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
Species Distribution
Regional Context
Most Common Species
Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 16 total documented species.
Podilymbus podiceps
Pied-billed grebe
Oxyura jamaicensis
Ruddy Duck
Branta canadensis
Canada goose
Ardea herodias
Great Blue Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
night heron, black-crowned night heron
Hirundo rustica
barn swallow
Sayornis nigricans
black phoebe
Larus occidentalis
Western Gull
Anas platyrhynchos
mallard
Trachemys scripta
slider turtle, red-eared terrapin, red-eared slider
Fulica americana
American Coot
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Setophaga townsendi
Townsend's Warbler
Setophaga petechia
Yellow Warbler
Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)
Sturnus vulgaris
starling
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.
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.
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.
Your field guide will be delivered to this email address. Please double-check for accuracy.
Nearby Wildlife Areas in Monterey County
Discover 8 other wildlife-rich locations near El Estero Lake. Each offers unique biodiversity and wildlife viewing opportunities.
🌿 Premier Wildlife Areas (6 nearby)
🦅 Rich Wildlife Destinations (1 nearby)
🌱 Specialized Habitats (1 nearby)
Regional Wildlife Network
These nearby locations complement El Estero Lakewithin Monterey County's wildlife network. Species counts reflect documented observations and help identify the most biodiverse areas for your nature explorations.