2013-05-01 Santa Margarita River Trail

The Santa Margarita River flows out of Riverside County, draining a basin 30 miles long, and crosses south into San Diego County, then west across Camp Pendleton and out to sea just north of Oceanside California. North of the town of Fallbrook, the river flows through a relatively wild canyon system (for southern California at least).

Several foundations and government agencies contribute to the preservation and upkeep of the canyon and riverway here, including the hike-bike-horse trail I enjoyed on this Wednesday outing. I rode my bike, taking my camera and heavy gear upstream until I found a shaded location with calm water. It seemed like suitable place to meet the local feathered community, so I stepped off the trail, made myself small, and enjoyed the spring morning along the stream bed.

Birds I met on this expedition were Common Yellow-Throat, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Oak Titmouse, Northern Flicker, Bushtit, Western Wood-Pewee, Nuttall’s Woodpecker.