Date: 9/15/26 6:22 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Some Piute Ponds notes (no rarities)
Birders,
As Piute Ponds permit holders know, the brief closure (due to work on a gas line) has ended and the ponds are open to birders (with permits) once again. Hunting season will begin around the weekend of 17-18 October so the ponds will be closed to birders and other recreationalists on hunting days (usually Wednesdays, Sundays, and holidays, but details will be forthcoming from the EAFB Environmental office).
Landbirding is excellent right now along the Ave C riparian row from west of Parking 1 to the east side of Big Piute. Some birds of note on my visit on Monday (14 September) included the continuing Nuttall's Woodpecker, (possibly continuing) Mountain Chickadee, first-of-fall (for me) Northern Flicker, (Slate-colored) Fox Sparrow, and (gambelii) White-crowned Sparrow, and about 70 warblers of five species (dominated by about 30 Orange-crowneds).
Shorebirds were scarce, with the best habitat on Thoreau Pond and a few shorebirds on Ducks Unlimited; Duckbill is still completely dry, Duck numbers are increasing (e.g., a flock of 50 Green-winged Teal), but the massive numbers of Northern Shovelers seem to spend much of their time over at the Lancaster Water Treatment Plant. A flyover Swainson's Hawk and a White-tailed Kite on a snag near Little Piute were bonuses.
