11 + 13 Jan 09, Mission Valley, San Diego

The San Diego river runs behind the hotel and has some great birds in the trees which line the river and reedbeds along it. A map of the area can be found HERE

It takes about 2 - 3 hours to do properly, and I've managed to get out and do the area twice during my stay. The best bird I found was a Tropical Kingbird, probably the same bird that Paul Lehman had seen in December but hadn't got good enough views of to identify safely. Other birds over the two visits included 2 Black-throated Grey, a male Wilson's and Townsend Warblers, California Towhee, Downy Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American and Lesser Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, Hutton's Vireo, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher and Nutmeg Manikin

The nearby Riverwalk golfcourse also had 17 Greater White-fronted Geese, Cinnamon Teal and an escaped Ruddy Shelduck.




Female/juvenile Black-throated Grey Warbler


Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk


Winter plumage Spotted Sandpiper




Three photos of the Tropical Kingbird showing the long bill, brown tail and pale edged tertials, typical of this species.