Wednesday, September 12, 2007

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?

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