Best Bird Watching Area Garden Grove 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:
Coastal southern California includes a unique combination of physical features, climate, and hydrology that have resulted in a diversity of plants and wildlife unlike any other region in North America. The habitats in Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge are essential for migratory birds of the Pacific Flyway and support federally and state listed endangered species. Since the establishment of Seal Beach NWR in 1972, the refuge has continued to protect and conserve essential habitats for many species including those that are threatened and endangered.


The National Wildlife Refuge Association announced the winners of its annual awards for 2022. The Pacific Southwest Region had a strong representation by winning three of the five categories. The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for...


Each year the National Wildlife Refuge Association recognizes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees with Wildlife Refuge Awards. This story features the 2022 award winners.

As the sun rises early in the morning, the fog fades away to reveal the secrets of the estuary. The fiddler crabs dance in unison before the next high tide, a peregrine falcon is in hot pursuit of breakfast, and all around, the initial silence is broken by birds of all types of feathers. Despite...

Located in the northwest corner of Orange County this refuge protects a remnant of what was once a vast wetland complex. During monthly tours, visitors can expect to see shorebirds darting from one foraging area to another within the tidal flats. The occasional green sea turtle and light-footed Ridgway’s rail thrive within the Refuge’s diverse marsh complex offering a rare appearance.

Because of NWSSB’s military mission of storing and handling ordnance (munitions), the Refuge is closed to the public except during special events and escorted tours held on the last Saturday of each month (excluding December). View the Activities section for more information.

Established in 1972, the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge serves as an important stopover point for migratory shorebirds traveling along the Pacific Flyway. The refuge also serves as an island of habitat in the midst of a dense urban setting for a wide variety of fish, wildlife and plants.

Although limited, occasionally specially arranged tours for groups of 15-20 people can be conducted on the Refuge throughout the year. Please contact the Refuge manager 2-3 months in advance for scheduling opportunities.

The purpose for Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge is to protect and preserve a salt marsh

And estuarine habitat valuable for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife in the State of California. The Management Plan prepared in 1974 includes two principal objectives of the Refuge: 1) preservation and management of habitat necessary for the perpetuation of two endangered species, the light-footed Ridgway’s rail and the California least tern; and 2) preservation of habitat used by migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbirds.