Palomar Audubon Society

Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Field Trip
2026-08-08 08:00 - 11:30 UTC | Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary, 3850 N River Rd, Oceanside, CA, 92058, United States
GPS: 33.244789,-117.331083
Rating: Moderate (Uneven dirt paths); option to sit and enjoy the birds from the picnic area
Bathrooms: one available near the parking area
Directions:
From Hwy 78 west, exit north on El Camino Real and continue to Douglas Drive. From I-5 north, exit east on Hwy 76 and continue to the Douglas Drive exit. Take Douglas Drive north approximately 1 mile and turn left on North River Road. Continue west on North River Rd. to the entrance gate at the end.
NOTE: The caretaker has offered to have the gate open at 7:30 am for Early Birds and leave it open until 8:45 to accommodate latecomers.
From the gate, proceed straight ahead on the less-traveled road to the Sanctuary. Disregard the “No Trespassing” Signs.
For those interested in lunch, we will be dining at “The Pitstop”, located beside the police station, at 3825 Mission Avenue, Oceanside 92058, just a couple of blocks west of Douglas Drive. It’s loaded with 50’s atmosphere, automobile memorabilia, and serves at least twenty different styles of sandwiches, all at reasonable prices.
Photos: Whelan Lake
Further Information on Location: Here

San Elijo Lagoon Field Trip
2026-08-15 08:00 - 11:00 UTC | San Elijo Lagoon, 1705 N Rios Ave, Solana Beach, CA, 92075, United States
GPS: 33.003535,-117.272469
Rating: Easy to Moderate (mostly flat dirt pathways)
Bathrooms: There are none in the parking lot or on the trail,
but there is one at the visitor’s center on the opposite side, which we often go to after we walk the south side.

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. Turn right (north) and go all the way to the end of North Rios Avenue. Park and meet at the end of the street near the barricade.
Learn more about San Elijo Lagoon
Photos of San Elijo Lagoon

Felicita County Park Field Trip
2026-08-22 08:00 - 11:30 UTC | Felicita County Park, 742 Clarence Ln, Escondido, CA, 92029, United States
GPS: 33°04’51.3″N 117°04’52.9″W
Rating: Easy to Moderate (concrete and dirt paths around the county park)
Bathrooms: several available around the park
Directions: From I-15 in Escondido, drive a short distance west on Via Rancho Parkway to Felicita Rd. (stoplight) and turn right. Heading north a short distance on Felicita Rd., turn right again, on Clarence Lane (stop sign), and head up the hill two blocks, and turn left on Cita Avenue (33°04’51.3″N 117°04’52.9″W). Park along Cita Ave. Since the Felicita County Park main parking lot doesn’t open until 9:30 am, we will park along Cita Ave, and as a group, we will walk into the Park as pedestrians. Expect warm weather.
For more information, see the park website.

Laguna Meadows/Lake Field Trip
2026-08-29 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Denver) | Penny Pines Trailhead, 12031 Sunrise Hwy, Mount Laguna, CA, 91948, United States
GPS: 32.9058 -116.4563
Rating: moderate, long dirt trails with some incline
Bathrooms: none/ but you can pee behind a tree. 🙂
Directions: Take the 8 hwy east to the Sunrise Hwy exit. Then turn left onto the Sunrise Hwy and travel north for 13.8 miles to the Penny Pines & Big Laguna Trail parking area (it is a about a mile past the Laguna Campground). An Adventure Pass is required and must be purchased ahead of time (a National Parks Pass is valid as an Adventure Pass).
This walk is through a pine forest and around Laguna Meadows and Lake (if there is still water in it). It will start at the Penny Pines Interpretive Trail/BLT trailhead (Big Laguna Trail). The trail is fairly level but can be somewhat rutted. The Forest Service Adventure Pass is required. Expect Warm weather, bring water.
More information on Penny Pines Trailhead

Robb Field/San Diego River Tidal Mud Flats Field Trip
2026-09-05 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Robb Field, 2525 Bacon St, San Diego, California, 92107
GPS: 32.755448,-117.241741
Rating: Easy, little walking, birding along the flat path beside the San Diego River
Bathrooms: only at our first location, in the park near the tennis courts
We will visit two locations along the San Diego River Floodway to look for early migrant and returning shorebirds, often still in breeding plumage, and post-breeding dispersal Elegant Terns.
Directions:
From North County, take Hwy. 163S to I-8W and drive toward Ocean Beach. Make a slight left at Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and then stay in the right lane. Turn right onto W. Point Loma Blvd. and then right at Bacon St. Drive straight ahead to the Robb Field parking area near the tennis courts at the east end. We will also visit the nearby San Diego River Flood Control Channel (Mission Bay Pkwy & Old Sea World Drive) or Famosa Slough (West Point Loma Blvd & Famosa Blvd.)
Please note: Summer birding can be very warm. So be sure to bring sunscreen and sufficient water on walks. Bring a scope if you have one.
