Facilities: There are restrooms on the east side of Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and at Cabrillo National Monument, and a porta potty at the Famosa Slough parking lot.
Directions: To start the route at Sunset Cliffs, take Interstate 8 west to its terminus and turn left at the light (stay in the right-most left turn lane). Follow the signs to Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, taking care not to wind up in the right-turn-only lane at West Point Loma Boulevard! Go through Ocean Beach, and when you come to the cliffs (obvious as it's the first open area past town) park in the first parking area you can.
I'm almost afraid to publish this particular page, because my own list for the area is embarrassingly inadequate to cover all that's shown up here! (It'll be obvious to the old-timers that I don't get out here much...) But even though they're not on my list, I'll mention some of the goodies that have shown up to whet your appetite!
Sunset Cliffs
+
(There's a couple of tiny little inclines) I generally start at Sunset
Cliffs, as logistically I feel it's easier first thing. Parking at the
first lot allows you to take an easy ten minute walk down to Ross Rock, which is
generally the easiest place in the county to find all three
cormorants (but at the same time, the rock could be empty). Walking also allows you
to check the rocky "tables" for the specialty "rockpipers" such as
Wandering
Tattler, Surfbird, and both
Ruddy and
Black Turnstones in
season. Other shorebirds to keep an eye out for include
Whimbrel,
Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Willet, and
Spotted and
Least Sandpipers.
Gulls hog the rocks as well, the most common being
Western and
Heermann's year-round, joined by
Ring-billed and
California in winter (although you may find an over-summering individual); look for the odd
Glaucous-winged or
"Olympic" hybrid as well.
Off-shore, Brown Pelicans
can sail by in large numbers, and
Royal
Terns
feed year-round, joined by
Elegant
and Least
in summer. You may
even spot a Parasitic Jaeger
harassing another larid! In winter
look for Brant, Surf Scoters,
loons, and large rafts of
Western
Grebes. Scanning out to sea may bag you a
Black-vented Shearwater.
Although more likely in "Residential Point Loma" (see below), both
Red-crowned Parrot and
Red-masked Parakeets are possible in the
neighborhood.
Sunset Cliffs
Flower display along the trail
Ross Rock on a good cormorant day (the pteranodon notwithstanding...)
It's a great place to watch for that "green flash"!
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
to
,
depending on how you decide to tackle it... From here I generally
continue on Sunset Cliffs, bear left at the fork, and turn left at the four-way
stop on Hill Street up to Catalina, where you make a right to continue on to the
Point. Apparently the trails at the end of Dupont (part of the Nazarene College) are no longer accessible, so it would
behoove you to continue straight to the cemetery (keep in mind that the military
installation you must pass through opens at 5:00 am during the week, but at 9:00
am on weekends). The property covers both sides of the peninsula, and in my younger years I used to
hike the whole thing (and honestly, people generally find the
rarities by checking every tree), but nowadays I can barely manage the
Bennington Monument area (which is flat)... This particular area is
located on the eastern side of Cabrillo and is just inside and north of the
entrance, marked by a huge obelisk. Look for warblers
and other
migrants in the trees; sometimes Golden-crowned Kinglets
can be found in the
pines in winter. Check the wires for kingbirds
(Cassin's is expected,
but Tropical shows up regularly).
Flycatchers
and thrushes
like to perch on the headstones, so driving through the
area slowly can bag you some birds that way; any number of empids show up here,
so it's a great opportunity to practice those skills! Birds normally
associated with pine and oak woodland, such as Chipping Sparrow, American Robin,
and Western Bluebird, occur here. Be sure to check the fencelines; this is usually where rarities like
White-throated and
Clay-colored Sparrows show up, but
White-crowned
and Golden-crowned are more expected, along with
Dark-eyed Juncos (check for non-"Oregons")
and California Towhees.
California Quail can sometimes be found just on the outside of the fence.
Another favorite spot to check is called "The Dip", which is on the west side of the cemetery: if you drive in the main entrance on the west side of Catalina and head south, the road "dips" down, and for some reason rarities seem to like this area. Besides the Little Bunting, other mega-rarities that have popped up include Bay-breasted, Red-faced, and Mourning Warblers, and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher; other goodies in recent years include Yellow-throated and Yellow-green Vireos, and Grace's and Prothonotary Warblers. Annual rarities to look for include Gray and Least Flycatchers; Black-and-white, Chestnut-sided, Palm, and Blackpoll Warblers; American Redstart; Varied Thrush; and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Birds that are more or less expected in other parts of the county (like Sage Thrasher, Band-tailed Pigeon, White-winged Dove, and Red-breasted Sapsucker) sometimes get lost and show up here! The use of this area by birders has been a source of controversy for many years, so please be respectful of mourners and the property in general so that birders can continue to enjoy this important area!
Fort Rosecrans
Bennington Monument
Looking over San Diego Bay
"The Dip"
Cabrillo National Monument Tidepool Area
to
Heading on down to Cabrillo National Monument (fee), I generally visit the Tidepool area first, visiting all three parking areas along the road. The
birds here are similar to what you'd find along Sunset Cliffs, but in my
experience rarities such as Black Oystercatcher
are more likely here (American
has also shown up, but that's
extremely rare). There's also
coastal scrub habitat where you might add various landbirds to your list, like
California Thrasher, both
towhees, and
sparrows in winter. (One summer a disbursing juvenile
Black-throated Sparrow showed up, and
Harris' also made an appearance once.) This is one
of the few places in the county you can find Song Sparrows
away from a
riparian area! From the
first parking lot you can walk a trail that goes to the tidepool area and beyond
(be sure to check the rocks below the bench first), up to the second parking
lot, but beyond the tidepools the trail gets very strenuous; another option
would be to take part of this trail from the second parking lot, which gives you
a good look at the rocks below without having to climb down the stairs. If
you missed the specialty cormorants
at Ross Rock, this latter trail is
another good spot for them. Scanning the ocean from this vantage point,
especially in fall, can be a good way to bag off-shore
Red-necked Phalaropes,
Black-vented Shearwaters, and
Parasitic Jaegers.
Road to the tidepools
Tidepools at low tide
High tide at the bottom
Part of the "Tidepool Trail"
View from the upper parking lot trail
The Upper Monument
if you make the circle, or
if you tackle that plus the Bayside Trail. Heading back up to the Monument, make a right on Catalina and
park in the Ocean View parking area. Unfortunately one of the most famous
and productive spots on the peninsula (the Myoporum Grove and "The Drip")
have been removed by the Park Service in the interests of water conservation and
the re-establishment of native plants. Only time will tell if the park
will continue to host past rarities such as "Red" Fox Sparrow, Prairie
and Hooded Warbler, and
Brown
Thrasher. More expected species that would frequent this area included
House Finches, Lesser Goldfinches,
Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped
(winter) Warblers, both
towhees, Song Sparrows, and
Mourning Doves. During migration
you may still see various warblers, and in winter
Hermit Thrushes and various
sparrows move in, including (potentially) several races of
Fox Sparrow.
A walk up around the old lighthouse and down to
the visitor's center might still be productive for local chaparral species such
as Bushtit, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wrentit, and
California Thrasher.
Be sure to check the huge antennas for Peregrine Falcons. For
the hardy, a walk down the Bayside Trail may get you away from the crowds and
cover more chaparral habitat.
The Myaporum Grove before its removal (since moving to Texas I have no current photos)
Path out to the very tip
View of NAS North Island and San Diego
Bayside Trail from on high
Residential Point Loma
to
I personally feel kinda funny birding in residential areas, but
my friends rave about the stretch along Silver Gate and the little alleys and
side streets therein; to bird this area you can hang a right at your first
opportunity once outside the military complex (and past the first light), and follow the road as it curves
around and eventually comes to Silver Gate. Turn left here and
start exploring. For another productive spot, continue on Silver Gate to Dupont, turn right, and then left on Albion to Dudley; this short cul-de-sac
(and the path down the hill beyond) can be quite birdy and has hosted rarities
such as Painted Redstart
and Tennessee Warbler. The feral
parrots can be found anywhere in here and are easily located by their racket!
Again, this area is most productive during spring and fall migration (which
starts in mid-summer where the hummers are concerned; the exotic flowers are a
big attraction to Rufous
and Allen's Hummingbirds
in particular!).
The lush exotic plantings of residential Point Loma
Famosa Slough
+
(depending on where you park, there's a little slope to get down to the main
trail, but if you access the trail from the end of the street it's relatively
flat the whole way) My last stop is Famosa Slough, a great place to pad the list and
perhaps find something juicy! Follow Catalina all the way to its
terminus; there's a parking area here with a very short loop that takes you
through the reeds and willows, but I prefer to
make a left here, go up the hill, and make a right at the four-way stop (Camulos).
Turn right at Mentone and park at the bottom of the hill; the trail takes off to
the west and provides many good views of the lagoon, with strategic benches
placed throughout. Look for herons (Little Blue
in particular), shorebirds, and
ducks in season (both
Blue-winged and
Cinnamon Teal can occur year-round). In migration you may find
Red-necked
Phalaropes, and on rare occasion a
White-tailed Kite may be hanging around
(Osprey is more expected).
Common Yellowthroats are in the reeds, and there's usually a
Yellow Warbler
that hangs around the brown house all year! In winter you might be
able to kick up a Lincoln's Sparrow
in with the Whiteys, and Belding's
Savannah Sparrow is possible. Rarities that have shown up
here include Swamp Sparrow, Stilt Sandpiper, Tricolored Heron, and
Eurasian Wigeon.
Summer is usually the dullest season, but you should at least be able to find
breeding Black-necked Stilt
and Forster's Tern (Least
is also possible).
Amongst the abundant Euro-trash, the Eurasian Collared Doves
have finally
arrived here as well...
Famosa Slough
Small willow "jungle" along the trail
One of the viewing spots along the trail
To get back to the freeway, return to Camulos, turn right, then left on West Point Loma Boulevard. Turn right on Nimitz, and that'll take you right to the freeway. Turning right on Point Loma Boulevard will take you to many restaurants and gas stations should you need them; eventually you intersect with Sports Arena Boulevard, where turning left will also take you to the freeway.
Personal Checklist ●=small numbers █ = large numbers (10+)
Please keep in mind that these lists are NOT comprehensive (especially this particular one), and that some months may have had poor overall coverage. Species in red are out-of-place, irruptive, or vagrant species and should not be expected.