With a size of 230 acres, the Ellwood Mesa Sperling Preserve is the largest publicly owned coastal preserve on the Santa Barbara South Coast. It is part of the 650+ acre Ellwood Devereux Open Space – a multi-agency open space that includes COPR, NCOS and the Ellwood Butterfly Grove. This sprawling coastal landscape is home to, and migratory stop-over of many avian species.
Friday, November 7, 2025 ~ 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Target Birds:
- Raptors
- Flycatchers
- Sparrows
- Shorebirds
- & others
Directions:
From Hwy 101 north-bound (Method 1)
- Take the Stork Rd /Glen Annie Rd exit (Exit 108)
- Turn Left onto Glen Annie Road
- Glen Annie Road turns into Storke Road at the overpass
- Follow Storke Road down to Hollister Avenue light
- Turn right on Hollister Avenue
- Follow Hollister for 1.5 Miles to the Ellwood School stop light
- Turn left at the light into the Ellwood Mesa parking lot
- We will meet here
From Hwy 101 north-bound (Method 2, less traffic and signals)
- Take Exit 110, Winchester Canyon Rd / Hollister Ave
- Continue straight through the stop sign at Winchester Canyon Rd.
- Follow the frontage road, Calle Real, to the next stop sign
- Turn left onto Cathedral Oaks Road
- Proceed over Hwy 101 to the stop sign at Hollister Avenue
- Turn left onto Hollister Avenue
- Follow Hollister Avenue to the Ellwood School stoplight
- Turn right into the Ellwood Mesa parking lot, we meet here
From Hwy 101 south-bound
- Take exit 110 Cathedral Oaks Rd / Hollister Ave
- Turn right at the stop sign onto Cathedral Oaks Rd
- Turn left at the stop sign onto Hollister Ave
- Follow Hollister Avenue to the Ellwood School stoplight
- Turn right into the Ellwood Mesa parking lot, we meet here
Other Information:
- Bring water & snack
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Binoculars a must (borrow ours if you need to)
- Spotting scopes are useful
Trip Coordinator:
- Karl Weis
Contact Karl for information or questions
Sponsored by Santa Barbara Audubon Society
Santa Barbara Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
