Los Angeles CBC - Ferndell party

Yesterday I led a group of Griffith Park enthusiasts around Ferndell as part of the Los Angeles Christmas Bird Count held on 12/30. The L.A. CBC is part of a 108-year old, nationwide effort to census birds each winter around the country. Counts are held within 15-mi.-diameter circles, and run from midnight to midnight on count day. The L.A. circle is centered near Pico and Robertson, and takes in Playa del Rey/Ballona, the eastern part of Topanga Cyn. State Park, Griffith Park, and the Baldwin Hills.

Our group spent two hours birding Ferndell, a south-draining canyon in Griffith Park that crosses Los Feliz Blvd. near Western Ave. We started behind the Trails cafe, where we studied a flock of finches (Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch) feeding on the seeds of Chinese Elm. Other species dropped in from the surrounding oak woodland, including an obliging Oak Titmouse, a Yellow-rumped ("Audubon's") Warbler, a nervous Hutton's Vireo, and flock of Dark-eyed ("Oregon") Juncos, one of which fed in the open, allowing a good study of its solid-black head.

We continued up the canyon, but had little until we found a mixed flock in the pines around the upper parking lot, which included Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a group of Bushtits, and a lone White-breasted Nuthatch clinging to a trunk. A Red-breasted Sapsucker (see photo) was spotted silently drilling holes for sap in one of the pines, as Acorn Woodpeckers swooped past transporting acorns in their bills to chache in sycamores along Western Canyon.

As the sunlight warmed up the chaparral, it was as if someone tripped a switch, and birds were suddenly everywhere - Mountain Chickadee chattering from an oak, Spotted and California towhees scratching through dead leaves, a California Quail trotting past (seen by a couple people only), a Hermit Thrush posing on a laurel sumac root burl...

The action continued up canyon, where we checked off California Thrasher (Photo; singing away and allowing for prolonged scope views), Wrentit (amazingly, seen well while singing, tail vibrating to the notes), Golden-crowned Sparrow, and more Hermit Thrushes. A Sharp-shinned Hawk sailed overhead, and we were able to see the squared-off tail, the quick wingbeats, and the short neck making the head appear tucked-in to its shoulders.

By then, the canyon started warming up a bit, and we called it a morning, having tallied just over 30 species without breaking a sweat!

Birdlist (incl. birds heard by leader):

Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 1
California Quail: 2
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet: 16 flying east high overhead
Anna's Hummingbird: 4
Allen's Hummingbird: 2 heard by leader
Acorn Woodpecker: 6
Red-breasted Sapsucker: 2
Nuttall's Woodpecker: 3
Black Phoebe: 6
Hutton's Vireo: 1
Common Raven: 8
Mountain Chickadee: 1
Oak Titmouse: 2
Bushtit: 15
White-breasted Nuthatch: 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1
Hermit Thrush: 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1 heard by leader
American Robin: 2
Wrentit: 2
California Thrasher: 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler: 43 (all Audubon's)
Spotted Towhee: 6
California Towhee: 9
Song Sparrow: 1 heard but not seen
Golden-crowned Sparrow: 1
Dark-eyed Junco: 10 (all Oregon)
House Finch: 28
Purple Finch: 1 singing early am
Lesser Goldfinch: 20
American Goldfinch: 5

Later, I walked around the edge of Roosevelt Golf Course, where I picked up:

American Kestrel: 2
White-throated Swift: 5
Anna's Hummingbird: 5
Nuttall's Woodpecker: 2
Northern Flicker: 2 ("Red-shafted")
Black Phoebe: 2
Western Scrub-Jay: 6
Mountain Chickadee: 1
Oak Titmouse: 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 3
Hermit thrush: 4
Wrentit: 3
Northern Mockingbird: 2
Yellow-r. Warbler: 30
Spotted Towhee: 3
California Towhee: 6
Fox Sparrow: 4
Song Sparrow: 3
Lincoln's Sparrow: 5
Golden-crowned Sparrow: 3

2007-08 Santa Clarita Christmas Bird Count - initial results and impressions

Today's Santa Clarita CBC yielded 135 species by our 1 pm lunch meeting, putting it ahead of all 6 previous counts. We had a great turnout of enthusiastic counters as well, with at least half the group local Santa Clarita-area residents with several new faces.

Kimball mentioned his "Grebe Slam" and misc. others at Castaic Lagoon; more highlights included two Red-breasted Mergansers at "Bridgeport" (development along the Santa Clara River east of McBean), and a Burrowing Owl hanging on amid office parks at Castaic Jct., a species new for the count and more or less extirpated locally. Two Tricolored Blackbirds were picked out of a swarm of Red-wings up Bouquet Cyn., and many species were represented by 1s or 2s snagged by diligent counters slogging through Arundo thickets, shivering in foothill canyons, or dodging golf balls (Cinnamon Teal, Merlin, Wilson's Snipe, Townsend's Warbler...).

Most of the circle is arid coastal sage scrub, much of it recently burned. As Kimball observed, it was bone-dry this year, so birds were pushed to extremes, flocks of Bushtits and Rufous-crowned Sparrows in irrigated pasture being particularly memorable! And, White-tailed Kite apparently went missing (no voles?).

Thanks to all for turning out!

3 raptors, K-town to E. Hollywood

Driving to the Arc Light this afternoon:

Peregrine Falcon: Pair engaging in aerial acrobatics between twin high-rises along Wishire between LACMA and La Brea, one bird almost free-falling against face of south tower.

American Kestrel: Single in Home Depot parking lot along Sunset just east of 101 Fwy. Absolutely no habitat in sight except for a strip of Indian hawthorne landscaping around lot. I wondered - where was thing hunting? As we were leaving, I saw it shoot out of one of the little ficus trees in the lot, probably chasing House Sparrows around.

Cooper's Hawk: Adult cruising low along north side of Sunset east of Vine; disappeared behind some old buildings.

So, I guess the three urban prey items are well represented - pigeons, Mourning Doves and House Sparrows!

More urban bluebirds

I was surprised to see a little group of Western Bluebirds in the Hancock Park neighborhood of L.A. today, working a strip of lawn below sycamores planted as street trees. These birds were near Highland Ave. and W. 3rd St.; the nearest I'd seen them to here in the past had been in the athletic fields along Fairfax in the Baldwin Hills (so. of I-10), at the big park/golf course south of Pico at Motor, and east of here in picnic areas on the east side of Griffith Park, where they are common nesters.

Misc. eastside sightings

Driving home from Whittier on the afternoon of 11/27, I headed up Rosemead Blvd. and had 10 Am. White Pelicans flying northeast into the Legg Lake area. There was a little flock of Tricolored Blackbirds joining the coots, grackles and domestic ducks being thrown bread at the parking lot to Legg Lake on the east side of Rosemead, and a flock of 10+ Cassin's Kingbirds coming into a dusk roost along the Pachmayr shooting range entrance rd. on the west side.

A dark raptor cruising west, low over the 60 Fwy. near Atlantic, turned out to be a very dark (young?) Peregrine Falcon. I'm not sure I've seen a Peregrine between downtown and Whittier Narrows.

Grand Hope Park birding expedition

I had a meeting downtown yesterday, so birded tiny "Grand Hope Park" (2.5 acres, est. 1992?), which is sort of the courtyard/entrance at FIDM (Fashion Inst.) along Hope St. near Olympic.

There's virtually no habitat, just a few planted trees (incl. small sycamores and a couple coast live oaks), and aside from a flock of House Sparrows, had Allen's Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Northern Mockingbird and Yellow-rumped Warbler - a true urban assortment. There are some fruit-bearing vines on arbors, so it could be worth a look later in the winter.

Red Crossbill over apt.

I had a calling crossbill over the new apt. (near Wilshire and Beverly Dr.) on Saturday morning. There have been a few reports from the desert, but maybe none on the coast.

Swainson's Hawk living large

Dropping off some dry-cleaning this morning, I looked up to see a cluster of raptors circling over the Beverly Hills Four Seasons (Doheny/Burton Way). Three Red-tails and a Swainson's Hawk. I almost never see Red-tails south of Sunset Blvd. in the Hollywood/Farmer's Mkt area, so they caught my eye. They continued east in a straight line out of sight.

Back to Taylor Yards

Yesterday I checked out movement at midday along the L.A. River at the new Taylor Yards park, and had a late Western Kingbird in with a few Cassin's, along with what is probably the same White-tailed Kite from earlier in the fall, which is probably wintering (!). The kite was calling from a small pine tree in the southern portion of the park. The sump had lots of Savannah and a few Lincoln's sparrows, but I didn't have time to look more thoroughly.

Poor-will goes pelagic

I headed out to Malibu Lagoon post-rain this morning, and while watching Elegant Terns coming in off the ocean, I noticed something else flying down-coast several hundred yards out. It was about robin-sized, dark and plump, with long, rounded wings. Deep, powerful wingbeats. I couldn't fit it into any raptor, and it wasn't round-headed like a Burrowing Owl, but smaller.

With my mind racing and mentally ruling out families of birds it *couldn't be*, I was absolutely stumped until it approached the beach and "tilt-glided" down into some landscaping around the Adamson House just east of the lagoon - nightjar!

I raced over to the grounds of the house, and after poking around a bit, heard and saw the bird, a poor-will, batting against the plaster wall of a courtyard like a trapped moth in the house. It managed to find an opening and sailed over the house and out of sight.

Well, these birds do occur on the Channel Islands (and are on the move in October), but this ranks as one of my most baffling birding moments ever!

Phalaropes at Del Rey Lagoon, pre-storm

Yesterday afternoon around 4:30, about 60 Red-necked Phalaropes zipped into Del Rey Lagoon (Playa del Rey), wheeled about for about 5 minutes, and settled at the north end in a tight mass. This was just as the big winds started picking up (storm approaching off the Pacific). Rarely do these two coincide in fall (storms and RNPH). I didn't stick around to see what else came in. Stay tuned...

L.A. River parks

I've checked this new park at Taylor Yard along the L.A. River in Cypress Park a couple times, and it's getting better and better. The little weedy swale that had several dozen Yellow-headed Blackbirds for a day back in May was really birdy:

White-tailed Kite (hunting over marsh!)
Red-tailed Hawk
Say's Phoebe
Marsh Wren (2)
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat (6)
Lincoln's Sparrow (4)
Savannah Sparrow (20)
Brewer's Sparrow (3) - maybe not that unusual this time of year?
Orange Bishop (2)
American Goldfinch (2)
Lesser Goldfinch (5)

The Cornfields/L.A. State Historic Park had a smattering of migrants early in the week, all on the weedy knoll, incl. single Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Orange-cr. Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Lark Sparrow (juv.) and several Savannah Sparrows.

Yesterday there was a Brewer's Sparrow here and about 10 female Orange Bishops, a few Sav. Sparrows, but no other migrants. The big dirt/weedy area north of the knoll was devoid of birds.

Wilson's Warbler in yard!

Calling from ficus just a few minutes ago, possibly settling in for the night...

VA Hospital (near UCLA)

I stopped in here yesterday early afternoon because I was in the area. The hospital grounds are old, and landscaped with large eucalyptus and other "old L.A." trees (olive, date palm, ficus). They appear to be forgetting to water, which is great, because the eucs are getting water-stressed and the insects are providing food for migrants. The grass is also going to seed on the lawn - again, all good things for birds.

A smattering of warblers was following a large Bushtit flock, incl. Yellow, Wilson's, Orange-crowned, and Nashville (1 each). An Olive-sided Flycatcher and two Western Wood-pewees chased and were chased by the (resident?) W. Bluebirds. Several young Chipping Sparrows fed on the lawn, and a single, silent Oak Titmouse was working an olive tree. I wonder if this is as far south as titmouse gets in the L.A. Basin south of the Santa Monicas?

Early am migrants

Walking out to the car in the morning revealed a Black-headed Grosbeak calling in the plane tree in front of the buliding, as well as a warbler sp., maybe a Nashville, giving a flight call. Today, a Wilson's Warbler was calling from across the street. These are the first passerine migrants in the neighborhood since that Orange-crowned Warbler a few weeks ago.

Lower Ballona Creek - arrivals

First of fall Pelagic Cormorant (rocks along creek) and Ring-billed Gull (Del Rey Lagoon) today. Pretty windy and cool out there, at least right along coast.

A couple days ago I had 6 Rose-ringed Parakeets wheeling around over Playa del Rey in front of Gordon's Market, where they've nested in the past.

L.A. State Historical Park (aka "Cornfields")

Brief stop here late yesterday afternoon produced a streaky juv. Chipping Sparrow (probably uncommon along LA River) and 6 Savannah Sparrows. A Band-tailed Pigeon flew north overhead. Weedy field here is pretty sparse, but could be productive later this fall.

Swainson's Thrushes back!

After their 1-day stay back in May, two Swainson's Thrushes were giving their "whrreee?" calls from the Ficus trees on the patio late this afternoon. Totally invisible though; hopefully they'll come down for a drink in the birdbath/fish pond tomorrow morning.

Malibu Lagoon

Did a quick walk at Malibu Lagoon at midday today. The overcast skies and sprinkles of rain made for excellent migrant conditions, with several Wilson's Warblers and single Bullock's Oriole and Ash-throated Flycatcher in the scrub along the lagoon edge, and many more spp. calling from the riparian scrub. Bird numbers were similar to those posted by Kimball Garrett to LACoBirds, with the addition of a worn Bonaparte's Gull.

Cooper's Hawk in front yard

The yardlist ticked upward today with a Cooper's Hawk swooping up into the sycamore/plane tree in the front yard of the building today. It was clutching what appeared to be a mockingbird (missing a head). A warbler - probably a Yellow - was giving light flight calls overhead.

Butterflies (western tiger-swallowtail, Gulf frittilary, skipper sp.) still at the Bougainvillea next to the back patio, but birdlife still sparse, with hummingbirds, House Sparrows and the occasional Bushtit flock and Mourning Dove the only birds.

Lower Ballona Creek

Took a late afternoon walk out the middle jetty at the mouth of Ballona Creek yesterday. Most surprising thing was a basic-plumage/1st-year Black Tern that called as it flew overhead to the south. This is the 3rd record this month so far (possibly pertaining to the same bird, all in similar plumage). This is the first year since 1980 this species has turned up at Ballona. Historical accounts mention large flocks in midsummer, apparently post-breeding concentrations similar to what occur now at the Salton Sea.

Notable observations yesterday include a large number of summering Western (c. 30) and Clark's (4) grebes at the mouth of the channel, between the ends of the jetties. These birds have apparently been here all summer, along with 20+ Surf Scoters (according to Kevin Larson).

Shorebirds included about 4 Black Oystercatchers flying from jetty to jetty and calling, a single Wandering Tattler, and a handful of Surfbirds and turnstones (both). I walked upstream along the channel a bit, and found little groups of Willets and godwits, but more were probably farther upstream. A few dozen Black-bellied Plovers were flying high upstream, probably roosting up there.

At last 200 Elegant Terns were wheeling out by the main breakwater, incl. dozens perched atop the breakwater with the pelicans (several hundred) and gulls. Just two cormorants, both Double-crested. Three Caspian Terns (2 adults and a calling juv.) were the only other terns - the Leasts have apparently left - and Forster's are so irregular now at Playa del Rey that I didn't expect to see any.

Del Rey Lagoon was, fortunately, draining (unlike my July visit), and there were a few shorebirds and nothing that interesting. No waders (the tide probably has to be lower).

Eurasian Collared-Dove in L.A.

There was an ECD sitting on a wire above the eastboard I-10 onramp at Robertson Blvd. in West L.A. this morning. I went right under it and could see the undertail pattern (big white spots on the retrices, darkish band closer in toward vent, pale grayish plumage).

Elsewhere in L.A., I've seen this species a couple times in 2005 at the Ballona Wetlands and in Highland Park (in with a few Spotted Doves), and there have been a few seen with Spotted Doves southeast of downtown, but we're still awaiting the real invasion.

Yard list correction, pt. II

I left off Bushtit. A little group is resident in the vegetation around the buildings. I'm waiting to see if some warblers join them later in the season.

The Orange-crowned Warbler from Saturday didn't stick around.

Parrots helping parrots

A couple days ago (8/12), I saw a small (8) group of Red-crowned Parrots in South Pasadena that included an adult feeding a begging juvenile. I imagine they don't nest in the area, but just move around the area with semi-dependent young. These were near the Mission St. Gold Line station toward the library park.

Out at the Puente Hills this morning, migrants are just starting to come through. There were small numbers of warblers (Nashville, Orange-crowned, Yellow, 1 MacGillivray's) along Skyline Trail west of Hacienda Blvd., and a couple Black-headed Grosbeak and a Western Tanager in the same area. These birds seem to favor vegetation along ridges in spring, and they were certainly concentrated up at the ridge in this area.

1st fall migrant passerine: Orange-crowned Warbler!

Heard chipping this afternoon in the trees in front of the apt...

Nuttall's Woodpecker

I was surprised to hear the whinny call of a Nuttall's Woodpecker outside my apt. yesterday afternoon. I'd heard a distant call a couple days ago that I thought was this species, but given how few birds actually live in the area, I couldn't believe it.

But there it was, working the dead upper limbs of a London plane tree. We'll see if it sticks around.

There was a family of Black Phoebe on the block as well, and one was calling from the side of the building in the middle of the night two nights ago.

Other nature in the patio includes two species of dragonflies a few days ago, a glider (Pantala sp.) and a black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata). They were flying above the bougainvillea, which was filled with insects. A small, orange-winged Pepsis wasp cruised by the flowers yesterday afternoon, the first I've seen in the neighborhood.

Ballona Freshwater Marsh

Took a brief walk around the marsh today (Lincoln Ave. @ Jefferson Blvd.). It was late morning, so pretty slow and warm.

There were c. 20 Snowy Egrets fishing in the shallow area of cut cattails, mainly at the far west end. Only notable bird was a female/imm. American Goldfinch that flew in, calling near the Jefferson inlet. An Ash-throated Flycatcher was the only paserine migrant.

There were several dozen Mallards, mostly in the southern extension pond - they're coming in as post-breeders this week, and their numbers should keep increasing for a few more weeks.

The biggest surprise was on the way down La Brea, where 4 Band-tailed Pigeons were perched on streetlights just south of Rodeo Dr. - the 1st I've seen them in the Baldwin Hills.

These pigeons seem particularly common this summer, probably because of the huge crop of Mexican Elderberry - they're all over the Whittier Hills, and I even had a bird tee-ed up on an elderberry along the Rio Hondo just south of the 60 Fwy. a couple weeks ago (they're scarce normally in the Whittier Narrows area).

Whittier peregrine

Doing site visits in the Whittier hills yesterday, I was surprised to see a first-year Peregrine Falcon circling over the Hellman Park trailhead. Thickly-streaked below. Lots of Black-headed Grosbeaks calling here and there, probably local birds dispersing.

Rufous-type hummingbirds (2-3) still on the patio.

Yard list correction

Substitute "Anna's Hummingbird" for House Finch - I still need House Finch for the yard - there's almost always an Anna's out back.

1st fall migrant

Two Selasphorus hummingbirds appeared at the bouganvillea this afternoon. The call notes sounded shorter and more clipped than the usual Allen's in the neighborhood (which have yet to visit the "yard" - maybe the first migrant Rufous??

Yard list currently stands at 5:

Mourning Dove
Rufous-type Hummingbird
Swainson's Thrush (2 singing one day in late May, night-roosting in large ficus trees!)
House Finch
House Sparrow

Lower Ballona Creek

Took a walk along lower Ballona Creek this afternoon to check out the early fall migrant situation. Seven Short-billed Dowitchers (calling) were nice, as was a Ruddy Turnstone. Small groups of Western and Least sandpipers (a couple dozen each), and several hundred Willet were expected, with smaller numbers of godwits and Whimbrel mixed in. A calling Clark's Grebe and c. 8 Surf Scoters were oversummering. No Red Knot or curlew.

Least Terns were still bringing fish out to the colony, probably fishing at Ballona Freshwater Marsh. A couple Elegant Terns were below the usual hundreds that I expected. The jetties had a few hundred Brown Pelicans clustered at the southern end.

A lush band of Salicornia has developed at the edge of the riprap/creek, which may have savannah sparrows this fall.

Del Rey Lagoon was a "bathtub", with large areas of algae and a few plastic bags strewn around, so only a couple Mallards were using it. What happened to the tidal gates?