One of the best spots to spot raptors in So. Cal

Upper Newport Bay--Eastbluff Dr. in Orange County. 

Just been there while attending college tennis tournament, last week.

Stationary at the Vista Point(entrance from Eastbluff Dr. where there's a platform) you can spot

Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, White-tailed Kite, Red-tailed Hawk.

Walk just a bit, about 0.25 mile? then you can spot Osprey.

That's 6 raptors. Harrier flies overhead.

Spotted like 59 species there, great for shorebirds, too, Willets, Marbled Godwits and Greater Yellowleg and ducks foraging right beside you in the flooded field in high tide.

Rare open fields in the area, hence attracting so many raptors I guess.

My crappy pics.

The place to be RIGHT NOW

If you have a fantasy of birding the Prairies, really not that far from Downtown Chicago..!


Bartel and Orland Grasslands! If you want to check out Henslow's a must see;

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S57318656

Wed 12 Jun 20195:45 AM

Location

Bartel Grassland

OwnerDan Lory

Traveling

• 1
• 2 hr, 41 min
• 3 mi

Comments

Partly cloudy, gradually clouding up completely. Light S wind. 62F

Totals

• 31
  Species observed

Observations

1. Canada Goose

   Number observed:40

2. Blue-winged Teal

   Number observed:2

3. Mallard

   Number observed:6

4. Mourning Dove

   Number observed:3

5. Sora

   Number observed:1

6. Killdeer

   Number observed:7

7. Ring-billed Gull

   Number observed:12

8. Double-crested Cormorant

   Number observed:1

9. Great Blue Heron

   Number observed:2

10. Great Egret

    Number observed:12

11. Red-tailed Hawk

    Number observed:1

12. Northern Flicker

    Number observed:2

13. Eastern Kingbird

    Number observed:1

14. American Crow

    Number observed:2

15. Tree Swallow

    Number observed:20

16. Barn Swallow

    Number observed:2

17. House Wren

    Number observed:1

18. Sedge Wren

    Number observed:1

19. Marsh Wren

    Number observed:1

20. American Robin

    Number observed:5

21. European Starling

    Number observed:2

22. Grasshopper Sparrow

    Number observed:2

23. Field Sparrow

    Number observed:2

24. Savannah Sparrow

    Number observed:2

25. Henslow's Sparrow

    Number observed:9

26. Song Sparrow

    Number observed:2

27. Bobolink

    Number observed:24

28. Eastern Meadowlark

    Number observed:2

29. Red-winged Blackbird

    Number observed:25

30. Common Grackle

    Number observed:12

31. Common Yellowthroat

    Number observed:4

https://ebird.org/bcn/view/checklist/S57181501

Thu 6 Jun 201912:05 PM

Location

Orland Grassland

OwnerGary Clinkman

Transect

• 1
• 3 hr
• 3 mi

Totals

• 41
  Species observed

Observations

1. Mallard

   Number observed:5

2. Mourning Dove

   Number observed:2

3. Chimney Swift

   Number observed:6

4. Great Blue Heron

   Number observed:1

5. Red-tailed Hawk

   Number observed:1

6. Downy Woodpecker

   Number observed:2

7. Eastern Wood-Pewee

   Number observed:1

8. Willow Flycatcher

   Number observed:3

9. Eastern Kingbird

   Number observed:4

10. Bell's Vireo

    Number observed:1

    Comments:It was singing next to the bike path, on the east side, right by the big dark green evergreen tree. It was in the shrubs by the tree. This is a block or more south on the bike path from the 175th entrance. There
    was one in this same location three years ago.

11. Warbling Vireo

    Number observed:3

12. Tree Swallow

    Number observed:2

13. House Wren

    Number observed:4

14. Sedge Wren

    Number observed:2

15. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

    Number observed:1

16. Eastern Bluebird

    Number observed:2

17. American Robin

    Number observed:22

18. Gray Catbird

    Number observed:2

19. Brown Thrasher

    Number observed:1

    Comments:In shrubs by the the bike path along 179th.

20. European Starling

    Number observed:2

21. Cedar Waxwing

    Number observed:1

22. American Goldfinch

    Number observed:5

23. Field Sparrow

    Number observed:6

24. Savannah Sparrow

    Number observed:1

25. Henslow's Sparrow

    Number observed:11

    Comments:males singing along Old Farm Road. Henslow's sparrows crowd into this part of the grassland because
    it wasn't burned this year. About a third of the site, to the north of here was burned. They don't go in the
    burned part right away but they will be in there by July, when the grasses have grown more. They will
    be more evenly distributed then.

26. Song Sparrow

    Number observed:11

27. Eastern Towhee

    Number observed:1

28. Bobolink

    Number observed:1

29. Eastern Meadowlark

    Number observed:7

30. Orchard Oriole

    Number observed:4

    Comments:males singing

31. Baltimore Oriole

    Number observed:5

    Comments:all males

32. Red-winged Blackbird

    Number observed:18

33. Brown-headed Cowbird

    Number observed:5

34. Common Grackle

    Number observed:20

35. Common Yellowthroat

    Number observed:6

36. Yellow Warbler

    Number observed:4

37. Northern Cardinal

    Number observed:5

38. Blue Grosbeak

    Number observed:1

    Comments:This was a female and it flew into a row of small poplar trees. Blue grosbeaks like shrub rows and these trees looked like a shrub row. This was along the bike path going east along 179th St. I think this
    one might be nesting. A juvenile was seen at the OG last summer by a large group. Two years ago a male was seen near where this female was.

39. Indigo Bunting

    Number observed:6

    Comments:males singing

40. Dickcissel

    Number observed:4

    Comments:males singing

41. House Sparrow

    Number observed:1

Thanks to Stephanie Beilke for providing this precious info!