I’ve only visited Mission Trails Regional Park a few times, but enjoyed each one of my stays. My introduction was in the spring of 2009, when the San Diego Natural History Museum organized a BioBlitz at the park. It was only the second time the museum put a BioBlitz together. In 2008, the first BioBlitz was at Balboa Park. My birding partner for these events was Phil Unitt; pretty good company I have to say. The day ended with me exhausted from hoisting my heavy camera gear and trying to keep up with Phil, and word filtering to the team about a Snow Bunting at Robb Field, which was the 500th documented species for the county. I was too pooped to take the run to Robb Field with the rest of the team that day, but I managed a visit a couple of days later.
The park encompasses 7,220 acres and provides a variety of habitats within its boundaries. Coastal sage-chaparral, open grassland, and riparian woods dominate most of the park. The San Diego River drains the valley and hard-rock geology forces the water to the surface, providing streams and pools to quench the thirsts of wildlife.
The images below are all from the May 2009 BioBlitz.
Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis) |
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Description: Breeding male on Kumeyaay Lake. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 13:53 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: jcd6871.RuddyDuck |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia) |
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Description: Resident at Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:07 12:39 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: jcd6882.SongSparrow |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Bullfrog(Rana catesbeiana) |
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Description: San Diego River, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 14:20 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/90 |
File Name: jcd6925.BullFrog |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Coot(Fulica americana) |
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Description: New coot family on Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 14:25 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: jcd6950.AmericanCoot |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Coot(Fulica americana) |
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Description: New coot chick on Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 14:26 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: jcd6964.AmericanCoot |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American Coot(Fulica americana) |
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Description: New coot family on Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 14:27 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: jcd7008.AmericanCoot |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans) |
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Description: Unlucky for the damsel fly, good luck for the bird. San Diego River, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 16:00 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: jcd7031.BlackPhoebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
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Description: San Diego River, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:06 17:36 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd7048.GreatEgret |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias) |
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Description: San Diego River, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:06 17:30 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: jcd7062.GreatBlueHeron |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pied-Billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps) |
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Description: Juvenile at Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 16:17 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd7065.PiedBilledGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 16:23 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd7087.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pied-Billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps) |
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Description: Mother and child at Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 16:47 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: jcd7116.PiedBilledGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
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Description: Curious bird. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 17:35 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: jcd7192.BewicksWren |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bewick's Wren(Thryomanes bewickii) |
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Description: Curious bird. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 17:35 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: jcd7195.BewicksWren |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus) |
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Description: Resident bird at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:01 18:40 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: jcd7253.SpottedTowhee |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus) |
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Description: Migrant passing through Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 7:33 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd7287.BlackHeadedGrosBeak |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura) |
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Description: Catching the early morning sun at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 7:38 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd7297.MourningDove |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Grasshopper Sparrow(Ammodramus savannarum) |
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Description: A lucky encounter with an elusive bird at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 9:15 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd7354.GrassHopperSparrow |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Grasshopper Sparrow(Ammodramus savannarum) |
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Description: A lucky encounter with an elusive bird at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 9:15 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd7380.GrassHopperSparrow |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena) |
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Description: A seasonal breeding bird at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 9:31 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd7392.LazuliBunting |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Female bird at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 10:12 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: jcd7436.BlackChinnedHummingBird |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Black-Chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri) |
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Description: Female bird at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 10:13 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd7444.BlackChinnedHummingBird |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue Grosbeak(Passerina caerulea) |
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Description: Pairing up at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 10:30 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd7463.BlueGrosBeak |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Rufous-Crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps) |
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Description: Year-round resident at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 10:43 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: jcd7474.RufousCrownedSparrow |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Tarantula Hawk Wasp(Hemipepsis spp.) |
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Description: Posessing one of the worst stings known to man, it is best to give this large wasp a wide berth. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 10:50 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd7482.PepsisWasp |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Whiptail(Aspidoscelis tigris) |
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Description: Female! How do I know? there are no males of this species. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 11:29 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: jcd7512.WesternWhipTailLizard |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Double-Crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus) |
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Description: Drying its wings at Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 13:17 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: jcd7558.DoubleCrestedCormorant |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
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Description: Begging juvenile bird found during BioBlitz 2009. Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 13:49 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd7593.RedWingedBlackBird |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
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Description: Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 14:02 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: jcd7612.RedWingedBlackBird |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Pied-Billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps) |
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Description: Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 14:14 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd7616.PiedBilledGrebe |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
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Description: Kumeyaay Lake, Mission Trails Regional Park, near Santee, California in San Diego County 2009-05-01. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:02 14:40 |
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Location:
Mission Trails Regional Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd7623.RedWingedBlackBird |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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