boredAlan2020

Bolsa Chica is a great refuge for all kinds of migrating shorebirds as well as some interesting year round residents. February is the beginning of the breeding season for certain birds, in particular certain terns and some of the early grebes. Right now is almost devoid of birds because most of the migrations have already occurred. From day to day Bolsa Chica is highly variable and pretty much hit or miss. Great access from a small parking lot to a footbridge that crosses a long thin artificial shallow channel, very dependent on tidal levels which are roughly out of sync to the outside ocean tides due to a distant inlet and weir that feed it. But when things are hopping, you can have brown pelicans diving literally at your feet about 10 ft. away, swarms of feeding frenzies with cormorants, snowy egrets and great egrets all in on the fray and even the occasional pacific loon and occasional out of range migrants. There are some other nearby refugia that are also great for spotting abundant bird life. About 15 miles away is San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, and extensive network of settling ponds surrounded by a web of elevated causeways. You can look it up on Google Maps. It is adjacent to the University of California at Irvine. A couple of other interesting spots are Irvine Park near Santiago Canyon just east of the city of Orange, and TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa where I just spotted two mating pairs of mandarin ducks and a muscovy duck. My most productive recent photography success has been in San Joaquin with multiple vermillion flycatchers and an out of range eurasian green-wing teal. At San Joaquin some of the ponds will start to have the fascinating courtship rituals of Western and Clarke's grebes where they engage in rushing and stand up and run neck and neck across the water.
I hope you luck out on the two days you are here in February.
Alan Grant

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

THANK YOU !

hjkarten Loc: San Diego, California

As suggested, the San Joaquin Audubon preserve on Riparian way, off Campus Drive near Univ Calif. Irviine, is an outstanding location for grebes, white pelicans, vultures, black skimmers, cormorants, egrets, ibis, stilts, swallows, sandpipers, etc., as well as many species of passerines of great variety, etc. One of the best places for birds in flight in Southern California. Lovely spot, quiet, great location for contemplation. Bring tripod, gimbal head, water and snacks. Park next to Audubon house and walk to various ponds. Nearby and also superb locatiion is Back Bay in Newport. There is an exhibit hall, excellent trails, lots various ducks, herons, egrets, etc. It is about a 10 minute drive from San Joaquin Audubon. Problem with Bolsa Chica is that it is too close to the very noisy Pacific Coast Highway. No sense of peaceful solitude. A large part of the reserve is blocked off by a chain link fence, making use of telephoto lens difficult. You have to stand next to the fence and look inside to photograph the birds. I have gotten some good photos there, but Back Bay and San Joaquin Reserve are much more appealing.

Ed Chu Loc: Las Vegas NV

THANK YOU ( EXACTLY the type of info I am looking for, as opposed to the "Trip Advisor" suggestion someone gave me

jak86094

The Seal Beach refuge area is part of the Naval Weapons Station and is not open to the public. They used to have limited access but I think COVID-19 has caused that to cease. As for Bolsa Chica Wildlife Preserve, a gem, but the Pacific Coast Highway parking area is a known location for breaking and thefts from cars. Be very careful to take anything of value with you. My Nikon D500 and Nikon 200-500 were stolen from my locked trunk by thieves who saw me stow my gear in the trunk at that parking lot then followed me to a private residence and broke in to my car. Others have had their windows broken to steal from the car. Given. All that, it’s still a wonderful place to bird and take photographs. Others in the area include Huntington Central Park, San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Preserve across from Univ. of Calif. Irvine, and Irvine Regional Park...all easily accessible in Central Orange ounty and all offering lots of photobirding ops.

jak86094

The Seal Beach refuge area is part of the Naval Weapons Station and is not open to the public. They used to have limited access but I think COVID-19 has caused that to cease. As for Bolsa Chica Wildlife Preserve, a gem, but the Pacific Coast Highway parking area is a known location for breaking and thefts from cars. Be very careful to take anything of value with you. My Nikon D500 and Nikon 200-500 were stolen from my locked trunk by thieves who saw me stow my gear in the trunk at that parking lot then followed me to a private residence and broke in to my car. Others have had their windows broken to steal from the car. Given. All that, it’s still a wonderful place to bird and take photographs. Others in the area include Huntington Central Park, San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Preserve across from Univ. of Calif. Irvine, and Irvine Regional Park...all easily accessible in Central Orange ounty and all offering lots of photobirding ops.

Dat Quach Loc: California

I’ve never been to Seal Beach but many times to Bolsa Chica. Nevertheless, I had a lot more luck at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, which I hope will be included in your itinerary. San Joaquin is about 30, 40 minutes driving South of Bolsa Chica. A couple of aforementioned posts describe well what you expect to see at San Joaquin. You’d have to walk deep into each site to capture the birds. Allow me to post a few pictures just to show you what you might encounter. Having nothing else, I used the Nikon 200-500 which is light enough to walk around both sites.

Welcome to SoCal and enjoy.

PS. Entrance to San Joaquin is a little tricky. If you go North on Campus, the entrance is the next right after University. If you go South on Campus, you cannot turn left into the entrance, you have to make an U-turn at the University.

At Bolsa Chica

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The following photos are at San Joaquin

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Watch out for this big guy at San Joaquin

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via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

...I think that last word might be Refuge...at least the ones I frequent are called National Wildlife Refuges...meaning an actual refuge for the animals...although I often wonder about that since they do allow hunting!!

ImageCreator Loc: Northern California

high covid area. change your plans.