Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Los Angeles County > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, November 20 at 04:54 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Plains Wanderer,©BirdQuest

20 Nov Eurasian Wigeon (and Hooded Mergansers) ["richardbarth38" ] 20 Nov Egyptian Geese & Snow Goose @ Almansor Park ["Holy Pig" ] 20 Nov Lincoln Park Cackling, etc. ["Tom Miko" ] 19 Nov Burrowing Owl at 20th Century Fox in West Los Angeles ["caponyrcr" ] 18 Nov Hooded Merganser ["Jean Brandt" ] 18 Nov 5 Hooded Mergansers in Pico Rivera at basins [] 17 Nov N. Slope San Gabriels 11/14 [Mark Scheel ] 17 Nov Flyover Lapland Longspur, Dockweiler ["dan_cooper_90042" ] 17 Nov Brown Creeper, Summer Tanager, etc., Long Beach ["hamiltonrobb" ] 16 Nov East Antelope Valley birds, 11/15/09 [] 16 Nov Greater White-fronted Goose & Turkey Vulture @ Legg Lake ["Holy Pig" ] 16 Nov Baltimore Oriole @ West LA College ["Don" ] 15 Nov Burrowing Owl Continues at Ballona in Playa del Rey [Robert van de Hoek ] 13 Nov Ferruginous Hawk Continues in Playa del Rey [Robert van de Hoek ] 15 Nov Ferruginous Hawk at New Location in Playa del Rey [Robert van de Hoek ] 15 Nov Swamp Sparrow at Ballona FWM [Jon Fisher ] 15 Nov Ballona Creek channel ["Lori Conrad" ] 15 Nov Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Arcadia [] 15 Nov Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Westwood ["richardjnorton AT dslextreme.com" ] 15 Nov 11/15 Peck Rd Park [Andrew Lee ] 15 Nov Re: Sage Thrasher @ Bolsa Chica >>>Thread closed<<< [Steve Sosensky ] 15 Nov Sage Thrasher @ Bolsa Chica ["joyseawaterman" ] 15 Nov RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER & TROPICAL KINGBIRD AT WILSON CANYON, SYLMAR 11/14/09 ["calbirdgirl" ] 14 Nov American Bittern at Ken Malloy Park [John Thomlinson ] 14 Nov Yellow-bellied Sap returns to Vincent Park: other notes ["richardbarth38" ] 14 Nov YB Sapsucker & T Kingbird @ Lindberg Park, CC ["Don" ] 14 Nov hansen dam shrike ["fennemanlynda" ] 13 Nov 11/13 Bonelli, Surf Scoter [Andrew Lee ] 13 Nov Probable Tropical Kingbird @ Ken Hahn SRA ["Don" ] 13 Nov East LA winterers ["Tom Miko" ] 13 Nov Re: Two Cackling Geese now at Harbor Park, Nov 12, 2009 ["jacksnipe1990" ] 13 Nov Red-naped Sapsucker in Harbor Park Nov 12 2009 ["eppygriffin" ] 13 Nov Two Cackling Geese now at Harbor Park, Nov 12, 2009 ["eppygriffin" ] 12 Nov RE: hansen dam shrike ["Ed Stonick" ] 13 Nov hansen dam shrike ["fennemanlynda" ] 13 Nov Pair of Peregrines, Malibu Lagoon ["bobwhite90064" ] 12 Nov White-winged Scoter at Quail Lake [Michael Van Norman ] 12 Nov Re: Two Common Loon in Ballona Creek Estuary ["dan_cooper_90042" ] 11 Nov Earliest Known Nesting Behavior of Great Blue Heron in Los Angeles County? [Robert van de Hoek ] 11 Nov Re: Ballona Creek Raptors - Harriers [Robert van de Hoek ] 11 Nov Two Common Loon in Ballona Creek Estuary [Robert van de Hoek ] 11 Nov Re: Ferruginous Hawk, Playa Del Rey 11-11-09 [Robert van de Hoek ] 11 Nov Malibu [Callyn Yorke ] 11 Nov Griffith Park - Bird Sanctuary [Alex Viduetsky ] 12 Nov Ferruginous Hawk, Playa Del Rey 11-11-09 ["jon" ] 12 Nov Lewis's Woodpecker cont at San Gabriel Country Club 11 Nov 09 ["wurstertom" ] 11 Nov Miscellanious Miscellany 11/11/09 ["bcnh10" ] 11 Nov Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker at Hahamongna ["suhorton" ] 11 Nov OK, if it's sapsuckers you want... :-) ["Ed Stonick" ] 11 Nov Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter ["richardbarth38" ] 10 Nov Burrowing Owl and Northern Harrier at Ballona Upland in Playa del Rey [Robert van de Hoek ] 10 Nov Re: Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports [Robert van de Hoek ] 11 Nov Long Beach birds ["ksgilbert777" ] 10 Nov Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports ["Don" ] 10 Nov url correction [Callyn Yorke ] 10 Nov Quail Lake [Callyn Yorke ] 10 Nov Ballona Creek Raptors ["gomsteroo" ] 10 Nov Red-whiskered Bulbul @ San Gabriel Cemetery ["Holy Pig" ] 09 Nov Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports [Kevin Larson ] 9 Nov Red-breasted Sapsucker at Hahamongna [Ron Cyger ] 9 Nov RE: Red-naped Sapsucker reports [Thomas Miko ] 08 Nov Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports [Steve Sosensky ] 09 Nov Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports ["dan_cooper_90042" ] 09 Nov Varied Thrush near Claremont ["brianelli1" ] 8 Nov Winter Wren, Spruce Grove Campground [Mark Scheel ] 8 Nov 11/08 El Dorado RP [Andrew Lee ] 08 Nov Western Grebe courting behavior on Hansen Dam (main) Lake ["joyseawaterman" ] 8 Nov White-winged Scoters (3) at Quail Lake [Jon Fisher ] 08 Nov Red-naped Sapsucker reports ["richardbarth38" ] 08 Nov Chestnut-sided Warbler still at spreading grounds ["profile440" ] 8 Nov Lewis's Woodpeckers in San Gabriel (Nov. 8) ["Ed Stonick" ] 8 Nov RE: Green-tailed Towhee ["Muriel Kotin" ] 08 Nov Peregrine Falcon at Malibu Lagoon ["bobwhite90064" ] 7 Nov 8 Lewis's Woodpeckers, Jackson Lake [Mark Scheel ] 7 Nov Late Western Kingbird at Hansen Dam ["Kimball Garrett" ] 7 Nov RE: Green-tailed Towhee ["Lori Conrad" ] Subject: Eurasian Wigeon (and Hooded Mergansers) From: "richardbarth38" <busyday AT ca.rr.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:54:20 -0000 Birders, Fri 20 Nov This morning I saw a Eurasian Wigeon at the LA River in N. Atwater Village. It was 400+ yards north of the Colorado St. bridge (about opposite the Quixote Studios lot) with American Wigeons, Blue-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal. Right at the Colorado bridge were three Hooded Mergansers (2 male, 1 female). This stretch of river through Silver Lake and Atwater Village produces Hoodeds almost every winter. Later in the morning I had two more Hoodeds (1 male, 1 female) in the river just downstream of the Riverside Dr. crossing up near Bette Davis Park, north of Griffith Park. Richard Barth West Hollywood Subject: Egyptian Geese & Snow Goose @ Almansor Park From: "Holy Pig" <rickswartzentrover AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:01:54 -0000 Egyptian Geese & Snow Goose AT Almansor Park The pair of Egyptian Geese have been at Almansor Park in Alhambra for over 3 weeks now. They show up about 45 minutes before dark. Also a single Snow Goose has made the park home & has settled in with the Chinese Geese. Rick Swartzentrover Alhambra California Website: http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/New/indexnew.htm Email: rickswartzentrover AT yahoo.com Subject: Lincoln Park Cackling, etc. From: "Tom Miko" <thomas.miko AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:13 +0000 Two Cackling Geese showed up, today (one minima & one leucopareia), along with an Osprey (haven't seen one in months, so maybe you'll get one for the Pasadena CBC), and a Yellow Warbler, that also was not in the park until now--as far as I know. The Osprey caught a lunker. Tom Thomas Geza Miko Subject: Burrowing Owl at 20th Century Fox in West Los Angeles From: "caponyrcr" <ponyrcr AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:30:47 -0000 Not a chasable bird but certainly in an unusual spot. My fellow co-workers told my this owl has been seen on the lot for the last three nights. Got a good look at it tonight. Definitely a Burrowing Owl. What it's doing at a movie studio next to an executive building is anyone's guess. It's hanging out on the sidewalk and in the street at night. It nearly got ran over tonight and my co-worker told me it almost got ran over last night as well. JoAnne El Segundo Subject: Hooded Merganser From: "Jean Brandt" <jeanbrandt AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:59:39 -0800 A single male Hooded Merganser was in the pond at Los Encinos Historical Monument in Encino today. I'm sure he is just the first of the season since at least 4 pair have over-wintered here the past several years. I'll keep you posted. There are also many Ring-necked Ducks and Buffleheads in the pond. And too many Mallards to count. Most of them are NOT park ducks. They came in about a month ago. To reach the monument, take Ventura Blvd. east 1 block from Balboa Blvd. (Balboa Blvd. is an offramp on the 101 Fwy. Go south to Ventura and turn left.) Good birding! Jean Brandt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 5 Hooded Mergansers in Pico Rivera at basins From: larschmahl AT aol.com Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:14:41 EST Hello all, Water levels at the spreading basins along the San Gabriel River at Whittier Blvd. remain very good for waders and ducks. Yesterday, 17 November, there were 5 Hooded Mergansers and 4 Lesser Yellowlegs present. The White-faced Ibis is still there too. No sign of the Chestnut-sided Warbler though. 3 mergansers were in the narrow, canal like pond just south of Whittier Blvd. and the other two were at the south end of the large, north basin near the east end of Mines Blvd. Happy birding, Larry Schmahl Whittier [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: N. Slope San Gabriels 11/14 From: Mark Scheel <scheel AT tapir.caltech.edu> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:57:22 -0800 (PST) Hi all, Apologies for the late post. We found some noteworthy birds on a Pasadena Audubon field trip on Saturday Nov 14 to the North Slope of the San Gabriels. At least 6 Lewis's Woodpeckers continued in the vicinity of Jackson Lake and slightly west along the road. Also at Jackson Lake was a female Williamson's Sapsucker, across the road north of the lake. At St. Andrew's Abbey we found a White-headed Woodpecker, 3 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, a Myrtle Warbler, and an odd Sapsucker which we are calling a hybrid Red-naped/Red-breasted. We also had good looks at a flock of Mountain Bluebirds along Fort Tejon Rd (somewhere between 82nd & 96th). A Downy Woodpecker at St. Andrew's Abbey and a Ladder-backed at Valyermo Post Office gave us 9.5 woodpecker species for the day (counting the hybrid as 0.5). There also was a Common Loon in Lake Palmdale early in the morning. Mark and Janet Scheel Sierra Madre, CA Subject: Flyover Lapland Longspur, Dockweiler From: "dan_cooper_90042" <dan_cooper_90042 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:43:05 -0000 I saw and heard what I'm fairly sure was a Lapland Longspur today out at Dockweiler Beach (basically under the take-off paths of LAX). Unfortunately, it called (and I got on it) only as it was flying away, but I saw a dark brownish, chunky, cowbird-sized bird moving fast to the north in long undulations, low over the ground. It called once, a thin whistled "few" followed by a ticking "ki-dik". I couldn't relocate it, and it's probably long gone, but given how rare they are on the coast here, it's worth keeping in mind if you're out on the beach. Other neat things - a Black-hooded Parakeet flying south high over PCH (guess even they disperse), and a female harrier moving south way offshore, flushing Western Grebes. Dan Cooper Los Angeles Subject: Brown Creeper, Summer Tanager, etc., Long Beach From: "hamiltonrobb" <robb AT rahamilton.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:47:00 -0000 Hi All, Got out for a couple hours yesterday -- 15 Nov -- and saw a few birds of interest that may stick around for the xmas count: At Heartwell Park I saw a Brown Creeper, male Yellow Warbler, and first-year male Bullock's Oriole in the eucalyptus trees located north of Snowden Avenue and East Parkcrest Street. I've posted a pretty bad photo of the creeper in the folder labeled "27 Chickadees and Allies." As typical with creepers, the bird was intermittently vocal or I'd never have detected it. At Bouton Creek Park, located on Atherton Street just west of Bellflower Blvd., I heard a Summer Tanager call several times from the housing development located just south of the concrete channel. I also saw a female Western Tanager in the same area. Cheers, Robb Hamilton Long Beach Subject: East Antelope Valley birds, 11/15/09 From: feenstra AT alumni.caltech.edu Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:44:09 -0800 (PST) Yesterday morning (11/15/2009) I took a drive east from the 14 freeway across the Antelope Valley and, despite the raging wind, scraped up a few interesting birds. Mountain Bluebirds were present in many locations - I saw enough while in the car to stop paying attention to each location. They were mostly in groups of about 10. A Townsend's Solitaire and a White-throated Sparrow (tan striped) were both in the neighborhood north of Ave H along 125th St East. A few yards at the north end of the street are nicely planted (and occupied by birds), but best to drive north beyond the corner yard with the horde of barking dogs. A "pink-sided" Dark-eyed Junco was scratching around on the road side (Ave I) near the north end of the line of trees that runs south from Ave I about 0.3 miles west of 120th St East. I believe this is only the second individual of this type I've seen in LA County. I checked a few agricultural fields (when not being blasted by wind and dust) but didn't find any Mountain Plover. I also made a quick pass through some neighborhoods in Lake Los Angeles, but left without any Inca Dove sightings. Jon Feenstra Los Angeles Subject: Greater White-fronted Goose & Turkey Vulture @ Legg Lake From: "Holy Pig" <rickswartzentrover AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:46:41 -0000 If you are interested, here are my newest photos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Legg Lake Page 14 - Greater White-fronted Goose, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Egret, Snowy Egret & Double-crested Cormorant Fishing, Chinese Goose Fight, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Green Heron, Mallard/Appleyard Hybrid, Ruddy Duck, Brewer's Blackbird, Muscovy Duck, Black Phoebe, American Coot, Ruby-crowned Kinglet http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/WhittierNarrows/LeggLake/LeggLake14/Legg14.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Equestrian Center Page 5 - Belted Kingfisher, Turkey Vulture, Horses, Spotted Sandpiper, Snowy Egret, Green Heron http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/WhittierNarrows/Equestrian/Equestrian5/Equestrian5.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ San Gabriel Cemetery Page 5 - Northern Flicker (Red-Shafted), Northern Mockingbird, Crows & Squirrels http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/SGCemetery/SGCemetery5/SGCemetery5.htm Rick Swartzentrover Alhambra California Website: http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/New/indexnew.htm Email: rickswartzentrover AT yahoo.com Subject: Baltimore Oriole @ West LA College From: "Don" <donsterba AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:57:34 -0000 Yesterday (Nov 15) morning a splotchy, pale orange Baltimore Oriole was foraging in Eucalyptus trees along Freshman Drive about 100 yards in from Overland Ave. It had a pale, plain face and no obvious supercilium or black markings on face or neck, and it had two distinct pale buffy wingbars. BAOR are of almost annual occurrence in this area. Another interesting oriole, that I did not get to examine very well, in the same area was a dull-colored imm. bird with very distinct dark back streaks reminiscent of Streak-backed Oriole (warning: wishful thinking!!!). It had a narrow, long black patch that extended from the throat down to nearly the middle of the breast. Young male Bullock's O's often show back streaks, so this WLAC bird most likely is just a young BUOR with bolder-than-usual back streaks and an extra long throat patch. Freshman Dr is now lined with a long, tall sound barrier to partially block construction noise for nearby residents. You can still walk along Freshman Dr on either side of the barrier. Both orioles were about 50 ft beyond the barrier's starting point. Parking is a problem for campus visitors, so I park just outside, along Northgate St, and walk the short distance into WLAC. To avoid campus construction and student activity I usually go there Sunday mornings. Don Sterba Culver City Subject: Burrowing Owl Continues at Ballona in Playa del Rey From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:50:14 -0800 (PST) Greetings Birders (November 15 -Sunday)   I observed the Burrowing Owl again this morning in its traditional location at 8:50am in the thick iceplant patch, about 75 yards south of the Ballona Creek Levee.  I am virtually certain it was out in the open, off and on, throughout the day, even if missed by good birders such as Lori Conrad.  Keep trying at various times from about 8am to sunset.   Also, this owl is small, and at a great distance away, such as this, it is very easy to miss, and it blends in quite well, and sometimes only stand a short distance out of the ground squirrel hole.  It can hold perfectly still, but eventually will turn its head and its movement will help to give its location away to an observer.   I have found it many times to be  virtually impossible to spot with my field glass (8x) unless I first use my spotting scope.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Ballona Institute Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ferruginous Hawk Continues in Playa del Rey From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:59:47 -0800 (PST) Birders,   The Ferruginous Hawk that was first reported by Jonathan Coffin yesterday in Playa del Rey, continues today (Nov. 13, 2009).  It was perched again on the same utility pole as yesterday, and last year at this time of year.   The best vantage points likely tomorrow as well, will be from Waterview Street, Rindge Street, Napolean Street, and Vista del Mar Avenue.  This nearly all white hawk, with good reddish coloration on the back is striking, in good lighting at 12-noon today.   I would try mid-day on Saturday and Sunday for photographs, but also possibly at around 2pm.   It is located on the ocean-slope inside the barricaded fence of the LAX Airport property on the Sand dune property, which simulated a coastal prairie upland-type habitat.  Meadowlarks and other grassland species such as the Burrowing Owl and Loggerhead Shrike can also be seen here at times.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Ballona Institute Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ferruginous Hawk at New Location in Playa del Rey From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:34:46 -0800 (PST) Greetings Birders (November 15, 2009 - Sunday):   The Ferruginous Hawk was seen in a new location this morning at 7:30am to 8:30am.   It was seend on an utility pole cross bar near 91st Avenue, just north of Westchester Parkway in a large open areas with a few trees, but largely open grassland/prairie and lots of iceplant.  There is an abundance of California Ground Squirrels in this area, so presumably it is a good perch from which to survey for rodents as prey.   The location is only about 1/2 mile from the other location in Playa del Rey at Waterview/Rindge/Napolean streets.   To get to the new location with a good vantage point, take Westchester Parkway to Falmouth Avenue, turn north, two blocks to 91st Avenue, then turn east, and go a few blocks to Hastings Avenue, and turn south, a short block to a tall chain-link fence of the LAX airport property.  Look easterly up a dune/prairie slope to the utility poles running parallel to homes.   You can also travel east a bit further on 91st Avenue to Stanmoor "street" and turn south to its dead end, at a fence and then look westerly up a hill to the utility lines.   I think there is chance for unique photos at these locations, as I saw that the Ferruginous was standing very tall and erect on the poles, with its dark leggings very visible and blowing in the breeze, streamlined directionally behind with the leggings.   At the perching site at Waterview/Rindge/Napolean, the Ferruginous Hawk perches low and huddled, not showing its leggings.   Enjoy view at this location, which seems that it will be best in the early morning, with lighting harsh from Hastings, but backlit from Stanmoor.  Good luck.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Ballona Institute Los Angeles (Playa del Rey) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Swamp Sparrow at Ballona FWM From: Jon Fisher <IronHorse2060 AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:46:55 -0800 (GMT-08:00) hello Birders, 15 November 2009 This morning there was a Swamp Sparrow at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh. It was on the Lincoln side near Lincoln and Bluff Creek Drive (slightly northwest of the intersection, almost across from the big white Ventana complex banner). The bird was very hard to see, although it did pop up briefly a couple of times. Jon Fisher Glendale,CA Subject: Ballona Creek channel From: "Lori Conrad" <lconrad AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:32:48 -0800 Hi all! This afternoon while walking along Ballona Creek east of the Pacific Ave bridge, we saw a Merlin fly over us. No sign of the Burrowing Owl, though. There was a Horned Grebe in the channel, as well as one male Pintail, which to us, seemed a bit unusual. One of the Common Loons that had been reported before was there as well. We also saw a female (or Juvie) Northern Harrier over the flats to the south of the channel. It was fun watching several Western Gulls repeatedly fly up to about 25 feet off the ground, then drop a mussel onto the rocks to crack it open ...very clever! Lori Conrad Hermosa Beach, Ca [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Arcadia From: sanmigbird AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:56:49 -0500 LA County birders, An immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been coming to an Engleman Oak in my backyard for the past week. It is entertaining to watch the Yellow-rumped Warblers coming to the sap wells to steal the sapsuckers hard earned cache as soon as he flys away. A good winter for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the County appears to be emerging with this, the fourth reported in the past 2 days. The Engleman Oak in my front yard is host to a Red-breasted Sapsucker. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker brings to 212 the number of species for my yard list. Email me if you are interested in looking at these birds. Mike San Miguel Arcadia CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Westwood From: "richardjnorton AT dslextreme.com" <richardjnorton@dslextreme.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:00:36 -0800 This morning at about 11:30, Jim Abernathy and I had an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the Veteran's Cemetery in Westwood. The bird was at the north end of the central hill, at the intersection of cemetery roads Buena Vista Avenue and San Juan Hill Avenue. The cemetery is northeast of the junction of Sepulveda Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard, at the Wilshire exit of the the 405 freeway. Dick Norton Topanga, CA Subject: 11/15 Peck Rd Park From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:39:14 -0800 Peck Rd Park late this morning had the usual winter birds with the exception being a Grasshopper Sparrow in the brushy area just southwest from the picnic area. Yesterday a Western Kingbird continued at Santa Fe Dam (first seen on 10/28). Andrew Lee West Covina [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Sage Thrasher @ Bolsa Chica >>>Thread closed<<< From: Steve Sosensky <Steve AT Sosensky.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:52:07 -0800 Bolsa Chica is not in LA County. Therefore, this thread is closed. At 10:58 PM 11/14/2009, joyseawaterman wrote: >Birders--On Sat., 11-14, at about 200 yds east of the Tidal Gate, >just eastward from where the Herons nest, perched atop some >sagebrush, we saw a Sage Thrasher. Looks identical to the pictures >in books. I shot a clear picture. All the books indicate they're >not found here; that they spend winter in southwestern states, and >inland of southern Calif. Is this a rare sighting? Would love to >hear from you. Good birding, Steve Owner LACoBirds http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds Steve Sosensky SoCA Bird Guides www.sosensky.com/guides Optics4Birding www.optics4birding.com 84 Sandcastle Home: 949-269-2161 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 Cell: 818-522-5261 33.56485 N, 117.72205 W Yahoo Messenger ID: SteveSosensky SMS: stevesosensky AT vtext.com SoCal FRS: use channel 11 code 22 Subject: Sage Thrasher @ Bolsa Chica From: "joyseawaterman" <joycewaterman AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:58:45 -0000 Birders--On Sat., 11-14, at about 200 yds east of the Tidal Gate, just eastward from where the Herons nest, perched atop some sagebrush, we saw a Sage Thrasher. Looks identical to the pictures in books. I shot a clear picture. All the books indicate they're not found here; that they spend winter in southwestern states, and inland of southern Calif. Is this a rare sighting? Would love to hear from you. Joyce Waterman Santa Monica Subject: RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER & TROPICAL KINGBIRD AT WILSON CANYON, SYLMAR 11/14/09 From: "calbirdgirl" <lmnavroth AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:35:21 -0000 My birding partner and I hiked Wilson Canyon (up behind Olive View Hospital) this morning between 9:30 - 11:30. This area hasn't totally recovered from the Sayre Fire last year, but recent rains have started some greenery on the ground. We finally found birds in the oak forest picnic area and also up the middle dam area. A lot of the birds were concentrated in the drainage basin area where the willows and Indian Tobacco have grown back very thick, the surrounding oaks that survived--and the pines that did not. There were more birds than we thought after we got back in there a ways. We didn't see anything until we hit the area where the oaks were more dense. We had a couple of surprises, too (listed first): *Red-naped Sapsucker (adult male) (we had the Sibley's guide with us and were able to positively identify it) It was working over the oak trees near the picnic area. A lifer for me. *Tropical Kingbird (yellow underwings and belly up to chest). A BIG bird. (near parking area) Cassin's Kingbird (1) (up near the dam) Bewick's Wren (several) Northern Flicker (red shafted) (1) Western Scrub Jay (2) Lesser Goldfinch (one flock of 12) (another group of 6) Dark-eyed Junco (3) Black Phoebe (3) Ruby-crowned Kinglet (pair) Warbling Vireo (2) Oak Titmouse (3) White-crowned Sparrow (too many to count) Anna's Hummingbird (2) Red-tailed Hawk (2) American Crow (4) Common Raven (2) California Quail (calling from a hillside) House Finch (lots) There were also numerous other species of sparrows in the brush and willows, but I am poor at identifying all but the White-crowns. Linda Navroth Culver City Subject: American Bittern at Ken Malloy Park From: John Thomlinson <la_limey_birder AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:58:22 -0800 (PST) Not sure how unusual this is, but there was a very obliging American Bittern at Ken Malloy Park this morning, at the landward edge of the tules north of the playground.  It didn't seem to realize that pointing at the sky and swaying only works as camouflage if it's in the reeds, not perched in the open. John Thomlinson San Pedro and CSU Dominguez Hills "It is absolutely a crime for any man to die possessed of useful knowledge in which nobody shares." J.A.L. Waddell, 1916. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Yellow-bellied Sap returns to Vincent Park: other notes From: "richardbarth38" <busyday AT ca.rr.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:37:07 -0000 Birders, Sat 14 Nov The male YBSA has returned to Ed Vincent Park in Inglewood for a fourth winter (hopefully). This morning I found it in magnolias just north of the small south playground across from the tennis courts. It flew to a nearby oak where it foraged on and off between periods when I couldn't find it. In the scoter flocks off Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo there is now a second White-winged Scoter along with the Black Scoter (see msg #7904). All three birds are female/imm. types. They do not necessarily hang out together in the flocks. As of yesterday (13 Nov) the six Gr. White-fronted Geese continue at Earvin Magic Johnson Recreation Area in Willowbrook (see msg #7829). They were again together on the grass west of the south lake. The corrupted, now-tame Snow Goose is spending it's third year with the white domestic geese, usually around the north lake. Richard Barth Subject: YB Sapsucker & T Kingbird @ Lindberg Park, CC From: "Don" <donsterba AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:43:58 -0000 Sat 14 Nov The female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (seen ~7:30 this morning) found on last year's LA CBC by Tracy Drake (with Lisa Fimiani; LACoBirds #6772) has returned to the same area of Lindberg Park (near Overland Ave and Ballona Creek) in Culver City. She (the bird, not Tracy) can be shy and is adept at hiding behind upper branches, so be patient. Start your search in trees along the west side of the park, opposite the house at 10963 Ocean Drive. On my 3rd attempt I refound the Tropical Kingbird (LACoBirds #7864) in a flock of ~8 Cassin's that was milling about 3 palm trees at the western end of Karen Cir one block south of the park. The main Cassin's flock eventually breaks up into smaller groups, so the best time to search for the TRKI may be very early in the morning. Look and listen for kingbird flocks anywhere within 3 blocks or so of Lindberg Park. Also in the area this morning were a singing Pl. Vireo near the south end of the park and a "pure" female Yellow-sh. N. Flicker a couple of blocks east of the vireo. Don Sterba Culver City Subject: hansen dam shrike From: "fennemanlynda" <cflf AT netscape.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:16:44 -0000 I took of the shrike i saw in hansen dam, posted under shrikes and vireos. I guess it is the Loggerhead...does anyone care to differ? lynda fenneman hansen dam Subject: 11/13 Bonelli, Surf Scoter From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:55:56 -0800 Bonelli Park, San Dimas Scoping the lake late afternoon yielded a young Surf Scoter, my first "sea duck" at Puddingstone. Gull numbers are increasing in the afternoon with a single Glaucous-winged and a Herring mixed in with the hordes of California Gulls. http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/gnatcatcher/?action=view¤t=SurfScoter11-13-09.jpg Andrew Lee West Covina [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Probable Tropical Kingbird @ Ken Hahn SRA From: "Don" <donsterba AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:31:59 -0000 Fri 13 Nov Around 8:45 this morning a Tropical(/Couch's) Kingbird flew into a tree near the main lake at Kenneth Hahn State Rec. Area. In my brief views I noticed the bird's light gray head (compared to Cassin's), bright yellow underparts extending up nearly to its neck, and uniformly colored medium brown tail that the bird spread conveniently while maneuvering in flight. I heard no vocalizations before it flew off to the south, and I could not refind it. If it remains in the area, it might forage around the lake, in oil fields west of the lake, or in the large picnic area east of the lake where it could join Cassin's K'birds and Say's Phoebes. The upper level, at the end of the paved road, is also good for kingbirds. Don Sterba Culver City Subject: East LA winterers From: "Tom Miko" <thomas.miko AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:49:32 +0000 1) Red-breasted Sapsucker in Hazard Park . 2) W Tanager: Lincoln Park in large ficus near Lincoln's bust. Different vs same tanager in trees along north fence of former army base at Hazard Park. As of yet, Lincoln Park has no rarities for the Pasadena CBC. Tom Thomas Geza Miko Subject: Re: Two Cackling Geese now at Harbor Park, Nov 12, 2009 From: "jacksnipe1990" <wahooking AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:48 -0000 Hi Ed, It is hard to tell from you photos what subspecies your second Cackling Goose could be. If it is a first year Aleutian, it could very well lack a neck band and have a lighter colored breast. There have been several first year leucopareia birds showing up in the S.F. bay area and Southern California this year (fall), that I have noticed from looking at photos and posts on other listserves. Immature Aleutians have a mottled look to there breast color, i.e. not clean/uniform like adults. It is very obvious, especially if you see a family group of Aleutians together. If we could age this bird, we may be able to reach a better idea of subspecies identification. Structurally, the two geese in your photos look similar, especially in overall size, neck length and thickness, as well as bill length and head shape. And, based on the likelihood of leucopareia being the predominate Cackling Goose vagrant to coastal mid to southern California, I would guess that the second bird is likely a first year Aleutian. I think it would be very unlikely for a Richardson's (ssp = hutchinsii) to show up on the west coast, unless it was an escaped aviary bird. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. When was your adult banded bird captured and banded? Was it in Crescent City? Robert McNab Laguna Niguel, CA (former Aluetian Canada Goose field investigator and bander 1987-1990) --- In LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com, "eppygriffin" wrote: > > Hi All, > > A second Cackling goose has come to visit with the now resident one and the two resident Canada Geese in Harbor Park. This second goose looks to be from a different subspecies than the established one. The first Cackling Goose has a leg band that I reported two months ago. I found that it was an Aleutian race Cackling Goose that was banded and released here in California. > > I have posted a couple of useful comparison shots that I managed to get today. Along with the continuing immature Greater White-fronted Goose it is becoming a big year for geese at the park! > > =================================================== > If the reader is not interested in subspecies ID discussions, she should bail out now! > =================================================== > > Perhaps the most important aspect of the photos is that they clearly show that there are indeed two Cackling Geese in the park now. In the first photo it is easy to see that the new bird (foreground) is quite a bit smaller than the resident goose. In the second shot, one can see that the new arrival has a much lighter breast, no ring at the base of the neck and that the original bird still has the metal band on its leg. > > Here is what Sibley says about the Cackling Goose subspecies: > > Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii – > Small-bodied group – 4 subspecies breeding mainly in tundra > > B. h. hutchinsii – Richardson's (or Hutchins's) Cackling Goose – reportedly intergrades with parvipes throughout range in NWT and Nunavut, but this is uncertain. Small and rather light, pale breast. > > B. h. taverneri – Taverner's (Alaska) Cackling Goose – may intergrade with parvipes in interior AK. Merged by Palmer withparvipes but has unique mtDNA. Similar to leucopareia but slightly larger and lighter in color, with rounder head. Similar toparvipes but breast slightly darker. > > B. h. minima – Cackling Cackling Goose – Smallest, with small bill and short neck but relatively long legs; variable color and pattern but typically quite dark brown with purplish cast on breast, bill stubby, straight to convex culmen, nail less elongated than leucopareia, white cheeks more extensive than leucopareia. > > B. h. leucopareia – Aleutian Cackling Goose – includes asiatica (extinct). Larger than minima, with paler breast usually gray-brown to dark brownish; white collar usually complete and rather thick with blackish feathering at base of neck; head rather square profile; bill short, tapering to narrow tip and somewhat pointed nail; white cheek patches somewhat more restricted, nearly always black throat stripe. > > Based on these descriptions I think the original goose is B. h. leucoparieia (Aleutian) and the new arrival is the nominate race B. h. hutchinsii (Richardson's) > > I'd be interested in what others think. > > Ed Griffin > Rancho Palos Verdes, CA > Subject: Red-naped Sapsucker in Harbor Park Nov 12 2009 From: "eppygriffin" <eppygriffin AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:11:18 -0000 Hi All, Didn't want to make my previous goose post even longer than it already was, so I am posting this separately. A female looking RNSA was in the usual willow trees near the boathouse in Harbor Park this morning. The Google Earth coordinates are: Lat: 33.783940 Lon: -118.295586 Unfortunately I could not re-find the (unusual for here) Nuttall's Woodpecker in the burned area today. Ed Griffin Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Subject: Two Cackling Geese now at Harbor Park, Nov 12, 2009 From: "eppygriffin" <eppygriffin AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:53:49 -0000 Hi All, A second Cackling goose has come to visit with the now resident one and the two resident Canada Geese in Harbor Park. This second goose looks to be from a different subspecies than the established one. The first Cackling Goose has a leg band that I reported two months ago. I found that it was an Aleutian race Cackling Goose that was banded and released here in California. I have posted a couple of useful comparison shots that I managed to get today. Along with the continuing immature Greater White-fronted Goose it is becoming a big year for geese at the park! =================================================== If the reader is not interested in subspecies ID discussions, she should bail out now! =================================================== Perhaps the most important aspect of the photos is that they clearly show that there are indeed two Cackling Geese in the park now. In the first photo it is easy to see that the new bird (foreground) is quite a bit smaller than the resident goose. In the second shot, one can see that the new arrival has a much lighter breast, no ring at the base of the neck and that the original bird still has the metal band on its leg. Here is what Sibley says about the Cackling Goose subspecies: Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii – Small-bodied group – 4 subspecies breeding mainly in tundra B. h. hutchinsii – Richardson's (or Hutchins's) Cackling Goose – reportedly intergrades with parvipes throughout range in NWT and Nunavut, but this is uncertain. Small and rather light, pale breast. B. h. taverneri – Taverner's (Alaska) Cackling Goose – may intergrade with parvipes in interior AK. Merged by Palmer withparvipes but has unique mtDNA. Similar to leucopareia but slightly larger and lighter in color, with rounder head. Similar toparvipes but breast slightly darker. B. h. minima – Cackling Cackling Goose – Smallest, with small bill and short neck but relatively long legs; variable color and pattern but typically quite dark brown with purplish cast on breast, bill stubby, straight to convex culmen, nail less elongated than leucopareia, white cheeks more extensive than leucopareia. B. h. leucopareia – Aleutian Cackling Goose – includes asiatica (extinct). Larger than minima, with paler breast usually gray-brown to dark brownish; white collar usually complete and rather thick with blackish feathering at base of neck; head rather square profile; bill short, tapering to narrow tip and somewhat pointed nail; white cheek patches somewhat more restricted, nearly always black throat stripe. Based on these descriptions I think the original goose is B. h. leucoparieia (Aleutian) and the new arrival is the nominate race B. h. hutchinsii (Richardson's) I'd be interested in what others think. Ed Griffin Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Subject: RE: hansen dam shrike From: "Ed Stonick" <edstonick AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:11:50 -0800 Hi Lynda! Probably not a Northern Shrike. They are extremely rare anywhere in Southern California. I haven't heard of any closer than Lake Isabella in the last 20 years. The bill "hook" by itself is not conclusive. The size of the bird, lighter color on the back, slight barring on the breast, etc. would all have to be present as well. Regards, Ed Ed Stonick Pasadena, CA edstonick AT earthlink.net _____ From: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of fennemanlynda Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:36 PM To: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [LACoBirds] hansen dam shrike i saw the shrike today and definitely saw a longish hooked bill...which would indicate a Northern Shrike. i saw it perched in a dead-ish tree almost under the powerlines off the haul road, just north of the Gabrilino parking lot...where the main trail divides...and the tree is in the yoke of the split. lynda fenneman hansen dam [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: hansen dam shrike From: "fennemanlynda" <cflf AT netscape.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:35:38 -0000 i saw the shrike today and definitely saw a longish hooked bill...which would indicate a Northern Shrike. i saw it perched in a dead-ish tree almost under the powerlines off the haul road, just north of the Gabrilino parking lot...where the main trail divides...and the tree is in the yoke of the split. lynda fenneman hansen dam Subject: Pair of Peregrines, Malibu Lagoon From: "bobwhite90064" <bobpann AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:36:59 -0000 Today, Thursday, there was a peach of a pair of Peregrines relaxing on the sandy strip between the ocean and Malibu Lagoon. They relaxed there from 1:00 till 1:35 pm before flying off (no beachgoers to harass them!). Bob Pann Cheviot Hills Subject: White-winged Scoter at Quail Lake From: Michael Van Norman <birder AT VanNorman.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:11:22 -0800 There was a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER in the Quail Lake outflow channel this morning around 8:00AM. Mike Van Norman Santa Clarita Subject: Re: Two Common Loon in Ballona Creek Estuary From: "dan_cooper_90042" <dan_cooper_90042 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:01:43 -0000 Roy/all, Common loon is the expected winter loon at Ballona, as noted in my annotated checklist. Small numbers are present all winter in the creek, Marina del Rey, and just offshore. Twelve yellowlegs is a good count for winter, but re-check those "Western" Sandpipers - Least Sandpiper is the expected species in winter, and 100+ leasts have been present along that stretch of the creek for the past few weeks. I have a high count of 3 westerns since Oct., and they remain rare until spring. There's a slight size difference, but pay attention to leg color (yellowish in Least) and amount of white on the chest. Western Sandpiper was almost missed on the CBC last year. You might also pay attention to Dunlin (which was missed last year); only a couple are wintering. [I'm involved in a year-long census of birds along Ballona Creek and the adjacent Ballona Wetlands (including what Roy is now calling "Ballona Uplands"), so even these casual observations are useful to that project, if not appropriate for the entire list!] Dan Cooper Los Angeles --- In LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com, Robert van de Hoek wrote: > > Birders: >   > The two juvenile Common Loon seen yesterday by Lucio Gomez were seen again this afternoon (Nov. 11, 2009 Wed.) in the same general area of the Ballona Creek Estuary, between the UCLA Boat House and Lincoln Boulevard.  One Common Loon was also seen in the early morning, further up Ballona Creek near the 90 Freeway bridge, which is likely one of these two same loons seen in the late afternoon today. >   > I observed a single juvenile Common Loon in the Venice Canals on November 2, a little more than a week ago.  And I misidentified a loon seen yesterday on November 10 that I posted, as it is actually a Common Loon, not a Pacific Loon. >   > I also observed 23 Western Grebe loosely scattered over the Ballona Creek estuary amongst the loons, and 12 Yellowlegs huddled together in a small flock on the creek edge near the 90 Freeway bridge, while searching for the loons.  And there were many hundreds of Black-bellied Plover, mixed with a group of 50 +/- dowitchers and 100 +/- Western Sandpiper, and 1 Semi-palmated Plover near the UCLA Boat House on the shores of Ballona Creek Estuary as welll. >   > "Roy" > Robert van de Hoek > Ballona Institute > Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Earliest Known Nesting Behavior of Great Blue Heron in Los Angeles County? From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:03:29 -0800 (PST) Greetings Birders:   I observed a Great Blue Heron on the roof of the Villa Venetia Apartment in Marina Del Rey with a large stick in its beak.  It then flew a short distance to a Washington Fan Palm at the UCLA Boat House immediately adjacent to Ballona Creek.  There it added the stick to an existing nest, where another Great Blue Heron was already standing (a female).   In a nearby Eucalyptus tree at the same apartment, I also observed two Great Blue Heron standing only 2 feet apart at an existing nest of that tree.   And in a Monterey Cypress tree nearby at the US Coast Guard Station, I observed a lone Great Blue Heron at a nest, surrounded by approximately 140 Double-crested Cormorant, appearing to be guarding the nest from the mass of cormorants.   My earliest beginning dates of recorded nesting activity of Great Blue Heron previously has been on November 30, 2000.  However, that observation was at a completed nest, so I estimated then that nest building had started several weeks earlier.   It's important to note that in the Tropics, Great Blue Heron can and do nest all year,including on the Galapagos Islands.  Of course, were are only a moderate distance north of the Tropic of Cancer, here in Los Angeles, which can still be called a Subtropical climate along the coast, if we consider the fish fauna and marine invertebrates found here on the LA coast, so it would not be surprising with our mild climate to see an extended nesting season that runs from November to early September the following year, nearly 11 months in length.   Interestingly perusal of the California Department of Fish & Game code book on nesting birds, states for Great Blue Heron, that nesting season runs from March-July, but this data is based on northern and central California, not our mild climates of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Ballona Institute Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Ballona Creek Raptors - Harriers From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:18:35 -0800 (PST) Lucio and Birders:   At approximately 3pm today (11-11-2009 Wed. I observed two of  Northern Harrier that Lucio Gomez likely spotted yesterday in the same gereral location.  The harriers were seen from the bicycle path, approximately 100 yards east of the UCLA Boathouse.  The two harriers were doing aerobatic maneuvers and nearly tangling with each over briefly over a patch of Ballona grassland and Coyote Bush scrub.  This behavior occurred just north of the north side of Ballona Creek.  One of the two harriers quickly flew south across Ballona Creek toward the salt flat and pickleplant salt marsh habitat, while the other harrier remained in the grassland area and alighted on a Coyote Bush.   Both Harriers were very reddish in coloration and so likely juvenile birds/females.   No kite was seen this afternoon, nor a Kestrel in this region, but several Great Blue Heron were stalking prey in these grasslands.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Ballona Institute Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA --- On Tue, 11/10/09, gomsteroo wrote: This morning at 10:30am, along the Ballona Creek bike path I saw three northern harriers; one right across from the UCLA boathouse and two flying over the field north of Ballona Creek and just before Lincoln blvd. A white-tailed kite was in the same area flying circles over the field. There were also two common loons in the creek, one right by the boathouse and the other about two hundred yards to the north. I also saw a kestrel buzz a hawk of some sort, but it was too far to ID; maybe a fourth harrier or a red-tailed hawk. One of the harriers might have been an adult male, but it was too far to positively ID. Subject: Two Common Loon in Ballona Creek Estuary From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:43:28 -0800 (PST) Birders:   The two juvenile Common Loon seen yesterday by Lucio Gomez were seen again this afternoon (Nov. 11, 2009 Wed.) in the same general area of the Ballona Creek Estuary, between the UCLA Boat House and Lincoln Boulevard.  One Common Loon was also seen in the early morning, further up Ballona Creek near the 90 Freeway bridge, which is likely one of these two same loons seen in the late afternoon today.   I observed a single juvenile Common Loon in the Venice Canals on November 2, a little more than a week ago.  And I misidentified a loon seen yesterday on November 10 that I posted, as it is actually a Common Loon, not a Pacific Loon.   I also observed 23 Western Grebe loosely scattered over the Ballona Creek estuary amongst the loons, and 12 Yellowlegs huddled together in a small flock on the creek edge near the 90 Freeway bridge, while searching for the loons.  And there were many hundreds of Black-bellied Plover, mixed with a group of 50 +/- dowitchers and 100 +/- Western Sandpiper, and 1 Semi-palmated Plover near the UCLA Boat House on the shores of Ballona Creek Estuary as welll.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Ballona Institute Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Ferruginous Hawk, Playa Del Rey 11-11-09 From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:56:51 -0800 (PST) Jonathan and BIrders:   Your Ferruginous Hawk obsevation and description is very accurate from what I observed last year.  In addition, I sometimes watched the Ferruginous Hawk in the last light of the day, fly down from the utility pole in the dune on Waterview Avenue, directly westward to the beach and roost in a tall palm adjacent to the restroom at Dockweiler Beach.   This afternoon, around 3:30pm, I observed a probable Ferruginous Hawk with some hesitancy, in the Ballona uplands on a tall utility pole along Culver Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and the 90 Freeway.  This hawk could easily have flown southwest to the location at the El Segundo Dunes on Waterview Street.   "Roy Robert van de Hoek Los Angeles (Playa del Rey), CA --- On Wed, 11/11/09, jon wrote: The Ferruginous Hawk has returned to its traditional wintering grounds along the coast above Dockweiler Beach on the southwest corner of Playa Del Rey. It's typical for this hawk to hang around and watch the sunsetting into the Pacific from the telephone pole above Vista Del Mar at Napoleon before escaping somewhere over into Playa Del Rey at around 4:15. If the hawk is not at this location check the telephone poles and trees inside grasslands with ground squirrels and meadowlarks south of Waterview and west of Pershing. If the Ferruginous Hawk decides to stay the winter it could be here until March. Subject: Malibu From: Callyn Yorke <callynyorke AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:50:53 -0800 (PST) Birders, Ethan and I found and photographed an immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in the Surfrider Beach parking lot next to the Adamson House in Malibu. The bird, along with some Rock Pigeons, was being fed by a local resident who didn't know its specific identity, but who did recognize the odd occurrence. The other highlight of our survey was the sight of about 30 SNOWY PLOVERS on Surfrider Beach. The birds were relatively slow to flush, evidently depending on their excellent concealment coloration in the uneven sands.  Our day's total, 79 species.  Details are posted at: http://avconline.avc.edu/cyorke/FieldNotesHome,htm Cal Yorke Green Valley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Griffith Park - Bird Sanctuary From: Alex Viduetsky <aviduetsky AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:05:27 -0800 (PST) Hello Birders! Today (Nov 11, 09) I visited the Griffith Park's Bird Sanctuary. It was open. There are many burned trees in and around the sanctuary. I found a slightly leaking water-pipe where different birds were landing to drink. I observed a Wrentit, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, Brown-headed Cowbird, few Purple Finches and a female Nuttal's Woodpecker. From a distance, I also saw at least one Sharp-Shinned Hawk, a male Kestrel and Western Scrub-Jay. You may view some of my today's photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985 AT N08/sets/72157622786217724/show/ I appreciate all comments and corrections about my birds IDs. Alexander Viduetsky Valley Village, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ferruginous Hawk, Playa Del Rey 11-11-09 From: "jon" <jonathan_coffin AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:12:10 -0000 The Ferruginous Hawk has returned to its traditional wintering grounds along the coast above Dockweiler Beach on the southwest corner of Playa Del Rey. It's typical for this hawk to hang around and watch the sunsetting into the Pacific from the telephone pole above Vista Del Mar at Napoleon before escaping somewhere over into Playa Del Rey at around 4:15. If the hawk is not at this location check the telephone poles and trees inside grasslands with ground squirrels and meadowlarks south of Waterview and west of Pershing. If the Ferruginous Hawk decides to stay the winter it could be here until March. Jonathan Coffin Inglewood, Ca Subject: Lewis's Woodpecker cont at San Gabriel Country Club 11 Nov 09 From: "wurstertom" <wurster AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:26:41 -0000 Yesterday and today I missed the Lewis's Woodpecker on my daily drives past the original sighting area near the NW corner of San Gabriel Country Club, so I decided to check other areas. At about 8 this morning I refound one near the "middle"/east side of the country club, atop a telephone pole on E. Roses Rd., between N. California St and N Pine St., in San Gabriel. It was perched on the adjacent pole when I drove by again at 2:30. Tom Wurster Monrovia Subject: Miscellanious Miscellany 11/11/09 From: "bcnh10" <johngarrett AT jps.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:41:53 -0000 Hey all, Had some good birding today. Pico Rivera: After an hour of waiting around, the CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER finally turned up at about 12:40 (sorry Ed!). Other birds of interest included 6 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, a few BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and the birds Ed Stonick reported. Legg Lake: Near restroom #7 was an apparent hybrid TOWNSEND'S x HERMIT WARBLER. Also a pure-looking HERMIT WARBLER was in the conifers just to the south. An intermittently-calling PLUMBEOUS VIREO was at the edge of the open lawn area to the south of restroom #9. Lacy Park (San Marino): Over the past week I've consistently had a HERMIT WARBLER in the St Alban's-side parking lot, and a few BROWN CREEPERS, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and a (returning?) GRAY FLYCATCHER on the center lawn. In the surrounding neighborhood a few GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have been hanging around. Although not chase-able, but still perhaps of interest to some, a BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW was in my yard for a few minutes in Pasadena on 11/6. Happy Veteran's Day! John Garrett Pasadena, CA http://www.flickr.com/photos/johngarrettbirding/ Subject: Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker at Hahamongna From: "suhorton" <sue.horton AT latimes.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:18:21 -0000 There was a male yellow-shafted Northern Flicker this morning at Hahamongna (AKA Oak Grove Park in La Canada or the arroyo north of Devil's Gate Dam). It had bright yellow underwings as well as a black malar and a red-nape crescent. It looked as if it could have been the model for Sibley's illustration. It was near the unofficial ball field on the east side of the arroyo in a huge sycamore in the middle of one of the (dry) settling ponds. Sue Horton Los Angeles Subject: OK, if it's sapsuckers you want... :-) From: "Ed Stonick" <edstonick AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:07:22 -0800 . there was a pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers at Legg Lake in the trees inside the fenced picnic area (# 9) which is just west of the large parking lot on Santa Anita Ave. Not much of anything else; very few ducks; one Ross's Goose with the resident barnyard honkers. At the Pico Rivera spreading grounds there was a single White-faced Ibis and a Peregrine. Still a nice assortment of ducks. Could not relocate the CSWA. Regards, Ed Ed Stonick Pasadena, CA edstonick AT earthlink.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black Scoter, White-winged Scoter From: "richardbarth38" <busyday AT ca.rr.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:54:19 -0000 Birders, Wed 11 Nov This morning in the Surf Scoter flocks off Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo, I had one Black and one White-winged Scoter (both female/imm. type birds). The flocks can be scoped from near lifeguard station #58, below the bluff parking lot between Imperial Hwy. and Grand Ave. Richard Barth West Hollywood Subject: Burrowing Owl and Northern Harrier at Ballona Upland in Playa del Rey From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:10:06 -0800 (PST) Greetings Birders:   The Burrowing Owl continues to roost each morning for more than a month now, in the same iceplant patch of Ballona Uplands at Playa del Rey.  This interesting owl is best seen from the Ballona Creek levee on it south side at the tide gate, approximately 200 yards east (inland) of Pacific Avenue Pedestrian Bridge.   A Northern Harrier flew directly over the Burrowing Owl without causing the owl to go down into a squirrel burrow.  A California Ground Squirrel, immediately adjacent to the Burrowing Owl at another burrow in the iceplant patch was also not alarmed by the Northern Harrier gliding by it.   Goldfinches and White-crowned Sparrows were abundant in the non-native weedy "thistle" brush and Acacia bushes searching for seeds along this portion of Ballona Creek, while a dozen Bufflehead, a lone Pacific Loon, and a lone female Red-breasted Merganser were actively hunting for fish in Ballona Creek.  No sign of the winter resident female Belted Kingfisher this morning, but she is nearby, most likely at Del Rey Lagoon City Park.   "Roy" Robert van de Hoek Los Angeles (Playa del Rey) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: Robert van de Hoek <robertvandehoek AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:37:29 -0800 (PST) Birders:   All last winter, there was a Red-breasted Sapsucker at Los Robles Park (Hacienda Heights) in some elms and locust trees at the far corner of the park.  I'll check to see if a sapsucker has returned again.  And a pair of Nuttall's Woodpecker as well as Western Bluebirds nested in the same park.   Roy Los Angeles (Playa del Rey)   --- On Tue, 11/10/09, Don wrote: From: Don Subject: [LACoBirds] Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports To: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 12:58 PM   In recent years, Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City has been another fairly reliable location for RB Sap's. One of the best spots for me has been the hillside immediately above and east of the pond near the Slausen Ave. entrance. Initially, walk under any Carob tree you find, and if still sapsucker-less, check out nearby trees including those on top of the hill. Last week, in addition to one bird by the pond, two more RB Sap's were on the hillside north of the pond. Don Sterba Culver City --- In LACoBirds AT yahoogrou ps.com, Steve Sosensky wrote: > > Please continue to report all sapsuckers. This list is not only read > by SoCal birders, but also by visitors who are looking for > Red-breasted, Red-naped, and Williamson's Sapsuckers. They usually > come from places that have Yellow-bellied, so the species that is > most interesting to us is the least interesting to eastern visitors. > > In general, other than first of season sightings, please don't report > common birds in expected places. OTOH, please report birds in > unexpected places, at unexpected times, or in unusual numbers. > > > Good birding, > > Steve Sosensky, > SoCA Bird Guides www.sosensky. com/guides > Nature Photos www.sosensky. com/nature_ photos.htm > Optics4Birding www.optics4birding. com > Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 949-269-2161 33.56485 N, 117.72205 W > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long Beach birds From: "ksgilbert777" <ksgilbert AT msn.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:21:10 -0000 Hi Birding some Long Beach spots today (Tuesday) Jeff Boyd and I had a few interesting birds. At DeForest Park, there was a female-type Summer Tanager in the Australian willows just west of the tennis courts. Jeff found a White-throated Sparrow in the Nature Trail willows just west of the main trail near the putrid pond. A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in sycamores near the small restroom building just north of the ballfield. We also had a Northern Harrier pass over the park, a park bird for both of us. Dominquez Gap ponds has a Bewick's Wren continuing from last week. No sign of the Lucy's Warbler this week. It appears that the Cackling Goose has returned to the Scherer Park duck pond. Atlantic and Del Amo. At the L.A. River there's a Redhead in the lagoon just south of Willow St. Hundreds of gulls in the river north of Willow, nothing unusual though. Karen Gilbert Subject: Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: "Don" <donsterba AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:58:50 -0000 In recent years, Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City has been another fairly reliable location for RB Sap's. One of the best spots for me has been the hillside immediately above and east of the pond near the Slausen Ave. entrance. Initially, walk under any Carob tree you find, and if still sapsucker-less, check out nearby trees including those on top of the hill. Last week, in addition to one bird by the pond, two more RB Sap's were on the hillside north of the pond. Don Sterba Culver City --- In LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com, Steve Sosensky wrote: > > Please continue to report all sapsuckers. This list is not only read > by SoCal birders, but also by visitors who are looking for > Red-breasted, Red-naped, and Williamson's Sapsuckers. They usually > come from places that have Yellow-bellied, so the species that is > most interesting to us is the least interesting to eastern visitors. > > In general, other than first of season sightings, please don't report > common birds in expected places. OTOH, please report birds in > unexpected places, at unexpected times, or in unusual numbers. > > > Good birding, > > Steve Sosensky, > SoCA Bird Guides www.sosensky.com/guides > Nature Photos www.sosensky.com/nature_photos.htm > Optics4Birding www.optics4birding.com > Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 949-269-2161 33.56485 N, 117.72205 W > Subject: url correction From: Callyn Yorke <callynyorke AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:02:10 -0800 (PST) Birders, The correct website address following my last post for Quail Lake is: http://avconline.avc.edu/cyorke/FieldNotesHome.htm my apologies for the error. Cal Yorke Lancaster [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Quail Lake From: Callyn Yorke <callynyorke AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:58:08 -0800 (PST) Birders, Late post here: Yesterday morning at Quail Lake, I found a female HOODED MERGANSER  and a male COMMON GOLDENEYE; There were also about 35 GREATER SCAUP, and 7 HORNED GREBES. 51 species, total for the morning survey.  Details posted at: http://avconline.avc.edu/cyorke/FieldNotes.htm Cal Yorke Lancaster [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ballona Creek Raptors From: "gomsteroo" <gomsteroo AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:04:08 -0000 This morning at 10:30am, along the Ballona Creek bike path I saw three northern harriers; one right across from the UCLA boathouse and two flying over the field north of Ballona Creek and just before Lincoln blvd. A white-tailed kite was in the same area flying circles over the field. There were also two common loons in the creek, one right by the boathouse and the other about two hundred yards to the north. I also saw a kestrel buzz a hawk of some sort, but it was too far to ID; maybe a fourth harrier or a red-tailed hawk. One of the harriers might have been an adult male, but it was too far to positively ID. Lucio Gomes Playa del Rey Subject: Red-whiskered Bulbul @ San Gabriel Cemetery From: "Holy Pig" <rickswartzentrover AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:09:52 -0000 Photos from this weekends bird outings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ San Gabriel Cemetery 4 - Red-whiskered Bulbul, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Band-tailed Pigeon, Western Scrub-jay, Black Phoebe, American Robin http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/SGCemetery/SGCemetery4/SGCemetery4.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peck Road Park 5 - Double-crested Cormorants, Black-throated Gray Warbler?, Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Cassin's Kingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Great Blue Heron, Black Phoebe, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Belted Kingfisher, Great Egret http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Photos/Hiking/PeckRoad/PeckRoad5/PeckRoad5.htm Rick Swartzentrover Alhambra California Website: http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/New/indexnew.htm Email: rickswartzentrover AT yahoo.com Subject: Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: Kevin Larson <cbirdr AT ca.rr.com> Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:39:07 -0800 Hi Dick, I recorded 345 species during my 1993 Los Angeles County Big Year and missed Red-naped Sapsucker. Needless to say, I would have been thrilled with a report that year. I always appreciate your reports, thanks. Kevin Larson Lawndale richardbarth38 wrote: > > > Birders, > > Sun 8 Nov > > Should we report RN Sapsuckers on this forum? Maybe just as a > secondary bird mentioned?, or just when reporting a first-of-fall or a > late lingering bird in spring?, or only on a list of birds? There was > one this morning at Forest Lawn Glendale, moving around southwest of > the Great Mausoleum....is anyone interested in that? (I believe RNSA > is considered uncommon to rare in most of the county...fall and > winter, of course.) > > Richard Barth > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-breasted Sapsucker at Hahamongna From: Ron Cyger <ron AT cyger.org> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 19:17:50 -0800 Birders: In keeping with the latest news, there was a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at Hahamongna Park on Saturday morning. Hahamongna Park is at the Oak Grove off ramp off the 210 in Pasadena/La Canada. As you enter the park, go down to the parking lot by the ball field and the sapsucker was found in the oaks just north of the lot. We also found two BLACK-HOODED PARAKEETS that morning near the oaks. Get there early to beat the frisbee-golf crowd. Ron Cyger Pasadena [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: Thomas Miko <thomas_miko AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:53:34 -0800 Steve, Thanks for saying that: even local birders e.g. year-listers want to know about the location of easy-to-find i.e. sapsuckers already found by someone else. Speaking of which, there is a Red-breasted Sapsucker in Hazard Park, East LA, back for the umpteenth winter, at the end of the ditch in the southeast corner of the park, due east and across the ditch from the big high school building. Thomas Miko 653 S. Indian Hill Blvd., unit C Claremont, CA 91711 USA 1-909-445-1456 34.109167 N, 117.718293 W http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary.html FRS radio channel 11, subcode 22 To: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com From: Steve AT Sosensky.com Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 23:06:06 -0800 Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Red-naped Sapsucker reports Please continue to report all sapsuckers. This list is not only read by SoCal birders, but also by visitors who are looking for Red-breasted, Red-naped, and Williamson's Sapsuckers. They usually come from places that have Yellow-bellied, so the species that is most interesting to us is the least interesting to eastern visitors. In general, other than first of season sightings, please don't report common birds in expected places. OTOH, please report birds in unexpected places, at unexpected times, or in unusual numbers. At 01:58 PM 11/8/2009, richardbarth38 wrote: >Should we report RN Sapsuckers on this forum? Maybe just as a >secondary bird mentioned?, or just when reporting a first-of-fall or >a late lingering bird in spring?, or only on a list of birds? There >was one this morning at Forest Lawn Glendale, moving around >southwest of the Great Mausoleum....is anyone interested in >that? (I believe RNSA is considered uncommon to rare in most of the >county...fall and winter, of course.) Good birding, Steve Sosensky, SoCA Bird Guides www.sosensky.com/guides Nature Photos www.sosensky.com/nature_photos.htm Optics4Birding www.optics4birding.com Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 949-269-2161 33.56485 N, 117.72205 W _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9690331&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Unsubscribe: mailto:LACoBirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds Listowners: mailto:LACoBirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com For vacation suspension of mail go to the website. Click on Edit My Membership and set your mail option to No Email. Or, send a blank email to these addresses: Turn off email delivery: mailto:LACoBirds-nomail AT yahoogroups.com Resume email delivery: mailto:LACoBirds-normal AT yahoogroups.comYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: LACoBirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com LACoBirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: LACoBirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: Steve Sosensky <Steve AT Sosensky.com> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:06:06 -0800 Please continue to report all sapsuckers. This list is not only read by SoCal birders, but also by visitors who are looking for Red-breasted, Red-naped, and Williamson's Sapsuckers. They usually come from places that have Yellow-bellied, so the species that is most interesting to us is the least interesting to eastern visitors. In general, other than first of season sightings, please don't report common birds in expected places. OTOH, please report birds in unexpected places, at unexpected times, or in unusual numbers. At 01:58 PM 11/8/2009, richardbarth38 wrote: >Should we report RN Sapsuckers on this forum? Maybe just as a >secondary bird mentioned?, or just when reporting a first-of-fall or >a late lingering bird in spring?, or only on a list of birds? There >was one this morning at Forest Lawn Glendale, moving around >southwest of the Great Mausoleum....is anyone interested in >that? (I believe RNSA is considered uncommon to rare in most of the >county...fall and winter, of course.) Good birding, Steve Sosensky, SoCA Bird Guides www.sosensky.com/guides Nature Photos www.sosensky.com/nature_photos.htm Optics4Birding www.optics4birding.com Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 949-269-2161 33.56485 N, 117.72205 W Subject: Re: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: "dan_cooper_90042" <dan_cooper_90042 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:29:38 -0000 Richard, Good question! Had to look it up here: http://www.cooperecological.com/LACoReporting.htm (these guidelines have also been linked on L.A. Audubon's website, most recently under "Conservation and Restoration") In these guidelines on reporting rarities, we (Kimball Garrett and I) included the following suggestion for all birds in general: *Departure and arrival dates for all migratory species, arrival dates of migrants (i.e. the first fall migrant passerines away from breeding areas may show up while breeding birds are still present) high counts, "out of season" ("summer" birds "wintering" and "winter" birds "summering") sightings, records away from usual habitats, or absence of a species where/when it was expected."* Under Red-naped Sapsucker specifically, we suggested reporting all "coastal" records (not defined, but let's say, south of the Santa Monica Mtns., west of I-5). I guess personally I wouldn't be surprised to turn up a Red-naped Sapsucker in late fall/winter anywhere I see Red-breasted, but there's some subjectiveness to this too - if I've birded a site regularly for years and have never seen one, and then find one, it might be "report-worthy", since it may reflect a regional pattern that others might be interested in. Conversely, if you see several every year at, say, Veteran's Cemetery, and then miss them one winter, that might also be notable. My 2 cents anyway, Dan Cooper Los Angeles --- In LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com, "richardbarth38" wrote: > > Birders, > > Sun 8 Nov > > Should we report RN Sapsuckers on this forum? Maybe just as a secondary bird mentioned?, or just when reporting a first-of-fall or a late lingering bird in spring?, or only on a list of birds? There was one this morning at Forest Lawn Glendale, moving around southwest of the Great Mausoleum....is anyone interested in that? (I believe RNSA is considered uncommon to rare in most of the county...fall and winter, of course.) > > Richard Barth > Subject: Varied Thrush near Claremont From: "brianelli1" <brianelli AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:19:09 -0000 My wife, Janice, and I and our friend Gary Charlton got great looks at a male Varied Thrush while hiking today (about 2PM) in Evey Canyon just north of Claremont. The bird was on the dirt road in the oaks just after the first short steep uphill section a couple of hundred yards in from Baldy Road. The thrush flushed into an oak and then moved a couple times before we lost sight of it. Beautiful bird. We did not see it on our return down the trail. Brian Elliott Upland, CA Subject: Winter Wren, Spruce Grove Campground From: Mark Scheel <scheel AT tapir.caltech.edu> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:31:43 -0800 (PST) Hello, Today Nov 8 we found a Winter Wren along the Gabrielino Trail in Santa Anita Canyon above Chantry Flat. It was at the first place where the stream crosses the trail as you walk downstream from Spruce Grove Campground; the crossing is 100 yards or so from the campground. The bird was first seen about 10:30am in the low vegetation on the upstream side of the crossing, and last seen about 20 feet upstream from the crossing. Photos can be found at http://www.tapir.caltech.edu/~scheel/WinterWrenNov082009 Spruce Grove Campground is a 4-mile hike (one-way) from Chantry Flat, which can be reached by following Santa Anita Ave. north from Arcadia. Mark and Janet Scheel Sierra Madre, CA Subject: 11/08 El Dorado RP From: Andrew Lee <ovenbird AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 16:03:44 -0800 Hi birders, any/all reports by Richard Barth is welcome to me :) And I have yet to see a Red-naped this fall..... This morning my brother and I birded parts of Area 3 and Area 2 of El Dorado Park. We saw nothing spectacular but some birds of note include 3 Plumbeous Vireo, 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets, Hammond's Flycatcher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-breasted Nuthatch, a colorful male Bullock's Oriole, and two each Wilson's and Yellow Warblers. The Hammond's is probably a returning winterer (just east from where the model plane enthusiasts park) as I saw a Hammond's last winter at the same spot. On the way home, we stopped at the Pico Rivera Spreading Grounds and saw the Chestnut-sided Warbler. http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k267/gnatcatcher/ Andrew Lee West Covina [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Western Grebe courting behavior on Hansen Dam (main) Lake From: "joyseawaterman" <joycewaterman AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:53:31 -0000 Birders--what a spectacle to watch the bobbing, dancing, then running together atop the water. Never seen it up close. The male I presume begins a croaking sound to begin the ritual. Thanks to you Kimball for your very complete Hansen Dam post yesterday--inspired Doug and I to venture to the dam. Had a great visit and lots of sightings. We also saw the Loggerhead Shrike you mentioned at the north end of the lake in the shrubbery just west of the walkway from the parking lot. Got some good shots. Only other time we saw a L. Shrike was at the Carrizo Plain. Is this a usual bird for urban LA? Joyce Waterman Santa Monica Subject: White-winged Scoters (3) at Quail Lake From: Jon Fisher <IronHorse2060 AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 14:10:23 -0800 (GMT-08:00) Hello Birders, 8 Nov 2009 This morning there were three White-winged Scoters (all female/imm. type birds)at Quail Lake near Gorman. The birds were south of Hwy 138 in the outflow channel. I saw them there early (about 7:40) and they were not there later in the morning. Also at Quail Lake were three Wood Ducks and the usual few Greater Scaup. At Apollo Park, there were two Hooded Mergansers. Jon Fisher Glendale, CA Subject: Red-naped Sapsucker reports From: "richardbarth38" <busyday AT ca.rr.com> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:58:55 -0000 Birders, Sun 8 Nov Should we report RN Sapsuckers on this forum? Maybe just as a secondary bird mentioned?, or just when reporting a first-of-fall or a late lingering bird in spring?, or only on a list of birds? There was one this morning at Forest Lawn Glendale, moving around southwest of the Great Mausoleum....is anyone interested in that? (I believe RNSA is considered uncommon to rare in most of the county...fall and winter, of course.) Richard Barth Subject: Chestnut-sided Warbler still at spreading grounds From: "profile440" <beren001 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:36:41 -0000 I saw the warbler once at 10:00 and later at 11:20 in the picnic area. The bird appears to be a hatch year bird identical to Sibley's drawing of a first fall female. Dave Chadsey Etiwanda Subject: Lewis's Woodpeckers in San Gabriel (Nov. 8) From: "Ed Stonick" <edstonick AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 11:01:49 -0800 Kevin and Ruby Gardner and I went to look for the San Gabriel Lewis's Woodpecker this morning. We found the birds (there were definitely two of them) on the poles along E. Roses Rd., one block east of N. Del Mar adjacent to the San Gabriel Country Club golf course. (The cross street is Alabama, but there's no street sign at the north end.) There were also a few Acorn Woodpeckers around and a Flicker as well as other common birds, including two or three singing Red-whiskered Bulbuls. Regards, Ed Ed Stonick Pasadena, CA edstonick AT earthlink.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Green-tailed Towhee From: "Muriel Kotin" <akotin AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 10:02:01 -0800 The SBWR is the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, near the intersection of the 405 and 101 freeways in the San Fernando Valley. Muriel Kotin Malibu _____ From: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lori Conrad Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:04 PM To: 'alhummer99'; LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [LACoBirds] Green-tailed Towhee Not to nit-pick, but what the heck is SBWR? Lori Conrad Hermosa Beach, Ca From: LACoBirds AT yahoogrou ps.com [mailto:LACoBirds AT yahoogrou ps.com] On Behalf Of alhummer99 Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 5:12 PM To: LACoBirds AT yahoogrou ps.com Subject: [LACoBirds] Green-tailed Towhee Birders, Fri Nov 6th,A Green-tailed Towhee was seen by Hiroshi Kano on the North side of the Wildlife Lake at SBWR. Alan Dunn. Mission Hills. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Peregrine Falcon at Malibu Lagoon From: "bobwhite90064" <bobpann AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:48:45 -0000 A PEREGRINE FALCON was at Malibu Lagoon today at noon, perched on the tallest tree of the Adamson House property that is adjacent to the bridge and lagoon. Bob Pann Cheviot Hills Subject: 8 Lewis's Woodpeckers, Jackson Lake From: Mark Scheel <scheel AT tapir.caltech.edu> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 18:47:25 -0800 (PST) Hi, The number of Lewis's Woodpeckers at Jackson Lake has increased to 8. At around noon today (Nov 7) they were flying around chasing insects (in their characteristic but most un-woodpeckerlike fashion) high in the air just north of the lake. Jackson Lake is on the northeast side of the San Gabriels, on rte. N4 between Valyermo and the Angeles Crest Hwy. Other highlights today included a continuing adult male Williamson's Sapsucker and a Golden-crowned Kinglet at Grassy Hollow Visitor's Center, and 3 Ferruginous Hawks in the vicinity of 110th east and Ave J. in the Antelope Valley. Mark and Janet Scheel Sierra Madre, CA Subject: Late Western Kingbird at Hansen Dam From: "Kimball Garrett" <kgarrett AT nhm.org> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 18:15:38 -0800 Birders, The highlight at Hansen Dam this morning (7 Nov) was a late Western Kingbird in the open area south of the willow forest; it eventually worked its way west to lower Hansen Dam Park. Other minor highlights included a male Wood Duck on the main lake, a continuing Loggerhead Shrike north of the main lake, and continuing good numbers of Savannah, Lincoln's and Song Sparrows in the seeding grasses in the willow forest lake bed east of lower Hansen Dam Park. Just for completeness, the morning's list is appended below, courtesy of eBird. Location: Hansen Dam Observation date: 11/7/09 Notes: Time: 0650-1110. Mostly clear (some thin high clouds), 50-66 deg F.; mostly clam (some light breeze after about 0945). Usual route. Number of species: 90 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis 10 Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 1 Gadwall - Anas strepera 1 American Wigeon - Anas americana 1 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos 3 Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata 1 Canvasback - Aythya valisineria 2 Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris 5 Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis 52 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps 9 Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis 12 - one was probably Western X Clark's Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 16 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1 Great Egret - Ardea alba 3 Green Heron - Butorides virescens 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax 1 Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 3 Osprey - Pandion haliaetus 1 Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus 1 Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii 2 Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 1 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 3 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius 2 American Coot - Fulica americana 255 Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata 1 Western Gull - Larus occidentalis 10 California Gull - Larus californicus 50 Herring Gull - Larus argentatus 2 Rock Pigeon - Columba livia 80 Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto 3 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura 8 Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna 6 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus ruber 2 Nuttall's Woodpecker - Picoides nuttallii 2 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 1 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 3 Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans 8 Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya 3 Cassin's Kingbird - Tyrannus vociferans 5 Western Kingbird - Tyrannus verticalis 1 - well studied with Cassin's in open area south of willow lake (and then working west to lower Hansen Dam Park); photos. Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus 1 Western Scrub-Jay - Aphelocoma californica 3 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 10 Common Raven - Corvus corax 15 Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor 4 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis 1 Bushtit - Psaltriparus minimus 30 Rock Wren - Salpinctes obsoletus 2 Bewick's Wren - Thryomanes bewickii 6 House Wren - Troglodytes aedon 2 Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 10 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 10 Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana 5 Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus 7 Wrentit - Chamaea fasciata 6 Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1 California Thrasher - Toxostoma redivivum 2 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris 70 American Pipit - Anthus rubescens 3 Orange-crowned Warbler - Vermivora celata 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) - Dendroica coronata auduboni 40 Townsend's Warbler - Dendroica townsendi 1 Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 8 Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus 3 California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis 6 Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina 1 Lark Sparrow - Chondestes grammacus 10 Savannah Sparrow (Western) - Passerculus sandwichensis [nevadensis Group] 110 Fox Sparrow (Sooty) - Passerella iliaca [unalaschcensis Group] 1 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 30 Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii 35 White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys 45 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis 1 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) - Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group] 8 Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 40 Tricolored Blackbird - Agelaius tricolor 8 Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta 4 Brewer's Blackbird - Euphagus cyanocephalus 70 Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus 2 Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater 90 Purple Finch - Carpodacus purpureus 2 House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus 105 Lesser Goldfinch - Carduelis psaltria 10 American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 8 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus 2 Nutmeg Mannikin - Lonchura punctulata 1 Kimball L. Garrett Section of Ornithology Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007 213-763-3368 kgarrett AT nhm.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Green-tailed Towhee From: "Lori Conrad" <lconrad AT roadrunner.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 18:03:42 -0800 Not to nit-pick, but what the heck is SBWR? Lori Conrad Hermosa Beach, Ca From: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of alhummer99 Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 5:12 PM To: LACoBirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [LACoBirds] Green-tailed Towhee Birders, Fri Nov 6th,A Green-tailed Towhee was seen by Hiroshi Kano on the North side of the Wildlife Lake at SBWR. Alan Dunn. Mission Hills. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]