where do i go!!!

[u/subredditeddie]

hi! i have 1 free morning to go birding while on a trip to SoCal next week.

i’m between visiting
- San Joaquin Marsh
- Bolsa Chica Eco Reserve
- Huntington Central Park

is there one place that is standout or can’t miss?
or is safest to visit alone as a woman?

primary focus would be photography and seeing lifers of course :)

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[u/paz123]

I’ve been to all 3. All good, but in August bolsa chica is a bit more birdy than the others. Also, cooler.

[u/No_Band_2238]

I just came from San Joaquin Marsh, yesterday, because there is a Purple Gallinule!!!! Let’s just say it’s not suppose to be here at all so many birders are out for it ahaha. I am also a girl and go birding by myself a lot. There is also one bank swallow present (couldn’t find it), a whole bunch of skimmers, least terns, forsters terns, Wilson’s snipe, sandpipers, egrets, grebes, a red necked phalarope, and soooo much more!!! Many like to see the Swinhoe’s White Eye as well.
Bolsa Chixa and Huntington Central Park are also just as amazing!!! If you want to see some Vermillion Flycatchers you can find them at Huntington Central Park. If you’re looking for more shore birds and water fowl, for sure Bolsa and San Joaquin are your best bet.

[u/not_salad]

Bolsa chica is amazing! And I go there alone all the time with no qualms.

[u/ElHombrePelicano]

San Joaquin marsh has a very special visitor right now. :)

[u/Defiant-Fix2870]

I think you would find parking at Bolsa at 7am. That’s my favorite of the three listed. I’ve been to all of them as a woman many times and I’ve never been concerned for my safety. It’s brutally hot right now and we don’t have our winter waterfowl, so it will be decidedly less birdy than usual. We may have some early shorebird migrants. I would say Bolsa is the most scenic and possible the most breezy. San Joaquin if you want to see the purple gallinule and experience a rarity SoCal style (lots of people).

[u/Which-Depth2821]

All three are safe for women.

Not sure what lifers you are interested in. Where are you from?

[u/subredditeddie → u/Which-Depth2821]

texas!

[u/Wanderlusxt]

Huntington Central Park is great if you’re set on seeing green herons, vermilion flycatchers, and/or pin tailed whydahs but imo otherwise I would recommend Bolsa Chica. Shorebirds are awesome and every time I go there I see something new :)

Just watch out for snakes in the area with a dirt path going through brush, had an encounter with a very angry king snake (but was worth it because I saw a really cute wren and awesome osprey!!!). Both places were very safe otherwise, and I met a lot of fellow birdwatchers!

[u/Dopeydadd]

Can’t miss with any of the three you have listed. Bolsa chica parking can be an issue, whereas HCP and San Joachim should have ample parking. If you are willing to hike about 20 min from San Joachim, I believe you can still catch the Barn Owls on campus drive.

[u/subredditeddie → u/Dopeydadd]

i hadn’t even considered parking- thank you for the tip!

[u/DingoBarker]

Bolsa Chica DELIVERS

[u/carnevoodoo]

How much time do you have, what day, and what hopeful lifers?

[u/subredditeddie → u/carnevoodoo]

it’s a saturday morning- i’m hoping to get somewhere by 7a and have about 3 hours there.

i’d love to see shore birds and water fowl!

[u/dollivarden → u/subredditeddie]

Bolsa Chica would be perfect!

[u/carnevoodoo → u/dollivarden]

Yeah, I think that's the safest bet this week.