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?
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