San Diego and the Imperial Valley Informational Webinar (FREE)

Join trip leaders Brodie Cass Talbott & Kirk Hardie for a free informational webinar about our upcoming Domestic Ecotour: San Diego and the Imperial Valley. Brodie and Kirk will discuss trip highlights, the itinerary, target species, and so much more! Plus you’ll get to learn a little more about your guides and ask questions pertaining to the ecotour.

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Trip Details

The subtropical Mediterranean climate of Southern California matched with local specialties and diverse habitats make San Diego a must-visit winter birding destination. On this six-day trip we’ll visit a variety of locales, from the Pacific Ocean through the Laguna Mountains to the Colorado Desert, that make this region a favorite for birders. 

We’ll start in the city of San Diego, visiting the Tijuana River National Wildlife Refuge and nearby hotspots, searching for birds like Ridgway’s Rail, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, California Thrasher, and Lawrence’s Goldfinch. A trip to the coast north of San Diego will bring opportunities for California Gnatcatcher, Costa’s Hummingbird, and Nutall’s Woodpecker. 

We’ll also head over the mountains to the Imperial Valley in order to visit the Salton Sea, looking for Gambel’s Quail, Abert’s Towhee, Burrowing Owl and Mountain Plover, with a stunning backdrop of waterfowl and shorebirds. 

En route, we’ll visit Anza Borrego, where we’ll tour desert canyons and bajadas in search of LeConte’s and Crissal Thrashers, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, and Greater Roadrunner. Our timing should coincide with the wildflowers that this region is famous for, and will hope for a “super bloom” that transforms the desert into a landscape of pink, yellow, and blue.