(Thomas Guide: 1150-A6 / GPS:  33.047235,-117.077696) Rating: Moderate (hills and uneven dirt trails) Directions: From I-15, exit west at Rancho Bernardo Road and turn right onto West Bernardo Drive going north. Proceed to the street marked Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center (stoplight) and turn left. Drive west to the parking areas by the Ed Brown Senior Center (18402 West Bernardo Drive). Photos: Lake Hodges Further Information on Location  Here and Here

(Thomas Guide: 1232-B3 / GPS: 32.856482, -116.918296) Rating: Easy to Moderate  (dirt trails, paved walkways) A great assortment of birds is always found here. Directions: From North County, take I-15 south to Hwy.52 east to Mission Gorge Rd. Turn left and continue east to Woodside Ave.  Go under the Hwy 67 overpass staying on Woodside Ave (into Lakeside) to end at the Lindo Lake County Park. From San Diego, take I-8 east to Hwy 67 north, and take the Riverford…

(Thomas Guide: 1330 F4 / GPS:  32.600916,-117.092546) Rating: Moderate (uneven dirt trails) Directions: From North County, take I-15 south to I-5 and exit at Palomar St. in National City. Go west a short distance and turn left on Bay Blvd. Continue south to 1470 Bay Blvd. and the dirt parking lot on your right. Use a restroom at a fast food joint in National City before arrival – Palomar Street east, etc. This location is a restricted area not open…

A Fallbrook Adventure! (Thomas Guide: 1028- C5 / GPS: 33.362626, -117.206300) Rating: Easy Our target birds here are the Band-tailed Pigeons and Wood Ducks. Lewis's Woodpeckers have also been seen here at this time of the year. After the walk at Los Jilgueros Preserve, a buffet lunch is being served two minutes away at the Walkley's. Directions: A word of caution: several GPS models do not work well in the Fallbrook area. It is best to follow these instructions.  Take I-15 north…

(Thomas Guide: 1127-A7 / GPS: 33.093537,-117.301308) Rating:Easy (Flat dirt walkways) We will look for waterfowl, shorebirds, and riparian birds. Directions: From I-5 in Carlsbad, exit east on Poinsettia Lane. Turn right on Batiquitos Drive, drive about ½ mile to Gabbiano Lane, turn right and continue to the end.  Park on the street in the residential area.   Photos: Bataquitos Lagoon Further Information on Location Here  

(Thomas Guide:  1349-F1 / GPS: 32.575333,-117.125695 ) Rating: Moderate (Paved, boardwalk, and dirt trails) Good location for Yellow-crowned Night-heron and Ridgway's Rail.  Bring scope if you have one. Directions: Travel south on I-5 from San Diego and exit west on Coronado Avenue, which becomes Imperial Beach Blvd. Turn left on 3rd Street to Caspian Way, turn left and then right to the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center parking lot. Restrooms at Visitor Center, but none on the trails. Will bird around the…

Palomar Audubon Society would like to extend an invitation to all birders to participate in the annual Escondido Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 28. The count circle incorporates mostly rural areas near Escondido, Valley Center, and Ramona. Fantastic birding skills are not a requirement – an extra pair of eyes is always helpful. The after-birding compilation meeting will be held in the early afternoon at Kit Carson Park’s covered picnic shelter. The highlight of the day will be the…

(Thomas Guide:  1110-C3 / GPS: 33.166732, -117.052099 ) Rating: Moderate (Paved and dirt trails) Restrooms by Dixon Lake parking lot. Directions: From I-15 in Escondido, exit at El Norte Parkway and drive east approximately 3 miles. Look for the” Daley Ranch/Dixon Lake” signs and turn left (north) on La Honda Drive. Drive up the hill to the free parking area on your left at the end of the road. Meet at the east end of the parking lot, near the kiosk,…

(Thomas Guide: 1310-C4 / GPS: '32° 39.450', -117° 4.136) Rating: Moderate (Paved trails, may need to cross street) The trail is above the creek which result in outstanding views of waterfowl. Directions: Take I-15 south to I-805 south and take the Sweetwater Road exit in National City. Turn right at Sweetwater Road and then right at Plaza Bonita Road. You will see the Plaza Bonita Shopping  Center parking area on the left. Meet at the far west corner of the…

(Thomas Guide: (1171-H5 / GPS: 32° 59.942', -116° 56.498') Rating: Moderate (hills and uneven dirt trails) Directions: From I-15 in Rancho Bernardo go east on Rancho Bernardo Road, which turns into Espola Road (S5), and continue to Poway Road (S4). Turn left and drive east to Highway 67. Head north on Highway 67 and just before you reach Ramona, make a hard right on Mussey Grade Road (heading southwest). Continue on Dos Picos Park Road ½ mile to the park…

(Thomas Guide: 1130-F1/ GPS: 33.130552,-117.029384) Rating: Easy (Grass and paved roads) Restroom located outside office building. Directions: From I-15 exit east on Via Rancho Parkway, which becomes Bear Valley Parkway, and drive 5 miles north to Glen Ridge road at Orange Glen High School. Turn right on Glen Ridge Road and proceed approximately 1 mile east to the cemetery gate. Turn left to parking area. Photos: Oak Hills Cemetary

(Thomas Guide:  1067-D7 / GPS: 33.246225,-117.270774) Rating: Moderate (Grass and dirt trails) Directions: From Highway 78 in Oceanside, exit north on College Boulevard curving left and drive 4.4 miles to Highway 76.  Make a right turn and continue east about ½ mile to Lake Guajome Rd. Turn right (south) and drive up the hill past the park entrance. We usually convene on this road beyond the park entrance since we gather well before the park opens. Several restrooms within the…

5 Riparian View, Irvine, CA 92612 (Thomas Guide to Orange County, page 859 J-7 / GPS: 33° 39.625', -117° 50.471')  Rating: Easy (Flat dirt trails) Directions: Take I-5 north to the San Diego Freeway I-405. Continue north on the I-405 a short distance and then take the Culver exit and turn left (south). At the first signal, which is Michelson, turn right. Continue west on Michelson and then turn left on Harvard. Continue south on Harvard and then turn right…