Date: 1/14/25 5:11 pm From: lathrotriccus via groups.io <lathrotriccus...> Subject: [LACoBirds] 2024-25 LA CBC summary
Hello birders,
The Los Angeles Christmas Bird Count was held on Jan. 5, 2025. A few days
later, the catastrophic Palisades fire swept across the rugged northwestern
edge of the count circle (Brentwood/Pacific Palisades).
Observers submitted 100 checklists (vs. 106 last year and 105 the prior
year). Each year, we have roughly the same areas covered by roughly the
same people. Our species total this year (175 native/naturalized species)
was remarkably similar to last year (176 in Dec. 2023). Prior totals were:
179 in Jan. 2023, 187 in both Jan. 2022 and Jan. 2021, 173 in Jan. 2020,
and 174 in Jan. 2019. Pretty interesting!
Working down the taxonomic list (but not following it too closely), rare
geese were even rarer than past years, with no Cackling, Ross’ or Snow
geese, and just the one Greater White-fronted Goose (Ballona Freshwater
Marsh). Most other waterfowl were neither high nor low, though the single
Red-breasted Merganser I had flying past the breakers at Santa Monica State
Beach was the only one reported, and 7 Redheads were pretty high (they’re
not annual).
A Common Gallinule at Ballona Freshwater Marsh was rare.
California Quail continued their slide with just 10; we had counts of 100+
until 1999.
The great hummingbird face-off continues, with 173 Anna’s and 356 Allen’s.
This ratio is staying roughly constant with little more than 2:1 Allen’s to
Anna’s.
Counters snagged the Pacific Golden-plover along Ballona Creek late in the
day, and we had good numbers of several shorebird species overall.
We missed Iceland (Thayer’s) and Bonaparte’s gulls, and only had singles of
Glaucous-winged and American Herring gulls.
Our Yellow-crowned Night-heron roost in Marina del Rey grew to 17,
staked-out on private property.
Raptors were down overall. 14 Cooper’s Hawks were a bit low, and we only
found singles of both Sharp-shinned Hawk (Benedict Canyon, at dawn while
owling) and Merlin (Griffith Park).
Other raptors were at normal numbers, but two Burrowing Owls were on the
Ballona Wetlands (usually 0 or 1), and Great Horned Owls surged to 25 birds
reported (average around 10).
Acorn Woodpeckers remained high (106), but flickers were way down (26, vs.
93 last year). No Yellow-shafteds or intergrade flickers were noted.
Counters managed to find two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers this year: a
stakeout at LMU, and a new one at UCLA. The only other sapsucker was a
Red-naped/Red-breasted at Village Green.
Vermillion Flycatchers (5) were at four sites in Inglewood/Mid-City, adding
Westchester Park to their territory. Cassin’s Kingbirds continue to
dominate the skies above L.A. – 113 surpassed prior counts, and they’ve
been annual only since 2003.
Montane irruptives were virtually nonexistent, and Griffith Park again
produced our only Mountain Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatch (2 at
Hollywood Reservoir). The 60 Red-breasted Nuthatches we had last year only
the count had moved on. Purple Finch was also rare.
Just one Red-whiskered Bulbul was found (Griffith Park), but Swinhoe’s
White-eyes are greatly expanding, with 18 birds tallied. Annual since 2019,
they were found across the Westside, east to Park La Brea. You may have
already heard their loud “zinging” call if you frequent the lands west of
the 405 and not known it. While we’re on exotic passerines, 76
Scaly-breasted Munias were reported; they’ve only been annual since 2020.
People have commented to me about the dearth of mockingbirds; we had 81 on
the count, which was well below our 20-year average.
Robins were even rarer than last year, with just 7 (seven!) birds seen. I
almost hit a curb when one flew across my car in Brentwood. Prior low
counts have been in the double-digits.
Similar year-to-year counts of common birds are fun – compare the 364 Cedar
Waxwings with the 384 last year.
Grassland birds are still around, with 135 Western Meadowlarks found, one
of highest counts since 2007. We watched 80 birds flying into a night roost
at Holy Cross Cemetery near Culver City.
A White-throated Sparrow at Kenneth Hahn Park was a great find – we rarely
get that species on the CBC. Loads of Song Sparrows were seen/heard (174) –
they’ve been increasing steadily since 2020, and you probably have them in
your neighborhood where you didn’t 10 years ago.
Lawrence’s Goldfinch is really rare in the count circle, at least in
winter, but three were a surprise far coastward at Holy Cross Cemetery.
A male Lazuli Bunting started visiting a feeder in Laurel Canyon a few
weeks ago and obliged on count day.
Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend’s and Black-throated Gray warblers remain
high, the Cape May Warbler returned to LMU, and a single Black-and-white
Warbler was at Village Green. Come to think of it, I noticed that someone
“eBird-ed” the returning Painted Redstart in residential Brentwood the
morning of the count – I guess I should add that in? That makes it 176,
exactly tied with last year.
