I’m relatively new to birding. I started my current project last Thanksgiving, and since then, I’ve managed to capture 133 species by visiting local parks, rivers, ponds, and beaches. Today, I visited El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach for my monthly birding check-in.
I started birding informally as a kid, but since taking things seriously, I return to this park at least once a month. To borrow a term from disc golf, locals and birders often call it Eldo.” Unfortunately, it’s the peak of Second Summer here in Los Angeles, and the birds are doing everything they can to avoid the heat. I saw very few birds, and nothing new.
What is Second Summer?
L.A. gets brutally hot from late August through September, sometimes even into October. It’s our fire season and also when the Santa Ana winds kick up. Think: 100+ degrees, humidity, and 30mph winds. Not pleasant.
Field Notes
- Location: El Dorado Regional Park, Long Beach
- Target Species: None — this was a general count visit.
- Time/Conditions: 8:30 a.m., sunny, hot, and humid.
- Checklists:
Where Are the Birds?
Something’s been bothering me about El Dorado Park: it should have more birds than it does.
I know waterfowl numbers will rise in the months ahead during peak migration, but most of the year it feels sparse. I had a good visit in August, with loads of Great-tailed Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Western Bluebirds. But on this trip, they were all but gone. I only found a few grackles near the duck pond at El Dorado Park West (off North Studebaker Road near the golf course), and not many inside the park itself.
I started birding in Area II, across from the Nature Center. I checked a few key lake viewpoints for herons and waterfowl and then hit my usual hot spots for flocks. It was slim pickings, mostly Mallards, Canada Geese, and Greylag hybrids.
I moved on to Area III, which usually has fewer birds. That trend continued. Once again: lots of Canada and Greylag geese, not much else.
Both areas are walkable, and I usually spend about an hour exploring each on foot. But today, with the temperature north of 95 and climbing, I stuck to walking from one patch of shade to another. Not that it mattered, the birds were hiding. The ones that couldn’t hide simply stood in the shade like me, waiting for relief.
The Eldo Effect
I have a few theories about Eldo.
First, I never visit on weekends. The place becomes a zoo, with crowds, loud music, and trash everywhere. The chaos drives birds away and feeds the local squirrels instead. Did I mention the squirrels? I’m convinced there’s one under every tree.
Second, Mondays are their own problem. Trash pickup lags a day, and Monday mornings are a grim reminder that El Dorado Park sits in a densely populated city. Very few visitors follow the “leave no trace” principle that most birders embrace. I end up picking up loose trash just to stay sane.
Area III also includes a model airplane field, which is loud, and frequently in use. Next to it is a police-operated shooting range. When both are active, it sounds like a war zone. I get that it’s a big park, but between the RC aircraft and the gunfire, I can’t help but wonder how many birds are scared off.
Wrapping Up at the Duck Pond
I finished the day at El Dorado Park East, at the duck pond. It’s like shooting ducks in a barrel… literally. I parked adjacent to the pond and counted 50 birds within 75 feet of my car. I snapped a few photos before even getting out.
If you want a Black-crowned Night Heron, this is your spot. I see at least five every visit. Alongside them were Mallards, Canada Geese, a few interesting gulls, and some Spotted Sandpipers.
It’s a productive little corner of the park, but it can feel sketchy. The area often has homeless car campers and occasional panhandlers. I tend to stay in the visible, open parts of the lot and don’t linger long.
On Days Like This…
On birding days like today, I try to come away with at least one good photo. Even that was a struggle. I got one image I like and another I might use for a future project. But honestly, the heat won today. I mostly wanted to finish my count and go hide in a cave like Gollum beneath the Misty Mountains.
Wait… this is Long Beach. The best we’ve got is Signal Hill. I’ll pass.
Final Tips for Birding Eldo
If you plan to visit El Dorado Regional Park, go early and aim for a weekday (but not Monday). The Nature Center is a good starting point—it has hummingbird feeders and well-maintained trails along lakes and streams. I’ve had good luck there before, especially near the hidden lake tucked inside the center’s trail system.
The birds will return. So will I.
Peanuts In My Pocket 
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