Here is a list of my favorite places around the country that I've birded.
Rancho Simi Park, Simi Valley, CA-
This was where I first got into birding. This park is located in the heart of Simi Valley,CA, but draws a diverse range of species. The land features in the park include a small lake, two islands, open grassy areas, a wooded stream, and copses of trees scattered throughout. The park also borders a drainage canal which draws a multitude of waders, waterfowl and smaller birds. The park is small in size, but offers hours of birding fun.
Birds that I've seen here include Allen's Hummingbird, Townsend's Warbler, Snowy Egret, Red Shouldered Hawk, Hooded Merganser and many others.
Walden Ponds Wildlife Area, Boulder, CO-
This is my favorite place to bird in CO. The park is located just north of Valmont power plant and in the more rural area of Boulder. Land features include multiple lakes and ponds, open fields, a wooded river, marshland and lots of riparian habitat. Sawhill Ponds connects to the park as well, making for a great day of birding. This park has seen it's share of rarities come through, including Green Heron, Barrow's Goldeneye, rare warblers and others. Other birds of note seen here include Bank Swallow, Bald Eagle, Louisiana Waterthrush, Sora, American Bittern and Osprey.
Lily Lake, Estes Park, CO-
This is a beautiful area. Birding here is not going to be as fast and yield as many species as other places, but this place ranks high on my list of favorite haunts. The land features here mountains, a decent sized lake, pine forest and a small marsh area. Birds commonly seen here include Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, all three Colorado Nuthatches, Violet-green Swallow, Cordilleran Flycatcher, and many more mountain species. Other birds of note that have been seen here include American Three-toed Woodpecker, Golden Eagle and Sora.
Pt. Mugu, CA-
This is an excellent spot to see seabirds, waders and shorebirds. Located on a spot of land that sticks out into the ocean, it makes for a decent pelagic bird watching spot for those who do not wish to charter a boat to take them far out to sea. Land features here include a small rocky cliff, sandy beach, open ocean, scrub habitat and large marshland. From the point and beach, numerous gulls and turns can be seen floating over the ocean and scoters out riding the waves. Willet, sandpipers and plovers can be seen running back and forth along the beach. In the marshland, egrets, herons and multiple shorebirds hunt through the mud, water and weeds. The birds seen here vary throughout the season, so make sure to consult your maps in your birding books to make sure you know what to expect when you come out here.
This was where I first got into birding. This park is located in the heart of Simi Valley,CA, but draws a diverse range of species. The land features in the park include a small lake, two islands, open grassy areas, a wooded stream, and copses of trees scattered throughout. The park also borders a drainage canal which draws a multitude of waders, waterfowl and smaller birds. The park is small in size, but offers hours of birding fun.
Birds that I've seen here include Allen's Hummingbird, Townsend's Warbler, Snowy Egret, Red Shouldered Hawk, Hooded Merganser and many others.
Walden Ponds Wildlife Area, Boulder, CO-
This is my favorite place to bird in CO. The park is located just north of Valmont power plant and in the more rural area of Boulder. Land features include multiple lakes and ponds, open fields, a wooded river, marshland and lots of riparian habitat. Sawhill Ponds connects to the park as well, making for a great day of birding. This park has seen it's share of rarities come through, including Green Heron, Barrow's Goldeneye, rare warblers and others. Other birds of note seen here include Bank Swallow, Bald Eagle, Louisiana Waterthrush, Sora, American Bittern and Osprey.
Lily Lake, Estes Park, CO-
This is a beautiful area. Birding here is not going to be as fast and yield as many species as other places, but this place ranks high on my list of favorite haunts. The land features here mountains, a decent sized lake, pine forest and a small marsh area. Birds commonly seen here include Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, all three Colorado Nuthatches, Violet-green Swallow, Cordilleran Flycatcher, and many more mountain species. Other birds of note that have been seen here include American Three-toed Woodpecker, Golden Eagle and Sora.
Pt. Mugu, CA-
This is an excellent spot to see seabirds, waders and shorebirds. Located on a spot of land that sticks out into the ocean, it makes for a decent pelagic bird watching spot for those who do not wish to charter a boat to take them far out to sea. Land features here include a small rocky cliff, sandy beach, open ocean, scrub habitat and large marshland. From the point and beach, numerous gulls and turns can be seen floating over the ocean and scoters out riding the waves. Willet, sandpipers and plovers can be seen running back and forth along the beach. In the marshland, egrets, herons and multiple shorebirds hunt through the mud, water and weeds. The birds seen here vary throughout the season, so make sure to consult your maps in your birding books to make sure you know what to expect when you come out here.