Santa Cruz City Landfill
This site is officially the Resource Recovery Facility and Recycling Center. For a fee birders residing in Santa Cruz, Davenport, and Bonny Doon may enter this landfill on Dimeo Lane to dispose of refuse, and check out the birds as they do so. Sometimes a polite request at the entrance just to go in to look at the birds will be honored. Turn right on Dimeo Ln 2.7 miles from Western Dr to go to the landfill. Check for birds both along Dimeo Ln and at the landfill. Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Loggerhead Shrike, and Say’s Phoebe winter here. The landfill attracts many gulls, including Mew, Herring, Thayer’s, and Glaucous (rarely) in season, and Tricolored Blackbird is usually easy to find here during the non-breeding season.
Yellow Bank Beach
The small pocket beach is not the birding draw here, but walk in either direction along the top of the coastal bluffs for some interesting birding and fantastic views. Park in the long dirt parking lot on the ocean side of Hwy 1, 6.8 miles north of Western Drive (Santa Cruz), about 0.7 mile north of the Laguna Creek parking lot. From the end of the lot, cross the railroad tracks and walk up or down the coast. Going down the coast will bring you to a remnant patch of coastal prairie with nesting Savannah Sparrows and a fine patch of coastal scrub. This area offers a rare opportunity to observe Cliff Swallows actually nesting on cliffs.
Liddell Creek at Bonny Doon Road
Birding opportunities at Liddell Creek along Bonny Doon Rd are presently limited, but the riparian corridor and adjacent scrub-covered hillsides here in the lower canyon can be excellent in migration (especially fall) and the nesting season. However, bird along the road with caution; traffic moves fast here. Turn inland at Bonny Doon Rd, 7.6 miles north of Western Dr (Santa Cruz), and about 1.7 miles north of the Laguna Creek parking lot. Park at pullouts on the right 0.3 and 0.6 mile from Hwy 1. Search near the pullouts and walk both up and down the creek stream. Fruiting coffeeberry on the slope above the road may attract many birds in August and September. A remarkable number of vagrants have been found in this area, including Painted Bunting, Canada Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Green-tailed Towhee. An unmarked and often overgrown dirt road follows the East Branch of Liddell Creek upstream past a gate marked “no parking.” This offers a birdy walk for about 0.75 mile, but the weeds may be wet and watch for ticks.
Panther Beach
As at Yellow Bank Beach, the pocket beach is of secondary interest when birding at this spot. Walk the farm roads on the bluff tops to bird the cliffs and rocky shore and to scan the ocean. Park on the ocean side of Hwy 1, 8.3 miles north of Western Dr (Santa Cruz), or about 0.4 mile north of Bonny Doon Rd. An added attraction here is a chance to see Rock Pigeons nesting on the cliffs in their natural habitat. They almost look respectable.
Davenport Landing and El Jarro Point
These sites offer more rocky shore and bluffs, but also some excellent sea-watching and a willow thicket. Take Davenport Landing Rd from Hwy 1, 10 miles north of Western Dr (Santa Cruz), or 2.5 miles north of Bonny Doon Rd. Follow it a short way to a parking area beside the beach. Check the beach and excellent intertidal rock shelves to the north and south, as well as the willows and weeds inland of the parking area (good for migrants). El Jarro Pt, west of the beach, is one of the best sea-watching posts in the county, by virtue of its westward extension and its convenient elevation (about 60 feet) above the ocean. To get there, find the steep unmarked path that climbs the bluff at the northwest end of the beach parking area, then follow an overgrown agricultural road west along the bluff top for about 0.4 mile. Spring sea-watching has been especially productive here, producing even Laysan Albatross and Sabine’s Gull. Rhinoceros Auklet and Marbled Murrelet are often seen from here. Viewing is best in the first part of the morning, before the sea gets glary or the wind raises a chop.