Lake Los Carneros Park
California · Southwest
Easy
October-May
Free
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
About This Location
Lake Los Carneros Park is a productive birding destination in California, with 276 species recorded on eBird. This lake and urban park habitat attracts Gadwall, Mallard, and Ruddy Duck among many others. The unique desert and riparian habitats support specialty species alongside wintering and migrating birds.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Least Bittern
Botaurus exilis
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Anna's x Costa's Hummingbird (hybrid)
Calypte anna x costae
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Common Ground Dove
Columbina passerina
Cassin's Vireo
Vireo cassinii
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
Greater Scaup
Aythya marila
Swinhoe's White-eye
Zosterops simplex
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
Sora
American Coot
Ring-billed Gull
Western Gull
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Acorn Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Birding Tips
- 1
Scan the water surface methodically for diving ducks, loons, and grebes.
- 2
Check the shoreline and mudflats for shorebirds and wading birds.
- 3
Carry extra water and sun protection; mornings are the prime birding window.
- 4
A spotting scope is essential here — many waterbirds stay far from shore and are difficult to identify with binoculars alone.
- 5
Winter months bring peak waterfowl diversity — visit November through February for the best duck and goose viewing.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Stow House
- Goleta Butterfly Grove
- UCSB Campus Lagoon
More in California
California Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in California →