Daley Ranch Field Trip

Daley Ranch 2253 La Honda Dr, Escondido, CA, United States

GPS:  33.166138,-117.052495 Rating: Moderate to Difficult (steep hill, uneven dirt trails, paved walkways) 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 on … Continue reading

Wilderness Gardens Preserve Field Trip

Wilderness Gardens Preserve 14209 Hwy 76, Pala, CA, United States

(GPS: 33.346322,-117.023846) Rating: Moderate (Mostly dirt trails, parts rocky) Directions: This small wilderness area represents a fine example of oak woodland habitat. Meet in the Wilderness Gardens parking lot, which is about 10 miles east of I-15 on Hwy.76, on … Continue reading

Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve Field Trip

Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve 39400 Clinton Keith Rd, Murrieta, CA, United States

 GPS: 33° 32.603', -117° 16.228') Rating: Moderate (dirt trail, some hills) The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, located at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains in southwest Riverside County near the city of Murrieta, is a hidden gem … Continue reading

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Field Trip

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 10967 Covington Drive, Morongo Valley, CA, United States

(GPS:  34.050398, -116.570646) Rating: Easy (Flat boardwalk) (NOTE: Later Start Time due to travel distance) NOTE:   Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is always a spring hotspot and a favorite PAS field trip.  Several hummingbird and seed feeders attract many bird species … Continue reading

Old Mission Dam Field Trip

Old Mission Dam 8302 Father Junipero Serra Trail, Santee, CA, United States

GPS:  32.839695, -117.041095) Rating: Moderate (uneven dirt trails) This should be prime time for spring migrants.  Porta-poddy in the parking lot. Expect warm weather. Directions: Take Highway 52 east to the Mast Boulevard. exit in Santee. Turn north/east onto Mast … Continue reading

San Elijo Lagoon Bird Walk

San Elijo Lagoon 899 N Rios Ave, Solana Beach, CA, United States

 GPS: 33.003535,-117.272469 Rating: Moderate (Dirt Trail, some hills) Bring a scope, if you have one.   This is a good spot to view wintering waterfowl and shorebirds. Directions: Take I-5 to Lomas Santa Fe Drive. Go west to North Rios Avenue. … Continue reading

Magee Marsh Birding Adventure

Palomar Audubon Birding Trip to Magee Marsh, Ohio May 11-15, 2025 Nestled along the southwestern shore of Lake Erie, Magee Marsh is renowned for its incredible variety of migratory birds, attracting observers from all over the world. The boardwalk offers a … Continue reading

$100

Kit Carson Park Bird Walk

Kit Carson Park 3333 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA, United States

GPS: 33.080179,-117.060199 Rating: Easy (Level, paved walkways, dirt trail, and grass) Woodland, riparian, and open-area habitats will usually get us a nice list of resident birds. Directions: From I-15 in Escondido, exit east on Via Rancho Parkway (which becomes Bear … Continue reading

Sweetwater River Gorge Field Trip

Sweetwater River Gorge 11979 Singer Ln, Spring Valley, CA, United States

(Thomas Guide: 1271-J6 / GPS: 32.734503, -116.941048) Rating: Moderate to Difficult (uneven dirt trails) This area is a rich stream habitat surrounded by native chaparral and sage scrub. Directions: From I-5, I-805, or I-15, take Hwy. 94 east; stay on Hwy. 94 as … Continue reading

San Pasqual Agricultural Trail Field Trip

San Pasqual Agricultural Trail 20407 Ysabel Creek Rd, Escondido, CA, United States

(GPS: 33.077549, -116.987631) Rating: Moderate (dirt trails) We hope to see local residents, which include Cactus Wren, Greater Roadrunner, and a few raptors, possibly the Zone-tailed Hawk. Bring a lunch for an after-birding picnic at the close-by SD Archaeological Center.  … Continue reading

Agua Dulce Creek Field Trip

Agua Dulce Creek Wooded Hill Road, Mount Laguna, CA, United States

GPS: 32.853641, -116.435702 Rating: Moderate to Hard (dirt trails, parts rocky, parts some incline, cross a stream) Directions: We will meet at the old parking area for Agua Dulce Creek Group camp. Driving east on I-8, and after Pine Valley, … Continue reading

Tijuana Estuary

Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach, CA, United States

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 … Continue reading

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Field Trip

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 11261 Highway 79, Descanso, CA, United States

(Thomas Guide:  429- L3 / GPS: 32.95947,-116.57924) Rating: Moderate to Hard (roads, dirt trails, parts rocky, parts steep incline) Directions: From San Diego, take I-8 east and exit north on Hwy 79.  Continue approximately 12 miles to the Paso Pacacho Campground on … Continue reading

Palomar Mountain Field Trip

Palomar Mountain State Park 19952 State Park Rd, Palomar, CA, United States

GPS:  33.341822,-116.901355 Rating: Moderate (uneven mountain trail, elevation climb) Directions: This field trip will start from the parking lot at Doane Pond. Leave the Escondido area before 7 a.m. From I-15, take Highway 76 east to Highway S6, north to Palomar … Continue reading

Wm Heise County Park/Santa Ysabel Mission Field Trip

Wm Heise County Park 4945 Heise Park Road, Julian, CA, United States

 GPS: 33.040154, -116.593526 Rating: Moderate to Hard (roads, dirt trails, parts rocky, parts steep incline) Directions: From Escondido take Hwy 78 east (from San Diego take Hwy 67 east) to Ramona, then Hwy 78 toward Julian, past Santa Ysabel.  After … Continue reading