Later in August (yes, I know it will be extremely hot unfortunately) I was planning on going to Anza Borrego for some birding. Seeing how I have only driven through the area occasionally with no stops, I was hoping my fellow birders and nature lovers could give me some recommendations as to where the best birding areas or just iNatting places are. I also wouldn’t mind some good areas for Bighorn sightings either. :)
Thanks,
Jonny
I would recommend Borrego Palms Canyon for overall nature.
https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/borrego-palms-canyon-trail-anza-borrego-desert/
This webpage has a list of interesting hiking trails in the Anza Borrego Desert:
https://www.hikespeak.com/ca-desert/anza-borrego-desert-state-park/
Save some time to visit the Galleta Meadows statues. Many of them depict some of the amazing animals that lived in Anza Borrego area during prehistoric times, as well as some fantastical creatures.
Hi Jonny.
There are lots of good birding places in Anza Borrego – it’s a big place. You should plan to do most of your birding very early in the morning when the birds are most active; as the day heats up it gets harder to find birds. Exact locations to bird really depend on your target species, but one of the most popular sites would be the settling ponds at the Water Treatment Plant on Borrego Springs Road. The ponds are sometimes dry and then the bird life drops significantly.
We’ve had good luck seeing Bighorn Sheep at the water source right by the parking lot for the Anza Borrego State Park campground (there is a fee to enter–if it is even open now). White-tailed Antelope Squirrels are also at that location in large numbers. Plants are going to be hard in late August because most will not have reproductive parts to help with ID.
Due to the pandemic, San Diego Audubon Society’s field trips are all suspended, but when they resume, coming along on those field trips, which are free, will introduce you to good places to go birding. There are a handful of sites in the Borrego Springs area typically visited on the field trips. There are also places like Agua Caliente County Park, Scissor’s Crossing, and others that are good for birding. You can look at the eBird hotspots map to see where they are.
Millie
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!
This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
