Santa Barbara
County Sites
Santa Maria Valley
Area
1. Rancho Guadalupe
Dunes County Park
[Day use only. Parking, handicapped
access, restrooms.] Beach and ocean, estuary and brackish fresh
water marsh with "lake" or muddy flat, depending on whether river
mouth close; weedy fields, willow woods along road to dunes; 1 of 4
large saltmarshes in Santa Barbara County.
Location: take Hwy 166 exit west from US 101, 14.0
miles to park at Santa Maria River mouth.
Best Season: All Year: phalaropes, gulls, water
birds, Peregrine Falcon, sparrows, Greater Roadrunner, Turkey
Vulture. Spring to Fall: Least Tern, Snowy Plover,
Belding's Savannah Sparrow, Marsh Wren, and Brown Pelican,
shearwaters, scoters and loons offshore.
2. Grassy Fields and
Wastewater Treatment Plant
[Parking] Roadside, fence line, stubble grass, weed and
dirt fields, settling ponds. Birdwatch from road; plant access by
permission only.
Location: take Betteravia Road exit west from US 101,
3.1 miles. Best birding west of intersection, both sides. View
adjacent pastures and fields at junction of Black and Betteravia
Roads. Go 1.0 miles south on Black Road to view settling ponds and
fields.
Best Season:
Fall & Winter:
Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, Western
Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, blackbirds, gulls,
shorebirds, waterfowl.. Call 1-805-964-8240 for rare bird
update.
3. Waller County Park
[Parking, handicapped access, restrooms,
phone. Food, lodging and hospital nearby.] Suburban park, grass, shrubs, trees. Picnic
while watching tame western birds.
Location: take Santa Maria Way exit from US 101, then
Lakeview 1.0 miles west to Hwy 135, turn right. Park is on left
(west) side of Orcutt Expressway.
Best Season: All Year: Hutton's Vireo, Bushtit,
sparrows, Brown Creeper, Western Bluebird, Acorn Woodpecker,
Black-crowned Night Heron, Tree Swallow . Spring & Fall:
common and rare warblers, tanagers, orioles, other migrants and
residents. Winter: Chipping Sparrow, Red-breasted
Nuthatch
Lompoc Valley Area
4. Ocean Beach County
Park
[Parking, restrooms, phone. Food, lodging and hospital
nearby.] Ocean, dune,
Salicornia marsh, and shore habitats in park; fields and
willow-lined channels en route to Santa Ynez river
mouth.
Location:
from north on Hwy 1 or
from north or south-bound US 101, take Hwy 246 west from Buellton,
25 miles to the park. Taking Ocean Ave. (Hwy 246) 8 miles west of
Lompoc, turn right 1.8 miles beyond traffic light, but before road
goes up hill, cross tracks. Briefly stop for birds at willow thicket
and swampy area, then drive to Park.
Best Season: All Year: Savannah and White-crowned Sparrow,
Northern Harrier, ducks, pelicans, cormorants, blackbirds. Spring
& Fall: Willow Flycatcher, Gadwall, American Avocet breed on
river; Snowy Plover, Least Tern, gulls at beach.
5. Waterfowl
Natural Resource Area
[Parking. Food, lodging and hospital nearby. On
Vandenberg Air Force Base -- Advance Permission is required. Man-made ponds, cat-tails; canopied willow
forest, scrub; trails to overlook of Santa Ynez
River.
Location:
from north on Hwy 1,
take Ocean Ave. (Hwy 246) to Solvang Gate, 5 miles west of Lompoc,
turning right at traffic light.
Best Season: All year: Marsh Wren, Sora, American Bittern,
water birds. Summer: Nuttall's and other woodpeckers,
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Bullock's
Oriole, Warbling and Hutton's Vireos, Yellow and Wilson's Warblers,
owls, hawks, Greater Roadrunner.
6. Barka
Slough
[Parking; birdwatch from
road.] Riparian woodland, former wet meadow becoming
choked with nettles; largest freshwater marsh in county; county side
of road, grassy chaparral scrub hillsides.
Location: take Clark Ave. exit west from US 101 to
Orcutt, then Hwy 1 south 7 miles, then left (east) on to San Antonio
Road. Barka Slough is on the left for the next two
miles.
Best Season:
Spring to Fall: Wilson's and Yellow Warblers, Yellow-breasted
Chat, Swainson's Thrush, Western Scrub-jay, Lazuli Bunting,
woodpeckers; Grasshopper Sparrow, quail, Greater Roadrunner on
hillsides.
7. La
Purisima Mission State Historic Park
[Entrance
fee. Parking, handicapped access, restrooms, phone. Food, lodging
and hospital nearby.] Unique
Burton Mesa chaparral and other native plant collection in park;
preserved historic mission.
Location:
take Hwy 246 from north or
south US 101 at Buellton, go west 15 miles to sharp right onto
Purisima Road, 0.8 miles to mission entrance on right.
Best Season:
All year: goldfinches and Purple Finch, Hutton's Vireo,
Wrentit, California Thrasher, Oak Titmouse, woodpeckers, Sage,
White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows. Spring to Fall: hawks,
Swainson's Thrush, hummingbirds, warblers, orioles.
8. Miguelito Canyon and County Park
[Parking, handicapped access, restrooms.]
Live oak and chaparral
woodlands, excellent spring wildflowers; steep canyon, unique
geology; nearby, world's largest diatomaceous earth mine visible
from road.
Location:
take Hwy 246
from north or south-bound US 101 at Buellton. Go west 25 miles to
Lompoc. In Lompoc, take Miguelito Road south (left) 0.25 miles west
of Hwy 246 and Hwy 1 intersection.
Best Season: Spring to Fall: woodpeckers, Western Scrub-jay,
Bushtit, Wrentit, Hutton's, Cassin's and Warbling Vireos, Yellow and
Orange-crowned Warblers, nuthatches. Grasshopper and Rufous-crowned
Sparrows; Band-tailed Pigeon.
9. River Park
[Parking,
handicapped access, restrooms, phone. Food, lodging and hospital
nearby. Camping ($); for information call
1-805-875-8100] Tame birding in grassy tree-covered picnic/camping park with
pines, willow, shrub habitats.
Location:
take Hwy 246 from north
or south-bound US 101 at Buellton. Go west 24 miles almost to
Lompoc. Turn right into park before (east of) Santa Ynez River
bridge.
Best Season: All year:
Black Phoebe, Western
Scrub-jay, California Thrasher, Oak Titmouse, Greater Roadrunner,
warblers, woodpeckers, finches, towhees, owls. Spring to Fall:
migrant and breeding warblers, sparrows, flycatchers.
10. Sweeney Road
[Birdwatch
from road. Parking.] Chaparral covered hills, wildflowers; spectacular view of
Santa Ynez River woods from above.
Location:
1.5 miles east of
Lompoc take Hwy 246 from north or south-bound US 101 at Buellton. Go
west 24 miles almost to Lompoc. Turn left opposite River Park just
east of Santa Ynez River bridge; narrow dead-end road next 5.8
miles.
Best Season: Spring to Fall:
vireos, Western Scrub-jay,
Bullock's Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Yellow and Wilson's
Warblers, Western Wood-pewee, Pacific Slope and Ash-throated
Flycatchers, Spotted and California Towhees. White-throated Swift,
Rufous-crowned and Grasshopper Sparrows.
Santa Ynez Valley Area
11. Nojoqui (NAH-hu-way)
Falls County Park
[Parking, handicapped access, restrooms,
phone.] Picnic in park at
base of north-facing chaparral and oak mountains; large sycamores
and California bay trees along Alisal Road and creeks.
Location: from US 101, 4.0 miles south of Buellton,
take Old Coast Road exit. Go east 1.0 miles. From Hwy 246 at Solvang
(east of Buellton) go 6.0 miles south on Alisal Road.
Best Season: All year: Yellow-billed Magpie,
Acorn Woodpecker, owls. Summer: nesting Purple Martin,
Black Phoebe, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, vireos, towhees,
orioles.
12. Happy Canyon Road
[Birdwatch from road. Parking.] Roadsides in pastures, hills, spring
wildflowers; ends in pine and oak woods of Los Padres National
Forest (call for road conditions 1-805-967-3481 M-F 7am -
4pm).
Location:
take Hwy 154 from
southbound US 101 (north of Buellton). Go east 8 miles to Hwy 246.
Turn left. Go 1.6 miles, then left again 1.1 miles north, then right
onto Happy Canyon Road.
Best
Season: Fall to Spring: Western and Mountain bluebirds, Acorn and
Lewis' woodpeckers, Turkey Vulture, White-tailed Kite, Ferruginous
Hawk, Lark and Savannah sparrows, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-billed
Magpie.
13. Cachuma Creek
Campground
[Parking, restrooms. Camping ($); for information call
1-805-967-3481 M-F 7am -
4pm.] Los Padres
National Forest - pines and oaks, vistas; call for road conditions
(see above).
Best Season:
All year: Poorwill (at dusk), Band-tailed Pigeon,
Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-jay, Oak Titmouse, nuthatches, vireos,
warblers, finches, towhees, woodpeckers, hawks, owls.
14. Figueroa Mountain
- See Photo Album
[Parking, restrooms. Camping ($); for information call
1-805-967-3481 M-F 7am -
4pm.] Los Padres
National Forest - various pines; call for road conditions
(above).
Location:
take Hwy 154 east, 6
miles north of Buellton, then Figueroa Mountain Road 3 miles east at
Los Olivos. Go north for 12 miles to Figueroa Station.
Best Season: Spring to Fall:
Olive-sided Flycatcher,
Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain
Chickadee, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Steller's Jay, Common Raven,
Golden Eagle, owls and hawks. California Condor possible.
15. Lake Cachuma
County Park - See Photo Album
[Entrance
fee. Parking, handicapped access, restrooms, phone, food. Camping
($).] Large lake on Santa
Ynez River; mountainous oak, sycamore and chaparral woodlands,
grasslands. Guided
lake tours with park naturalist: Eagle Cruises--Wednesday thru
Sunday between November & February& Wildlife Cruises--
[Friday thru Sunday between March & October). Reservations
1-805-686-5050 for nature tours, boat rental; private boating and
fishing.
Location:
from south, take Hwy
154 exit from US 101 in Santa Barbara. Go north 16 miles. Turn right
into park. From north, take either Hwy 154 or Hwy 246 exit from US
101. Go east 14 miles. Turn left into park.
Best Season: All year:
breeding Bald Eagle,
Western Grebe; White Pelican, Wrentit, Black Phoebe, Bushtit,
Western Scrub-jay, California Thrasher, Osprey, Poorwill, Common
Raven, water birds, vireos, warblers, sparrows, hawks,
owls.
16. Lake Cachuma Dam
Vista Point
[Parking,
handicapped access, restrooms.] Chaparral and oak scrub, gorgeous mountain
and lake vistas.
Location: see #15 for directions from US 101. From west
(north) turn left off Hwy 154, or from east (south) turn right, both
1.1 miles west of Cachuma County Park.
Best season: All year:
Same birds as #15. Spotting
scope needed for water birds; songbirds common around parking
area.
17. Refugio Road
[Birdwatch from
road. Parking.] Roadside
birding near ranches and pasture scrub from sycamore-lined creek to
dense north-facing live oak wooded mountain; ocean view from 3,000
feet.
Location:
from north, on Hwy 246
east of US 101 at Santa Ynez, take Refugio Road south up Quiota
Canyon 7.6 miles through hilly farmland into Los Padres National
Forest to West Camino Cielo; go 7 miles south to US 101 (see
#18).
Best season:
Spring to Fall: Yellow-billed Magpie, Phainopepla, Hermit
Thrush, Black Phoebe, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Poorwill,
Band-tailed Pigeon, and Lark, Sage, Black-chinned, Rufous-crowned
and Chipping sparrows, Lazuli Bunting, woodpeckers, vireos,
warblers, towhees, orioles.
Goleta, Santa Barbara and South
County Beach Areas
18. El Capitan
(a), Refugio (b) and Gaviota (c) State Beach
Parks
[Parking, handicapped
access, restrooms, phone, food. Camping ($) reservations call
1-800-444-7275.] Ocean,
beach, tide pooling, creekside canyon woodlands; Refugio Park
accessible by walking from north of US 101, parking at south end of
Refugio Canyon Road (see #17).
Location: going north (west) on US 101 from Santa
Barbara at Hwy 154, parks are 16.5, 19.0 and 28.0 miles
respectively. El Capitan Park exit past Ranch exit; Refugio Park
labeled; Gaviota from northbound US 101, left turn across southbound
US 101 lanes.
Best
season: All year: Western Scrub-jay, vireos, finches,
California and Spotted towhees, gulls, shore and ocean birds.
Spring: Black and Ruddy turnstones, flycatchers, hummingbirds,
Long-eared Owl, sapsuckers, other owls. Fall: dozens of warbler
species, orioles, flycatchers, grosbeaks.
19. Lake Los
Carneros
[Parking,
handicapped access, restrooms, phone. Food, lodging and hospital
nearby.] Lake, tules and
willows, surrounding grassy scrub lands with pines, oaks and
eucalyptus; miniature train ride at Goleta Train Depot; Stow House
tours by appointment.
Location:
take Los Carneros Road
exit from US 101, go north 0.3 miles, turn right at fire station
into parking lot.
Best season:
All year: Breeding Least Bittern. Common Moorhen, Wood
Duck, Canada Goose, White-tailed Kite, Great-tailed Grackle,
California Thrasher, hawks towhees. Fall and Winter: Marsh Wren,
warblers, orioles, tanagers, nuthatches, Lincoln's and other
sparrows, blackbirds, and Zone-tailed Hawk possible.
19b. Coal Oil Point Reserve and Devereux Slough - Photo Album
The reserve is located just off US 101 going toward San Francisco about 12 miles from Santa Barbara. You take the Storke Road exit and turn toward the ocean (South), as shown on this Area Map.
The reserve is relatively small, about 150 acres in extent. The Entrance Road takes you along one side of the Devereux Slough and has several turn-outs for bird watching and viewing. The road extends to a turn-around at Coal Oil Point, as depicted on this geographic Site Map.
Parking at the turnouts is permitted if you stay with your vehicle. Extended parking requires a special permit issued by the USCB Parking Services.
If you plan a loop hike around Devereux Slough (an easy and pleasant 1.5 hour stroll) you can park on the street where Storke Rd meets El Collegio Rd at the start of the Entrance road into the Reserve. Walk the road to the beach, up the beach to the trails on the western side of the Slough, and follow them back to the entrance. Or you can go the reverse direction.
20. Goleta Beach
County Park - See Photo Album
[Parking,
handicapped access, restrooms, phone, food. Lodging and hospital
nearby.] Ocean and beach
park with brackish water estuary; picnicking.
Location: from north (west), take Fairview Ave. exit
from US 101. Go south on Fairview 1.6 miles, past airport, under
bridge to Sandspit Road. Turn right into park. From south (east),
take UCSB/Airport exit from US 101. Take Airport exit to right, left
on Moffet to Sandspit. Turn right into park.
Best season: All year:
nesting Great Blue Heron, Belted
Kingfisher, Black Phoebe; other herons, cormorants, ducks. Winter:
Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, terns, Mew and other gulls.
21. Patterson
Avenue and Atascadero Creek Bike Path
[Birdwatch from road and from bike and walking paths.
Parking, handicapped access. Food, lodging and hospital
nearby.] Cultivated field
edges, creekside willows; nearby mesa and cliff; steep beach access.
Wheelchair birding along creek; wheelchair access to mesa with
assistance only; beach not accessible; no facilities.
Location: take Patterson Ave. exit from US 101. Go
south on Patterson 1.5 miles. Pull off just north of bridge and
walk; for ocean access, end of road at gate - park, walk and
explore.
Best season:
All year: White-tailed Kite; migrant Lazuli and Indigo
buntings, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink, warblers, vireos, flycatchers,
longspurs, rarer pipits, shorebirds. Winter: on mesa, Northern
Harrier; Turkey Vulture, Short-eared and 4 other owls species, other
hawks. Call 1-805-964-8240 for owl update.
22. Rocky Nook
Park, Museum of Natural History [Entrance fee; hours 1-805-682-4711], and Botanic Gardens [Entrance fee; hours
1-805-682-4726].
[Parking, handicapped access, restrooms,
phone. Food, lodging and hospital nearby.] Oak riparian woods, park setting along
historic Mission Canyon; world-famed Blue Whale skeleton exhibit,
excellent bird and wildlife displays at Museum; world-renowned
Channel Islands and native plant displays at Garden.
Location: follow signs: take Mission Street north from
State Street, 0.6 miles to Rocky Nook Park on right past bridge;
Museum is 2 blocks left past Park; Garden 1.0 miles north of Museum,
sharp left before fire station and stay on main road.
Best season: All year:
breeding resident
Band-tailed Pigeon, Wrentit, California Thrasher, Hutton's Vireo,
woodpeckers, owls. Fall to Spring: wintering and migrant vireos,
warblers, tanagers, orioles, nuthatches.
South County Waterfront
Areas
23. Channel and
Island Cruises - See Photo Album
[Fee charged.
Parking, handicapped access, restrooms, phone, food, lodging and
hospital nearby; various vendors; Santa Barbara Audubon Society's
September Santa Cruz Island Scrub-jay trip call
1-805-964-1468.]
Location: Ocean channel between City of Santa Barbara
and Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands; various
combinations of coastal scrub, oak and pine woodlands; harbors and
diving. Round trips from Santa Barbara harbor to Santa Cruz Island
(4 hours); from Ventura County (6 hours).
Best season: All year:
Sea Otter, whales,
dolphins, porpoises, sea birds; breeding Brown Pelican, Western
Gull, Pelagic and Brandt's cormorants, Black Oystercatcher, Pigeon
Guillemot, Elephant Seal; endemic Santa Cruz Island Scrub-jay, San
Miguel Island Song Sparrow; 3 western islands have unique gray fox
subspecies.
24. Harbor,
Beaches, Bird Refuge, and Zoo
[Parking, handicapped access, restrooms, food,
lodging, hospital nearby. Zoo has entrance fee; call 1-805-962-6310
for hours.] Beach and
ocean strand, harbor; brackish freshwater lake.
Location: from south (east) take left "SB Beaches" exit
from US 101, turn left at 4-way stop onto Cabrillo Blvd.; from north
(west) take "Bird Refuge" exit to right; Bird Refuge next immediate
right; harbor and beaches continue right on Cabrillo past
Refuge.
Best season:
Fall to Spring: Brant, grebes, 3 cormorant and 3 loon
species, Snowy Plover, Black and Ruddy turnstones, Mew Gull, terns,
large flock of Black Skimmer; Refuge - Wood Duck, Great-tailed
Grackle, Merlin, flycatchers, warblers, orioles, tanagers,
gulls.
25. Carpinteria
Creek and State Beach Park
[Parking, handicapped access only in Park; restrooms,
phone. Food and lodging nearby. Fee charged for camping; call
1-805-684-2811 for reservations.] Sycamore, willow and oak in creek; Park has
pines and palms.
Location:
Casitas Pass Road exit
from north of south US 101, turn to ocean, right on Carpinteria
Ave., one block turn left on Palm; continue to Park, or left onto
6th St. and park at end.
Best
season: Fall to Spring: warblers, vireos, flycatchers, orioles,
tanagers, sparrows, grosbeaks; gulls, shore, water and ocean birds.
Summer: breeding land birds.
And for more birding sites in
Santa Barbara County, see More Santa
Barbara |
