Best Bird Watching Area Costa Mesa Near Me

4worldlovers: Upon constantly scouring for new places to bird, I had come across the Villa Park Flood Dam Control as a hot spot in eBird as well as comments in various posters reports referring to the “Magic Basin”. With little reference online on how to get to this eBird Hot Spot in Orange County, I opted to try and find this place along with a friend Phil Thomas who grew up in the area. We initially chose to park in the Santiago Oaks Regional Parks main parking area and walk down to the Historic Dam trail. (There’s typically maps available or you can click here for the Santiago Oaks Regional Park map). This trail is easy to locate as you simply walk down below the parking lot to the lowest trail and bear right. Navigate over the creek via the large circular stepping stones. This will get you on the Historic Dam Trail. Follow this trail to the Santiago Creek Trail and then to the Pony Trail. Stay on the Pony Trail until you reach the dirt parking area. You’ll see this location on my map where it shows Sandberg Lane. (see image 1 and 2 below)

Walk through the dirt parking lot and bear right up the steep dirt trail. At the crest, you’ll see a locked gated fence, continue downward to the Egret Trail (see image 2 below)

4worldlovers: Please note that there is no onsite parking at Talbert Regional Park.

Talbert Regional Park is located North and South of Victoria Street in Costa Mesa between Pacific Avenue and the Santa Ana River. North Talbert consists of 91.5 acres and South Talbert is approximately 88.5 acres.

The park is divided into six separate plant groups, identified as "zones" and based upon the progression of plant groups and changing conditions found along the Santa Ana River. The first zone is designated "Intensive Use Area" and the plant material has been selected based on use instead of its origins on the site. The second zone, a "Border Planting" zone is planted with vegetation designed to maintain boundaries and screen the embankment of the Greenville-Banning Channel. Another zone, the "Coastal Strand" consists of gentle slopes and dunes, a habitat largely destroyed by the advance of civilization in the area. The "Native Grassland" zone is the largest zone in the park and provides opportunities for wildlife habitats. An "Alluvial Woodland" zone contains a wide variety of plant and animal life and is the most secluded area in the park. Finally, the "Wetland Zone" consists of the southern 14.8 acres of the park and contains elements of riparian woodland and mulefat scrub.

4worldlovers:
This ecological reserve is adjacent to or shares marine habitat with a Marine Protected Area (MPA). For the public use regulations for MPAs, see Section 632, Title 14, CCR.

Each parking lot connects to a 4-mile network of public hiking trails, including scenic overlooks. Please note that due to active oil and gas production by California Resources Corporation, a portion of the reserve is closed to public access.