El Dorado Park

Fast Flight Facts

Target Species: Wintering waterfowl, passerine migrants

Elevation: 1200'

Habitat: City park with a long mesquite bosque and a variety of large trees, several ponds

Overall Birding Rating: 2

Difficulty: 1 (Easy)

Birding Type: Simple Walk

Facilities: Parking, Restrooms, Playgrounds, Walking Paths

Fees/Ownership: None/City of Scottsdale

Closest Town or City/How far from Phoenix: Scottsdale /10 miles northeast of Phoenix

Getting there: Located on the northwest corner of Indian School and Hayden Roads in Scottsdale

Overview: El Dorado Park is located in Scottsdale and is a productive park for birding during migration periods and winter. This park features several ponds which will attract wintering waterfowl and a variety of large trees to attract migrants. The best aspect to birding El Dorado Park is a mesquite bosque that runs through the center of the park for nearly the entire length of the park. This mesquite bosque is known for attracting migrants and is worth visiting on a regular basis. The park also has a small canal running through almost alongside with the mesquite bosque, which also may attract interesting birds. Large trees fill this park other than just the bosque, and are very worth searching for migrants.

Birding Tip: El Dorado Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. This park gets a lot of activity, so the best birding results will come earlier in the morning. Try birding the mesquite bosque a few times during a visit as well as the other trees and ponds throughout the park for the best results.

Directions: If on the Loop 101 (Pima Freeway), take the McDowell Road exit. Head west on McDowell Road for 1.5 miles until 77th Street is reached (77th Street is just west of Hayden Road). Turn north (right) on 77th Street. El Dorado Park is present on the west (left) side of 77th Street, where several noticable parking lots are found on the west side of 77 Street.

Pages:

El Dorado Park Maps

El Dorado Park eBird Data

Scenes and Sights from El Dorado Park: