Gone Birdin'

May 28, 2021

I feel a huge responsibility to do the Tijuana River Valley justice in this post. Located just north of the US-Mexico border, this corner of San Diego is a truly a birdwatcher’s delight.  

I’ve spent many afternoons meandering around the countless trails in the Tijuana River Valley, finding birds I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s made up of miles and miles of wetland habitat, dirt roads, walking trails, and horseback riding trails. Over the years I’ve developed a route around the area encompassing some of my favorite birdwatching spots; I’ll outline each of them below. First stop: the Tijuana River Valley Estuarine Research Reserve.  

Among many other bird species, the TRV Estuarine Research Reserve is a reliable location to see Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Black-crowned Night Herons, Savannah Sparrows, Northern Harriers, Ospreys, and a variety of shorebirds. The estuary also provides protected habitat for the endangered Ridgway’s Rail.  

A walking path is available from the estuary to trails abutting the Naval Helicopter Landing Field. On this particular day I drove to the intersection of Iris Avenue and Fifth Street, where the walking trails around the Landing Field can also be accessed.  

The first bird I saw upon arriving at the northwest corner of the Landing Field was a male Blue Grosbeak. His bright blue body against beautiful auburn flanks was striking. I like this part of the Tijuana River Valley because despite the helicopter activity, it feels pleasantly isolated. There are views of what look like endless grasslands combined with stretches of sand dunes and bodies of water here and there. 

A little further down the trail at the Oneonta Slough, I stopped to watch a crab scurry across the mud. I sat quietly for a couple of minutes before noticing movement in my peripheral vision. My eyes focused in on a Ridgway’s Rail, a vulnerable species found in patches throughout California, western Arizona, and coastal western Mexico. In that moment, my heart rate must have quadrupled. Ridgway’s Rails are generally recluse and I’ve only been able to see them from afar, so I was ecstatic about this close-up view.  

A quick pitstop I always make time for in the Tijuana River Valley is Hollister Street, which turns into Monument Road at its southernmost point. These roads have a certain charm to them that I’m hopelessly drawn to. It’s not unusual to see people trotting on horseback down the side of the road as tractors crawl by. I’ve had goats gallop up to greet me from behind their enclosures, one of which I call Princess. I’ve seen a tiny pig complete a mini obstacle course, jumping through hoops while its owner watched with admiration. I’ve stumbled upon an entire family of Black-throated Magpie Jays, magnificent blue birds endemic to mainland Mexico with foot-long tails. What’s more, these roads lead right to a top birding destination in San Diego, the Tijuana River Valley Bird and Butterfly Garden.

As its name suggests, the Bird and Butterfly Garden caters to a wide variety of birds and butterflies with its assortment of grandiose trees and flowers.

Northern Cardinals are popular cagebirds in Mexico but are not typical of California. Escapees such as the bird above have developed scattered breeding populations in the wild and are now uncommon residents of San Diego.  

A group of Mourning Doves were in their own world feeding at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, picking at seeds and insects. Unfazed by my presence, I was able to get fairly close in an attempt to capture their rainbow iridescence and baby blue eyerings. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying their call is equally as nostalgic as it is soothing (hoo-OOO-hoo-hoo-hoo). Hearing their gentle coo brings me back to my childhood backyard, where their call permeated the desert.

Several skittish Common Ground Doves were intermixed with the flock of feeding Mourning Doves. Unlike Mourning Doves who have a beefy build and are widespread across the country, Common Ground Doves are tiny, elusive doves residing along the southern edge of North America into Central and South America. After twenty minutes of tip-toeing around, I was finally able to snap a photograph of one exposing its bright red beak, scaly neck, and metallic copper spots.  

The Tijuana River Valley Community Garden is a worthwhile stop located right next to the Bird and Butterfly Garden. It’s divided into rows which can either be walked or driven down.  

My first impression of Guineafowls was that they look like imaginary creatures out of a fine art painting. There were a few standing outside of the Community Gardens whom I’m assuming someone owns as yard pets. They’re endemic to Africa and are apparently exceptional tick hunters.

The last stop of my journey through the Tijuana River Valley was the Dairy Mart Pond, just five minutes from the Community Garden.  

I’ve been greeted several times at the Dairy Mart Pond by the sound of melodious birdsong. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, but I can usually locate the culprit: a Yellow-breasted Chat. Their song is a complex collection of whistles, chirps, and gurgles, so it’s not surprising that they’re notorious for being heard before seen. Come winter, most leave the States to spend cooler months in the tropics. Not a bad gig…

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