Date: 7/15/26 6:55 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Brown-crested Flycatchers at Little Rock Dam and cautions on birding that area
Birders,
On 14 July Leo Gilman found a calling Brown-crested Flycatcher in the riparian woodland (dominated by cottonwoods) just below LIttle Rock Dam at the south end of Cheseboro Road in the Littlerock/Palmdale area. I visited that area this morning (15 July) and found two closely associating calling birds, so this might represent an unprecedented breeding attempt in Los Angeles County (other records have mostly been in fall and winter on the coastal slope). Below I describe the location of the birds, but first I wanted to point out some important considerations in birding that area.
The LIttle Rock Reservoir Recreation Area has been closed to the public for many years (due to issues with the vendor with the franchise to run the recreation area and chronic problems with vandalism, rowdiness, etc., as well as environmental impacts from recreation on sensitive species (such as arroyo toads). Therefore the gate to the recreation area is closed and locked, so to access the riparian area near the dam one must park below the locked gate and walk about 0.7 miles uphill. There are "No Parking" signs in the first couple of pullouts below the locked gate, but parking below that is not signed. Although there are signs saying the recreation area is closed, it is my experience that many people walk or bike up the road past the locked gate to the dam for recreation.
After walking up most of the way to the dam you will be able to view the riparian along Littlerock Creek from the paved road. Today I was at the following spit when hearing the Brown-crested Flycatchers: 34.48865 -118.025044 The activities of the birds themselves were centered around here: 34.488958 -118.024803 These spots are just beyond where there is a small drainage coming from the west, with a small group of sycamore trees on the right as you walk up toward the dam. However, Leo had his bird yesterday in the riparian closer to the dam.
PLEASE DO NOT WALK DOWN INTO THE RIPARIAN HABITAT IN THE CREEK BED. AND DO NOT TAKE THE ROAD THAT LEADS DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE DAM (MARKED BY A WHITE GATE) THAT IS A BIT CLOSER TO THE DAM THAN THE SPOTS WITH THE COORDINATES ABOVE. THERE IS HEAVY MACHINERY WORKING AROUND THE BASE OF THE DAM. THIS IS STRICTLY OFF-LIMITS. Also, I would advise against continuing up to the dam to view the reservoir itself, as recreation there is currently prohibited and there is no staff or facilities.
If you do check out this riparian area, please remember to record breeding evidence, and be especially mindful of looking for breeding evidence for the flycatchers (as well as the Summer Tanagers that are in the same general area). Be aware that there are many Ash-throated Flycatchers throughout the riparian area.
