I made the drive down to La Jolla for a birding trip. I’ve been to the area a few times in my life, but to be honest, I never really enjoyed it in the past, mostly due to the crowds. Birding wasn’t on my mind back then. We did the usual tourist activities, enjoyed the local hotels, and took advantage of the area’s excellent food options, but it always came with the kind of dense crowds you’d expect at a Southern California attraction.
Since I try to avoid crowds when birding, I was skeptical about this trip.
What changed? I spotted a deep red dot on the eBird hotspot map, La Jolla Cove. After reading a few trip reports, it was clear that several species I still needed were regulars in the area. Now that I’m retired, I can travel on my own schedule and at my own pace. La Jolla on a Friday morning was surprisingly empty. And the birds… good lord, did I underestimate the number of birds I would see. It felt like stepping into a nature documentary.
The Destination: Ellen Browning Scripps Park
My target was Ellen Browning Scripps Park, which overlooks La Jolla Cove and is a featured location in San Diego’s annual birding festival. An early wake-up and a long drive didn’t seem like too high a price, especially for the chance to finally photograph the elusive Pelagic Cormorant, a bird I’ve been chasing for six months.
Cormorants, Chaos, and a Bit of Luck
The day before, I had just photographed a Brandt’s Cormorant for the first time during my Newport Pier and Wedge trip. I expected to see a few more at La Jolla, but I saw hundreds. They were everywhere, and finding the Pelagic Cormorant among them felt like an impossible “Where’s Waldo” challenge.
I began snapping photos as soon as I stepped out of the car, hoping I could sort them later and spot the Pelagic in post-processing. But as I walked north along the shoreline, the sheer number of cormorants quickly overwhelmed that plan.
Then, a bit of dumb luck kicked in: the very first cormorant I photographed, just steps from my car, turned out to be the only Pelagic Cormorants I saw all day. It was sitting alone, apart from the large Brandt’s group. If I hadn’t gotten them then, I likely wouldn’t have gotten them at all.
Brown Pelicans, Sea Lions, and Surprise at Every Turn
We also saw a massive population of Brown Pelicans—I estimated around 250, though my wife thought it could have been 25% more. Besides the hundreds roosting on the rock ledges and beaches, many were flying overhead, creating a chaotic, majestic spectacle. It was thrilling. We were in heaven.
My wife especially enjoyed the sea lions and harbor seals, which occupied every rocky outcropping and sandy beach. What we loved most about the experience was that each step revealed something new and unexpected. I kept looking around thinking, “How is this possible?” I’m sure my wife felt the same way. It was a magical morning.
Highlights, Stats, and a Step Closer to My Goal
Highlights from this trip include two new species:
- Pelagic Cormorant
- Black Turnstone
In total, I saw 15 species and an estimated 650 individual birds, and likely missed dozens more. I also managed to snap a photo of the view that I’m proud of, and a great shot of sea lions at rest.
Birding Checklist:
I’m now at 133 birds identified and photographed for the Bird Nerd Project, with a few months left to hit my goal of 150 species by Thanksgiving. I think I can get there, but I’m counting on the fall migration to push me over the hump.
If you have any favorite birding spots in Southern California, please share them in the comments below!
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