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| Male Western Bluebird at Huntington Central Park |
There a many places in Orange County that offer hikes, nature tours, bird walks, etc. Orange County is a wonderful place to bird watch. There are so many different types of habitat and places to go birding. Lots of community parks, regional parks, wilderness areas, wetlands, and so much more. Check out these great places to bird watch in Orange County, California. These walks and programs can help you get more out of Orange County birding.
Audubon Society
The Audubon Society has may field trips every month. Here are the links for the two Audubon Societies in Orange County, CA.
Sea and Sage Audubon Society--Irvine
Sea and Sage Field Trip Schedule
Sea and Sage Audubon has field trips most of the year. Most free, some require reservations, and some cost money. They host bird walks and birding field trips in Orange County and beyond at many terrific birding hotspots. They have many monthly and bi-monthly bird walks. Great organization. A very active chapter. Also has classes in birding. You don't have to belong to go on a bird walk, but consider joining up if you like Orange County birding.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society--Laguna Woods
Laguna Hills Audubon Web Site
Laguna Hills Audubon has field trips most of the year. Most free, but some cost money for entry fees to parks and beaches or other costs associated with the trip like gasoline. Some field trips meet in the retirement community of Laguna Woods to car pool. The field trip areas overlap somewhat with Sea and Sage, but they do have more south-county trips such as trips to some of the more south-county regional parks. They do not seem to have monthly or bi-monthly bird walks, but they do have a variety of sites. You don't have to belong to go on a bird walk, but consider joining up if you like Orange County birding. Their meetings are held in the retirement community of Laguna Woods.
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
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| Great Egret at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve |
Large wetlands bordered by Pacific Coast Highway, Seapoint and Warner Ave. There is a large oil field at the east end of Bolsa Chica. After the lease runs out, it will become additional wetlands. Many species of shore birds and water birds winter there and many live there year round. Spring is alive with terns, egrets, and herons as well as other nesting birds. Osprey, Northern Harriers, White-tailed Kites, American Kestrels, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, and Turkey Vultures are often seen there as well. Pets are not allowed--even on a leash. No bicycles are allowed in the reserve.
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| Feeding Frenzy at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve |
Monthly tours of Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Bolsa Chica. Please check their website for details.
Sea and Sage Field Trip Schedule
Sea and Sage Audubon has bi-monthly bird walks at Bolsa Chica on Thursday mornings. Please check their website for details.
Bommer Canyon--Irvine
Bommer Canyon
Lists hikes and other activities including bird of prey releases.
Buck Gully--Newport Beach
Buck Gully
Buck Gully is "a natural, coastal canyon in the City of Newport Beach." About 1,200 acres.
Carbon Canyon Regional Park--Brea
Sea and Sage leads a bird walk at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. Although walks at Carbon Canyon than it used to be--their walks include lots of other locations, they do have walks every other month at a Regional Park. Check their field trip schedule to see which days a bird walk is scheduled.
Central Park--Huntington Beach
Shipley Nature Center Monthly Bird Count
Birders get together and count the birds they see in Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Central Park every month. See my article on Shipley Nature Center for more information about the Center. They also have many programs and walks.
Sea and Sage Audubon Society
Sea and Sage occasionally has bird walks in Central Park--check their field trip schedule.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Huntington Central Park. Check their website for details.
Crystal Cove--Newport Beach
Crystal Cove: Docent Tours
Nature tours with various emphases.
OC Parks: Events
Lists details of all events at all parks and wilderness areas managed by the County of Orange.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has bird walks at Crystal Cove. Check their website for details.
Ronald W Caspers Wilderness Park--San Juan Capistrano
Caspers Wilderness Park: Ranger-led Walks
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Casper's Wilderness Park. Check their website for details.
Approximately every other month, Sea and Sage leads a walk on Wednesday mornings at Casper Regional Park. Check their field trip schedule for details.
Doheny State Beach--Dana Point
Doheny State Beach: Interpretive Program Information
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Dana Point Headlands and Dana Point Harbor. Check their website for details.
Approximately every other month, Sea and Sage leads a walk on Thursday mornings at Dana Point Headlands and Dana Point Harbor. Check their website for details.
Environmental Nature Center--Newport Beach
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Environmental Nature Center: Nature Programs
Newport Beach area. During Spring and Summer has a great butterfly house. Other nature programs. Check out website or contact the Environmental Nature Center . Lots of activities for children. For my article see Environmental Nature Center .
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| Monarch Butterfly at the Environmental Nature Center |
Fullerton Arboretum--Fullerton
Fullerton Arboretum: Nature Tours
Upon request.
Gum Grove Park--Seal Beach
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| Gum Grove Park |
El Dorado Audubon has bird walks at Gum Grove Park adjacent to Los Cerritos Wetlands every third Saturday at 8:00AM. Meet at the Avalon Parking lot near Catalina. You will be turning in at the Gum Grove sign and will park on the right. Easy paced walk. This is an Audubon important bird area. Check with El Dorado Audubon to make sure the walk is still on. You can also check out Los Cerritos
Wetlands Authority under Public Events for more details.
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Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks--Orange County, CA
Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks--Let's Go Outside Activities and Programs Calendar
Hikes, nature walks, outdoor exercise and more.
Irvine Regional Park
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| Female and male Wood Duck in the background and female Mallard in the front--Irvine Regional Park. |
Irvine Regional Park
Some Interpretive Programs. Contact the park. This is a great park with lots of activities like a train-tram, pony and horse back riding, a zoo with animals of the area, and great places for Orange County birding. This park is in the City of Orange, not Irvine. It is named after James Irvine. It also has a nice interpretive center. One of the few parks in Orange County where it is pretty much guaranteed that you will see Ring-necked Ducks in the fall and winter months and Wood Ducks all year round.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional walks at Irvine Regional Park. Please check their website for details.
Sea and Sage has occasional walks at Irvine Regional Park and the adjoining Villa Park Flood Basin. Check their website for details.
Los Cerritos Wetlands in Seal Beach/Long Beach
El Dorado Audubon leads walks at Los Cerritos Wetlands which is in both Orange County and Los Angeles County. The walks are held on the second Saturday of each month. You can also check out Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for upcoming events. Meet at 8:00AM, and park near Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street in Seal Beach, CA. If you go to Google Maps and zoom in using the satellite view, you will actually see cars in the little parking lot a bit past the intersection. The parking lot is on Pacific Coast Highway.
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Mason Regional Park--Irvine
Nuttall's Woodpecker in Mason Regional Park .Mason Regional Park in Irvine has a large lake and blue bird nesting boxes. It is near several wildness areas such as San Joaquin Marsh, Upper Newport Bay, and San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and so draws in a lot of migrants and rate birds. There are lots of ducks, geese, grebes, woodpeckers, and Western Bluebirds in season. Check the events calendar for walks.
Mile Square Regional Park
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| American Wigeon at Mile Square Park |
Mile Square Park
Mile Square Park was a military base and is on lease to the County of Orange. It has several lakes, several sports fields, lots of grass and trees, and a nature center with a small pond and lots of native plants and a cactus garden that is open 9AM-3PM Monday through Friday including the day after Thanksgiving. There are walks led by a park ranger on Saturdays about once a month. Otherwise, the nature center is closed on weekends. Check with the park for details. In addition, the park also has a golf course attached, the Boys and Girls Club, and several sports areas outside the park proper. There are also several playgrounds and lots of picnic tables and shelters for picnicking and parties.
O'Neill Regional Park
The Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy (TDOLC): Nature Programs
Has some Nature Programs.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional walks at ONeill Park. Please check their website for details.
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary--Irvine
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American Avocet in breeding plumage in the duck ponds at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
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Sea and Sage Monthly Tour of San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
Second Sunday of the month, Sea and Sage hosts a tour of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (SJWS). It starts at the Audubon House at the SJWS.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional walks at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (SJWS). Please check their website for details.
Nix Nature Center/Laguna Coast Wilderness Area
Nix Nature Center: Interpretive Activities
Nature walks are held periodically. Please check with the nature center.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Laguna Coast Wilderness Area, Barbara Lake, and Nix Nature Center. Please check their website for details.
Oak Canyon Nature Center--Anaheim
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Shadowed oak woodlands at Oak Canyon Nature Center. |
Oak Canyon Nature Center: Saturday Walk
Bird and Nature Hikes. Depends on the leader which it is and on who is in the group. They will go even with a few people. Information on the area, the mammals, insects, reptiles, birds, plants, and lots more are included in the hike given by docents. This is a cool nature center and the tour is tailored to meet the interests and needs of those on the tour. It has been different every time I go.
Mason Regional Park--Irvine
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| Nuttall's Woodpecker in Mason Regional Park . |
Mason Regional Park in Irvine has a large lake and blue bird nesting boxes. It is near several wildness areas such as San Joaquin Marsh, Upper Newport Bay, and San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and so draws in a lot of migrants and rate birds. There are lots of ducks, geese, grebes, woodpeckers, and Western Bluebirds in season. Check the events calendar for walks.
Newport Back Bay--Newport Beach
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| Looking out over the wetlands at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport BackBay. |
This is a very good nature area and provides lots of habitat for resident and migrating birds and animals. However, it is very populated by people biking, walking, skating, driving, etc. The back area by the Muth Interpretive Center is a bit less lively.
Upper Newport Bay Walking Tours
Tours at Upper Newport Bay led by several organizations. For OC Birder Girl article see Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve aka Newport Back Bay.
Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends: Programs and Events
Walking and water tours and more.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Upper Newport Bay. Please check their website for details.
Sea and Sage Audubon Society
Has two monthly birding field trips at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. One is a walking field trip, and one is a birding trip via pontoon boat in the bay. The pontoon trip costs about $10 and does require reservations. It fills up fast. Check their website for details.
Orchard Hills--Irvine
Orchard Hills
Lists events at Orchard Hills which is a three-mile trail the meanders by an avocado orchard, and up onto some very high ridges. You can see the ocean, Irvine, and the website says even the Hollywood sign.
Peter's Canyon Regional Park--City of Orange
Peter's Canyon Regional Park
Very occasionally there are walks and activities at Peter's Canyon Regional Park.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Peter's Canyon Regional Park. Please check their website for details.
San Clemente State Beach--San Clemente
San Clemente State Beach
Some interpretive programs.
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary--Irvine
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American Avocet in breeding plumage in the duck ponds at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
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Sea and Sage Monthly Tour of San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
Second Sunday of the month, Sea and Sage hosts a tour of the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (SJWS). It starts at the Audubon House at the SJWS.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional walks at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (SJWS). Please check their website for details.
Santiago Oaks Regional Park--City of Orange
Sea and Sage Monthly Santiago Oaks Walk
Has occasional walks at Santiago Oaks Regional Park. Please check their website for details.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional walks at Santiago Oaks Regional Park. Please check their website for details.
Starr Ranch Bird Observatory(SRBO)
Starr Ranch Sanctuary "4,000 acre preserve owned and operated by the National Audubon Society." They have monthly bird walks, Ecology Programs, Banding Workshops and Camps, Adult Bird Research Camps. There is a charge for the bird walks and other programs to support the Sanctuary. Located in the Santa Ana MountainsTurtle Rock Nature Center
Turtle Rock Nature Center
Group tours with reservation. For the OC Birder Girl article see Irvine Open Space Preserve Nature Center . The same center. It has two names--Turtle Rock Nature Center and Irvine Open Space Preserve.
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary--Silverado
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Has lots of events for children. They also have other events on occasion. Please check their events schedule for details.
Laguna Hills Audubon Society
Laguna Hills Audubon Society has occasional bird walks at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary. Please check their website for details.
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Wetlands Walks near and in Orange County
Los Angeles County
Friends of Ballona Wetlands: Calendar
Walks are led regularly on designated weekends each month.
Friends of the Colorado Lagoon: Estuary Exploration
Monthly walks at this Long Beach estuary.
El Dorado Audubon leads walks at Los Cerritos Wetlands which is in both Orange County and Los Angeles County. The walks are held on the second Saturday of each month. You can also check out Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for upcoming events. Meet at 8:00AM, and park near Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street in Seal Beach, CA. If you go to Google Maps and zoom in using the satellite view, you will actually see cars in the little parking lot a bit past the intersection. The parking lot is on Pacific Coast Highway.
San Diego Wetlands and Lagoons
Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation: Walk Schedule
Regular monthly walks.
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve Guided Nature Walks
Various monthly walks.
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center Calendar of Events
Monthly bird walks and nature walks.
Friends of the Santa Margarita River: Activities
Periodic bird walks and wildflower walks and other nature activities.
Audubon Field Trips in Nearby Chapters
(Sometimes they come into our neighborhood.)
El Dorado Audubon
One of our closest Audubon Chapters. It is located in Long Beach and has field trips over the County line. Check out their listing of events listed on the first page.
Los Angeles County-Audubon Center at Debs Park
Large Audubon Center at Debs Park has field trips at that park.
Los Angeles Audubon: Field Trips and Bird Walks
Another LA Audubon chapter has field trips in LA County and other surrounding counties including Orange County.
Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Events and Field Trips
The great thing in this chapter is their twice monthly walk at South Coast Botanic Garden on the First Sunday and Third Wednesday of every month. They have two other monthly bird walks.
San Fernando Valley Audubon: Bird Walks and Field Trips
From Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, this is a large, very active Chapter. Lots of trips and projects. They cover LA and go pretty far afield.
Pasadena Audubon Bird Walks and Field Trips
Lots of field trips and birds walks. Active chapter finds its way down our way every once in a while.
Pomona Valley Audubon Bird Walks and Field Trips
Lots of places to go and birds to see. They also come down here for field trips.
Santa Monica Bay Audubon
Another active LA chapter.
Whittier Audubon Field Trips
Another active Audubon chapter. Close to us and they head into Orange and San Diego Counties for field trips at times.
San Bernardino Audubon Society: Field Trips, Bird Walks, and Meetings
Lots to do here. Covers San Bernardino and Riverside. They come down to Orange County on occasion.
Buena Vista Audubon Society: Field Trips
Lots of great San Diego County birding. They own and manage a nature center adjacent to the Buena Vista Lagoon.
Palomar Audubon Society: Field Trips
Northern San Diego Chapter with some great field trips.
San Diego Audubon: Field Trips
City of San Diego Audubon. Great San Diego Field Trips.
Santa Barbara Audubon: Bird Walks and Field Trips
Great Santa Barbara field trips. A little north of us, but if you chat a bit in the car, you'll be there in no time at all.
La Purisima Audubon Society
Another Santa Barbara Audubon Chapter. Looks like their website is in development, but you can see some future field trips and their past field trips.
Conejo Valley Audubon: Scheduled Events
This is a Southern Ventura Chapter very close to LA County. For those who do not know Conejo is rabbit in Spanish.
Ventura Audubon Society
Their field trips are listed in their newsletter, so you have to click the Condor and then the Newsletter link. This is the more Northern Ventura Chapter.
General Hikes, Educational Programs and Nature Events
Back to Natives
Back to Natives, walks, workshops, events. Focus on native plants. Wildflower walks, Butterfly workshop, volunteer opportunities. Birds and gardens.
OC Parks: Events
Lists details of all events at all parks and wilderness areas managed by the County of Orange.
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Ask the OC Birder Girl
I just stumbled on this website and I can't believe how helpful it is. I was looking for local nature walks and you are giving me, what appears to be, a complete list. I can't wait to explore the rest of your website. Thanks for putting so much time into it!
ReplyDeleteRari, thanks for stopping by. I try to keep this page updated, but things change so rapidly. I am not sure it is complete, but I try to check as much as I can to ferret out any current walks. Hope you find some a good one. :)
ReplyDelete