Lake Murray Reservoir

Ecosystem Overview

The Lake Murray Reservoir ecosystem supports 90 documented wildlife species across 75 taxonomic genera. Located in San Diego County, California, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 19 frequently observed species and 17 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While San Diego nearby has 10% more documented species, Lake Murray Reservoir offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #20 for species diversity among 89 San Diego County County natural areas, placing it in the 78th 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

#20

Regional Rank

Out of 89 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common19 species

Common27 species

Occasional27 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#20 of 89 locations

78th percentile for diversity

vs. San Diego

-10% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 90 total documented species.

Aythya affinis

Lesser Scaup

Very Common29 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Very Common26 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common22 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common21 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Very Common19 obs.

Aythya americana

Redhead

Common17 obs.

Mareca americana

American Wigeon

Common17 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Common16 obs.

Podiceps nigricollis

black-necked grebe

Common14 obs.

Quiscalus mexicanus

Great-tailed Grackle

Common14 obs.

Mareca strepera

Gadwall

Common14 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Occasional11 obs.

Larus occidentalis

Western Gull

Occasional10 obs.

Pomacea canaliculata

Channeled applesnail

Occasional10 obs.

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Western Grebe

Occasional8 obs.

Egretta thula

Snowy Egret

Occasional7 obs.

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow

Occasional7 obs.

Hydroprogne caspia

Caspian tern

Rare7 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare6 obs.

Pandion haliaetus

osprey

Rare6 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

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

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-10%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in San Diego County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

San Diego

Importance: 0.63

100 species

-10% vs. current

San Diego County

Importance: 0.55

100 species

-10% vs. current

Carlsbad

Importance: 0.47

100 species

-10% vs. current

Oceanside

Importance: 0.46

100 species

-10% vs. current

Escondido

Importance: 0.45

100 species

-10% vs. current

Chula Vista

Importance: 0.45

100 species

-10% vs. current

San Marcos

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-10% vs. current

Coronado

Importance: 0.42

100 species

-10% 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 San Diego County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-10%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in San Diego County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

San Diego

Importance: 0.63

100 species

-10% vs. current

San Diego County

Importance: 0.55

100 species

-10% vs. current

Carlsbad

Importance: 0.47

100 species

-10% vs. current

Oceanside

Importance: 0.46

100 species

-10% vs. current

Escondido

Importance: 0.45

100 species

-10% vs. current

Chula Vista

Importance: 0.45

100 species

-10% vs. current

San Marcos

Importance: 0.44

100 species

-10% vs. current

Coronado

Importance: 0.42

100 species

-10% 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

#20

Regional Rank

Out of 89 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common19 species

Common27 species

Occasional27 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#20 of 89 locations

78th percentile for diversity

vs. San Diego

-10% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 90 total documented species.

Aythya affinis

Lesser Scaup

Very Common29 obs.

Anas platyrhynchos

mallard

Very Common26 obs.

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common22 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common21 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Very Common19 obs.

Aythya americana

Redhead

Common17 obs.

Mareca americana

American Wigeon

Common17 obs.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Common16 obs.

Podiceps nigricollis

black-necked grebe

Common14 obs.

Quiscalus mexicanus

Great-tailed Grackle

Common14 obs.

Mareca strepera

Gadwall

Common14 obs.

Bucephala albeola

Bufflehead

Occasional11 obs.

Larus occidentalis

Western Gull

Occasional10 obs.

Pomacea canaliculata

Channeled applesnail

Occasional10 obs.

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Western Grebe

Occasional8 obs.

Egretta thula

Snowy Egret

Occasional7 obs.

Melospiza melodia

Song Sparrow

Occasional7 obs.

Hydroprogne caspia

Caspian tern

Rare7 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare6 obs.

Pandion haliaetus

osprey

Rare6 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 90 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.