Wildlife and Birdwatching

A bird of prey soaring in the sky with wings spread wide.
A bobcat sitting in dry grass, looking intently at the camera.
A deer standing amidst green foliage and rocks in a natural setting.
Three raccoons climbing a tree at night, eyes glowing.
A coyote jumping over a small ditch in a grassy area.
A wild turkey standing on grass with autumn leaves around.
A white heron wading in a marsh with dry grass, reflected in the water.
A Canadian goose flapping its wings on water.
A heron standing on a rock by the water.
A black and blue-striped snake is coiled near some green grass and brown rocks on the ground.
Two birds flying in a clear blue sky, one large and one small.
A bird perched on a tree stump with its beak open, possibly singing or calling, in a natural setting.
A bald eagle flying over water with wings spread.
A bird of prey soaring in the sky with wings spread wide.
A bobcat sitting in dry grass, looking intently at the camera.
A deer standing amidst green foliage and rocks in a natural setting.
Three raccoons climbing a tree at night, eyes glowing.
A coyote jumping over a small ditch in a grassy area.
A wild turkey standing on grass with autumn leaves around.
A white heron wading in a marsh with dry grass, reflected in the water.
A Canadian goose flapping its wings on water.
A heron standing on a rock by the water.
A black and blue-striped snake is coiled near some green grass and brown rocks on the ground.
Two birds flying in a clear blue sky, one large and one small.
A bird perched on a tree stump with its beak open, possibly singing or calling, in a natural setting.
A bald eagle flying over water with wings spread.

Lake Cuyamaca is a premier destination for both serious and casual wildlife and bird watchers and photographers. The lake is surrounded on three sides by the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and is three miles west of the desert rim and Anza Borrego State Park. ​

Deer abound around the lake and can readily be seen in the State Park meadows just south of the lake virtually any early morning or early evening. Counts as high as 30 to 40 are common.

The same areas will have bobcats, coyotes, skunks and raccoons providing better entertainment than can be seen on any nature show on TV.

There is no better area for wildlife watching in California.​

Birders are drawn to Lake Cuyamaca because of the large variety of birds from desert, mountain, chaparral and aquatic habitats.

In fact, San Diego County has recorded over 475 bird species, more than any other county in the U.S.

Since the Cedar Fire, the bird variety and count may vary, but the following checklist will give you an idea of the bird species that visit the area during the year.​

Loons and Grebes Larks and Swallows
Cormorants Crows and Jays
Bitterns and Herons Chickadees, Titmice and Bushtits
Swans, Geese and Ducks Nuthatches and Creepers
American Vultures Wrens
Kites, Eagles and Hawks Gnatcatchers and Kinglets
Falcons Thrushes and Solitaires
Pheasants, Turkey and Quail Wrentits
Rails, Gallinules and Coots Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Plovers Pipit
Sandpipers Waxwings and Silky Flycatchers
Gulls and Terns Shrikes
Pigeons and Doves Starlings and Vireos
Cuckoos and Roadrunners Wood Warblers
Owls Tanagers
Nightjars and Swifts Grosbeaks, Finches and Sparrows
Hummingbirds Juncos
Kingfishers Blackbirds and Orioles
Woodpeckers Larks and Finches
Tyrant Flycatchers Old World Sparrows