Date: 3/12/26 3:24 pm From: Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Swamp Sparrow at Santa Ynez River Estuary
Ditto from me about the warning. We are not allowed there and it is patrolled.
Before 911, we could walk out there and perhaps one day restrictions will be lifted, but no sign of it happening in the near future. Some pretty neat birds showed up from time to time. I got my life Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in the estuary off the end of the broken bridge, courtesy of Paul Lehman, oh so many years ago.
Florence Sanchez
On Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 03:13:45 PM PDT, Wes Fritz via groups.io <wes-fritz...> wrote:
Hi all,
Just to add to Cher’s warning about the old bridge buttress. She did not really warn you good enough, this is federal property which leads to a higher degree of punishment, like federal trespassing offense. I have been kicked out of there several times and escorted back to my vehicle where they noted my license plate and drivers license. The road leading into Ocean Park is only an easement to the parking area. If the gate is locked and you choose to walk in you are trespassing. The boundary of Ocean Park is/starts at the old line of wooden fence posts out in the middle of the estuary, running from the entrance road due north to the estuary. The park ends right at the last concrete step at the sand line/edge on the west side of the train trestle Even if you have a base pass ( worked for the government) it is still illegal to head out into the estuary from the parking area near the train tracks a few yards from Ocean Road, it’s considered a sensitive habitat area. Just to give a little more warning about this area, the base starts at the west side of Renwick Road.
Park your car wisely and good birding,
Wes Fritz805 895 <0685wes-fritz...> CA
On Mar 12, 2026, at 11:38 AM, Cher Hollingworth via groups.io <hollingw...> wrote:
If you go down that road to the broken bridge the base police can find you. They say that we are only allowed in Ocean Park. I've been approached several times there over the decades.
Cher H
Lompoc On Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 08:38:30 AM PDT, Adrian O'Loghlen via groups.io <aologhlen...> wrote:
Yesterday morning (Wed) Linda and Davia Blue and I found a Swamp Sparrow at the SYR estuary. It was located near the end of the old over-grown road that’s on the right along Ocean Park road just a couple of hundred yards from the junction with W Ocean Ave. at approx. 34.687530, -120.587120
