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WINGS Birding Tours – Photo Gallery

Southern California in Winter

We’ll begin the tour on the coast with Pacific Ocean specialties like this one, its namesake Pacific Loon,… …and the rocky shoreline provides habitat for Black Oystercatchers. The endangered California Gnatcatcher is relatively easy to find in remaining patches of coastal sage scrub… …and reserves, many a stone’s throw from city streets and busy beaches, allow access to quiet coastal saltmarsh… …home to the distinctive Belding’s subspecies of Savannah Sparrow. Winter on freshwater offers a dazzling array of colorful waterbirds like Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, and Black-necked Stilts… …and throughout the tour Anna’s Hummingbird is as common as it is stunning. Wintering sparrows include the subtly beautiful Lincoln’s… …and the Pacific coast specialty, Golden-crowned. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are common in the oak woodlands of the coastal slope… …and wintering warbler flocks are often include the striking Townsend’s Warbler. Further east, the mountains meet the desert with an amazing inventory of birdlife… …amd the scenery isn’t too bad, either. The highest elevations are home to such species as the striking White-headed Woodpecker… …while Lawrence’s Goldfinches can be found on the desert slopes… …and the scarce and local Le Conte’s Thrasher makes its home in the parched flats. Beyond what feels like the edge of the world, the Salton Sea stretches out teeming with birds. .. …and we’ll spend a sunset watching thousands of waterbirds settle in to roost in the marshes along the sea shore. Nearby, Sandhill Cranes are a likely sight (and sound)… …Burrowing Owls are common and endearing residents… …and the rare and declining Mountain Plover has its winter stronghold here. We’ll have our last day in coastal San Diego looking for anything we may have missed or just enjoying old friends like this Snowy Plover.

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