SANTA MARGARITA WILDLIFE FIELD GUIDE
Raptors on the Ranch: An Up-Close Eagle Tour at Santa Margarita
A focused field session on Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks paired with a short, scenic walk—this guide explains what to expect and how to prepare.
Raptors on the Ranch: An Up-Close Eagle Tour at Santa Margarita.
At Santa Margarita Ranch, the Eagle Tour pairs natural-history interpretation with hands-on identification: guides lead a scenic ¾-mile hike and teach how to identify Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks by sight and sound while explaining their roles in the ranch ecosystem.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A Focus on Bald and Golden Eagles, plus Red-tailed Hawks
The program concentrates on three common raptors on the ranch—Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks—teaching participants to recognize them using both visual cues and calls.
Short, Scenic ¾-Mile Hike
The experience includes a roughly ¾-mile hike with minimal elevation gain, designed to put participants within listening and viewing range while remaining accessible to most attendees.
Wine-Tasting Benefit with Booked Experiences
Margarita Adventures offers a complimentary wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery with the purchase of any experience (redeemable the day of the tour); a cheese & charcuterie board is available for purchase when booking—offer valid through Sunday, March 29, 2026.
What the day feels like
What the Tour Feels Like
Guides move a short distance along ranch trails, pausing frequently to scan the sky and listen for calls; the emphasis is identification—learning to pick out field marks and vocalizations—and on understanding how these raptors fit into the Santa Margarita Ranch ecosystem.
THE RAPTORS
A Focus on Bald and Golden Eagles, plus Red-tailed Hawks
The program concentrates on three common raptors on the ranch—Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks—teaching participants to recognize them using both visual cues and calls.
THE WALK
Short, Scenic ¾-Mile Hike
The experience includes a roughly ¾-mile hike with minimal elevation gain, designed to put participants within listening and viewing range while remaining accessible to most attendees.
THE EXTRA
Wine-Tasting Benefit with Booked Experiences
Margarita Adventures offers a complimentary wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery with the purchase of any experience (redeemable the day of the tour); a cheese & charcuterie board is available for purchase when booking—offer valid through Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this tour suits—and who may want to consider alternatives.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The Eagle Tour runs approximately 1.5 hours.
Meet at 22719 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.
This experience includes a scenic ¾‑mile hike with minimal elevation gain and hands-on bird identification instruction; operator notes they can accommodate mobility concerns depending on weather and road conditions.
Complimentary wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery is available with the purchase of any Margarita Adventures experience (redeemable the day of the tour); a cheese & charcuterie board can be added when booking. Offer valid through Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Eagle Tour?
The tour is approximately 1.5 hours long.
Where is the meeting point?
Participants meet at 22719 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.
Which species will we focus on?
The tour focuses on Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks.
How long is the hike and how much elevation gain is there?
The walk covers about ¾ of a mile with minimal elevation gain.
Is the tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?
Yes—Margarita Adventures can accommodate mobility concerns provided weather and road conditions permit; contact the operator ahead of time to arrange accommodations.
Are there any on-site extras or refreshments?
A complimentary wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery is offered with the purchase of any Margarita Adventures experience (redeemable on the date of your experience) and a cheese & charcuterie board is available for purchase when booking; the wine-tasting offer is valid through Sunday, March 29, 2026.