For most San Diegans, Miramar Lake is either a pleasant piece of scenery, a fishing hole, a body of water to hike around, a picnic haven, or for the pragmatic, an important storage source for drinking water. But for me, it is a source of family history. Under its water is the site of my great-grandfather’s homestead.
I only know a few scant facts about my great-grandfather, James Daynes. I believe he was born in England in 1822, but came to San Diego as a teen. He became a naturalized citizen of the USA in 1844. He homesteaded his ranch about that time, and his nearest neighbor was E. W. Scripps. He listed his occupation as ‘gardener’, and he did a lot of work for E. W., including planting the original eucalyptus trees that started the groves that remain to this day.
Sometime around 1900, he traded the ranch land to Scripps for property on Fay Street in La Jolla and moved his family there. In those days, La Jolla was a humble village with cobblestone streets, and not the hoity-toity town we know today.
One of my favorite childhood memories was from an afternoon walk in 1960 in the company of my father and my grandfather. The builders had completed the construction of the dam for the lake, but they hadn’t brought in the fill-water yet. Three generations of us hiked down to the site of the old ranch, and my grandfather dug up a rose from his 1889 birthplace. That 140-year-old rose continues to grow at my Poway home, where my grandfather transplanted it more than six decades ago.
Sometimes I visit this modern reservoir and photograph birds. Sometimes I visit to enjoy its ambiance. But I always remember my grandfather and the stories he would tell us about growing up on that now inundated ranch.
Eared Grebe(Podiceps nigricollis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 11:46 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 750 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_2533EaredGrebe |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 12:33 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD_2559LesserScaup-M |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Shelduck(Tadorna ferruginea) |
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Description: Really more of a goose than a duck, these free flying feral asian imports were found at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:10 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD_2599RuddyShelduck |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Shelduck(Tadorna ferruginea) |
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Description: Really more of a goose than a duck, these free flying feral asian imports were found at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:19 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD_2663RuddyShelduck |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Greater White-Fronted Goose(Anser albifrons) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:23 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD_2684GreaterWhiteFrontedGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Female at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:25 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 750 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_2687LesserScaup-F |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:27 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 600 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD_2706LesserScaup-M |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Female at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:47 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_2743LesserScaup-F |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:58 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_2811LesserScaup-M |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 14:04 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD_2832LesserScaup-M |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Shelduck(Tadorna ferruginea) |
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Description: Really more of a goose than a duck, these free flying feral asian imports were found at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:19 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_2658RuddyShelduck |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ruddy Shelduck(Tadorna ferruginea) |
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Description: Really more of a goose than a duck, these free flying feral asian imports were found at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:20 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_2675RuddyShelduck |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:50 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_2767LesserScaup-M |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 14:00 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_2813LesserScaup-M |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
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Description: Female at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 14:03 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_2828LesserScaup-F |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola) |
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Description: Birds found at Miramar Lake in San Diego County California USA 2006-02-25 |
Date Taken: 2006:02:25 15:04 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD1810BuffleHead |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis) |
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Description: Birds found at Miramar Lake in San Diego County California USA 2006-02-25 |
Date Taken: 2006:02:25 15:58 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD1830WesternGrebe |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Eared Grebe(Podiceps nigricollis) |
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Description: Birds found at Miramar Lake in San Diego County California USA 2006-02-25 |
Date Taken: 2006:02:25 16:12 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 460 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD1864EaredGrebe |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos) |
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Description: Birds found at Miramar Lake in San Diego County California USA 2006-02-25 |
Date Taken: 2006:02:25 16:17 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 460 mm, f/5.6, 1/90 |
File Name: JCD1910Mallard |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos) |
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Description: Birds found at Miramar Lake in San Diego County California USA 2006-02-25 |
Date Taken: 2006:02:25 16:19 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 460 mm, f/5.6, 1/90 |
File Name: JCD1970Mallard-Hen |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Gadwall(Mareca strepera) |
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Description: Birds found at Miramar Lake in San Diego County California USA 2006-02-25 |
Date Taken: 2006:02:25 16:19 |
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Location:
Scripps Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 460 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 |
File Name: JCD1972Gadwall |
| © 2006 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:04 |
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Location:
Miramar Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723154-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:04 |
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Location:
Miramar Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723156-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:05 |
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Location:
Miramar Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723161-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:06 |
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Location:
Miramar Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723172-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:11 |
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Location:
Miramar Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723222-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Bonaparte's Gull(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) |
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Description: Miramar Lake at Scripps Ranch in San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2015:11:14 17:13 |
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Location:
Miramar Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 400 mm, f/5.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D723254-BonapartesGull |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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