By Jon Fisher
Early June saw spring migration winding down as well as a handful of late spring vagrants. Right on their heels were the first southbound shorebirds. As we moved into July shorebird numbers increased rapidly.
During the relative lull in June and July, plenty of breeding activity was recorded for the California Bird Atlas. The project has brought renewed focus on documenting breeding related behavior and generated a great deal of interest among birders, both local and those throughout the state.
Data entry has exceeded expectations and altered some of our perceptions about when and where breeding is taking place; often much earlier than we tend to think. While the bulk of activity for 2026 is over, we still have four more years to gather data for this effort. It’s also worth noting that some species can be found nesting throughout the year.
Here’s a rundown of birds of interest over the past two months…
A Brant lingered in the Ballona area in Playa del Rey from June 17-30 (Kevin Lapp), a Black Scoter was on Alamitos Bay on June 5 (Ben Newhouse), a Bufflehead was in Redondo Beach through July 23 (David Moody) and an injured Common Goldeneye continued along the Los Angeles River in Atwater Village through July 12.
Inland Red-breasted Mergansers were at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena on May 18, at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas from May 28-31 (Rod Higbie), at Quail Lake from May 30-June 5 (Brad Rumble).
An Inca Dove continued in Lake Los Angeles through May 30 where a very small population has persisted for years, while a wayward and long-staying Greater Roadrunner continued along the Los Angeles River in Long Beach through July 12.
Up to seven Black Swifts were above Claremont from July 12-24 (many observers). Breeding has yet to be confirmed locally, though at least a few birds have been present here in summer since at least 2009.
A Baird’s Sandpiper was at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on July 10 (Kimball Garrett) and a Semipalmated Sandpiper was there July 5 (Mark & Janet Scheel).
An inland Common Loon was at Lake Hollywood from May 22-26 (Andy Birch).
A Laysan Albatross was off San Clemente Island on July 22 (Jimmy McMorran) and a Black-footed Albatross was off the Palos Verdes Peninsula on May 31 (multiple observers). In addition, two were observed near San Clemente Island on July 11 (multiple observers).
A Nazca Booby was south of Pt. Femin on June 8 (Steve Plantz) and a Cocos Booby was off the Palos Verdes Peninsula on May 31 (multiple observers).
A few Brown Pelicans continued to be reported inland away from expected coastal areas through July 20.
In addition to several reported on the coastal slope, Bald Eagles were at Jackson Lake from June 27-July 1 and below Little Rock-Palmdale Dam from July 14-21 (Leo Gilman).
A truly remarkable find was a Pearl Kite spotted along the Little Rock Creek drainage, adjacent to the southern Antelope Valley on June 12 (Kimball Garrett). This species, native to Central and South America, has never been recorded north of that area though a range expansion is underway due to changes in habitat, specifically deforestation. Questions of origin will likely never be completely put to rest, but this record would seem to have a greater probability of natural occurrence than some other recent “off the charts” vagrants.
A Crested Caracara seen and photographed at a residence in Malibu on June 27 was a nice find (Mary MacGregor).
Two Brown-crested Flycatchers were below Little Rock-Palmdale Dam on July 14 (Leo Gilman). Subsequently, multiple observers recorded up to six individuals, including recently fledged young seen through July 23. Only about a half dozen individuals have ever been recorded in the county, all of these in fall and winter. This thus establishes the breeding record for Los Angeles County.
A Red-eyed Vireo was at Piute Ponds on June 9 (Chris Dean). Though quite rare at any time, June and July are an ideal time for this species to be recorded in the county.
Purple Martins were at Piute Ponds on May 30 (Mark Scheel) and at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale on July 1 (Keith Condon).
Up to three California Gnatcatchers were in Santa Clarita near Castaic Creek and the Santa Clara River confluence from June 4-July 2 (Matt Brady).
An Varied Thrush was in Rancho Palos Verdes from June 9-July 13 (Tori Fay).
An injured White-crowned Sparrow was at Middle Ranch on Santa Catalina Island on June 6 and a Golden-crowned Sparrow was at Elysian Park on June 14 (Joshua Mitchell). Most often, it is sick and injured birds that account for out of season records of such strongly migratory species locally.
Quite a rarity in the county was an Ovenbird at Descanso Gardens in La Canada on May 24 (Kerry Garretson).
Black-and-white Warblers were on Santa Catalina Island on June 7 (Adrian Hinkle) and in the Sepulveda Basin in Van Nuys on July 18 (Daniel Scali).
Tennessee Warblers were at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on May 30 (Mark Scheel), at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on June 1 (Omar Aui, Jodhan Fine) and on Santa Catalina Island on June 7 (Adrian Hinkle). A Lucy’s Warbler was also at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on June 1 (Omar Alui, Jodhan Fine).
Hooded Warblers were along the San Gabriel River’s West Fork from May 23-30 (Alicia Di Rado) and along the Los Angeles River in Atwater Village on May 30 (Andrew Birch) for an above average total of six this spring.
American Redstarts were at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from May 23-June 10 (Frank & Susan Gilliland, et al), on Santa Catalina Island on June 7 (Adrian Hinkle), at Piute Ponds on June 10 (Jack Wickel) and in Signal Hill on June 14 (Vincent Baker).
Over a half dozen Northern Parulas were recorded over the period, rivalling Hooded Warbler as the most common eastern warbler this spring. At least one continued in Los Angeles through July 19 (Don Sterba)
Late Yellow-rumped Warblers were on Santa Catalina Island on June 6 (Andy Birch, Laura Vandezande, Naresh Satyan) and at Piute Ponds on June 7 (Femi Faminu).
Late lowland Wilson’s Warblers included birds in Topanga Canyon from June 17-20 (Harvey Villarica, Sierra Glassman) and at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena on June 19 (Darren Dowell). Of greater interest were an adult and fledgling at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh near Playa del Rey from June 27-July 4 (Joe Clark, Luke Hallberg). This species was once a common breeder throughout much of the coastal slope, but habitat loss and parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds has largely extirpated them.
Over a dozen Summer Tanagers were reported in the county over the period. Though typically a frequent vagrant, this species has been especially numerous recently.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were in La Canada on June 2 (Mark Hunter), in Aliso Canyon Park in Granada Hills on June 5 (Frank Huisman) and at Wildwood Canyon Park in Burbank on July 3 (Myeisha & Rogelio Gamino).
Indigo Buntings were on Santa Catalina Island on June 7 (Adrian Hinkle) and at Piute Ponds on June 13 (Mark & Janet Scheel).
While shorebird migration is already well underway, passerine migration will start to ramp up as we move into August and September.
Among our expected migrants there is always the potential for vagrants. At this time of year unusual birds can come from almost anywhere- east Asia, Alaska, the eastern United States and Mexico. Additionally, pelagic birds know few boundaries and can offer some stunning surprises.
San Clemente Island and more recently Santa Catalina Island have been producing impressive numbers of good birds in fall. While San Clemente is off-limits to the public, Catalina offers easy access and increasing coverage has proved very productive.
Wherever you go this fall, birds will inevitably reward you- whether they are our expected residents and migrants or something more unusual.