Triangle Pond is a relatively small pond that you can walk around on all three sides for birding. Traffic is light but stay clear of approaching vehicles. Spring and early summer are the best seasons for birding this Hotspot when the entire area is active with breeding birds. Fall and winter is generally slow but brings winter birds including "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler and Hermit Thrush. On the south shoreline along San Antonio Rd. West there is a clearing where you can look into the water to scan the edges of the bulrushes for rails. Occasionally waterfowl will be found in the pond. A thick eucalyptus grove is located to the west across Lompoc-Casmaila Rd. Along the east shoreline look into the chaparral covered hillside for Wrentit, California Thrasher, and Allen's Hummingbird. A mixed habitat of coast live oak and arroyo willow is just a short walk north along Lompoc-Casmalia Rd.

Breeding species include Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Tree Swallow, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, and Hairy Woodpecker. In summer Yellow-breasted Chat can be heard singing in the dense willow-riparian habitat of San Antonio Creek to the south of the pond. Spring migrants will often be found in the area in April and May. Unusual species recorded here include Hooded Merganser, Least Bittern, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and Summer Tanager.

NOTE - This is a publicly accessible Hotspot found within the Vandenberg SFB boundary. Birders are subject to the authority of VSFB security forces while at this location.

Suggested Hotspot boundaries: Lompoc-Casmalia Rd. (west), chaparral hillside (east), San Antonio Rd. West and San Antonio Creek (south)

From Highway 1 take San Antonio Road W to the end of the road. Look for the junction or Y at Lompoc-Casmalia Rd. which is marked with a brown sign that says "Casmalia" at this junction. Alternatively, you can reach the pond from the north by driving past the town of Casmalia and continuing south over the hill toward Vandenberg SFB on Lompoc-Casmalia Rd.

Triangle Pond is made up of two separate ponds. The smaller pond at the north end is choked with bulrushes and little water can be seen. The larger pond at the south end is visible from San Antonio Rd. West. by standing at the edge of the road. There is a dirt area for parking on the east side of the pond. From this parking spot, you can walk around the pond on all three sides. Do not trespass into restricted areas off the road. Water levels will increase after winter rains.

Vandenberg Space Force Base is located in western Santa Barbara County and makes up a significant portion of coastal north county. VSFB totals some 99,579 acres in size and includes 42 miles of pristine, undeveloped coastline, 9,000 acres of sand dunes, and 5,000 acres of wetland habitats. The topography of Vandenberg SFB is varied and includes hills, mountains, terraces, floodplains, mesas, canyons, and rocky headlands. The highest point on VSFB is Tranquillion Peak located on south base and reaches a height of 2,297 ft. The base contains some of the highest quality coastal habitat remaining in southern or central California.

VSFB also contains a number of freshwater environments including the Santa Ynez River, San Antonio Creek and Barka Slough, Shuman, Cañada Honda, Bear, and Jalama Creeks, as well as man-made lakes. Riparian woodlands are found along these river courses and streambeds and are particularly important for migrating and nesting birds. Because of its protected nature, none of the backcountry areas of VSFB are open to the public or to any kind of development.

Coastal bluffs and rocky headlands provide important roosting and nesting habitat for a number of seabirds. Nest sites are found along cliffs and on offshore rocks along the coast from Purisima Point on north base, to Point Pedernales and Destroyer Rock, and Point Arguello on south base. Coastal access is only available at Ocean Park (Santa Ynez River Estuary), and Surf Beach to the general public. Seasonal restrictions are in place for Ocean Park, Surf, Wall, and Minuteman beaches annually from March 1 to September 30 as part of the annual program to protect the threatened Western Snowy Plover.

The main cantonment (urbanized) area of VSFB located on north base consists of residential, industrial, community service, administrative, and recreational use areas. This cantonment area lies within the restricted security zone of the base and is only accessible to personnel with a base pass. Several VSFB birding hotspots are found within this security zone and are therefore off limits to the general public, while other Hotspots are accessible to the public by county roadways but are still found within the boundaries of the base.

Vandenberg SFB hotspots can be categorized as follows:

1.     Publicly accessible hotspots found within the Vandenberg SFB boundary. Birders are subject to the authority of VSFB security forces while visiting these locations. Examples of publicly accessible Hotspots include Barka Slough, Triangle Pond, and Surf Beach. These hotspots do not have "restricted access" in their names.

2.     Restricted-access hotspots found within the security zone of Vandenberg SFB. These areas are only accessible to visitors possessing a VSFB pass. Examples include Lake Canyon Ponds, Brown's Beach to Lions Head, and Point Pedernales. These all have "restricted access" in their names.

Base passes will not be issued to the general public at this time and visitors must be “sponsored” onto VSFB by individuals who have this privilege. Birders are permitted to visit any of the hotspots listed as publicly accessible as described above and as indicated on the various hotspot pages found in this guide.