WHERE THE BIRDS ARE : A Handy Guide to the County’s Best Inland, Coastal Spots

A quick guide to county birding spots and what you might find there.

Coastal

* Upper Newport Bay State Ecological Reserve

Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach

One of the best remaining coastal salt marshes in Southern California, Upper Newport Bay is a vital breeding spot for the endangered light-footed clapper rail. Many varieties of shore bird (and, later this season, waterfowl) are visible from a number of prime viewing spots along Back Bay Drive.

* Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve

Pacific Coast Highway, between Warner Avenue and Golden West Street

Another prime wetlands area, Bolsa Chica supports a variety of tern species, including the endangered California least tern (which will be heading south soon). A boardwalk from the main parking lot leads to a walking path cutting through the heart of the reserve. Terns, shore birds and, later, waterfowl. Also, look in the pickleweed for the endangered Belding’s Savannah sparrow.

* Little Corona del Mar Beach

Ocean Boulevard and Poppy Avenue

A good spot for rock shore birds, such as wandering tattlers, surfbirds and ruddy turnstones, as well as a variety of gulls. Don’t go when the high tide submerges the rocks.

Other coastal spots:

* Crystal Cove State Park, Pacific Coast Highway, north of Laguna Beach (rock shore birds).

* Doheny Beach State Park, Del Obispo Street and Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point (shore and sea birds).

Inland

* Huntington Central Park

Golden West Street, between Talbert and Slater avenues, Huntington Beach

More than 200 bird species have been recorded in this park, including 33 warbler varieties, 16 types of flycatcher and 8 vireo species.

* Santiago Oaks Regional Park

2145 N. Windes Drive, Orange

Encompassing a range of habitats, from coastal sage scrub to riparian, this spot doesn’t tend to attract as many vagrants as Central Park but does offer a chance to glimpse regular land birds.

* Yorba Regional Park

7600 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim

This relatively new park offers some shore species along the Santa Ana River, waterfowl in the man-made lakes and land birds in the maturing trees.

* Environmental Nature Center

1601 16th St., Newport Beach

This tiny triangle of land is a nice place to spot migrant land birds and can help round a day of bird-watching at nearby Upper Newport Bay.

Field trips

Three local chapters of the National Audubon Society offer birding field trips and other educational activities.

Sea and Sage, (714) 543-7393.

Laguna, (714) 830-3335.

South Coast, (714) 498-4402.

Walking tours of Bolsa Chica are offered the first Saturday of each month, October through March, by Amigos de Bolsa Chica. Information: (714) 897-7003.

Nature tours of Upper Newport Bay are given the first and third Saturday of each month by a state ranger. Information: (714) 640-6746. Walking tours of the bay are also offered by Friends of Newport Bay on the second Saturday each month, October through March. Information: (714) 646-8009.

Essentials

Binoculars

A good quality set of binoculars for the beginning birder will cost “the better part of $100,” says Sylvia Gallagher of the Audubon Society. Some things to look for:

A magnification power of 7 to 10; 7 or 8 is adequate for most beginners.

The magnification is usually followed by a second number (as in 7x35). This should be between four and five times the first number.

Close focus; the focus should be able to focus to 15 feet, preferably less.

Eyeglass wearers should look for a wider field of view, called “long eye relief.”

Field guide

Many field guides are available, but Gallagher and most other birders recommend the National Geographic Society “Field Guide to the Birds of North America.” The brand new third edition of Peterson Field Guides “Western Birds” can also be useful for beginners and can be easier to find in bookstores.