This was once Monterey County's prime site for flocks of Horned Larks, and sometimes longspurs, in late fall. The headnote photo show what it looked liked through about 2005 or so, during a time birders had permission of access from the LaMacchia Ranch. Since then ownership has changed and birders no longer have any access. Worse, the fields are being converted to vineyards, alfalfa, or other crops. Some grazed fields still exist to the east of Camphora-Gloria Road, but the often barren, lightly plowed fields to the west no longer exist, nor do these new plantings attract flocks of larks or pipits. Thus, this Hotspot compiles historic data on species that no longer occur here n the same numbers.

From 1985 to about 2005, when flocks of Horned Larks and American Pipits occurred, October and November was a good time to look through those flocks for longspurs: most a few Lapland, but an occasional Chestnut-collared, and one record of Thick-billed (only Monterey County record). The habitat was also good for raptors, including Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk (fall-winter), Prairie Falcon, and Merlin (fall-winter). Brushy patches still attract flocks of wintering sparrows, and a rare Sage Thrasher on occasion. Planting of hedges of flowers a bit farther south on Camphora-Gloria Road now attract Anna's Hummingbird in numbers.

There is an exit from Highway 101 at Gonzales labeled Gloria Road; take it east to the Gloria Road / Camphora-Gloria Road intersection. Turn south and you'll see the old LaMacchia fields for the first mile. The road has a series of 90-degree turns farther south to where there in now a roadside flowering hedge, at the entrance to a ranch, which has hummingbirds. All the property throughout the area is privately owned, sot the entire Hotspot is roadside birding only. Watch for traffic, including large agricultural equipment, on the narrow paved road.