Malibu Lagoon

Spent an hour here this morning looking for rarities (and not finding any). The ocean had apparently over-washed the sandbar, smoothing out the slope into the lagoon, and probably improving conditions for shorebirds. A row of about 20 Black-bellied Plover stood at the lagoon's edge, and at least 20 Snowy Plover were scattered from here east, most resting in footprint depressions on sand not washed smooth. I was surprised to could 16 Least Terns here, most roosting with Snowy Plovers, representing a variety of ages, but largely first-year birds. Other shorebirds included Sanderling (30+), Semipalmated Plover (5-10), Willet and Whimbrel. Mallard and Gadwall were again the only ducks still. A couple Western Grebes floated offshore, but nothing else was out there, like a couple weeks ago.

The only landbird surprise was a single Oak Titmouse on the back path. An Ash-throated Flycatcher may have been the same one that has been here since July. A couple Savannah Sparrows called overhead, and more called from the saltgrass/Salicornia "island" of the inner lagoon; these were about the only passerine migrants, aside from dozens of Cliff, Barn and NRW Swallows.

Malibu coast notes

Took a leisurely drive up PCH w/ a visiting birder today, making a first stop at Malibu Lagoon. Dozens of Cliff, Barn and Rough-winged swallows were swooping and feeding young. On the sandbar, 20+ Least Terns and a handful of arriving Snowy Plovers were loafing, the terns bringing fish to juveniles. Small groups of shorebirds were moving downcoast, incl. c. 30 Black-bellied Plovers. Offshore was dead - 1 Western Grebe and a few distant Elegant Terns were about it, but it was after 9am. The lagoon was a full bathtub, unfortunately. Mallard and a Gadwall or two were the only ducks.

Zuma Creek mouth had a few early-arriving Western Kingbirds perched on bulrushes, but otherwise only Mallards in the lagoon. About 20 Heermann's Gulls resting on the beach, various ages. Just one or two California Gulls (mainly Western). Many dragonflies and damselflies though - shoulda spent more time keeping track of them, but mainly blue darners and flame-type skimmers.

Scanned from Pt. Dume but had nothing, though Mugu Rock had several hundred Black-vented Shearwaters moving west nearly at the horizon. Mugu Lagoon was virtually bird-free, but it was hot and bright (and around noon) by then, so we had lunch up by the 101 and headed home. A quick drive through the sod farms yielded nothing, as did a check of Revelon Slough, but we ran into a family of Hooded Orioles clamoring through a weedy ditch at the Laguna Rd. tams (and little else).

Los Angeles S.H.P.

I took another walk at the newish L.A. State Historic Park at the former Chinatown Yards last week (5/13/08) and was a little surprised to see a female Yellow-headed Blackbird (see photo) foraging on the lawn with starlings. Single Wilson's (singing) and Yellow warblers rounded out the other migrants.

Also present was a family of recently-fledged Say's Phoebe (rare in the central L.A. Basin, esp. coastward), as well as a California Towhee carrying food along the weedy slope up to Mission Rd., along the Gold Line right-of-way.

Malibu Lagoon, chat etc.

Spent an hour at Malibu Lagoon this morning and found a few interesting things. A Yellow-breasted Chat was singing weakly in shrubbery near the "mini dune" just before you reach the beach.

Two Snowy Plovers, not necessarily a pair, were working the sandy beach ridge near the lifeguard tower.

The tide was as low as I'd ever seen it, and pelicans, gulls and dozens of (mainly Elegant) terns were roosting far out on the rocks/tidepools. A pair of Elegant Terns were engaged in courtship behavior (bringing fish). A Cattle Egret sailed in from the ocean and landed next to the pelican flock off the beach. A single (calling) Least Tern came down to land near the beach near the lifeguard tower but I was too far away to see where.

The lagoon was pretty quiet, as we're between major migration periods, so a Spotted Sandpiper was the only sandpiper here, with small #s of Sanderlings along the beach and on the rocks. Otherwise, two Black-bellied Plovers and a Black Turnstone rounded out the shorebirds. Three female Red-breasted Mergansers were loafing in the lagoon, maybe for the summer?

Great Egrets were again nesting in the (heavily-pruned) trees of Malibu Country Mart, with maybe 5 active nests visible as I drove past.

The new expanded parking lot and plantings has really changed the feel of the northern part of the park, with a lot more open space, less planted saltbush, etc.

Signs of spring: Turkey Vulture

The first one was heading north alongside the 110 (Harbor) Fwy. down around Manchester Blvd. on Feb. 4, with six circling over the 60 (Pomona) Fwy. near Garfield the next day.

The South L.A. bird is notable because they certainly don't winter in the "inner city" or (to my knowledge) along the coast between Palos Verdes and Malibu. My Ballona records show a peak in late Jan./Feb. and then again in mid-Oct. which are fall birds heading south, presumably into Mexico and beyond.

Also, right when the heavy rains in January let up, I started hearing Bewick's Wrens and Spotted Towhees singing at spots I frequent in the Santa Monica Mtns. (Franklin Cyn., Griffith Park).

Today was in the mid-70s and things were really stirring in Griffith in terms of insect activity (mainly gnats!). A nice change from the high-50s and rainy stuff...