Whether you’re an avid birder or just getting into Birdwatching, you may ask yourself, “Where are the best birding spots in the South Bay of Los Angeles?” You may have even thought, “Hey, Matty knows birding and photography! I bet that MFer knows a thing, or two, about the birding spots around town.”. Maybe you’re a South Bay Local. Maybe you’re a traveler. Regardless you deserve all the help that you can get in finding your next lifer in the beach cities of Los Angeles. Luckily, I have compiled a list to help point you in the right direction(s). This list is not the end-all-be-all, it is not definitive, and it may even be updated at some point. But in my few years of birding in the South Bay, I have seen hundreds of birds of numerous species. With so many birding patches nearby there is enough variety to keep my interest in birding going while putting in minimal effort. Just the way I like it. Simple.
Birds of all feathers flock to the South Bay during migration season while others hang around year-round. Our coastal waters and sands are the ideal feeding grounds for everything from cute Sandpipers to scavenging Gulls, to predatory Osprey.
Black-Crowned Night-Heron Hermosa Beach Pier. Nikon D3400.
Allen’s Hummingbird South Cost Botanic Garden Nikon D3400.
Beyond the ocean, there are numerous parks and gardens where you can find anything from the basic Mallard Duck to the Great Blue Heron.
(The photos for this article were all captured using either my Nikon D3400 or my Nikon Z6. On both cameras, I utilize my Nikkor AF-P 70-300mm lens. On my Z6 I also used the Nikon FTZ II Adapter which allows me to use all of my Nikon F mount lenses on my Z series Camera. All are relatively affordable and have much to offer the entry-level bird photographer. Link’s below direct through my Amazon Affiliate page and help fund TheBlackWarehouse.com)
Gear used for this article:
In no particular order here are my top 5 birding spots in the South Bay of Los Angeles:
#1 The South Coast Botanic Garden.
Red Shouldered Hawk at the South Coast Botanic Garden. Shot on Nikon Z6.
The South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes is, as the kids say, “frfr ong no cap the most fire birding spot IMO.” Translation for readers who are 30+. The South Coast Botanic Garden is my number one birding patch. If you read only this far and get bored you will walk away from this article with GOLD. It is built on a former landfill and you do have to pay a minimal fee to enter, but once you get through the gates you will find that the benefits far outweigh the cost of entry. The hummingbird spotting alone could keep me occupied for hours. I have also seen everything here from the Great Horned Owl and Multiple Hawk Species to the American Robin, American Goldfinch, Bullocks Oriole, and one of my all-time favorites the California Scrub Jay. My other favorite bird the ELUSIVE Mitred Parakeet also makes a group appearance in the garden from time to time, but they are usually up too high for me to get a good shot of them. I’m not saying I’d drop upwards of $1000 for a stronger zoom lens just to guarantee a good shot of my beloved feral parrots, but the thought has definitely crossed my mind more than once.
The South Coast Botanic Garden is open every day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(last entry is at 4:30 PM) and located at
26300 Crenshaw Boulevard
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
Tel: (424) 452-0920
#2 The Madrona Marsh.
Great Egret shot at Madrona Marsh. Nikon D3400.
If the South Coast Botanic Garden was smaller, marshier, and in the middle of a busy Torrance throughway then it would be the Madrona Marsh. Just because the Madrona Marsh isn’t as sprawling and seemingly off the grid as the South Coast Botanic Garden, don’t let that deter you from taking in the abundance of birding to be had here. At a very affordable $Free.99 one can enjoy a well-kept marsh preserve in the middle of a bustling city! During the rainy season, the Madrona Marsh gets literally swamped with water birds. There are all sorts of ducks from the run-of-the-mill Mallard to the Cinnamon Teal. The migratory American Wigeon and Great Egret can be seen in the winter. While Killdeers patrol whatever available water is to be had throughout the year, American Goldfinches, Common Yellowthroats, and the beautiful Mourning Dove can be found in the trees and shrubs.
The Madrona Marsh Preserve is located at:
3201 Plaza del Amo
Torrance, CA 90505
and as of this writing the hours are:
Tues - Thurs, 10AM - 3PM
Fridays, 10AM - 4PM
Saturdays, 10AM - 5PM
#3 Polliwog Park
Polliwog Park, in Manhattan Beach, was made famous when Black Flag played their now legendary Concert in the Park. But Polliwog has matured beyond its hardcore & punk phase. Now it hosts such acts as Breeding season (spring) Canadian Geese and their chicks. Additionally one can see flycatchers such as the Black Phoebe or its wintering cousin the Say’s Phoebe. Sparrows, Mallard Ducks, and Western Blue Birds can also be spotted at the park. Watch out during the rainy season as the pond tends to overflow and the grass can become a bit soggy. The similarly inhabited Alondra Park, in Torrance, is worth a visit if you’re on the hunt for nesting Geese and the trail of chicks that follow them around. While not birds there are also plenty of squirrels, turtles, and the occasional bunny to be seen at Polliwog Park.
Polliwog Park is located at:
1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Alondra Park is located at:
3850 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Lawndale, CA 90260
Canada Geese and some Chicks. Polliwog Park. Nikon D3400.
#4 South Bay Shore/Any of the Piers.
Sandpiper on the Hermosa Beach Shore. Nikon Z6.
This one low-key feels like a cop-out. It is almost too obvious, the shores of the South Bay and the piers of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach are prime-time bird-watching spots. Redondo’s King Harbor alone has shown me Ospreys, Great Blue Herons, Belted King Fishers, American Pelicans, and numerous Gulls. If you start at one pier and make your way on the sand towards the next you will likely see dolphins or seals out in the surf. And if you weren’t tracking your steps before you will now, because the sand adds even more exercise to every bird-lurking step you take. The wintertime is probably best suited for birding, however, be cautious of the weather. The wind and water could damage your camera. The beaches will have fewer people and thus more birding opportunities, but the possibility of cold wind and spraying ocean mists cannot be underestimated. Dress and pack accordingly should you choose to partake in this beautiful trek down the South Bay Shore.
I’d say start here and move northward until you can’t anymore:
Fisherman's Wharf,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
#5 Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
An Osprey AKA A Seahawk at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Nikon D3400.
Last but certainly not least, and if you’ve made it this far congratulate yourself, because You.Are.A.NERD. and that’s just facts, homie. Cap? There is none. You cared enough about birding spots in the South Bay that you’ve read through a list compiled by me, a certified bird brain. And that’s cool. I’m happy for you. Or sorry that it happened. Either way, we’re here together for the remainder of this article. That being said…
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve/Wetlands isn’t exactly South Bay. However, it is a beach and that counts for something on this list of MY favorite birding spots in my general vicinity. Bolsa Chica is by far the best birding spot in my area. It is a short, short drive down the way from the South Bay. It could be 35 minutes away with no traffic, or it could be an hour and ten. But who’s counting? There are birds out the ass at this spot. EVERYTHING. Raptors, shore birds, migratory waders. Buffleheads! LFGOOOO! You name it they’ve got it. There are rumors of a White-Faced Ibis inhabiting the wetlands. I think I saw it once, but it may have been an even more elusive Tri-Colored Heron taking a break during the brutal migration season. I was too far away for a positive ID, I just know it was wild looking! Do you like Terns? I do too. They’ve got their share and everyone else’s share of Terns at Bolsa Chica. They even have a gated area where the Terns, and I’m sure other shorebirds, do their nesting. I’ve seen Turkey Vultures devouring a gull carcass. I’ve seen a Merlin! And one day, on their instagram, they posted a sea turtle that had made its way into the waters!
ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME?!
Why are you still reading this?! Let’s go, I’ll meet you there in an hour.
Bolsa Chica is free to enter and I am pretty sure parking was free as well. It is by far my favorite birding spot. Even though it is further away, and located slightly outside of the parameters of this “best of” list. I highly recommend it. If you can only make it to one of the spots mentioned on this list, make it Bolsa Chica. You will not be dissapointed.
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is located at:
18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648