Borrego Sun - Since 1949

You might zip right by Coachwhip Canyon while traveling east on Borrego Salton Sea Way, but this short desert wash at the rugged toe of the Santa Rosa Mountains is well worth a little time to explore. Coachwhip Canyon is one of... — Updated 3/28/2023

It may not be one of the larger cactus species, but the diminutive beavertail cactus makes up for it with one of the most strikingly beautiful flowers. Found on dry, rocky hillsides throughout Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, this... — Updated 3/28/2023

The American robin is not an uncommon winter visitor to Anza-Borrego, but this year the iconic bird has arrived in numbers seldom seen here. The first clue was during the annual December Christmas Bird Count, when 935 robins were... — Updated 3/21/2023

It was an incredible moment of connection as I touched the finger marks frozen in time in the broken piece of crude pottery scattered on the desert floor. This was a larger piece of broken, fired clay that had once been an olla... — Updated 3/21/2023

There is something quite magical about discovering a palm oasis in the middle of a barren desert landscape. Several unique palm groves are available to Anza-Borrego visitors and scattered about the sprawling 700,000-acre park, but... — Updated 3/14/2023

The eagle-eyed bird watcher may soon notice there is another large bird mingling with the turkey vultures and soaring on the wind currents above Borrego Springs. Any day now, the annual migration of Swainson's hawks will begin as... — Updated 3/14/2023

Like a thousand smiling faces, the tiny blossoms of the monkeyflower are beginning to pop up to greet hikers in some of Anza-Borrego's sandy washes. This is a pleasant surprise for winter visitors to California's largest state... — Updated 2/24/2023

If you are new to exploring Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, or only have a few available hours, one of the most interesting places to discover is The Slot, just a few minutes away from Borrego Springs and accessible by a regular... — Updated 2/24/2023

You might call it a dead-end road to nowhere, but if you are new to exploring Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, it's an off-road route you won't forget. Desert visitors filled with wanderlust and a spirit of adventure can enjoy a... — Updated 1/24/2023

It may be no surprise, but nature seems quite happy in the desert right now. Not only has there been a spectacular fall wildflower display, but also an above average number of wild bird species counted during the 38th annual... — Updated 1/17/2023

They are energetic and cute little stinkers but count yourself lucky if you see one here on the desert floor. The spotted skunk is a rare sight in the desert, although there are records of tracks or recent sightings in the Carrizo... — Updated 1/17/2023

Count yourself lucky if you spot a Cooper's Hawk while out and about in Borrego Springs. This beautiful hawk is a migratory visitor and uncommon winter resident of the desert, but the active birder can spot them around Borrego... — Updated 1/4/2023

At first glance, the tracks in the damp sand next to Coyote Creek at Lower Willows looked like a house cat had recently passed by. That couldn't be right. These tracks were nearly twice the size of a typical house cat, suggesting... — Updated 12/28/2022

As nature lovers returned to the desert this fall, they were greeted by an unexpected, spectacular wildflower display. This is hardly typical and was a pleasant surprise, thanks to and abundant series of well-spaced summer thunders... — Updated 12/27/2022

I could make money sitting with my morning coffee at Calico and answering visitors who ask, "where's the best place to go if I am only here for the day?" But it's such an easy question to answer that I could hardly charge for my... — Updated 12/13/2022

It may sound like a strange metaphor, but the spotlight is now on the mountain community of Julian for being recognized internationally as a dark sky community. Julian has joined Borrego Springs and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park w... — Updated 12/12/2022

The roar of 100,000 birds taking flight all at once was both startling and intense. The quiet of the late fall desert morning was shattered as the visiting winter flocks of sandhill cranes and snow geese lifted off from the... — Updated 11/22/2022

They're back! Two popular winter visitors have returned to Anza-Borrego. We aren't talking about the snowbirds from Canada or the sunseekers from the coast, but these are real birds. As ice and snow arrive far to the north,... — Updated 11/14/2022

Those large black tailed jackrabbits are a common site in the Anza-Borrego Desert, but the smaller desert cottontail is also found here and easily identified by the puffy white tail that resembles a cotton ball. While both species... — Updated 10/27/2022

They are cute, cuddly and secretive and many people are surprised to discover that raccoons can be found right here in the desert. While not often seen here, these fuzzy little bandits with the black mask and black and... — Updated 10/18/2022

A short article last year in the Borrego Sun about emergency communications in our remote community has resulted in the formation of a network of amateur radio operators and creation of the Borrego RAMS radio club. RAMS stands for... — Updated 10/4/2022

Halloween is approaching and for some reason, homeowners seem to delight in decorating with big, hairy spiders to frighten those of us trick-or-treating for candy or cocktails. Depending on your love of big spiders, it can scare th... — Updated 9/19/2022

The shrill noise of the weather alert blared on my cell phone as I crossed Yaqui Pass. I had entered the danger zone and was being warned of possible severe weather, flash flooding and high winds in my area. Glancing eastward as I... — Updated 9/9/2022