GridlockBirding - birding in the new Los Angeles

Salton Sea/San Bern. Mtns. birding notes

2010-10-22T07:56:00.001-07:00

Notes from a private birding tour (incl. 10/19 - 10/21/2010):

Coming down the western side of the Sea, we stopped in at Desert Shores, Salton Sea Beach, and Salton City, all of which had good access to the rapidly-retreating shoreline, and loads of usual SS waterbirds. Had a late WHITE-WINGED DOVE at Salton Sea Beach (10/19), and an unexpected PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER that called (chu-WEET?) at Johnson's Ldg.(Salton City) that I had Dave Bell report (10/19). This was a dark bird, maybe an adult (very brown back), with a good yellow wash on the face. I got some very distant photos that I'll try to post later.

Down at the south end, the end of Poe Road was muddy and I didn't want to risk driving it (deep mud puddles). One could walk a couple hundred yards pretty easily and bird it though. Unit 1 had water in the impoundments and a had at least two likely Pectoral Sandpipers among the numerous stilts (10/20), seen only in flight when hunters started shooting in the distance. No geese yet, but 4 SANDHILL CRANES were in a field near the end of the road.

There was telephone pole construction at Lindsay/Lack, blocking access to the seawall road heading southwest. To the north(east) and toward Obsidian Butte, the seawall was very muddy and again, I might have been able to do it in my SUV but didn't want to risk it. Ditto for roads leading in to Obsidian Butte from the east - it had rained all morning and all dirt roads were muddy. Still, we had 3 LAUGHING GULLS just north of Lindsay/Lack, and a good variety of shorebirds here on 10/20.

Cattle Call park was a serious disappointment, and aside from Gila Woodpeckers (still common), we missed all of the scrubland birds here. Could have been the cool weather, but nothing was even calling (got there around 8 AM). Missed Cactus Wren!! We caught up with most of these species at the refuge headquarters (Sinclair Rd.) later that day, incl. Gambel's Quail, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, etc.

A stop in at the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center (and constructed wetlands) in Indio was a great break. Lots of ducks, common moorhen, and cooperative Abert's Towhees, a crowd-pleaser. *Note that the CORRECT DIRECTIONS are to exit I-10 at Golf Center Dr., head south to 45th St., turn left, and continue on 45th (as it becomes Van Buren). The site is on the left after the treatment plant, and generally CLOSES AT NOON (but was open for a delivery late so we lucked out).
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Up in the San Bernardino Mountains, I'd reserved rooms at the Whispering Pines cabins in hopes of doing some owling and dawn birding in the foothills, but it was basically rainy/misty from when we arrived, through the night, and the next morning. Light was terrible, and we saw almost not a single individual bird. Not insignificantly for a tour, the cabins are apparently for sale and are not being kept up. (Maybe some day, someone will figure out how to run an inn somewhere in our local mountains??)

Seven Oaks (Glass Rd.) was socked-in with dense fog, and despite calling birds (incl. many White-headed Woodpeckers), we had to turn back. We headed up to Heart Bar for high-country species, and had CLARK'S NUTCRACKER and RED CROSSBILL overhead, but nothing landing, and despite clearer skies, again, very few birds to even look at (You know your tour may be in trouble when you're trying to tape-in a Mountain Chickadee...). Things brightened at Barton Flats, where the campground along Hwy. 38 (the only one open along the route) was decently birdy, and our perseverance was rewarded with scope-filling views of a male WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER. Success!!

Big surprise during otherwise boring job

2010-01-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

While "baby-sitting" an incubating Great Horned Owl last week (trust me, it's dull), I watched in amazement as an adult male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher glided by, and perched on a Mexican elderberry downslope from where I was standing in an active restoration area (11 Jan. 2010). Fewer than 15 records for L.A. County of this midwestern bird, apparently, and they're probably rarest (but still known) in winter, when the bulk of the population is in Central and South America.

I managed to get off a lousy picture with a colleague's point-and-shoot (my camera was safely stored at home).

Curve-billed invasion!

2010-01-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

Curve-billed Thrasher, 30 Dec. 2009, Chiriaco Summit, Riverside Co.

Long-staying bird was about the only thing around during our mid-morning stop - part of an unprecedented invasion by this species into California this winter.

Birdcam, Sept.

2009-11-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

For September, we changed the location of Birdcam to a re-purposed bathtub filled with water and cattails. Wanted to shake things up a bit, and see if any species were visiting this thing, which is located down a steep hill and out of sight of the house. Lighting was pretty poor (maybe it got splashed?), but a male California Quail stopped by on the 13th (below), and on the afternoon of the 30th, Wile E. Coyote did the same.

Otherwise, the usual visitors were represented (Band-tailed pigeon, Hooded Oriole, etc.), along with a California ground-squirrel.

We now have two birdcams going, one at the "tub", and the other back at the cube-fountain, so we'll be able to gauge the difference in visitorship.

Birdcam, late June

2009-09-04T15:02:00.001-07:00

June is one of the dullest birding months over most of the L.A. area, as residents and summer visitors finish up nesting, and shorebirds and most waterfowl are elsewhere, mostly far to the north. An unmistakable American Robin livened things up on the 16th, the first photo of this species for the birdcam. Robins nest locally in town, usually around well-watered lawns like at public parks and golf courses, and pick the shadiest spots for their nests. Twenty years ago, a nesting robin away from the mountains was something of a rarity, but they've really increased throughout southern California (as a breeder) since then. This one probably bred somewhere in the neighborhood, and stopped by for a drink.

Phainopepla (below) also nests in small numbers in the area, especially in sites with large oaks and sycamores, and generally away from urban areas. This series shows a female, with the last image showing her distinctive red eye.

The most surprising find thus far was this streaky juvenile Dark-eyed Junco, a briefly -held plumage rarely seen far from the breeding grounds. For this reason, and given the time of year (juncos migrate late in the fall), it was almost certainly hatched locally. This species, like the robin, has increased greatly in the Santa Monica Mountains, probably responding to all the planted pine trees (formerly restricted to mountains and remote oak woodland in the higher Santa Monicas). Interestingly, it nests near sea level elsewhere in southern California, including La Jolla in San Diego Co.

Birdcam, early June

2009-08-27T17:07:00.001-07:00

This period saw more of the same array species, including lots of young birds, often accompanied by one or more parents.

A sharp female Bullock's Oriole dropped by on the 4th of June, showing the ash-gray back and bright wingbars which help distinguish it from the (locally) more common Hooded Oriole.

A Western Scrub-Jay (below), not new to the birdcam but relatively infrequent, was a daily visitor during this period.

The biggest surprise, however, was a stunning male Purple Finch, pretty rare in mid-summer in Los Angeles, though a scarce breeder in the Santa Monica Mountains (including at nearby Franklin Canyon). It might have been taking a break from duties there, or perhaps it was a dispersing male that failed to attract a mate, possible given the small size of the local population.

It's told from the much more abundant House Finch by the wine-colored pinkish-red crown, and the suffusion of the same wine-red color throughout its upperparts. This individual shows a good amount of brownish streaking along the flanks, as well as a large bill, which are typical for the local California race of the species.

Birdcam, pt. II

2009-06-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

We had the birdcam back up and running from 5/2 - 5/9 (all day each day). As before, huge numbers of Lesser Goldfinches and House Finches - owing to the thistle and seed feeders nearby. Around 1,500 shots were of these species. The next most frequently-photographed bird was Mourning Dove (170 shots), Band-tailed Pigeon and Hooded Oriole (145 each) and Spotted Towhee (136).
A gorgeous male Black-headed Grosbeak was a nice surprise, visiting twice on 5/3.

Two days later, a second grosbeak came in, this one without the solid black head (shown with a House Finch).

Keeping with the orange theme, a nice female Bullock's Oriole dropped in briefly on 5/8 (below), which was actually a migrant - only the Hooded seems to nest in the area, though Bullock's are common nesters in nearby Franklin Canyon.

We're noticing lots of young birds at the bath (juvenile Song Sparrow, right), including several instances of adults feeding and interacting with young at the bath.

A Spotted Towhee was nice surprise (below), though not exactly rare in the area - check out the red eye.

A female Western Tanager (below) might have been passed off as a female oriole, but this shot shows the fat bill and eyering, as well as the broad wingbars.

Warblers are always a treat, and this male Yellow Warbler on the 8th spent some time getting wet (below).

New toy: Birdcam

2009-05-01T09:32:00.000-07:00

Back in March, one of my clients in the hills above Franklin Canyon (Beverly Hills) asked me to set her up with a "Birdcam", a small, motion-detecting camera designed for photographing birds at feeders.

I ordered it from Wingscapes, along with a few accessories (Wingscape memory card and reader, batteries), the whole package coming in at around $300.

After a few calls to customer service (an extremely helpful and friendly PERSON!), we were ready to go. The camera was installed about a foot away from a fountain in the backyard in early April, and ran for the next two weeks (4-19 Apr.). The camera works by snapping a (digital) photo when it senses heat and movement (hence, the moving water of the fountain doesn't register). You can set the interval between shots, and I set hers to take a photograph every 5 seconds. So, if a bird is on the fountain for 20 seconds, you'll get 4 photos of the bird. The camera automatically shuts down at night, and doesn't have a flash.

In all, over 2,000 images were captured. Around half were of one species, the Lesser Goldfinch (above), probably because of the dozens of Lesser Goldfinches attracted to the seed feeders at this particular yard.

The next more common capture, somewhat surprisingly since they're not that numerous, was the Hooded Oriole (below), which was photographed in around 12% of all images.

Nearly 200 shots were of Band-tailed Pigeons, often with multiple birds crowding into the fountain for a bath and drink.

Other common species (100+ images) included Allen's Hummingbird, Mourning Dove and House Finch. Below shows a sequence of an Allen's Hummingbird bathing, followed by a shot of its incredible gleaming-red gorget.

Of course, there were several surprises. A few species were only seen for a few seconds during the multi-week run, including this gorgeous Lazuli Bunting:

And this male Black-throated Gray Warbler:

Malibu Lagoon

2008-08-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-10T18:13:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-05-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-05-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

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...

Los Angeles CBC - Ferndell party

2007-12-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-29T19:12:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-28T21:10:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

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.

2007-11-13T07:55:00.001-08:00

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

2007-10-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

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

VA Hospital (near UCLA)

2007-09-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

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")

2007-08-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-08-26T22:02:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-08-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-14T17:15:00.001-07:00

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!

2007-08-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

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

Nuttall's Woodpecker

2007-08-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-01T14:32:00.001-07:00

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

2007-08-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

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?

First post

2007-07-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

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