Tucked away within an urban setting in the small town of Lakeside (California) is a large pond called Lindo Lake. The lake is divided by a roadbed, giving the impression of two lakes. During dry months the upper section sometimes turns into a mudflat, but the lower section stays wet year-round. Surrounding the water are trails, lawns, trees, ball fields and other community facilities.
Lindo Lake is the only natural lake in San Diego County. Its water supply originally was Quail Creek, a small perennial stream with its basin nestled in the foothills to the east. In the 1960s, a dam was constructed upstream on the creek and cut off the lake from the traditional watershed. Today, the water source is urban runoff and storm water. The water quality isn’t what it once was.
Egrets and cormorants have nested here in past years, but their nest tree was cut a couple of years ago. I haven’t visited recently to see if the birds have found a new tree. Despite the ongoing degradations, this small lake continues to attract both residents and migrating birds. White Pelicans and Canada Geese are regular winter visitors. Waders and waterfowl are found here year-round. Shorebirds visit in winter. Occasionally some interesting and unusual passerines get reported here, so it’s a good idea to keep your eyes peeled.

Great-Tailed Grackle(Quiscalus mexicanus) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:12 15:49 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X4043-GreatTailedGrackle |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Canada Goose(Branta canadensis) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:12 15:51 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X4048-CanadaGoose |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Wood Duck(Aix sponsa) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:12 15:54 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4071-WoodDuck |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Wood Duck(Aix sponsa) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:12 15:55 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X4086-WoodDuck |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Black-Necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:21 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4169-BlackNeckedStilt |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:38 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X4176-Killdeer |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:45 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4192-SpottedSandPiper |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great-Tailed Grackle(Quiscalus mexicanus) |
Description: Molting bird at Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:50 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X4241-GreatTailedGrackle |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:56 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4282-BlackPhoebe |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: Caught in flight at Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 10:00 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X4321-GreatEgret |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Snowy Egret(Egretta thula) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 10:05 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X4340-SnowyEgret |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Wood Duck(Aix sponsa) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:14 17:56 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X8247-WoodDuck |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Cassin's Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:14 18:24 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X8363-CassinsKingbird |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Cassin's Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans) |
Description: Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:03:14 18:25 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X8370-CassinsKingbird |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Description: (Nycticorax nycticorax) Adult bird at Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County USA 2008-10-11. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:11 7:57 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: jcd2295BlackCrownedNightHeron |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias) |
Description: Successfully foraging at Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:11 8:58 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd2364GreatBlueHeron |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:14 10:27 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_1133Am.WhitePelican |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Long-Billed Dowitcher(Limnodromus scolopaceus) |
Description: (Limnodromus scolopaceus) Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County USA 2004-10-14. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:14 12:03 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/9.5, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_1219LongBilledDowitcher |
© 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:14 12:31 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/9.5, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_1227SpottedSandpiper |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside. San Diego County California USA 2004-10-14. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:14 12:45 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 460 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_1230GreatEgret |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
Description: Liondo Lake in Lakeside. San Diego County California USA 2004-10-14. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:14 13:10 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/9.5, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_1264Am.WhitePelican |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
Description: Liondo Lake in Lakeside. San Diego County California USA 2004-10-14. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:14 13:12 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/12.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_1274Am.WhitePelican |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Description: (Nycticorax nycticorax) Hunting Juvenile at Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County USA 2004-07-10. |
Date Taken: 2004:07:10 9:26 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_7049BlackCrownedNightHeron |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: Nest in Rookery. Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2004:07:10 10:36 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD_7068Rookery |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Tricolored Blackbird(Agelaius tricolor) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California. San Diego County 2004-08-12. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:12 11:52 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_8241-TriColoredBlackBird |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Tricolored Blackbird(Agelaius tricolor) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California. San Diego County 2004-08-12. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:12 11:52 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.5, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_8242-TriColoredBlackBird |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Tricolored Blackbird(Agelaius tricolor) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California. San Diego County 2004-08-12. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:30 18:04 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_8352TriColoredBlackBird |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Tricolored Blackbird(Agelaius tricolor) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California. San Diego County 2004-08-12. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:12 12:56 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_8357-TriColoredBlackBird |
© 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Canada Goose(Branta canadensis) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California 2008-10-11. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:11 9:17 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: jcd2412CanadaGoose |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Canada Goose(Branta canadensis) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California 2008-10-11. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:11 9:18 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd2432CanadaGoose |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Canada Goose(Branta canadensis) |
Description: Lindo Lake in Lakeside California 2008-10-11. |
Date Taken: 2008:10:11 9:26 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: jcd2480CanadaGoose |
© 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:48 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4219-VermilionFlyCatcher-Female |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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