San Diego this week.... Suggestions?

I'm headed out to San Diego this week on business but i hope to sneak in a little shooting. Any suggestions on places this time of year?

Lots to shoot there Scott. What are you looking to photograph?

Birds no particular species.

If you are interested in Brown Pelicans Check out La Jolla. Here is a website you can find some information from.
http://www.oceanlight.com/log/la-jolla- ... icans.html

Also in the La Jolla area you can photograph Seals. Here is a link to a pdf that shows some information.
http://www.calphoto.com/clpc/seals.pdf

I would say the pelicans are best photographed in the morning and the seals are best photographed in the evening.

Rodney

It might be a bit early for the pelicans in La Jolla. While you might find some there, January is probably the best time. Right now, any pelicans there would be just putting on breeding plumage, and could look pretty ratty.

I've had luck with shorebirds further down the beach in La Jolla from the Children's Pool (see seal link above). Also, you might find some along the San Diego River mouth, and in Mission Bay. I honestly have no idea what's there now (usually go in winter), but Santee Lakes might also be worth hitting up. Its about 15 miles east of SD proper, and could be blisteringly hot.

You might also have fun with birds at the SD Zoo. Just a thought, especially if you've got kids in tow.

Scott - This time of year is probably the low point as far as photo,ing birds in San Diego area. That said, I would try Wild Animal park East of SD at least there are a lot of critters that stay there all year and some exotic one`s .I have always enjoyed going there no matter what time of the year it is. I am here all week myself and if you care to meet I can show you some of the areas . I can be reached more easily at 510-325-6403 or email < armstronginspections@yahoo.com>.Jeff A.

The Pelican location is now fenced off and not accessible like it used to be. They won't be in good plumage till December and January anyway.

Lake Hodges is great for some of the local species like Oak Titmouse, Acorn Woodpecker, Bushtit, Nuttall's Woodpecker.

I'd check out the San Diego River Flood Control Channel near Rob Field in Ocean Beach. Lots of shorebirds to photograph as well as heron, gulls, and other water birds.

The new drip at Cabrillo National Monument is worth a visit. You can find migrants and local species coming in for water. There are breeding parrots in neighborhoods heading up to the monument that are worth looking for too.

Good luck.

Terry, when I was down there last, the gate in the fence was generally unlocked so I could open it and pass on through. Barring that, I just hop the fence.

Scott: Greg and Terry are right, the pelicans won't be in good plumage for a few more months. Dec-Mar is the best time.

Cheers,

Phil

Scott, I just realized I sent an email with some suggestions to another fellow recently, and some of those suggestions might work for you too. Here goes:

====================================================

October, not sure what to recommend.
You could try shooting the pelicans in La Jolla, but I just don't
think their winter plumage will be there so they will look pretty
ugly. However, if you want to shoot pelicans, here is some info
that should get you started:

http://www.oceanlight.com/Photographing ... _Jolla.pdf

Another idea is to shoot at the San Diego Zoo. If you do that, I
suggest getting there when it opens, since the crowds are minimized
that way. I've had OK luck shooting at the zoo, but have only
done it twice. You will want to hand hold your camera there, I
think a tripod or monopod attracts too much attention.

Most of the shooting I have to recommend is best at sunset,
rather than early in the day. Its just what I have found
works here. If you can shoot at sunset,
there are some drop dead easy
photos you can get of the San Diego skyline that can be really
nice. You can shoot it from Harbor Island:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=22255

or from Coronado Island:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=22254

or from the end of Point Loma:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=22248

You can usually do two of those spots, but not all three,
while the light is good. You'll get one spot when the
sun is just setting, and then the other spot while there
is still twilight to balance the city lights.

Another easy and nice late shoot photo op is to shoot
the tall seacliffs at Torrey Pines State Park in the last
hour of daylight, provided the tide is LOW (at high tide
the beach shrinks too much). For example:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=22435

Again, at sunset or thereabouts, you could visit UCSD
and shoot the library building:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=14784

Balboa Park is adjacent to the San Diego Zoo (a few
hundred yards apart).
Balboa Park has lots of museums, some of which are
pretty attractive, the botanical building and its
koi pond are the most famous:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=14578

Lastly, you can shoot at the Birch Aquarium (at
Scripps Institute of Oceanography). Best time is
right when it opens, to have the least crowds. Here
are a couple:

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=10308
http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=12885

Or any of the several piers can be shot at twilight
with good results (requires a tripod though, you can
borrow mine):

http://www.oceanlight.com/spotlight.php?img=14628

Phil has some good recommendations. Santee Lakes is a fabulous location and my favorite spot for ducks in San Diego. I find morning the best since you can get some beautiful color reflections in the water. Lake 4 is my favorite and has the best "color". There is at least one Mandarin that calls it home. A few shots can be found in my Wildlife gallery (accessed through the link in my signature). The first three were from the weekend before last and includes the Mandarin. This will give you an idea of the beautiful colored reflections you will find (created by little islands and their trees). There's a ton of birds to shoot there, including kingfishers, terns, osprey, wood ducks, the aforementioned mandarin, cormorants, egrets, herons, and many others. A veritable gold mine of photographic opportunities.

Thanks for the info guys, I do appreciate it.

...as someone who is just moving to the San Diego area, I woudl like to add my thanks. I will steal shamelessly. Hope to see you out in the near future and thanks for the suggestions. Now just got to get some decent shots!