Friday Bird Walk – Atascadero Creek

Friday, September 5, 2025 · 8:30 am – 10:30 am Activity website

About this activity

The Goleta Beach / Goleta Slough / Atascadero Creek area is one of the go to hot spots in Goleta for birding.

The eBird hotspot for the area boasts 232 species. Waterfowl, shorebirds, waders, raptors, gulls, and other species are not uncommon in their season. Goleta Slough is the primary drainage for many of the Goleta Valley / western Santa Barbara area creeks, providing waterways for birds to move up and down from the Santa Barbara mountains.

Target Birds:

  •  Herons
  • Egrets
  • Osprey
  • Kingfisher
  • & Others

Directions:

From the South

  • Traveling North Bound on Hwy101
  • Take Hwy 217 Airport UCSB (Exit 104B)
  • From Hwy 217 take Exit 1: Santspit Road
  • Turn left onto Sandspit Road

From the North

  • Traveling South Bound on Hwy101
  • Take the Fairview Avenue off ramp (Exit 105)
  • Turn right on Fairview, head towards ocean
  • Road changes name to Fowler then Moffett and then Sandspit Road

Then for everyone

  • Sandspit Road turns left and continues under the Hwy 217 overpass
  • Turn right into Goleta Beach Park and cross the bridge
  • Turn left at the stop sign
  • Park in the parking lot that’s west (UCSB side) of The Ellwood Restaurant
  • We will meet in the parking lot
  • Map Here – or – Google Map

Other Information:

  • Bring water & a snack
  • Wear comfortable shoes
  • Binoculars are a must (borrow ours if you need to)
  • Spotting scopes are useful

Trip Coordinator:

Additional Information

Region
Goleta Valley
Activity Difficulty
Easy
Distance
Varies
Aesthetics
Wildlife Viewing, Lagoon
Logo

Audubon Society Logo
Amenities
Parking

Sponsor

Santa Barbara Audubon Society

Getting There

Goleta Beach Park

Goleta Beach Park

United States

Get Directions on Google Maps →