Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Phalarope | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | Western Cattle-Egret | White-headed Woodpecker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Western Warbling-Vireo | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | Cape May Warbler | Blackburnian Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Scarlet Tanager
Birds of the Season — November 2025
Following a comparatively mild summer on the coastal slope, mid-October brought some unusually early substantial rainfall to the county. November added significantly to that total. That’s a definite plus for bird habitats and should also greatly reduce the potential for wildfires.
Los Angeles County’s active birders found a remarkable number and diversity of vagrants this fall. The deserts, mountains, coastal slope and offshore waters and islands were all productive for notable birds. In large part, increased coverage is responsible for an increase in the rare birds detected, especially since the populations of many of these birds are in decline.
Inaccessible to the public, San Clemente Island has long been the envy of southern California birders due its impressive annual list of fall vagrants, including some mega-rarities. But increasing coverage of nearby Santa Catalina Island in fall has proved very worthwhile. By contrast, this island has easy public access and hosted a long list of rare birds this October and November.
Many parks and natural areas on the coastal slope held interesting passerines. The Piute Ponds, though coverage suffered due to closure during the government shutdown, still managed a number of good birds.
Rare Bird Alert - November 15, 2025
Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Red Phalarope | Leach’s Storm-Petrel | Western Cattle-Egret | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Pacific Wren | Red-throated Pipit | Lapland Longspur | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Grace’s Warbler | Back-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager
Rare Bird Alert - November 7, 2025
Surf Scoter | Pacific Golden-Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Eastern Phoebe | Lapland Longspur | Chestnut-collared Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Painted Bunting
Rare Bird Alert - October 31, 2025
Lesser Nighthawk | Williamson’s Sapsucker | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Western Cattle Egret | Broad-winged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Hammond’s Flycatcher | Sage Thrasher | Lapland Longspur | Chestnut-collared Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Blackburnian Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Summer Tanager | Indigo Bunting
Rare Bird Alert - October 23, 2025
Eurasian Wigeon | Common Ground Dove | Pacific Golden-Plover | Sabine’s Gull | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Broad-winged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Tropical Kingbird | Pacific Wren | Gray Catbird | Varied Thrush | Lapland Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | FIELD SPARROW | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Baltimore Oriole | Northern Waterthrush | Prothonotary Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | Lucy’s Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Blackburnian Warbler | Palm Warbler | Grace’s Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Painted Bunting | Dickcissel
Rare Bird Alert - October 11, 2025
Greater Roadrunner | Pacific Golden-Plover | Broad-winged Hawk | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Gray Catbird | Clay-colored Sparrow |Green-tailed Towhee | Bobolink | Baltimore Oriole | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Blackburnian Warbler | Blackpoll Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Indigo Bunting
Rare Bird Alert - October 3, 2025
Pacific Golden-Plover | Dunlin | Red Knot | Common Tern | Sabine’s Gull | Short-tailed Shearwater | Red-footed Booby | Williamson’s Sapsucker | Tropical Kingbird | Least Flycatcher | Bell’s Vireo | Chestnut-collared Longspur | Lark Bunting | Clay-colored Sparrow | Baltimore Oriole | Green-tailed Towhee | Bobolink | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | Lucy’s Warbler | Blackpoll Warbler | Palm Warbler | American Redstart | Blackburnian Warbler | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Blackpoll Warbler | Grace’s Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Indigo Bunting | Painted Bunting | Dickcissel
Birds of the Season — September 2025
Rare Bird Alert - September 26, 2025
Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Knot | Dunlin | Common Tern | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | White-headed Woodpecker | Tropical Kingbird | Eastern Phoebe | Green-tailed Towhee | Ovenbird | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Indigo Bunting