The first couple of miles at the entrance of Wildhorse Canyon, along Wildhorse Road, is now a large commercial ag property, but from MP 3.5 to MP 6.5 -- where the public road ends and only a private road continues -- is the birding habitat. This habitat is barren, mostly arid, grazed short-grass grassland, with many ground-squirrels. This habitat is quite scarce in California, and supports a special set of birds plus coyote, deer, elk, bobcat, and badger. The habitat is broken at a few family farms (please do not annoy the residents). The road is very narrow, a bit rutted, and is meant to drive slowly. All the land is private land and fenced, so birding is from the road only. In some springs, there can be bright wildflowers, but summers tend to be hot and habitat brown.

Burrowing Owl (in years past the largest colony in Monterey Co., now reduced numbers), Golden Eagle (often nests here), an occasional Bald Eagle or Prarie Falcon, Greater Roadrunner, breeding Loggerhead Shrike, and sometimes Tricolored Blackbirds. Summer breeders include Western and Cassin's Kingbird (the latter less common), Western Meadowlark.  In winter, look for Ferruginous Hawk or Mountain Bluebird (erratic).