Birdland

Trails in Fallbrook lead the way to great bird watching

Want to get a little featherbrained in Fallbrook? Trails in wildlife preserves in and around Fallbrook make it easy to spend time enjoying the presence of our avian friends.

Carina Dominga photo

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy has been restoring native species at Los Jilgueros, and wildflowers are now abundant during the rainy season. Spring is an especially colorful time at this preserve. The Los Jilgueros Preserve is located

Los Jilgueros Preserve [Top] Los Jilgueros Preserve. Shane Gibson photo on South Mission Road just north Bird is the word at the easy-to-walk network of looping trails totaling over by Sandra Shrader of Fallbrook High School between Sterling Bridge Road and Peppertree two miles in the pristine Los Jilgueros Preserve, located in the Lane. Parking is readily available, and there is no entrance fee. heart of Fallbrook.

The 46-acre wildlife habitat, once a working farm in the 1920s, Dinwiddie Preserve is under the stewardship of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy. More bird watching can be enjoyed on the half-mile trail The conservancy is a private nonprofit organization dedicated at nearby Dinwiddie Preserve. A 14.5-acre site also under the to preserving more than 2,700 acres of open space including the stewardship of the FLC, the preserve underwent extensive habitat 1,200-acre Margarita Peak, 10 other preserves, and over 600 acres restoration with the removal of invasive species and installation of conservation easements. of native trees and shrubs.

A mix of wetlands where part of the trail is protected by The preserve, with its year-round meandering Cienega Creek, wooden planks, a creek and ponds, some open terrain grassland forested areas of oaks, willows, and sycamores in addition to hiking areas and heavily forested sections with oak trees which surrounding open fields is, as with Los Jilgueros, popular with provide a lush canopy, the preserve is home to an astounding many varieties of birds. variety of bird species. Eighty-four species have been sighted at Dinwiddie Preserve,

According to ebird.org, more than 150 different kinds of birds according to ebird.org, including many of those found at the have been spotted at Los Jilgueros Preserve including the more neighboring preserve. Warblers, hummingbirds, tanagers, orioles, commonly seen mallards, ducks, grebes and coots as well as Red- woodpeckers and turkey vultures among dozens of other feathery tailed Hawks, ravens, sparrows, finches, mockingbirds, doves types which also populate the preserve. and swallows. Others include the whimsically named Western For those who want to take a quick break from bird watching, Wood-Pewee, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler and more Dinwiddie Preserve is home to the Palomares House. Constructed species too numerous to mention. in 1888 by the Palomares family during the Rancho Monserate

Among the eye-catching avians which been seen and recorded era, the building is one of the oldest houses in Fallbrook. at the preserve are cormorants, Snowy and Great egrets, Black- Dinwiddie Preserve is located between S. Stage Coach Lane and crowned Night herons, Green herons and Great Blue herons. Brooke Road.

Santa Margartita River Trail.

Ron Montoya photo Joseph Cox photo

Carina Domingo photo Los Jilgueros Preserve.

Shane Gibson photo

Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve & Santa Margarita County Preserve

Another heaven for avians – particularly hawks and other raptors – in Fallbrook are both the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve and the Santa Margarita County Preserve.

The San Diego County preserve’s trail meanders along the Santa Margarita River, the last free-flowing river in Southern California, and is roughly 2.5 miles one way. There is a large parking area at the trailhead at 37385 De Luz Road in Fallbrook.

However, the lush river corridor which contains riparian and upland habitats is not only a popular environment for birds, but for people, such as hikers, dog walkers and horse riders, as well so getting on the trail by 8 a.m. might be the best option for focused bird watching.

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Jayne Crabtree photo

The 1,384-acre Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve Los Jilgueros Preserve. Shane Gibson photo is adjacent to the county’s preserve and contains four trails with the 5.8-mile roundtrip looping trail along the river being the most popular for bird watchers, hikers and horseback riders.

The richly biodiverse preserve, a former water district property, is maintained via the stewardship of The Fallbrook Trails Council and The Wildlands Conservancy and is considered by many to be the best trail in San Diego County. The trailhead for the Santa Margarita River Trail is 4251 River Edge Road in Fallbrook, and the trail is open at 8 a.m.

But manmade boundaries and separate trails don’t matter to birds.

Along with hawks and kestrels, approximately 70 other bird species, according to ebird.org, have been sighted at the both of the Santa Margarita area preserves. The avian population there also includes the Brown-headed Cowbird, California Quail, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Bluebird, Acorn Woodpecker, and numerous other feathered species. Also making the list is the federally endangered least Bell’s vireo.

These are only four of the many trails in the Fallbrook area. Additional trails here can be found at the 10-acre Engel Preserve, the 352-acre Monserate Mountain Preserve, Heller’s Bend Preserve and other areas.

So grab your binoculars, bird watchers, and head on out. Who knows, you might just find the bluebird of happiness along the way.

To find out more about the birds at Los Jilgueros Preserve and to listen to their calls: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2235766.

For more information about trail hours, addresses and parking, visit: www.fallbrooklandconservancy.org/los-jilgueros-preserve www.fallbrooklandconservancy.org/dinwiddie-preserve-1 www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SantaMargarita.html www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserves/santamargaritarivertrail

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