Eurasian Wigeon | Surf Scoter | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | Western Cattle-Egret | Manx Shearwater | Swainson’s Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Williamson’s Sapsucker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | GREATER PEWEE | Hammond’s Flycatcher | Western Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin’s Vireo | Lapland Longspur | Thick-billed Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Sagebrush Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Yellow-headed Blackbird | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Ovenbird | Black-and-white Warbler | MacGillivray’s Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Northern Parula | Blackburnian Warbler | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Scarlet Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak | Indigo Bunting
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
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.
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
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
Photo: Lewis's Woodpecker (melanerpes lewis), © Ian Routley, Courtesy of Macaulay Library
Birders are used to many types of change. Migration, increasing and decreasing bird populations, loss and gain of habitat, and varying access to favored birding locations are all familiar ones. Climate change adds an element that is transforming the distribution and habitats of birds, with the effects becoming more apparent every year.
White-winged Dove | Solitary Sandpiper | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Red-footed Booby | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Zone-tailed Hawk | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Grasshopper Sparrow | White-throated Sparrow | Black-and-white Warbler | Cape May Warbler | Summer Tanager
Surf Scoter | Long-tailed Duck | Solitary Sandpiper | Black-legged Kittiwake | Sabine’s Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Zone-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Bank Swallow | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Cape May Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-necked Grebe | Solitary Sandpiper | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Cattle Egret | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Zone-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | “Black” Merlin | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Least Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | Black-and-white Warbler | Cape May Warbler | Summer Tanager
Red-necked Grebe | Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Knot | Solitary Sandpiper | Black-legged Kittiwake | Glaucous Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | Cattle Egret | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Zone-tailed Hawk | Rough-Legged Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Eastern Phoebe | Swamp Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Orchard Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager
Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Knot | Solitary Sandpiper | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Zone-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Least Flycatcher | Dusky Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | American Redstart | Painted Redstart
In addition to our regular Ballona tour on Sunday, March 13th, we will offer a new tour for Young Birders! Our very own Emily Lamb will be leading her fellow Young Birders on a tour at 10 am. Come learn about the birds of Ballona, upcoming migration season, and hunt for Owl pellets with Emily. RSVP to Cindy Hardin at cindyhardin@laaudubon.org or give a call at 310-301-0050.
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