As usual, June weather was mild. Surprisingly July was also blessed with relatively cool temperatures, though the deserts were plenty warm. Despite below average rainfall last winter, most habitat was in decent shape, and many streams held sufficient water.
The Bridge Fire closure of last September- covering a large swath of territory in the east San Gabriel Mountains- was lifted in June; six months ahead of schedule. For birders and others, this allows greater access to the mountains which are increasingly being impacted by fires, rain, snow and ensuing rock and mudslides. Despite the end of this closure, the Angeles Crest Highway remains closed from Islip Saddle to Big Pines, limiting access to much of the higher mountains.
Signs of a late spring migration continued, with a number of atypical records well into June in addition to the usual dwindling numbers of expected migrants. Breeding activity was widespread in June and July from the lowlands to the high San Gabriel Mountains.
Small numbers of southbound shorebirds first appeared in early July and increasing numbers were evident as the month progressed. A satisfying variety of vagrants were also recorded over the period. Below are the notable sightings from June and July.
A late inland Red-breasted Merganser was at Quail Lake on May 31 and a likely summering Hooded Merganser was at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City from June 10-July 20 (Chezy Yusuf).
Inca Doves persist in Lake Los Angeles and were represented by reports of four individuals on June 3 and one on June 28. Two White-winged Doves were at the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach on July 5 (Christine Jacobs).
A spring migrant Yellow-billed Cuckoo was at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh on June 21 (Joe Clark). This rarely encountered species should be watched for as a late spring migrant, and as a potential breeder in our remaining willow riparian habitat.
Black Swifts included one over Higinbotham Park in Claremont on June 2 (Jade Star & Sigrid Lackey), and up to three above Claremont Wilderness Park from June 16-July 17 (Tom Miko, Mark & Janet Scheel, et al). Breeding is almost certainly taking place somewhere nearby in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Scarce inland was a Whimbrel at the Piute Ponds from June 8-14 (Kimball Garrett), while a Baird’s Sandpiper was there on July 12 (Mark & Janet Scheel).
Unusual close to shore was a Scripps’s Murrelet at the Ballona Creek mouth on July 6 (Jon Feenstra).
A Franklin’s Gull was at Malibu Lagoon on June 26 (G.A. Murayama) and a Lesser Black-backed Gull was along the Los Angeles River in Vernon on July 18 (Mark Wilson). A Common Tern was at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on May 27 (Chris Dean) and a rare inland Least Tern seen there on June 13 (Femi Faminu).
The long-staying Pacific Loon at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas continued through June 10 and two were at Quail Lake on June 11 (Layton Pace). Also at Quail Lake was a Common Loon on May 24 (Brad Rumble).
Pelagics of note included a Laysan Albatross south of San Pedro on July 6 (Dennis Deal) and three Cook’s Petrels and five Craveri’s Murrelets southeast of San Clemente Island on June 28 (multiple observers).
The wayward Brown Pelican at Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley continued through June 27.
Rare in the county was a Reddish Egret at Malibu Lagoon on July 18 (Mark Harris). A Western Cattle-Egret was at Echo Park on May 24 (multiple observers).
Up to three California Condors continued to be seen regularly along Ridge Route Road north of Castaic Lake through July 20.
A Swallow-tailed Kite was found at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City on June 3 (Gina DiPietro). This very cooperative bird remained through July 20, offering good views to hundreds of birders. The only other county record is one of two birds over Encino in 2024. California now has between four and six confirmed records of this species, with some sightings probably representing the same individual.
Other raptors of interest included a Broad-winged Hawk on San Clemente Island on June 10 (Susan Meiman, Nicole Desnoyers) and a Burrowing Owl continuing in San Pedro through July 20.
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was on San Clemente Island on June 10 (Susan Meiman, Nicole Desnoyers) and a late Plumbeous Vireo was at St. Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo on May 27 (Kimball Garrett).
I noted in the last column that Purple Martins had been extirpated as breeders in the county, but this spring and summer were unprecedented in recent history. First, there two were at Buckhorn Campground on May 23 (Aaron Gyllenhaal, Omar Alui). These were follow by up to five at Chilao Flat from June 15-July 19 (John Sterling, et al) where birds were observed entering a nest hole.
Two more Purple Martins were near Barley Flats along the Angeles Crest Highway from June 22-July 3, with three present there on July 20 (Luke Tiller, Deborah Tammearu). Whether this year is an aberration or a trend remains to be seen, but what a gratifying comeback it would be.
Away from the mountains, a spring migrant Purple Martin was at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh on June 21 (Curtis Marantz) and another- possibly an early dispersing breeder- was along Ridge Route Road near Castaic on July 8 (Van Pierszalowski).
A California Gnatcatcher at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park from June 15-18 was not altogether unexpected, as wandering from breeding areas occurs on occasion (Darren Dowell, Dustin Grant).
A wandering Verdin continued along San Francisquito Creek in Santa Clarita through June 11.
Up to four American Dippers continued near Buckhorn Campground through July 20, with breeding confirmed. This species appears to be making a minor comeback in the drought and fire-ravaged San Gabriels, with increasing coverage of potential breeding sites certainly contributing to an increase in records.
A Hermit Thrush was singing at Sturtevant Camp above Arcadia on June 27 where summering birds have been recorded in recent years (Darren Dowell). Breeding seems likely here, though they have historically been restricted to small numbers in the higher San Gabriels.
Vagrant spring warblers included a Northern Waterthrush at Echo Park on May 31 (Andy Birch), an American Redstart at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on June 13 (Femi Faminu) and a Chestnut-sided Warbler in Rancho Palos Verdes on June 10 (Tori Fay).
More unusual was a Grace’s Warbler near Horse Flats Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains from June 21-22 (Robert Thoren). The extensive geographic area of these mountains and relatively limited coverage means there is still much to discover. Stray warblers, often regular in northern Mexico and southeast Arizona, have been recorded rarely but regularly in these mountains since the 1970s. The habitat is remarkably similar and must feel welcoming to these off-course birds.
Summer Tanagers were at Echo Park on May 31 (Andy Birch) and in Santa Clarita from June 13-23 (Jon Feenstra).
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach from May 27-29 (Layton Pace) and in Lakewood on June 23 (John O’Raidy), while Indigo Buntings were on San Clemente Island on June 16 (Michael Yu) and above Altadena on June 25 (Preston Hinds).
Santa Catalina Island is an underbirded part of Los Angeles County and occasional coverage there has demonstrated its potential. On June 14 a Baltimore Oriole, an Orchard Oriole, a Black-and-white Warbler, a Tennessee Warbler, a Northern Parula and a Cape May Warbler were present (Adrian Hinkle, Laura Vandezande, Dessi Sieburth).
As we head into August, shorebird numbers and diversity will increase and we’ll see the real start of passerine migration. As fall movements ramp up, the possibility of vagrants also increases. It’s an intriguing time of year when almost anything can turn up; east Asian strays, vagrants from eastern North America and reverse migrants from Arizona and northern Mexico.
In addition, California’s offshore waters seem able to produce good birds at almost any time of year. Of course, adequate coverage here is the big challenge; we surely miss far more than we see.
With all this potential, late summer and fall tend to be the most exciting for birders.