Last Thursday, I visited Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim as part of the Bird Nerd Project. My main target was the Common Gallinule, a bird that’s been showing up in recent eBird reports from the adjacent Santa Ana River Trail. As always, I was also hoping to spot any new species for my count.
From a “lifer” perspective, the trip was a bust, but it was a rewarding morning in many other ways.
Field Notes
- Location: Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim & Santa Ana River Trail
- Target species: Common Gallinule
- Time/Conditions: 8:30 a.m., overcast, hot, and humid
Route and River Noise
My friend Al recommended parking near the baseball fields. It’s free and gives direct access to the river trail. My plan was to walk the trail while it was still relatively cool, then loop back through the park, maybe three or four miles total, depending on how much I wandered.
Initially, I headed north but quickly turned south toward Imperial Highway after spotting six large birds perched on the power lines. I couldn’t ID them at first, but they turned out to be Double-crested Cormorants. The river was full of them, but between the overcast skies and sunrise glare, everything was silhouetted. I only managed what I call “ID photos”; usable for identification, but not much else.
As I walked, the ever-present noise of the 91 Freeway caught up with me. My Apple Watch started alerting me to sustained noise levels above 95 dB, peaking at 98. I hadn’t realized just how loud it was. I noticed a few hikers wearing earplugs, so I put mine in too. It helped, but dulled my ability to hear birdsong. I compensated by using Merlin Bird ID’s sound identification feature, which initially only picked up Killdeer. I wasn’t seeing them, until I finally did. Those birds are tricky.
Trail Tips and Conditions
The Santa Ana River Trail has no amenities. No water. No shade. No restrooms. But the adjacent park has well-maintained public bathrooms and water fountains. I didn’t bring water with me, and I should have. Lesson learned.
Even on an overcast day, the sun exposure was intense. I wore my Tilley hat, long-sleeve fishing shirt, and sunscreen on my face and legs, but I still ended up dehydrated and overheated by the time I re-entered the park. Afternoon birding here would be brutal, especially for us gingers.
Highlights Along the River
Despite the discomfort, the birding was excellent. I recorded 21 species and 118 individual birds. The highlight was a large flock of Wood Ducks. I’d only seen a single male once before, so spotting a dozen or more flying in together was a memorable moment.
Other notables included:
- Killdeer
- Spotted Sandpipers
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Barn Swallows
- Egyptian Geese with goslings
The diversity and activity made the river trail worth the effort.
Inside the Park: Quieter, But Still Rewarding
I took a break when I entered the park and chatted with a few visitors. My camera and lens always spark conversations. I try to steer the talk toward birding, especially hard-to-find species like owls or raptors. Everyone emphasized how peaceful the park is on weekdays and how it becomes a zoo on weekends. I believe it. The place is beautiful and clearly beloved.
My birding within the park itself was less productive: 10 species and 63 individuals, most of them Mallards and Canada Geese. But I did manage to photograph a Common Yellowthroat in a marshy patch. That bird was my first find of 2025, so seeing one again felt meaningful.
Conservation and Photography Notes
From a conservation perspective, Yorba Park gets high marks. I noticed:
- Nesting boxes along the entire river trail
- Bluebird nesting boxes throughout the park
- Clearly marked protected zones where birds can nest or rest undisturbed
From a photography standpoint, the visit was frustrating. Lighting was poor. The overcast skies and sun angle made river shots difficult, and the haze made shooting into trees nearly impossible. Most of my photos won’t make the cut.
Final Thoughts: I’ll Be Back (With Water)
Even though I didn’t get a new species, I plan to return, next time in October, during the late afternoon. The sun will be better positioned for photography, and fall migration should increase both the number and variety of birds.
Birding Checklists
- Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim
- Upper Santa Ana River (Imperial to Yorba Linda Blvd)
Peanuts In My Pocket 
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