As we navigate a return to drought conditions, the pursuit of birds continues. In August and September, expected southbound migrants were passing through the county. The deserts were generally productive, but by most accounts the coastal slope hosted well below average numbers of migrants. There’s the possibility that migration is simply late- as it was this past spring.
Regardless, a handful of good birds were recorded throughout the county. Since birding for vagrants in California began in earnest in the 1960s, their occurrence has become well understood as records have accumulated. Few of these birds are truly random, with most having well established patterns. Birders are generally aware that in fall green patches on the deserts and coastal or near coastal parks can often be productive. It’s no surprise that such was the case this year.
Here’s an overview of good birds in the county in August and September.
The summering Hooded Merganser at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City continued through September 13.
A Common Ground Dove was in Granada Hills on August 31 (Liam Murphy) and White-winged Doves were at the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach from July 29-September 1 (Joyce Brady), at the Ballona Wetlands from August 6-12 (Olivia Jenkins, Brighton Lipson), in Pico Rivera on September 6 (Darren Dowell) and in Torrance on September 7 (Jim Evans).
Remarkable was an apparent Common Nighthawk recorded passing over the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles on September 2 (Mark Wilson). It should be noted that there is some debate as to whether the recording confirms this species. A specimen from 1896 established the first county record and birds were recorded at Table Mountain near Big Pines several times between 1978 and 1991. Clearly this species is very rare locally, yet they are regular not far away in the east San Bernardino Mountains.
A long-staying and out of place Greater Roadrunner continued along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach through September 17.
Black Swifts continued to be seen in the hills above Claremont, with up to six present through August 11. One to two more were at the Piute Ponds on September 11 (Henry Witsken).
Returning for its eighth year along lower Ballona Creek in Playa del Rey was a Pacific Golden-Plover. This bird was present from August 12 through September 21.
A Bar-tailed Godwit- establishing just the third county record- was along lower Ballona Creek from August 7-11 (Larry Schmahl). In fall, this long-distance migrant typically flies non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand. But a few wander off course, with sixty-seven now recorded in the state since 1973.
Scarce in the county was a Red Knot in Playa del Rey from September 14-21. Less expected was a Ruff at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on September 14 (Kimball Garrett).
Rare as fall migrants were two Stilt Sandpipers at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on July 28 (Kimball Garrett), one in Maywood on August 4 (Richard Barth) and two more along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach from August 23-29 (Mark & Janet Scheel), with one of these or a different bird present on September 9 (Richard Barth).
Semipalmated Sandpipers included two along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach from July 26-31 (Mark & Janet Scheel), one along lower Ballona Creek on August 16 (Omai Alui, Jodhan Fine) and another there on September 1 (Kevin Lapp).
Unexpected was a Sooty Tern at Dockweiler State Beach in El Segundo on July 22 (Chris Dean). This established the first record for the county. This was almost certainly the same bird found in Orange County on July 21. Rarely seen from shore, these tropical seabirds turn up along the coast occasionally. Remarkably, Orange County boasts eleven of the state’s eighteen records, with about half of these representing returning birds.
Two Black Terns were at Malibu Lagoon on August 18 (Daniel Roby). Nineteen Common Terns were recorded; almost all were found along the coast, with one was at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from September 11-13 (Henry Witsken).
Sabine’s Gulls- typically found well offshore- were at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from September 6-8 (Mark & Janet Scheel) and at Lake Palmdale on September 13 (Aaron Gyllenhaal).
A Lesser Black-backed Gull continued at Dockweiler State Beach in El Segundo through September 14 and a Glaucous-winged Gull- rare in summer- was along the Los Angeles River in Maywood on July 21 (Chris Dean).
Two Red-billed Tropicbirds were just south of San Clemente Island on August 31 (multiple observers) and a Flesh-footed Shearwater and a Red-footed Booby were in the Santa Catalina Channel on September 14 (Adrian Hinkle).
Rare inland in summer was a Common Loon at Quail Lake on August 1 (Colby Merrill, Grace Warznak).
American Bitterns were at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh from August 31-September 9, at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on September 1 (William Tyrer) and again at the Piute Ponds from September 11-22 (Henry Witsken).
A Reddish Egret was along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach on July 22 (Jeff Boyd). Western Cattle-Egrets included one at the Piute Ponds from August 13-20 (Chris Dean), one at Malibu Lagoon on August 25 (Carol Johnson) and four at Apollo Park in Lancaster on August 29 (Vern Benhart).
At least one California Condor continued through September 10 along the Old Ridge Route Road near Castaic.
The long-staying Swallow-tailed Kite at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City was present through August 17.
A reluctant-to-leave Burrowing Owl in San Pedro remained through August 17.
Away from their usual higher-elevation haunts were White-headed Woodpeckers at St. Andrews Abbey on September 21 and in Juniper Hills on September 22 (Kimball Garrett).
An Eastern Kingbird was at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles from September 6-9 (Mark & Janet Scheel).
Purple Martins were represented by thirteen on the coastal slope, including at least eight at Bonelli RP on August 24 (Keith Condon). Additionally, up to six continued near Barley Flats in the San Gabriel Mountains through July 29 where breeding is suspected. Several more were at the Piute Ponds from September 11-13 (Henry Witsken).
An early Pacific Wren was at Winter Creek above Arcadia on September 10 (Jack Wickel).
One or more American Dippers continued at Buckhorn Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains through September 1.
Clay-colored Sparrows were at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia from August 28-31 (Aaron Gyllenhaal), at Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach from September 9-10 (Robert Hamilton) and at the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale on September 18 (Andy Birch).
Either quite early or summering was a White-crowned Sparrow at Jackson Lake near Big Pines on August 14 (Ruth Gravance). This species usually arrives in mid-September.
Green-tailed Towhees were at Holmby Park in West Los Angeles on September 21 (Klayton Vredevoogd), at the Piute Ponds on September 22 (William Tyretr) and at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood on September 19 (Merryl Edelstein, Becky Turley).
Rare as a fall vagrant- and earlier than expected- was an Orchard Oriole at Buena Vista Park in Burbank on July 29 (Rebecca Marschall). Baltimore Orioles were in Acton on August 27 (Johnny Ivanov) and at Murphy Ranch Park in Whittier from September 5-8 (Jonathan Rowley).
Northern Waterthrushes were at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from September 1-2 (Mark & Janet Scheel) and at St. Andrews Abbey on September 21 (Kimball Garrett).
Black-and-white Warblers were at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood on September 6 (Tracy Drake), at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester on September 9 (Russell Stone) and at Pt. Fermin on September 18.
Tennessee Warblers were on Santa Catalina Island on September 14 (Adrian Hinkle), at Arcadia County Park on September 21 (Luke Tiller) and again on Santa Catalina Island on September 21 (Andy Birch, Mark & Janet Scheel).
A Lucy’s Warbler was at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles on August 30 (Kimball Garrett). Virginia’s Warblers were at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia from August 28-September 3 (Aaron Gyllenhaal) and at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles on September 2 (Naresh Satyan) with another there on September 16 (Kimball Garrett).
An American Redstart was at the Piute Ponds on September 14 (Kimball Garrett) and a Blackpoll Warbler was in Rolling Hills Estates Canyon on September 14 (Randy Harwood).
Summer Tanagers were at Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills from July 19-August 10 (Mica Williams), at Murphy Ranch Park in Whittier from September 6-14 (Miles Wang) and at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles on September 19 (Kimball Garrett).
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on July 27 (Keith Condon), at Hopkins Wilderness Park, in Redondo Beach on September 18, on Santa Catalina Island on September 21 (Andy Birch, Mark & Janet Scheel) and in Signal Hill on September 21 (Omar Alui, Phillip McRae, Robert Hamilton).
Indigo Buntings were along the San Gabriel River in Pico Rivera from July 26-27 (Naresh Satyan) and at Whittier Narrows in South El Monte on August 15 and again on September 6 (Darren Dowell). Two more were present there on September 21 (Naresh Satyan).
Our regular wintering birds will be arriving in ever greater numbers and we’ll soon be encountering hordes of Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows.
Though fall passerine migration will essentially end with October, there will still be plenty of birds to find. The Los Angeles County coastal slope invariably offers a smorgasbord of wintering neotropical migrants. The numbers are small, but diversity is high.
Away from the coastal slope, the Antelope Valley is an intriguing spot in late fall and winter with good potential for rarities, including three species of longspur. Is the county overdue for a mainland record of Smith’s Longspur?
Deep water lakes and reservoirs offer diving ducks and the possibility of something unusual. Long-tailed Ducks, Barrow’s Goldeneye and various loons are to be watched for.
If pursuing birds teaches us anything, it’s that good finds can turn up in the least expected places. While popular and well-attended spots may be the most productive in terms of numbers, exploring lesser-known locales has its own rewards. Wherever you go, not knowing what you might find is frequently the most intriguing aspect of birding.