San Diego Bird Finding: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Imperial Beach, California. February 7, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are rare residents in the San Diego area. Since 2012 there are 3 areas with multiple reports: San Diego River/Sea World, Tijuana River Valley, and Imperial Beach.

Currently, the only reliable place to find these birds in San Diego is at the Imperial Beach Sports Park, on Imperial Beach Blvd, right next to 4th Street.

Since January 2012 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have been regular at the Imperial Beach Sports Park. They roost during the day in the trees over the parking lot. One or two nests have been active in June and July since their discovery.

Black-crowned Night Herons are also regular here.

Birding Site Guide: Bayshore Bikeway, Imperial Beach

Bayshore Bikeway, 13th Street access heading northeast toward the Salt Works, Imperial Beach, California.

[2018 update here]

Imperial Beach is at the south end of the San Diego Bay. The town is literally squished between the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge on the north and the Tijuana Slough NWR a few blocks south and the ocean on the west. This site guide is to the 7th Street and 13th Street access points to the Bayshore Bikeway.

I must say that this is not a birding "destination." This is just a place to stop and see if any good birds are obvious on your way to the Tijuana Slough NWR or the mouth of the Tijuana River at the end of Seacoast Drive. This site guide is based on parking your car at these two points and walking about a half mile down the bike paths at each area. Thirty minutes at each location is probably sufficient; up to an hour if you walk farther or see good birds. Dodging bikes is one problem. Birding while walking and looking through the chain link fence on 13th Street is almost nausea-inducing (see photo above). However, there are several unique species here and nearby. Good birds are also reported here regularly, but I think many are reported by biologists surveying on private property of the Salt Works. If I find out differently, I'll update here.

One species found here (and pretty much only here) that I have yet to encounter is Reddish Egret. Other birds pretty much restricted to this area are Gull-billed Tern (summer) and Common Goldeneye (winter).

Getting there: I-5 south 15 miles from I-8, take the Palm Ave exit and head west 2 miles to 7th or 13th Streets. Follow these north to the edge of the bay. Parking: Free street parking at both locations. There is a dirt parking area at 13th Street. Hours: Daylight hours. Map navigation: 301 7th St., Imperial Beach, CA 91932 and 440 13th St., Imperial Beach, CA 91932.

Where to bird: At 7th Street (A on the map below) walk 1/8 mile west on the Bikepath. At 13th Street (B on map) there is a small little park area along the Otay River. Otherwise, one may walk the bike path NW 1/2 mile to C.

A scope will bring more of the distant birds into view.

Surf Scoter

Brant

Willet

Marbled Godwit

Eared Grebe. Imperial Beach, California. February 7, 2015.

San Diego Bird Finding: Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird (male). Highland Valley Road, Ramona, California. February 1, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Mountain Bluebirds are rather scarce and local in winter in San Diego County, even if they winter into central Mexico. However, they are regular in the Ramona Grasslands Preserve.

Here are some photos from a couple of weeks ago.

Female.

Fish Tacos and Fish 'n Chips Pubs/Markets

Marlene and I have had a bit of a hard time finding good fish 'n chips in the San Diego area. And Marlene wants dark beer on tap. We like the pub/fish market atmosphere of some such places, but we'd take a fancier restaurant, if we could find one.

But of course, it is hard to compete with the fresh fish tacos with fennel slaw and the grilled albacore tuna kabobs with rice noodles at Local Ocean, 213 SE Bay Blvd, Newport, Oregon. I can never decide which I like better, so I usually have both!

Also, if in Newport, Oregon and you want the traditional fried fish 'n chips, then order the halibut fish 'n chips at Lighthouse Deli/South Beach Fish Market, 3540 S Hwy 101, South Beach, Oregon.

But that was Oregon. This is now San Diego.

We tried Joe's Crab Shack in Oceanside, California but it was rather expensive and messy (crab legs) and nothing special for us.

We've found two local places that are good for seafood and other items...

The Harbor Town Pub, 1125 Rosecrans St., San Diego (Point Loma)
Seared Ahi or mahi mahi tacos. I think I had the Ahi Club once. They don't have fish 'n chips; Marlene had the Cobb salad.

Pacific Beach Fish Shop, 1775 Garnet Ave., San Diego (Pacific Beach)
I had the mahi mahi fish tacos with mango salsa, Marlene had the shrimp 'n chips--just what she was hungry for and it was on the menu!

Pacific Beach Fish Shop. Notice the TV news says "Millions in Cross-hairs of Winter Blast." February 15, 2015.

Fresh fish in market.

Sidewalk seating. A different meaning to "Winter Blast."

Hooded Merganser at Lake Hodges

Hooded Merganser. Lake Hodges, California. January 25, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Hooded Mergansers reach their southernmost wintering range in San Diego County and are noteworthy. However, I have found several this winter, starting in January (none earlier in fall).

Here are my encounters this winter:

2 birds at San Elijo Lagoon on January 11, 2015
7 birds at Lake Hodges on January 25, 2015
1 bird on Bayshore Bikeway, Imperial Beach on February 7, 2015