Wildcat Canyon
Facilities: Potties are available at Stelzer Co. Park and Oak Oasis.
Directions: I've included two primary birding stops in this description: Louis Stelzer County Park and Oak Oasis Open Space Preserve. To get to Stelzer from San Diego, head east on I-8 into El Cajon and take Highway 67 north. The freeway ends at a stoplight on Mapleview in Lakeside; turn right, then make a left at Ashwood St., which turns into Wildcat Canyon. The entrance to the park is about a mile beyond the four-way stop, on your right. Note that the park opens at 9:30, and there is a nominal fee for day use.
Stelzer Ridge Trail (or Wooten Loop) 
Most of this park (as was the whole area)
was devastated by the 2003 Cedar Fire, but the picnic area and playground
miraculously survived. The feeders may have Dark-eyed Juncos
and White-crowned Sparrows
in winter and House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches year round; the
hummer feeders usually have Anna's there. Check the old oaks for
Cooper's and Red-shouldered Hawks, White-breasted Nuthatch, Phainopepla, Western Scrub Jay, Oak
Titmice, American Robins, Western Bluebirds, Acorn and Nuttall's Woodpeckers, Hutton's
Vireos, and in winter, the look-alike Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
During spring migration this area can be alive with migrants, so check
the trees carefully! Upon entering the park you'll see the Riparian Trail on your right, but I
usually take the Stelzer Ridge Trail, which connects with the Riparian Trail at
the bottom of the hill (and it's less strenuous this way). Veer right
through the playground and you'll see the trailhead past the amphitheater.
You shortly head up the ridge into recovering chaparral where you may pick up
Bushtit, Bewick's Wren, California and Spotted Towhees, Costa's and
Anna's Hummingbirds, possibly Rufous-crowned Sparrows, and from
the distant hillsides, Rock and Canyon Wrens year round. In
summer listen for Lazuli Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks as well. At the fork bear right,
and go down the hill to the overlook for a rest, watching for raptors (White-tailed
Kite is possible); in spring and summer you'll often have swallows
and White-throated Swifts at eye level! Continue down to the
riparian area, where you can pick up orioles, Black-chinned Hummingbirds,
Lawrence's Goldfinch, and Pacific-slope and Ash-throated
Flycatchers in summer; Yellow-rumped Warblers, Hermit Thrush, and
Fox and White-crowned Sparrows in winter; and House Wrens,
Orange-crowned Warblers, Black Phoebes, and Song Sparrows year round.
Even though the fire swept through this area as well, it is recovering quickly
and a well marked series of interpretive signs educates the visitors on the
native plant life and their uses.
Feeders at the entrance to Stelzer County Park
View from the amphitheater
Stelzer Ridge Trailhead (and special-event Cub Scout group...)
Recovering chaparral
Connecting with the Riparian Trail
Recovering woodland
Oak Oasis 
(Most of the trail is reasonable, but there are a couple of hills that are
puffers...) Continuing north on Wildcat Canyon, after about two miles look
for the entrance to Oak Oasis Open Space Preserve on your left. The
ambitious hiker can tackle El Captian, the trailhead for which is
directly across from Oak Oasis, on the right. Personally, I've never gone
past the exotic plantings of the home there (where you can pick up orioles
in summer and Cassin's Kingbirds year round), as this trail is toted
as being the most strenuous in San Diego County, but I hear the view is
incredible!
Trail to El Capitan (across the main road) taken from Oak Oasis
You have a couple of choices at Oak Oasis: the less strenuous option is to take the main road into the group camp area. Even though the habitat is still in recovery stage, chaparral specialties such as Wrentit and California Thrasher are still possible here, as are Rock and Canyon Wrens. California Quail might be in the campground; in summer look for Black-chinned Sparrow and Lazuli Bunting, and in winter this can be a good area for Fox Sparrow. There's also a short loop through the chaparral that starts at the kiosk along the north side of the parking area and loops around to the main road. The really ambitious hiker can take the big loop (there's a map at the kiosk), which--if memory serves me--is at least three to four miles total.
Oak Oasis entrance road
Flowers sprouting from the devastation in the campground
Nature Trail (short loop)
Although I don't bird it regularly, mention should be made of San Diego Audubon's Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, which is just up the road from Oak Oasis, and unfortunately not well-marked (it's just past Old Barona Road, on the right). The preserve is only open on Sundays, and even then by appointment only; see the above link for more information. Many of the same birds found at Stelzer and Oak Oasis can be found here.
Personal Checklist ●=small numbers █ = large numbers (10+)
Please keep in mind that these lists are NOT comprehensive, and that some months may have had poor overall coverage.