Tijuana River Slough and Estuary

The Tijuana River Estuary is the southwestern most part of San Diego County, of California, and of the entire United States. It shoulders up to the border wall separating Mexico and the United States. If you search on Google Maps, you can even see where the border wall extends way out into the ocean, and happens to be in an area with rip currents and dangerous swimming conditions, though I am sure many people have tried to swim from Mexico to the US or vice versa. It is a beautiful area, and one of those fascinating spaces where you can see the delineation between the countries so clearly. It also happens to be an essential stopover area for many bird species traveling all along the west coast - in some cases, all the way from Canada down to Peru, as in the case of the Elegant Tern.

Facing South. Trail leading out to the marshlands, an excellent place for birdwatching. On top of the hill in the distance is the border wall.

Over 370 species of birds have been recorded here!

Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor).

A sewage pipe used to lay across these wooden stands and extend all the way to the ocean.

California fuchsia (Epilobium canum), a species of willowherb native to California.

Whimbrels! (Numenius phaeopus) In spring, these birds fly all the way to northern Alaska to breed.

Snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) in flight.

Snowy egret (Egretta thula)

The best part of the hike may have been the cat a couple was carrying in a clear backpack with a little hole where it’s head could stick out. Good kitty!