The Tijuana River Valley has its own special locations dear to bird lovers. The Bird and Butterfly Gardens is one such place. It’s easy to see why. The river-course on the north side of the park provides a rich riparian habitat and the plants, trees and flowers on the garden grounds provide plenty of feeding opportunities for travel-weary birds and butterflies to take advantage of. There are several drips stationed throughout the park that can be popular with warblers, finches and other thirsty birds.
A wide variety of warblers, flycatchers, vireos, and sparrows and other migrating or resident birds make regular or seasonal visits here. A colony of loud and boisterous Black-Throated Magpie-Jays will make several stops throughout the day as they make their rounds through the Tijuana River Valley. This is one of the few reliable places in San Diego County where Common Ground Doves hang out.
I regularly stop by when I’m touring the Tijuana River Valley. Border Field and Dairy Mart Ponds are nearby.

Black-Throated Magpie-Jay(Calocitta colliei) |
Description: These exotic escapees have established a breeding colony near the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:02 9:02 |
Location:
Bird & Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X1883-BlackThroatedMagpieJay |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Throated Magpie-Jay(Calocitta colliei) |
Description: These exotic escapees have established a breeding colony near the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:07:02 9:10 |
Location:
Bird & Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X1923-BlackThroatedMagpieJay |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Goldfinch(Spinus tristis) |
Description: Foraging at the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County USA 2015-01-27. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 10:00 |
Location:
Bird & Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5587-AmericanGoldFinch |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Say's Phoebe(Sayornis saya) |
Description: The "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 10:08 |
Location:
Bird & Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X5608-SaysPhoebe |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe) |
Description: This east coast bird spent this winter at the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 10:14 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5630-EasternPhoebe |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus) |
Description: Resident in the area, this bird was seen at the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 10:38 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X5704-NorthernHarrier |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe) |
Description: This east coast bird spent this winter at the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 12:47 |
Location:
Bird & Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X5733-EasternPhoebe |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Cassin's Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans) |
Description: Resident in the area, this bird was seen at the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 12:59 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5844-CassinsKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Cassin's Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans) |
Description: Resident in the area, this bird was seen at the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 13:01 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5880-CassinsKingBird |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Goldfinch(Spinus tristis) |
Description: The "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:01:27 13:26 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5959-AmericanGoldFinch |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Cooper's Hawk(Accipiter cooperii) |
Description: The "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2015:02:01 9:24 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X6077-CoopersHawk |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Throated Magpie-Jay(Calocitta colliei) |
Description: At the Bird & Butterfly Garden in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, near Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:06:13 6:42 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X9297-BlackThroatedMagpieJay |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Throated Magpie-Jay(Calocitta colliei) |
Description: These exotic escapees have established a breeding colony near the "Bird and Butterfly Garden" in the Tijuana River Valley. Near San Ysidro, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 11:44 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 200 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D722857-BlackThroatedMagpieJay |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Tiger Swallowtail(Papilio rutulus) |
Description: A day at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:05 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D723030-WesternTigerSwallowTail-Butterfly |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Monarch Butterfly(Danaus plexippus) |
Description: A day at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:11 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D723149-Monarch-Butterfly |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Cooper's Hawk(Accipiter cooperii) |
Description: Juvenile bird at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:16 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D723176-CoopersHawk |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Monarch Butterfly(Danaus plexippus) |
Description: A day at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:24 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D723220-Monarch-Butterfly |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Orange Sulphur Butterfly(Colias eurytheme) |
Description: A day at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:43 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D723272-OrangeSulphur-Butterfly |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Viceroy Butterfly(Limenitis archippus) |
Description: A day at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:44 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D723276-Viceroy-Butterfly |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Viceroy Butterfly(Limenitis archippus) |
Description: A day at the Bird and Butterfly Garden, south of Imperial Beach along the Tijuana River. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2016:08:28 13:48 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: D723289-Viceroy-Butterfly |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher(Polioptila caerulea) |
Description: Possibly a resident bird in the Tijuana River Valley. This one was found at the The Bird and Butterfly Gardens, where numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:21 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlueGrayGnatcatcher_D5X7928-BirdButterflyGarden |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher(Polioptila caerulea) |
Description: Possibly a resident bird in the Tijuana River Valley. This one was found at the The Bird and Butterfly Gardens, where numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:22 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueGrayGnatcatcher_D5X7953-BirdButterflyGarden |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Orange-Crowned Warbler(Leiothlypis celata) |
Description: Possibly a resident bird in the Tijuana River Valley. This one was found at the The Bird and Butterfly Gardens, where numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:31 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: OrangeCrownedWarbler_D5X8139-BirdButterflyGarden |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Orange-Crowned Warbler(Leiothlypis celata) |
Description: The Bird and Butterfly Gardens, where these birds can enjoy numerous water drips. Many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:41 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: OrangeCrownedWarbler_D5X8241-BirdButterflyGarden |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
Description: An early migrating bird at one of the "must see" locations in the Tijuana River Valley is The Bird and Butterfly Gardens. Numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:30 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_D5X8066-BirdButterflyGarden |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Townsend's Warbler(Setophaga townsendi) |
Description: An early migrating bird at one of the "must see" locations in the Tijuana River Valley is The Bird and Butterfly Gardens. Numerous water drips and many trees and flowering bushes have been planted to provide nourishment for migrating birds. Tijuana River Valley, near Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2019:09:06 13:31 |
Location:
Bird and Butterfly Garden |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: TownsendsWarbler_D5X8114-BirdButterflyGarden |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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