © Paul Haydu   


< Ducks 

Two Ruddy Duck males.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Cinnamon Teal.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Bufflehead Ducks.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Blue-winged Teal.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Mallard pair in Pickleweed.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Mallard female and eight chicks. Taken on a pond near the DM Public Works,
near the river-mouth.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Mallard Mother and 9 Ducklings.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Water Fowl

Coots.  Photo © Paul Haydu

Coots.  Photo © Paul Haydu


< 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!

<

NEW: Female California Quail.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Heron-like Birds

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

Great Blue Heron.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Great Egret.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Green Heron.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Green Heron.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Snowy Egret.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Snowy Egret.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Shorebirds

Black-necked Stilt approaching her nest.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Black-necked Stilt inspecting her nest.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

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    

Spotted Sandpiper.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Killdeer distracting intruders from nest.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Kildeer.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Greater Yellowlegs.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Willet.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Pelicans and Cormorants

Brown Pelican.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Gulls and Terns

NEW: Juvenile California Gull.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Western Gull.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Forester's Tern.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Birds of Prey

Turkey Vulture.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Osprey over Lagoon.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Osprey with Fish.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Red-shouldered Hawk.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Hummingbirds

Anna's Hummingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Riparian Birds

Belted Kingfisher.  Photo © Paul Haydu    


< Upland Birds

Cactus Wren.   Photo © Steve Brad

Common Yellowthrot Pair, male (brightly colored) and a femaie.  Photo © Paul Haydu   

Lesser Goldfinch.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

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

House Finch.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Cassin's Kingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Mockingbird.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Say's Phoebe.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

Hooded Oriole.  Photo © Paul Haydu    

 

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