San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 16, 2024
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| "Surfhenge",a colorful art piece, welcomes you to the pier. It is a tribute to the history of surf board design. |
Imperial Beach is a little further than a stone's throw from the KOA at just under 10 miles. It has often been described as a Southern California retro beach vibe that can be lost in the glitzier towns to the north. Imperial Beach was first developed in 1887 as a summer retreat to entice Imperial Valley residents to visit. The area was also a draw for the military beginning in the early 1900s when a 10th Calvary troop was stationed nearby to suppress conflicts along the border. The city was incorporated in 1956...the tenth city to do so in San Diego County.
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| Imperial Beach Pier |
At just under 1,500 ft long, the wooden Imperial Beach Pier is the focal point of the community. The first pier and boardwalk date back to 1909. That pier finally gave way to nature in 1948. Today's pier was originally built in 1963 and restored and enlarged in 1989.
At the end of the pier is the Tin Fin Seafood Restaurant and painted on the back wall is a sign that reads, "You have reached the most Southwesterly point in the Continental United States".
The beach was not crowded...a few walkers, a few birds.
Located a few blocks south of the pier is a wonderful walking and birding area...Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It is a 1,072 acre wetland located where the Tijuana River meets the ocean. The refuge was established in 1980 and is part of the 2,800 acre Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve...one of only 30 such reserves in the United States. The purpose of the NWR is to conserve fish, wildlife, and plants which are listed as endangered or threatened species. We first visited the refuge two years ago when Jeff suggested it might be a birding spot of interest for us. It sure was of interest and it sure is nice to have friends who are locals and gracious enough to take the time to point out such treasures.
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| I took this photo of a Yellow-crowned Night Heron on January 18, 2022. What a photo session it was! |
We arrived at the slough much later in the morning than when we visited in '22. Like the photos from Torrey Pines, the sunlight cast a glare and was not very suitable for photographing the landscape or the birds.
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| A sweet little Anna's Hummingbird |
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| A sweet little Allen's Hummingbird |
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| An elegant Snowy Egret |
What I thought was a stump turned out to be a Yellow-crowned Night Heron...way far away for photographing, but none the less a sighting.
There were lots of Coots...not the doddering old curmudgeons one usually associates with the word coots, but charming charcoal gray waddlers.
And lots of beautiful, hard working, and sometimes amusing ducks. Mallards...
Northern Pintails...
and Green-winged Teals.
Splashes of color here and there...
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| Radish |
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| Firecracker/Fountain plant |
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| Cliffrose |
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| Prickly Pear |
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| Toyon |
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| California Brittlebush |
I'm not sure how many miles of trails there are at the Slough. So far we have been twice, walked two different trails. There is one more trail left to do. Also, there is Imperial Beach Shoreline Trail (5.0 miles round trip) that begins at the pier and ends at the mouth of the Tijuana River that we have not done yet.
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| The VC is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but the trails at the refuge open for visitors to enjoy. |
And to top off the day, we stopped at Rally's for burgers and fries. We don't have a Checker's/Rally's in Tucson and jump at the chance to devour our favorite Champ cheese burger and crispy fries when ever we pass by one.
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| A bag full of yummy! |
Back at Belle...
Until next time,
HAPPY TRAILS !
