BIRDING TEXAS

& B E Y O N D

Southern California
April 22-27, 2026
with Oscar Carmona & Bruce Aird

Whitewater Preserve © Oscar Carmona

From April 22–27, we explored the remarkable variety of birding habitats Southern California has to offer. Over six days and 37 checklists, we recorded 178 species across four counties—San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino—moving from coastal wetlands and sage scrub to desert basins, agricultural valleys, montane forests, and interior foothills. The itinerary was designed to balance targeted efforts for regional specialties with flexibility to take advantage of local conditions, migration, and unexpected opportunities. Highlights included coastal endemics, rare vagrants, secretive marsh birds, desert specialists, nocturnal species, and colorful spring migrants, all experienced against a constantly changing backdrop of landscapes. The result was a well‑paced and highly rewarding tour that showcased both the diversity and the character of Southern California birding.

California Gnatcatcher © Jeff Lewis

Day 1 - San Diego Coast. The tour officially began with a relaxed afternoon along the San Diego coast, easing the group into Southern California birding while taking advantage of prime coastal habitats. The highlight of the afternoon came quickly with a successful encounter with California Gnatcatcher, a shared lifer for every participant. This range‑restricted coastal endemic can be difficult to locate, making our cooperative views especially satisfying. When the bird finally appeared, its raspy call confirming the ID—the group’s reaction set an enthusiastic tone for the days ahead. Additional highlights included Elegant Tern, Royal Tern, Western Grebe, Heermann’s and California Gulls along the waterfront, while California Thrasher, California Towhee, Wrentit, and Allen’s Hummingbird added depth on land. Urban flavor came via Red‑masked Parakeet, offering an early reminder of the region’s unique mix of native and introduced species. The day concluded with a strong opening list and growing excitement for what lay ahead.

Day 2 - Tijuana River Valley & San Diego Bay. On Day 2, we explored coastal wetlands and riparian scrub, starting at the Tijuana River mouth. While observing from Seacoast Drive, we spotted two Cocos Boobies offshore—a rare vagrant species and a memorable lifer for everyone. Moving inland into the marsh, the focus shifted to one of coastal California’s most secretive and conservation‑significant species: Ridgway’s Rail. Another lifer for all, this federally endangered bird is tightly tied to remaining stands of native cordgrass, making reliable encounters increasingly rare. At Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, one of the species’ last strongholds, the rails made their presence known, calling repeatedly from the dense marsh. While hearing one is an achievement, the experience deepened when a bird stepped briefly into view, allowing the group to appreciate just how special this sighting truly was.

Mid Morning at Myer Ranch's Bird & Butterfly Garden included

Ridgway's Rail © Oscar Carmona

excellent views of Lawrence’s Goldfinches as they bathed and preened by a water drip, giving the group unusually close and extended looks. In the afternoon, the group visited Sycamore Canyon County Preserve and successfully located both Bell’s Sparrow and Black-chinned Sparrow, both lifers for most participants. Patient searching paid off with brief but rewarding sightings. Birding in Wing Street Canyon provided clear views of Scaly-breasted Munia, an introduced species now established locally. At San Diego Bay, stops at Famosa Slough and Bayshore Bikeway delivered a variety of shorebirds, including Red Knot (100+), Yellow‑crowned Night‑Heron, Surf Scoter, Black-bellied Plover, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Neotropic Cormorant, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Least Tern, Western Gull, and Canada Goose. Other notable birds throughout the day included Common Ground Dove, Swinhoe’s White-eye, and Hermit Warbler rounding out a memorable Day 2.

Black-chinned Sparrow © Oscar Carmona

Bell's Sparrow © Jeff Lewis

The tour then stopped at Jacumba, where town edges and a small pond provided more habitat variety. This area yielded California Scrub-Jay, Oak Titmouse, White-winged Dove, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Tricolored Blackbird, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Western Bluebird. Near Brawley, about 120 White-faced Ibis created a striking spectacle overhead. The day ended at Cattle Call Park with extended views of a Great Horned Owl family and other notable species such as Abert’s Towhee, Vermillion Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, and Nashville Warbler. By the conclusion of Day 3, the group had experienced a full cross‑section of Southern California’s interior landscapes, from chaparral slopes and desert towns to irrigated farmland, anchored by the successful pursuit of key target species and capped with memorable visual moments within a single day’s drive.

Gray Vireo © Jeff Lewis

Day 3 - Mountain Foothills & Imperial Valley. On Day 3, we moved inland into the foothills of eastern San Diego County, targeting Gray Vireo at Kitchen Creek, a highly localized and often challenging species. Working the chaparral–oak woodland transition carefully, the group was rewarded when a Gray Vireo announced its presence, eventually providing cooperative and extended views. This species, with its subtle plumage and thin, deliberate song, can be remarkably easy to overlook, making a clean visual confirmation especially satisfying. The Kitchen Creek area continued to deliver, with Costa’s Hummingbird flashing vivid color in the morning light and Mountain Quail calling from the slopes above the road—another signature foothill species that reinforced the habitat shift from previous days. Other species observed in the area included Acorn and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Western Kingbird, California Quail, Phainopepla, Green-tailed Towhee, Lazuli Bunting, and Spotted Towhee.

Day 4 - Borrego Springs to Moreno Valley. Day 4 brought challenging weather with high winds across diverse habitats. Starting before dawn at Clark Dry Lake in Anza‑Borrego, blustery conditions made birding difficult, but we still managed to connect with several other species like Loggerhead Shrike, Black‑tailed Gnatcatcher, Peregrine Falcon, and Black-throated Sparrow. In Borrego Springs, we added Phainopepla, Verdin, Lark Sparrow, Say's Phoebe, and several warblers.

Traveling north toward Moreno Valley, stops yielded Northern Flicker, Violet-green Swallow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Ash-throated Flycatcher, White-throated Swift, and Western Meadowlark. At Idyllwild Nature Center, sheltered forest improved bird activity, producing montane species which included Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatches, Acorn Woodpecker, White‑headed Woodpecker, Townsend’s Solitaire, Cassin’s Finch, and Dark-eyed Junco, among others.

White-headed Woodpecker © Oscar Carmona

The day ended at San Jacinto Wildlife Area, where wetlands offered views of Wood Duck with chicks, Vaux’s Swift, American Avocet, Cassin’s Kingbird, Bullock’s Oriole, and Fulvous Whistling‑Ducks. Despite difficult conditions and lower overall activity, the group successfully added multiple new species across desert, montane, and wetland habitats. The day stood as a testament to strategic planning, habitat diversity, and the rewards of sticking with the effort—even when the weather refuses to cooperate.

Scott's Oriole © Oscar Carmona

LeConte's Thrasher by Oscar Carmona

Day 5 - Whitewater Preserve, Big Morongo Valley & Joshua Tree NP. Day 5 covered a range of habitats, beginning early at Whitewater Preserve with its cool, cottonwood-lined corridors and distant snow-capped peaks. Here the group spotted species such as California Quail, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rock Wren, Lazuli Bunting, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Bell’s Vireo. Next, at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, the bird diversity included Gambel’s Quail, Hooded Oriole, Bewick’s Wren, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Lucy’s Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and California Thrasher among others. At nearby Covington Park, highlights included memorable views of a Great Horned Owlet and an American Barn Owl.

The afternoon led north to Joshua Tree National Park’s Black Rock Campground, where high winds and dramatic scenery set the scene for sightings like Scott’s Oriole and Cactus Wren. Back in Borrego Springs by evening, owling produced Lesser Nighthawk, Common Poorwill, American Barn Owl, and the distant sound of howling coyotes. Day 5 showcased Southern California’s diverse landscapes and birdlife, emphasizing how quickly habitats and experiences can shift within one day.

Day 6 - Carrizo Creek, Kitchen Creek & Farewell. The final morning of the tour began early in the desert, with a couple of focused efforts before the return to San Diego for departures. Our first stop at Tamarisk Grove Campground immediately paid off, delivering another memorable sighting of the trip. Nestled within the quiet grove, a Long‑eared Owl family—an adult accompanied by two downy, wide‑eyed chicks—provided extended and intimate views. From Tamarisk Grove, the group traveled south to Carrizo Creek, where the focus shifted to open desert scrub and one of the region’s most characteristic species. The stop produced excellent looks at LeConte’s Thrasher, a true desert specialty and a fitting continuation of the trip’s emphasis on habitat‑specific birds.

As the morning progressed, the tour made its final stop at Kitchen Creek, returning to one of the most productive foothill locations of the trip before heading west. The area offered a familiar yet satisfying closing chapter, with Mountain Quail once again calling nearby and final good looks at Scott’s Oriole. With the final species added and goodbyes beginning to take shape, the group started the drive back toward San Diego, bringing the six‑day journey to a close.

Day 6 provided a fitting summary of the tour as a whole—balancing rare and secretive species with classic Southern California birds, and ending not with haste, but with reflection and appreciation. By trip’s end, participants departed with an exceptional species list, a collection of shared lifers, and a deeper understanding of how dramatically landscapes, climates, and bird communities can change across Southern California. From coastal wetlands to desert nights and mountain forests, the tour closed as it began—rich in diversity, thoughtfully paced, and filled with moments that will linger long after the journey ended.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to all the participants for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and good spirits throughout the week—qualities that truly shaped the success of this journey. Special appreciation goes to Oscar and Bruce, whose knowledge, adaptability, and dedication ensured each day unfolded smoothly, even in challenging conditions. Beyond the impressive species list and unforgettable sightings, the trip was defined by shared experiences, laughter in the field, and friendships formed along the way. We hope these memories continue to inspire future adventures, and we look forward to birding together again on upcoming tours, where new discoveries and lasting connections await.