Mugu Rock Overlook and Mugu Lagoon

Services: None

Habitat: Part of Mugu State Park but at the Pacific Ocean backed by cliffs.

Location: Mugu Rock overlook is on the beach side of PCH where the road cuts through the cliffs. The Mugu Lagoon is on the coast ½ mile North of the Overlook.

Highlights: Lagoon waders, shorebirds, ducks, terns, swifts, murrelets, shearwaters, scoters, phalaropes. And at sea: whales, porpoise, and seals in season.

Best Season: Winter, spring

Ormond Beach Wetlands, Oxnard

Services: Parking available at the end of Arnold Road. Portable potty at the entrance.

Habitat: 1,500-acre area composed of agriculture, industry, and wetlands and on the Pacific Flyway. A two-mile-long beach extends from Port Hueneme to the northwestern boundary of Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station, which encompasses Mugu Lagoon.

Location: Off Pt Hueneme Road turn west on Arnold road and follow this narrow road to the end. You’ll find a Kiosk at the entrance.

Highlights: The Ormond Beach area hosts over 200 migratory bird species and more shorebird species are known to use Ormond Beach than any other site in Ventura County. This is a nesting site for the endangered California Least Tern and the threatened Western Snowy Plover. Shorebird species include terns, Brown Pelican, bitterns, Redtailed and Red-shouldered hawks with rare migrants often found. Also hosts Willets, Whimbrels, Black-necked Stilts, Black-bellied Plovers and occasionally Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Peregrine Falcon, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

Best season: All year, especially summer for shorebirds; early spring and summer for nesting species.

Santa Clara River Estuary

Services: Restrooms are available at Surfers Knoll and McGrath State Beach (fee)

Habitats: Coastal estuary, salt marsh, riparian.

Location: North side of estuary can be reached from the parking lot at Surfers Knoll. Walk South approximately 400 yards to the estuary. South side of the estuary can be reached from McGrath State Beach Park.

Highlights: Terns, plovers (California Least Tern and the Western Snowy Plover nest here), Peregrine Falcon (winter), avocet, Black Skimmers (rare), and many other shorebirds such as grebes, turnstones, whimbrels, godwits, cormorants and sandpipers, along with many ducks and gulls.

Best Season: All year.

Ventura River Estuary, River Trail and Ocean Shore Trail

Services: No services, but restrooms are available on the promenade.

Habitat: Coastal inlet, estuary, dunes, riparian

Location: From the West Main Street Parking Lot located at the West end of downtown Main Street just before crossing the bridge over the Ventura River. Park your vehicle there and walk down the path along the river to the estuary. You will find Ventura Audubon Society signage overlooking the site and the ocean is a short walk from there.

Highlights: Osprey, Cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns, plovers, sanderlings, and even more shorebirds along the beach.

Best Season: All year, especially during early spring and early fall.

Ventura Water Treatment Plant Wildlife Ponds

Services: None

Habitat: Coastal dunes, ponds, willows, reeds, habitat varied. Open Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location: From Highway 101 in Ventura, take Seaward toward the beach. Turn left onto Harbor Blvd. Continue on Harbor to Spinnaker Dr. Turn right. Make a left onto Angler Court and you will see the chain link fence and entrance to the ponds immediately on your right. Park across the street from the entrance.

Highlights: Bonaparte’s and many other gulls and terns, ducks, Sora, Common Moorhen, Marsh Wren, Green Herons, Phalaropes, warblers, grebes, Peregrine Falcon, and spring swallows.

Best Season: All year, especially spring, fall, winter

Arroyo Simi at Madera

Services: None

Habitat: Arroyo and suburban interface.

Location: 101 to 23 north to the 118. Exit the 118 at Madera; proceed south and turn left on Easy street, park on street; enter Arroyo Simi entrance at Madera.

Highlights: Waterfowl, ibis, herons, egrets, shorebirds, gulls, swallows, warblers and rock wrens.

Best Season: All year, esp. spring and fall.

Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura

Services: Restrooms and Parking

Habitat: Varied city park oak woodland, grassy areas, chaparral, in a long broad canyon stretching into hiking trails that extend into the back country.

Location: Park entrance at Foothill Road and Day Road.

Highlights: Kingbirds, hummingbirds, finches, orioles, raptors and early spring migrants.

Best Season: Year-round.

Briar Bluff Open Space

Services: None

Habitat: Riparian corridor and chaparral hillsides at the end of a road.

Location: Hwy 101 to the Lynn Rd. Exit and travel north 3.8 miles to Mountclef Blvd. (Lynn Rd. becomes Olsen Rd. near the CLU campus). Travel north on Mountclef Blvd. to the end of the road.

Highlights: Cactus Wren, the endangered California Gnatcatcher, quail, meadowlarks, roadrunners, warblers and thrashers.

Best Season: All year, esp. spring and fall.

Camino Real Park, Ventura

Services: 38 acres, including sporting arenas, restrooms, picnic facilities and children’s play areas. The many trees provide much needed shade and a rustic feel.

Habitat: Bird the open grassy area ringed by pines. Eucalyptus trees along the barranca and Aurora Drive forming north border of park are resting places for migrating monarch butterflies in late fall and winter.

Location: Dean Drive and Varsity Drive in Ventura. Entrance to the park will be on your left about six blocks from Estates Avenue.

Highlights: Hot spot for migrants, vagrants, and rarities. Allen’s Hummingbird and Red-Shouldered Hawk are residents.

Best Season: All year, especially early spring and winter. Early morning is best

Cañada Larga Road

Services: No services or fee

Habitat: 5-mile dead-end road. This is an oak woodland/savanna, running through private ranch land. Please respect the private property and be alert for faster traffic on this two-lane road.

Location: Take Highway 33 off 101. Exit at Canada Larga Road. Turn right and park off road as you bird the canyon road to the end. Be careful to stay off the road because there is a local traffic.

Highlights: Early morning or late evening for owls, Golden Eagle (regular), hawks, Mountain (rare) and Western Bluebirds; and a variety of sparrows in winter. Also Phainopepla, grosbeaks, and orioles are here in the spring.

Best Season: All year, especially in spring, winter.

CSU Channel Islands University Park

Services: None and parking may have a fee

Habitat: The Park site is currently undeveloped and open to the public seven days a week with access by foot or bicycle. Parking permits are required and available as self-pay on site or a daily permit from the CI Parking office on campus. No restrooms, water, benches or tables at the Park site. The ponds where the birds reside are slightly Southwest of the park itself.

Location: From Highway 101 head South on Lewis Rd and then turn left into CSUCI on University Drive. You will pass some fields left and right until you see the sign for Parking Lot A3. Turn into the lot and park. You can reach the ponds by following a dirt path that continues on a berm around the ponds.

Highlights: Chapparal birds, Cactus Wrens, ducks and shorebirds on the ponds.

Best Season: Winter, early spring

Foster Park/Ventura River

Services: Restrooms in the Park

Habitat: The Ventura River flows through this green park with lots of shade trees.

Location: From Ventura, take 101N to Hwy 33. Exit Casitas Vista Rd. Make two quick right hand turns and park under the freeway bridge or enter the Park for a small fee.

Highlights: With winter rains, you may see some interesting species at the river, such as Green Heron or Hooded Mergansers. Inside the park, you will see species such as the Oak Titmouse, California Quail, Western Bluebird and several species of woodpeckers.

Best Season: Year round

Happy Camp Regional Park, Moorpark

Services: None

Habitat: Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park offers visitors 12.5 miles of trails in 3,000 acres of wilderness area frequented by hikers, equestrian riders, and mountain bikers. The open grasslands and deep forests are abundant with wildflowers and wildlife including rabbits, bobcats and golden eagles. The park is underlain by complex geology ranging from deep water shale outcroppings to oyster and clam rich shale and sandstones. This is a passive, natural open space park with no support facilities. Rustic Canyon Golf Course is located at the entrance of the park.

Location: The entrance to the park is adjacent to the Rustic Canyon Golf Course.

Highlights: Phainopepla, Roadrunner and Shrike as well as nesting owls and hawks, California Quail, and California Thrasher. Even a Golden Eagle flyover is possible.

Best Season: All year, esp. spring and fall.

Hill Canyon/Santa Rosa Park

Services: Parking and Restrooms at the Park

Habitat: Riparian corridor and chaparral hillsides.

Location: Hill Canyon/Santa Rosa Park (10241 Hill Canyon Road) is at the north edge of Thousand Oaks off of Santa Rosa Road.

Highlights: Cactus and Canyon Wrens, towhees and woodpeckers as well as migrating warblers, vireos and sparrows.

Best Season: All year, esp. spring and fall.

Lake Casitas Recreation Area

Services: Restrooms and parking with a fee or park outside main gate.

Habitat: Camping, lake area, freshwater marsh, oak woodland, open meadows.

Location: From the 101 in Ventura take Highway 33 north toward Ojai. Turn left onto Highway 150 west to the park entrance.

Highlights: Early summer: sparrows, grosbeaks, Clark’s and Western Grebes, Osprey, resident Bald Eagles, Western Bluebird, raptors, woodpeckers, nuthatches as well as Green Heron, Chipping and Lark Sparrows, Common Merganser and Spotted Sandpiper.

Best Season: Good all year; best winter and spring.

Lake Piru Recreation Area

Services: Restrooms, parking, camping, fee per vehicle

Habitat: Varied habitat with an inland lake. Popular for boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing, and camping.

Location: Highway 126 approx 25 miles through Santa Paula and Fillmore to Lake Piru turnoff. Turn north. Follow signs to entrance.

Highlights: Herons, egrets and other birds that come to feed on the leftovers from the fish feeding, as well as sparrows, warblers, raptors, ducks and Bald Eagles. Bird entire area, especially perimeter and approach road. Check surrounding ridgelines and you might see a California Condor.

Best Season: Winter, Fall and Spring

Las Llajas Canyon Trail

Services: None with street parking

Habitat: Riparian corridor with oaks, cottonwoods and willows and chaparral hillsides. There is a loop trail that runs from the Chumash Trail and to Evening Sky Drive. It provides amazing views of Simi Valley and the surrounding hills.

Location: The trailhead of Las Llajas Canyon is at approximately 5715 Evening Sky Drive in Simi Valley. From Highway 118 in Simi Valley exit at Yosemite and head north. Turn right on Evening Sky Drive and proceed to the trailhead.

Highlights: Roadrunners, hawks, woodpeckers, flycatchers, bluebirds, phainopepla, grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings

Best Season: All year, esp. spring and fall.

Ojai Meadow Preserve

Services: None

Habitat: The Meadow is a flat, two (2+) mile trail along a restoration area, riparian wetland, and a pond.

Location: From Highway 101 take Hwy 33 toward Ojai and turn left onto Maricopa Highway (Hwy 33). The preserve is down past Nordoff High school and on the left side. Parking is available in front of the entrance and also at the high school or church, if necessary.

Highlights: The pond can be dry, but if it has water expect ducks, shore, and marsh birds. Birds include White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-tailed Hawks, Great-tailed Grackles, White-breasted Nuthatch, Say’s Phoebe, Cassin’s Kingbird, American Kestrel, Western Bluebird, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Hermit Thrush.

Best Season: Fall, spring, and winter

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

Services: Restrooms, interpretive center, parking.

Habitat: Low coastal mountain park, open meadows, chaparral and sage scrub, some riparian, small ponds.

Location: From Highway 101 to the Lynn Rd exit. Head South on Lynn Rd 5. 25 miles to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on the left.

Highlights: Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, White-tailed Kite, Costa’s Hummingbird, raptors, Greater Roadrunner.

Best Season: All year, especially winter and spring.

Rancho Simi Community Park

Services: Full service park with swimming pool

Habitat: Parkland, arroyo and a duck pond park

Location: 101 to 23 north to 118. Exit at Erringer and proceed south towards Royal Ave. Park is on your right.

Highlights: In spring nesting snowy egrets and night-herons in Duck Pond. waterfowl, herons, hawks, swallows, bluebirds, kingbirds, orioles.

Best Season: All year esp. spring and fall.

Rocky Peak Park, Simi Valley

Services: No restrooms, parking is limited, overflow parking available across the freeway bridge

Habitat: Encompassing 4,800 acres in the Santa Susana Mountains between Chatsworth and Simi Valley, this extraordinary Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor property stretches from the 118 freeway five miles northward to Las Llajas Canyon, and forms the most critical wildlife habitat linkage between the Simi Hills and the Santa Susana Mountains. Spectacular sandstone boulders, outcroppings, oak savannahs, and perennial water sources provide diverse habitat for birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Location: The trail is accessible from the westbound 118 Freeway at the Rocky Peak Overpass. Traveling eastbound, take Kuehner Drive south to Santa Susana Pass Road, which takes you to the Rocky Peak overpass.

Highlights: Sparrows, wren, thrashers, Greater Roadrunner, grosbeaks, Lazuli Bunting, finches and great wild flowers.

Best Season: Early spring

Santa Rosa Valley Park

Services: Restrooms and parking

Habitat: This regional park offers 50 acres of natural open space that is suitable for horseback riding, wilderness exploring, hiking, or other environmentally friendly activity. Visitors can access a number of local trails from this park. Two equestrian riding areas are available, with a training area.

Location: The park (10241 Hill Canyon Road) is at the north edge of Thousand Oaks, off of Santa Rosa Road.

Highlights: Cactus and Canyon Wrens, towhees and woodpeckers as well as migrating warblers, vireos and sparrows.

Best Season: All year, esp. spring and fall

Soule Park, Ojai

Services: Parking fee with restrooms, water, picnic tables, BBQ and a Park Host on-site.

Habitat: Nestled amongst the majestic Topa Topa mountain range, this charming 223 acre park offers open grasslands with mature shade trees throughout.

Location: From Ventura, go north on Hwy 33 then 150 through Ojai. Pass Soule Park Golf Course turning right on Boardman Rd. Travel about 1/2 mile, then turn right into park entrance.

Highlights: The grasslands bring out winter feeding flocks: sparrows, bluebirds, & warblers and the large trees provide cover for woodpeckers and raptors. Shady bushes hide thrushes & thrashers. This is easy flat walking around one of our most scenic birding spots.

Best Season: Year round, but summer can be very hot.

Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park.

Services: Parking, Restrooms, Camping, Fees.

Habitat: This is a very large canyon with coastal sage scrub, eucalyptus and sycamore groves. Easy walking in the camp areas, but the canyon trails are more difficult.

Location: Follow Highway 1(PCH) South past Mugu Rock about 4 miles. Park on highway or pay a day use fee.

Highlights: Thrashers, towhees, migrant flycatchers and warblers, grosbeaks, and woodpeckers.

Best Season: Early spring, summer, fall.

Wheeler Canyon Road, Santa Paula

Services: None

Habitat: Dead-end canyon roads lined with private ranches, pastures, orchards, oak woodland and chaparral. Respect private property and bird from road only.

Location: From Ventura 101 take Victoria Ave inland until it dead ends at Foothill Rd. Turn right and follow Foothill several miles east toward Santa Paula. Turn left at the Wheeler Canyon Road intersection. Park at convenient and safe spots along Wheeler Canyon road and bird from the road only.

Highlights: Orioles, warblers, sparrows, raptors, a wintering Zonetailed Hawk (fairly regular), bluebirds, kites and owls are out early morning or evening.

Best season: All year, especially early spring

Wildwood Regional Park, Thousand Oaks

Services: Restrooms at bottom of canyon only, parking, benches and 3 drinking fountains

Habitat: Varied city park oak woodland, grassy areas, chaparral, in a long broad canyon stretching into hiking trails that extend into the back country. 14 trails covering 17 miles.

Location: 928 W. Avenida de los Arboles, Thousand Oaks

Highlights: Kingbirds, hummingbirds, finches, orioles, raptors and early spring migrants.

Best Season: Year-round

Mount Pinos Frazier Park Area (elevation 8,831 ft)

Services: Camping, restrooms, with fees are available in several area camps.

Habitat: Mountain area in Northeast Ventura County.

Location: From Ventura (90 miles), take Highway 126 east to Castaic Junction. Merge onto Interstate 5 north and exit at Frazier Park. Take Frazier Park Road west; follow signs to Mt. Pinos. One mile past the campgrounds at the top of the mountain is a large parking lot and several trails.

Highlights: High elevation birds such as the White-headed Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Western Wood Pewee, and Green-tailed Towhee. All areas produce good sightings, especially good in campgrounds.

Best Season: All year; best in spring, summer, fall.

Pine Mountain Lockwood and Cuyama Valleys (elevation of 6,650 ft)

Services: Few services and only in camps or at stores along the route. Start with a full gas tank. Take water and snacks. Be prepared for snow in winter. This is a full day trip from Ventura.

Habitat: This is a mix of high desert, montane, valleys, open grassland, and agriculture. There are many pockets of habitat for excellent birding.

Location: From Ventura take Highway 101 to Highway 33 north to Ojai. Turn left at Maricopa Highway (Highway 33). Continue on 33 for 30-35 miles to Pine Mountain Summit. Continue past Ozena Station (Good birding there, too.) About 1/2 mile beyond is Lockwood Valley Rd. To bird Cuyama Valley, continue on Highway 33 past Lockwood Valley Rd.

Highlights: Valley good for many sparrows, several raptor species. Camps yield nuthatches (including Pygmy Nuthatch), Brown Creeper. Mountain Bluebird, White-headed Woodpecker in high camps and a rare Pygmy Owl.

Best Season: Winter, spring, late fall.

Wheeler Gorge Campground, Ventura County (elevation of 1,755 ft)

Services: Restrooms, Interpretive Center, Parking, Fee

Habitat: Mountain Park with a variety of trees, small gorges, and chaparral. Visitors to the area enjoy hiking, viewing wildlife, birding along nature trails, and exploring the North Fork of the Matilija Creek.

Location: From Highway 101, take Highway 33 north towards Ojai for about 14 miles which then turns left and continues on as Highway 33 for another 8 miles to the campground.

Highlights: Orioles, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Steller’s Jay, dipper (rare), thrushes, Solitary Vireo, Golden-crowned Kinglet (rare).

Best Season: Spring and summer.