El Estero Lake

Ecosystem Overview

The El Estero Lake ecosystem supports 16 documented wildlife species across 15 taxonomic genera. Located in Monterey County, California, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 4 frequently observed species and 3 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Monterey nearby has 84% more documented species, El Estero Lake offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #12 for species diversity among 24 Monterey County County natural areas, placing it in the 50th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#12

Regional Rank

Out of 24 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common4 species

Common5 species

Occasional4 species

Rare3 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#12 of 24 locations

50th percentile for diversity

vs. Monterey

-84% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

‌
‌
‌
‌

Biodiversity Highlights

‌

Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

‌

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 16 total documented species.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common4 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Very Common4 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common4 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Very Common4 obs.

Nycticorax nycticorax

night heron, black-crowned night heron

Very Common3 obs.

Hirundo rustica

barn swallow

Common3 obs.

Sayornis nigricans

black phoebe

Common2 obs.

Larus occidentalis

Western Gull

Common2 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Common2 obs.

Trachemys scripta

slider turtle, red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider

Common1 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Common1 obs.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Occasional1 obs.

Setophaga townsendi

Townsend's Warbler

Occasional1 obs.

Setophaga petechia

Yellow Warbler

Occasional1 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Occasional1 obs.

Sturnus vulgaris

starling

Occasional1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 16 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.

Most Common Species

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

Want the Complete Field Guide?

‌
‌

‌

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in El Estero Lake. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in El Estero Lake. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

Email Address (for delivery)

Your field guide will be delivered to this email address. Please double-check for accuracy.

$6.99

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-80%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Monterey County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Monterey

Importance: 0.51

100 species

-84% vs. current

Salinas

Importance: 0.48

37 species

-57% vs. current

Monterey County

Importance: 0.47

100 species

-84% vs. current

Carmel-by-the-sea

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-84% vs. current

Pacific Grove

Importance: 0.39

100 species

-84% vs. current

Seaside

Importance: 0.37

100 species

-84% vs. current

Marina

Importance: 0.36

100 species

-84% vs. current

Castroville

Importance: 0.35

2 species

+700% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Monterey County County.

Regional Comparison

‌

Regional Ranking

‌

Species Count

‌

vs. Regional Average

‌

Nearby Natural Areas

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

About This Comparison

‌
‌
‌

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-80%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Monterey County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Monterey

Importance: 0.51

100 species

-84% vs. current

Salinas

Importance: 0.48

37 species

-57% vs. current

Monterey County

Importance: 0.47

100 species

-84% vs. current

Carmel-by-the-sea

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-84% vs. current

Pacific Grove

Importance: 0.39

100 species

-84% vs. current

Seaside

Importance: 0.37

100 species

-84% vs. current

Marina

Importance: 0.36

100 species

-84% vs. current

Castroville

Importance: 0.35

2 species

+700% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#12

Regional Rank

Out of 24 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common4 species

Common5 species

Occasional4 species

Rare3 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#12 of 24 locations

50th percentile for diversity

vs. Monterey

-84% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 16 total documented species.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common4 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Very Common4 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common4 obs.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Heron

Very Common4 obs.

Nycticorax nycticorax

night heron, black-crowned night heron

Very Common3 obs.

Hirundo rustica

barn swallow

Common3 obs.

Sayornis nigricans

black phoebe

Common2 obs.

Larus occidentalis

Western Gull

Common2 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Common2 obs.

Trachemys scripta

slider turtle, red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider

Common1 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Common1 obs.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Occasional1 obs.

Setophaga townsendi

Townsend's Warbler

Occasional1 obs.

Setophaga petechia

Yellow Warbler

Occasional1 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Occasional1 obs.

Sturnus vulgaris

starling

Occasional1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 16 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.