As Los Angeles County birders know well, every month offers excellent birding opportunities. February and March held up their end this year. Continuing wintering rarities were well represented, and notable new birds turned up at an impressive pace.
BOTS - JANUARY 2024
Winter in southern California. As far as the weather goes, we’re the envy of much of the country. Thus far, the winter of 2023-2024 has been drier than the previous one, but last winter was an aberration. At present, most areas are at least near normal for this time of year. In these unpredictable times, that’s a welcome scenario.
Birds of the Season- December 2023
Mild temperatures and limited precipitation were features of fall this year, and so were many rare birds. Though the traditional vagrant season for passerines ends with October, that doesn’t mean the end of good birds. Increasingly, neotropical migrants are found well into November and later. Neither were these limited to songbirds; as always, the variety was ample. Additionally, Christmas Birds Counts, run from December 14-January 5, have already turned up more notable birds.
Birds of the Season—August 2023
Following a relatively cool early July, summer finally arrived. Temperatures increased and some weak systems brought a modicum of subtropical moisture. Thankfully there were no significant wildfires locally thus far.
But the stunner from a weather and birding perspective was a very strong tropical storm- the remnants of hurricane Hilary— that hit the county on August 20. This event dumped five inches of rain or more in many locations and was accompanied by high winds in many places. The added precipitation from Hilary makes severe fires even less likely, but not out of the question.
Birds of the Season — June 2023
Birds of the Season – April 2023
The remarkable wet winter of 2022-2023 continued, surpassing most annual precipitation records. The abundance of rain lifted ninety percent of California out of a persistent two-decade long drought. This year resident and migrant birds enjoyed a lush and bountiful landscape. As a bonus, forecasts predict El Niño conditions for the coming year, which suggests above average rainfall for a second consecutive winter.
Birds of the Season — February 2023
Birds of the Season - February 2023
by Jon Fisher
And the rains came... La Nina years such as this are generally drier than normal, but this winter proved to be an exception. By the end of the January most areas were close to normal precipitation for the entire season. Another massive winter storm came at the end of February, putting us comfortably above normal. The sheer volume of water also altered many birding locales. To put things in perspective, this winter will be only the fourth to have above much average precipitation since the blockbuster winter of 2004-2005.
There is nothing like spring following a wet winter; and spring comes early to coastal southern California. In contrast to most of the country, signs of the season were noticeable by February. The landscape was lush and breeding activity was prevalent among resident birds well before most spring migrants start to arrive.
Though it was generally not a notable winter for irruptive species, American Robins were present in well above normal numbers throughout southern California. These events are most frequently caused by the presence or absence of food sources driving birds outside their regular ranges. Quite rare in comparison to robins, but also noted in above average numbers on the coastal slope were Townsend’s Solitaires and Brown Creepers.
Of course, there were plenty of interesting birds to be found and chased; no surprise there. Los Angeles County is very productive for birding, with a wide variety of habitats promoting species diversity and a considerable number of birders ensuring fewer birds go undetected.
Birds of the Season – October 2022
September and October are a time of almost endless potential and anticipation in the birder’s world in southern California, with a wide variety of migrants passing through. But it is also a time of uncertainly; each year is different and we never know exactly what to expect. What numbers of vagrants will turn up? What species will be above or below average? Will any ultra-rare Asian strays be found? To avoid any unnecessary suspense, I will state that the fall of 2022 did not disappoint.
Birds of the Season- August 2022
In some respects, July represents the summer doldrums for birds and birding. Breeding activity is largely over and fall migration has yet to get into full swing. But nothing is static in the bird world. Shorebird migration was already well underway, and the first southbound passerines were not far behind. Though much of what migration has served up thus far has been standard fare, a handful of vagrants have already been recorded.
Birds of the Season — June 2022
As spring rushed toward summer, birders made the most of their time finding migrants both regular and rare. By early June the show was all but over, with only a few stragglers still passing through. Following a dismal vagrant season last spring, there were hopes for a more exciting 2022. Indeed, this year saw marked improvement with a rather satisfying- if not overwhelming- number of good birds found in the county.