Peanuts In My Pocket

My wife and I visited Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange on Saturday for our first birding trip there. We didn’t know what to expect, but “disappointed” isn’t quite the right word. When you go birding, you expect to see and hear birds. Instead, we saw very few, and none at all for the first hour. We heard a few bird calls, but far more jet engines as planes passed overhead on their way to John Wayne Airport.

The park is designed primarily for hiking, with 18 miles of well-maintained trails. Hikers, mountain bikers, and horses share most paths. Some trails are easy, while others look challenging. This isn’t a picnic-and-playground type of park; it caters to a more active crowd. Still, my wife and I felt welcome, safe, and at ease, even though we’re on the low end of the fitness scale.

Santiago Oaks Regional Park is a 1,269-acre natural haven nestled in east Orange, California, offering a diverse landscape of mountain vistas, mature forests, and a meandering creek. This secluded refuge provides a sense of escape from urban life. It’s open daily from 7:00 am to sunset. — Source

As far as birding goes, I can see the potential. I’m not sure why the birds were hiding, but it reminded me of a trip I once took to Suzhou, China. While walking in a large city park, I commented on the lack of birds. My guide laughed and said, “We never see birds in the city.” Santiago Oaks felt that empty.

Near the end of our visit, and in keeping with my theory that the best birds appear when I’m walking back to the car, I finally spotted an Oak Titmouse, several Scrub Jays, and an Acorn Woodpecker within 50 yards of the parking lot. Up to that point, I had seen only two other birds, not counting the Indian Peafowl and Turkey Vulture spotted just outside the park. Our visit was both disappointing and wonderful. I loved hiking the hills with my wife, though the experience would have been better without seven pounds of camera gear pulling at my neck.

We barely scratched the surface of the hiking options. With more time and some water, we could have explored far more of the park. I plan to return before the season changes, this time with a backpack for my gear, water, and mosquito repellent. I came home with a dozen itchy bites on my legs as a reminder.

The park does have a few amenities: a small two-room nature center and a playground, but not much beyond that. Staying on the trails is important since poison oak and ivy grow in abundance. We encountered plenty of friendly hikers and bikers, though no horses this time. A smile and a wave go a long way, the social aspect of the visit was genuinely enjoyable.

For the record, we saw an Acorn Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, House Finch, Bullock’s Oriole, Bushtits, and a Scrub Jay. We also heard Anna’s Hummingbirds (quite a few), California Thrasher, Scaly-breasted Munia, Song Sparrow, and California Towhee. You can see my full checklist if you’re interested.