30 | OHCC LIVING | APRIL 2021 |
Birdwatchers
Kit Carson Park in Escondido is at a relatively easy
location to view wintering ducks close up. The park is
located five minutes from the I-15 at the Via Rancho
Parkway exit. A short walk from the parking lot to
the Sand Pond will reveal several different ducks.
Benches will let you watch not only the ducks but
various other birds visiting the pond. Throughout
the park are walking/hiking trails, shaded and
covered picnic tables, barbecues, and restrooms.
The wintering ducks found here included the ring-
necked, Ruddy, American wigeons, and canvasbacks.
Other birds that can be seen include mallards, egrets,
great blue heron, belted kingfisher, gulls, pied-billed
grebe, and spotted sandpiper to name a few. There
are many other species so bring your binoculars.
This year an uncommon visitor for San Diego was
the American redstart, a warbler that stayed around
for a few weeks. The numbers and species of birds
will change throughout the year so it is fun to visit
the pond more than once.
