The San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count identified 118 species in December. No new bird species were seen this month, so the cumulative species total after 9 full years of bird surveys remains at 242. Click here for the PDF document with the detailed monthly results from January 2010 through December 2018.

Bird count leader Jayne Lesley reports, “The recent rains began to fill the fresh-water ponds viewed from Dust Devil trails, and to flood the pastures in Fairbanks Ranch. That is much appreciated by over 300 Canada Geese, plus a few friends (a Snow Goose and several Greater White-fronted geese). We hope continuing rains will make these areas productive in future counts this winter.”

The featured image of Canada Geese at the San Dieguito Lagoon was taken by SDRP Trail Patrol Volunteer Ginni Kitchen in February 2017. They can usually be found in the open fields across the water from the trails on the east side of the freeway or flying in the telltale V-formation overhead.

Click here for more information about the San Dieguito Lagoon Bird Surveys.