Birding Hotspots: Tinemaha Reservoir
What's There:
Inyo County's best locations for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. Spotting scopes very helpful. Best chance for scoters, loons in Inyo. Large numbers of ducks, geese, and American White Pelicans during migration. Tundra Swans may be found wintering. One or more Bald Eagles usually winter; there was an attempt at nesting a few years ago. A Peregrine Falcon has been here in recent summers. Large colony of Great Blue Herons.
Check eBird for the latest bird sighting information for Tinemaha Reservoir!
Directions:
The access road to the Wildlife Overlook at Tinemaha goes off US 395 about 9 miles south of Big Pine. Most of the Reservoir can be scanned from the overlook. You can also walk out along the long earthen dam; park in the designated spot near the damkeeper's house. From the same area you can explore the riparian habitat along the Owens River below the dam.
Look for Tule Elk in the fields west of the Reservoir on both sides of US 395, especially in winter.
After visiting Tinemaha, you might like to go on to Warren and Klondike Lakes, north of Big Pine.
(DeLorme No. CA map, p. 124, D1.)
