Date: 6/18/18 8:37 pm From: Thomas Miko <thomas_miko...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] ???Pinyon Jay(s)??? at Grassy Hollow Visitor Center???
Hi?
Did I put enough question marks into the subject line?????
Yesterday, after she handed me a 14 year old bottle of Oban, she asked, "What do you want to do for Father's Day?" so I said that I wanted to go up Highway 2 and look for mountain birds. At Grassy Hollow I heard a fascinating sound 4 different times over the course of an hour. I had sound recording equipment, and did record Fox Sparrows and Green-tailed Towhees, but never succeeded in capturing the sound of this/these birds that called out of sight. The Clark's Nutcrackers also called, sight unseen, so there was a lot of "heard only" going on, yesterday.
I am quite familiar with the sound of Pinyon Jays from the eastern Big Bear area, and other mountain ranges in California. I have heard them many times.
Is there anything else up there e.g. WB Nuthatch/White-headed Woodpecker that sounds similar to Pinyon Jay? Not just vaguely similar, but close enough, that I got that other bird species calls confused with Pinyon Jay?
Weather: it was beautiful up there, with blue skies, but surprisingly cool or cold. Very mild breeze.
Tom Miko
Claremont
909.241.3300
PS: Paul, we never made it to Blue Ridge Campground: we slowly meandered eastward on the 2, and missed Red Crossbill, etc.
PPS: Lance, you were right: you can upload WAV files into eBird reports, but you cannot upload them from a cell phone. I emailed myself the WAV files off my phone, yesterday, and uploaded them effortlessly into eBird from a Windows 7 laptop. Interesting that I can upload MP3 files into eBird from my cell phone, but not WAV files. Like Spock always says, "Fascinating."
“Parenthood is a competition between two people where the man always wins the bronze.” —Alec Baldwin April 16, 2017
Date: 6/17/18 4:05 pm From: Kimball Garrett <kgarrett...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pigeon Guillemots off Point Dume
Birders,
A very slow sea-watching morning at Point Dume was partially salvaged when two alternate-plumaged Pigeon Guillemots flew past well offshore heading west around 9:45. This species is rare but regular along our coast in early summer, especially around rocky headlands. Otherwise, about 300 very distant Sooty Shearwaters, one (somewhat closer) Black-vented Shearwater, and a single very worn Northern Fulmar were the only tubenoses, and there were no other alcids. At least two Black Oystercatchers were in the rocky intertidal at low tide. I've had some productive sea-watching days from the point in June in the past, but today was not one of them.
Kimball
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
<kgarrett...>
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/ornithology
Coverage: Los Angeles County, Ventura County as warranted
-Transcript
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for June 15.
A CHIMNEY SWIFT was just east of Castaic Lake on June 9.
A probable MASKED BOOBY was at the southeast end of Santa Catalina Island on June 11. There is some possibility that this bird is a MASKED/NAZCA BOOBY.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was still at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh near Playa Vista through June 9. The marsh is at the corner of Lincoln and Jefferson.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL continued at Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley through June 8.
A VERMILION FLYCATCHER was along the Playa Vista Riparian Corridor below Loyola Marymount University on June 9.
Four more VERMILION FLYCATCHERS continued along the east edge of the Castaic Sports Complex through June 6.
An immature male SUMMER TANAGER was at St. Andrew's Priory near Valyermo on June 9. Another SUMMER TANAGER was at Madrona Marsh in Torrance on June 9..
An INDIGO BUNTING was on San Clemente Island from June 5-6.
- end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
<div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">There are a handful of tickets still available to purchase for Pasadena Audubon's 2018 <font color="#333333">eight hour dedicated pelagic trip. We will depart from Dana Point on the Sea Explorer and spend as much time as possible in Los Angeles County waters.. </font><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Birds that might be encountered include a variety of shearwaters, jaegers, phalaropes, alcids, gulls and terns. One of our main targets will be the rafts of stormÂ-petrels that gather offshore in September, which may include both Black and Least. </span></font></div>
<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Last year we managed a sweep of jaegers, Sabine's Gulls as well as killer views of Craveri's Murrelet. Rarities seen at this time of year in these waters have included Manx and FleshÂ-footed Shearwater, Arctic Tern, RedÂ-footed and BlueÂ-footed Booby among others. </span></font><font style="font-size: small; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tickets a</font><font style="font-size: small; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">re available for purchase from the </font><span style="font-size: small; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PAS Website for $67.00 </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><font color="#333333" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">http://www.pasadenaaudubon.org/?q=pelagic2018</font></span>
All-
On my way back from E. Kern today I swung by St. Andrews Priory in Valyermo and had a singing SUMMER TANAGER. photos here:
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46430333Â RyanÂ
Coverage: Los Angeles County, Ventura County as warranted
-Transcript
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for June 8.
Late or potentially summering COMMON MERGANSERS were at Quail Lake on June 2 and at the Rowena Reservoir in Los Feliz on June 3.
A CHIMNEY SWIFT was reported at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on June 2.
An EASTERN KINGBIRD continued at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB through June 1 near Friends Pond. A WHIMBREL was nearby at Duckbill Lake on June 1 and a DUNLIN was present on June 7. Remember that a letter of permission is required for entry.
A PURPLE MARTIN was at Victoria Park in Carson on June 2.
A late VARIED THRUSH was at the Sepulveda Basin on June 2 by the restrooms northeast of the wildlife area north entrance.
An apparent immature male BALTIMORE ORIOLE was along the Playa Vista Riparian Corridor on June 1. The bird was on the slope below the northeast corner of Loyola Marymount University.
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was at a residence in Claremont on June 6.
San Clemente Island produced a BALTIMORE ORIOLE present from June 1-2, a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK on June 2 and a CHIMNEY SWIFT, an AMERICAN REDSTART and a NORTHERN PARULA on June 4.
- end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 6/5/18 5:16 pm From: <busyday...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] the Inca Dove continues at Col. Washington Park (South L.A.)
Birders,
Tues 5 June
Mid morning today at Washington Park the Inca Dove was on a wire along Maie Ave, across from the small maintenance yard north of 91st Street. It then flew to a tree at the corner of 90th.
(Up to 7 Incas were originally being reported at the park in February 2014. Now over the past eleven months or so, only one remaining bird has been seen.)
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Date: 6/2/18 8:31 pm From: Chezy Yusuf <tiggertaylor2...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Varied Thrush at Sepulveda Basin, 06/02/18.
Hello,
The Varied Thrush that was found by Daniel Tinoco this morning at Sepulveda Basin continues as of 4:45pm (Saturday, 06/02/18). It is currently moving about the grassy area by the restrooms that are by the amphitheater..
Good Birding,
Chezy Yusuf Torrance, CA.
Sent from my iPhone
------------------------------------ Posted by: Chezy Yusuf <tiggertaylor2...> ------------------------------------
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Date: 6/2/18 7:11 pm From: <aviduetsky...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Peregrine in El Segundo
Hello,
Today, Saturday (June 02), in the afternoon, I photographed a Peregrine Falcon actively harassing Doves at Clutter's Park (LAX overlook) at East Imperial Avenue and Sheldon Street intersection in El Segundo.
Coverage: Los Angeles County, Ventura County as warranted
-Transcript
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for June 1.
Five COMMON MERGANSERS were at Castaic Lake on May 28.
A CHIMNEY SWIFT was seen along the LA River just above the Los Feliz crossing in Glendale/Atwater Village through May 26. Park in the golf course parking lot off Los Feliz and walk up the berm to the river.
An ARCTIC TERN was at the Piute Ponds (on Big Piute) on Edwards AFB on May 31. An EASTERN KINGBIRD was also reported from Piute on May 31. Remember that a letter of permission is required for entry.
A continuing male VERMILION FLYCATCHER was at Castaic Lagoon on May 28.
The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER that wintered at Ladera Park was reported there through May 27.
The TROPICAL KINGBIRD at Entradero Park in Torrance continued around the pond through May 29.
PURPLE MARTINS included two at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from May 25-26 and two over the west Antelope Valley on May 30.
A male BALTIMORE ORIOLE was on San Clemente Island on May 28.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on May 28.
An AMERICAN REDSTART was at 961 Richmond Drive in Claremont on May 26.
A female type HEPATIC TANAGER was at Chilao Flat in the San Gabriel Mountains on May 26. It was along the main road between Little Pines Campground and the main Chilao Campground.
A male SUMMER TANAGER was at Sand Dune Park in Manhattan Beach on May 25.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were on San Clemente Island from May 25-26 and again on May 31, at Leo Carillo State Park by campsite 61 on May 27, at Portuguese Bend Reserve from May 27-28 and at the South Coast Botanic Garden on May 28 (by Creek Lane and Tram Road).
- end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 5/29/18 11:57 pm From: David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
The Pacific Loon also continued at the same location as of 11:12am today (in fact at that time, it was floating alongside the Brant, demonstrating that they are the same length). And to correct my earlier comment about the beached Red-throated Loon: it's in first-summer (immature) plumage, not adult nonbreeding.
The other local Ash-throated Flycatcher also continues. One was at Lookout Point Park on May 20 (11:07-11:20am) and May 25 (1:50pm), and one was at Shoshonean Road on May 24 (5:11pm) and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium parking lot on May 29 (10:53-10:56am).
And concerning my comment about Black Skimmers, "each one has an audibly different voice", I should add that I've noticed the same thing for most bird species. The reason it came to mind for skimmers is that I've been reporting lots of banded ones, and was thinking about potential alternative ways to track individuals over time.
Another little note I'd like to add: The Double-crested Cormorants at Cabrillo Youth Camp have been very vocal for the past week or more. I think I was birding for years before I ever heard one at all. I may not still have ever heard a Brown Pelican vocalize.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-29 10:27, David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
I just went down to Cabrillo Beach, and as of 9:15am, the Brant continues, this time on the inner beach (not the scout camp beach) along with a flock of Black Skimmers, California Gulls, and Western Gulls. I also just took a beached Red-throated Loon (adult in nonbreeding plumage) from the inner beach to IBRRC. I haven't checked yet if the Pacific Loon is still here, but it seems healthy; it looked very clean when it showed its belly yesterday evening, and was putting its head underwater to look for prey (though didn't dive while I watched).
And a third thing I forgot to include: An Olive-sided Flycatcher was perching in trees both small and large on the west side of the southern stretch of Shoshonean Road (west-adjacent of the Salt Marsh), on May 22 from 9:02am to 9:18am.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-29 08:18, David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
First of all, I forgot to include three things: A Nashville Warbler was in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach on May 23 and 24, and a male Phainopepla was at the Greg Smith Conifer Grove again on May 20 at 12:10pm. And, for a few days starting May 15, there were singing Swainson's Thrushes all over the Cabrillo area (in a tree near the dirt ramp down to Cabrillo Beach; in a tree in the Marine Aquarium parking lot area; all along the top of the slope/cliffside on the west side of Shoshonean Road), just like the singing Black-headed Grosbeaks; both species are still around here, but not singing anywhere near as much as they were during those few days.
Secondly, I wanted to add that of all the Japanese White-eye audio samples on xeno-canto.org, the only ones that actually sounded like ours here were two recordings made in Orange County. None of the recordings made in Japan sounded like ours. I am inclined to believe that the identification of Japanese White-eye is incorrect, and they're in fact some other species of White-eye (or at least, a subspecies of Japanese White-eye that is vastly under-represented on xeno-canto); the call sounds like an innate call, which wouldn't need to be learned, so captive-raised birds should do the same calls as wild ones in their native habitat, right?
Photos still to come later.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-28 23:13, David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
Yesterday and today (May 27-28) both a Black Brant, and a Pacific Loon in absolutely full breeding plumage, were at Cabrillo Youth Camp (during the late afternoon, at least, when I looked on both days). The Brant spent time both on water and on shore. Both birds can be seen from the boat launch dock which is southeast-adjacent to the salt marsh (Salinas de San Pedro).
On both May 23 and 25 a Willow Flycatcher showed up in my backyard, giving me a new yard bird. (It's possible they weren't even the same individual.) Other flycatchers have been especially abundant as well; Pacific-slope Flycatchers have been as numerous as I ever remember them being here, and Willow Flycatchers might be even more numerous than they've been before in my experience (i.e. since 2006). I saw an agonistic territorial encounter between two Willow Flycatchers for the first time (in my backyard) and one of them made an agonistic call sounding identical to a Say's Phoebe agonstic call (a call that many Northern Mockingbirds include in their song repertoire) – a call which I think is most notable for its peculiar lack of "aggressive-soundingness" to human ears, in contrast to the agonistic calls of most other species. And I have found two Ash-throated Flycatchers recently at different local spots, one of them continuing, when Ash-throated Flycatchers have been mostly absent in my area for years.
The Warbling Vireos are still present in force. I've had at least 6 at once in my backyard at times, and they often sing.
I have observed proof of Orange-crowned Warbler nesting success in the Salt Marsh / Shoshonean Road area. An Orange-crowned Warbler, whose song I recognize from at least one year ago at the same location, fed a begging juvenile, and I recognized his identifying physical features from having filmed him singing earlier. And at another spot, an Orange-crowned Warbler sang for vast swaths of the day (also with a unique recognizable song), every day for weeks, and suddenly a few days ago stopped singing and started hanging out with a second Orange-crowned Warbler – very suggestive that this pair are nesting as well.
At least two "Japanese" White-eyes have been quite consipicuous in the area, with a Hutton's Vireo like call, showing up often in the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium parking lot... and today for the first time I'm aware of, in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach. (They usually show up as a pair together, which for a while made me think there are two in the area, but in retrospect the frequency with which I encounter them suggests there are quite a bit more than two.) I put "Japanese" in quotes because I don't understand why virtually everyone is identifying these as Japanese White-eyes. I looked at the various species of White-eye (they are numerous) and a large number of them look virtually identical – I couldn't find any distinguishing characteristics by looking at photos. When listing to samples of a large subset of White-eye species on xeno-canto.org, I couldn't find any that actually matches the Hutton's Vireo like call I most often hear from the ones here and in Orange County. Certainly, the Japanese White-eye audio samples sound nothing like the ones here. So why do birders identify them as Japanese White-eye instead of White-eye sp.?
Black Skimmers have been sticking around every day lately at the Cabrillo Youth Camp shore. They're very vocal whenever another skimmer comes in to land with them, and each one has an audibly different voice. I got to see a behavior I'd never seen before from this species – a fish display. A skimmer held the fish in his bill, as if to entice the other skimmers, but none of them proved worthy of it (all who tried to take it were denied) and eventually he ended up eating it himself.
On May 24 I had my first-of-season Least Tern at Cabrillo Beach dive and catch a fish in the water just outside the salt marsh.
A Heermann's Gull adult in breeding plumage was at Cabrillo Beach today at 5:33pm. I haven't even seen an immature one since May 12, and hadn't seen an adult since March 24.
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Date: 5/29/18 6:01 pm From: David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: RE: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
Thank you very much, Kimball.
I did notice that Oriental White-eye recordings are unavailable for public access on the site. I was wondering if I should submit a request to them, but at the time it seemed unlikely that that particular species would be the match. On second thought it's probably worth a try.
I noticed that "Zosterops sp." is an option on eBird, but the vast majority of checklists in Southern California use the "Japanese White-eye - Zosterops japonicus" option. And just now, I noticed that on eBird, "Zosterops sp." and "white-eye sp. - Zosterops sp." are actually different options! Searching for one will not show the other.
You are absolutely right that the Z. j. simplex recordings from mainland China on Xeno-Canto sound much more like our White-eyes than the others. This may be why I missed this when listening earlier; there are only three recordings matching that on the site, out of 123 Japanese White-eye recordings – and of those, only two actually sounds like ours, and the Hutton's Vireo call with which I was most familiar is rather low-key in one of those two. https://www.xeno-canto.org/209686 - this does sound very similar to ours https://www.xeno-canto.org/325086 - this also sounds similar to ours, but the emphasis in the recording is on a different type of call I'm less familiar with hearing from them (but am beginning to notice more) https://www.xeno-canto.org/209685 - this sounds much less like ours But of course, this makes me want to know how the determination was made that the White-eyes in those locations are Z. j. simplex, since they sound different than Z. j. simplex at other locations.
For comparison, here is a recent recording I made of a White-eye in a eucalyptus north-adjacent to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: FLAC format ( MiB): https://kingbird.myphotos.cc/2018_05_22%2008_51_56%20-%20White-eye.flac MP3 format ( MiB): https://kingbird.myphotos.cc/2018_05_22%2008_51_56%20-%20White-eye.mp3 The clearest calls heard from the White-eye occur at 22 seconds in. (Also heard in this 36.6 second audio clip: American Crow juvenile (distant); Hooded Oriole calls; Warbling Vireo song; something I didn't notice at the time, but sounds like a pet bird; Black Phoebe "chip" and "cheer" calls; Bushtit; Yellow Warbler call and song; European Starling. If anyone wants me to keep making annotation files with timestamps like I did for the Yellow-breasted Chat, please let me know.) As always, I ask that you please don't use my recordings to trick birds to come out into the open, unless there is a very good reason for doing so and will not harm/stress the bird(s) or put them at risk.
They have been making other types of calls as well (like the ones in XC325086, I think), but I don't think I've managed to get a good recording of those yet.
Incidentally, I'd like to make a correction to the previous audio recording (Yellow-breasted Chat) I posted from here. In the annotations, at 5:25.676 I put "CALT juv? LAZB?". But it was a YEWA (Yellow Warbler). Oddly, it was many years before I learned they make that call, but since then I've been hearing it a lot.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-29 13:46, Kimball Garrett <kgarrett...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
David,
Your questions about the identity of the white-eyes that are increasingly well-established in Orange and se. Los Angeles Counties are valid ones. Bear in mind that Japanese White-eyes (Zosterops japonicus) are geographically quite variable, and I wouldn’t doubt that there is some geographical variation in vocalizations as well. Our birds seem to match most closely Japanese White-eyes from mainland China (Z. j. simplex); these are not the ones that are in Japan or established on the Hawaiian Islands. But some subspecies of Oriental White-eye (Z. palpebrosus) are closely similar in appearance to some Japanese White-eyes, and you’re correct to have some skepticism regarding the species identification of our birds. We hope this can be resolved soon – we have one specimen here at the Natural History Museum (salvaged from Orange County), and our colleagues at the Moore Laboratory of Zoology are hoping to have the results of their DNA analysis of that specimen soon. If you or anybody run across a dead or moribund white-eye, please make certain it gets to us to help document our incipient populations.
To my ear the calls I’ve heard from white-eyes in Orange County and in Long Beach seem to match fairly closely some of the calls of Japanese White-eye available on Xeno-Canto. Unfortunately, recordings of Oriental White-eyes on Xeno-Canto are not available on the web site. As Xeno-Canto explains, “Some species are under extreme pressure due to trapping or harassment. The open availability of high-quality recordings of these species can make the problems even worse. For this reason, streaming and downloading of these recordings is disabled.”
We have been validating eBird entries of Japanese White-eye from southern California in order to establish that as the working hypothesis regarding identification. If you’re searching for white-eye sightings, search on that species but also on “Zosterops sp. (white-eye sp.),” since many observers understandably are only comfortable entering sightings at that level of certainty. Bottom line: get recordings, and get specimens, and we’ll be able to figure out for certain what we have.
From: <LACoBirds...> [ mailto:<LACoBirds...>] On Behalf Of David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 8:19 AM To: LACoBirds Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
Secondly, I wanted to add that of all the Japanese White-eye audio samples on xeno-canto.org, the only ones that actually sounded like ours here were two recordings made in Orange County. None of the recordings made in Japan sounded like ours. I am inclined to believe that the identification of Japanese White-eye is incorrect, and they're in fact some other species of White-eye (or at least, a subspecies of Japanese White-eye that is vastly under-represented on xeno-canto); the call sounds like an innate call, which wouldn't need to be learned, so captive-raised birds should do the same calls as wild ones in their native habitat, right?
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Date: 5/29/18 4:29 pm From: David Bell <d...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Phainomania
I saw what I thought were exceptional numbers on my trips to the bob’s gap area earlier in the spring, especially in the riparian near Valyermo.
From: LACoBirding <LACoBirds...> on behalf of "Kimball Garrett <kgarrett...> [LACoBirds]" <LACoBirds-noreply...>
Reply-To: Kimball Garrett <kgarrett...>
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 1:21 PM
To: LACoBirding <LACoBirds...>
Subject: [LACoBirds] Phainomania
Birders,
One of the rewards of birding a “patch” with frequent and consistent coverage is gaining insight into year-to-year differences in species occurrences. This month (May 2018) the Hansen Dam basin has seen a phenomenal incursion of Phainopeplas, which appear to be taking advantage of a bumper crop of golden currant berries as well as abundant berries on the ornamental pepper trees and perhaps the elderberries as well; they’re also doing a lot of sallying for insects. Because my coverage has been pretty consistent for the past several years (4-5 shorter morning visits a week, and more intensive coverage a couple of times a month), the numbers are probably as valid as they are striking:
May 2014 – total of 17 birds on 9 visits
May 2015 – total of 1 bird on 1 visit
May 2016 – zero birds
May 2017 – total of 3 birds on 1 visit
May 2018 – total of 241 birds on 18 visits
This is also the first year I’ve seen nesting evidence (nest building) for Phainopeplas at Hansen Dam. I’ve heard from others that Phainopeplas seem more numerous than usual this year in their patches – I wonder how geographically widespread this phenomenon is. The good crop of currant fruits may also explain the continuing presence of Cedar Waxwings at Hansen Dam (12+ yesterday, 28 May).
Your questions about the identity of the white-eyes that are increasingly well-established in Orange and se. Los Angeles Counties are valid ones. Bear in mind that Japanese White-eyes (Zosterops japonicus) are geographically quite variable, and I wouldn't doubt that there is some geographical variation in vocalizations as well. Our birds seem to match most closely Japanese White-eyes from mainland China (Z. j. simplex); these are not the ones that are in Japan or established on the Hawaiian Islands. But some subspecies of Oriental White-eye (Z. palpebrosus) are closely similar in appearance to some Japanese White-eyes, and you're correct to have some skepticism regarding the species identification of our birds. We hope this can be resolved soon - we have one specimen here at the Natural History Museum (salvaged from Orange County), and our colleagues at the Moore Laboratory of Zoology are hoping to have the results of their DNA analysis of that specimen soon. If you or anybody run across a dead or moribund white-eye, please make certain it gets to us to help document our incipient populations.
To my ear the calls I've heard from white-eyes in Orange County and in Long Beach seem to match fairly closely some of the calls of Japanese White-eye available on Xeno-Canto. Unfortunately, recordings of Oriental White-eyes on Xeno-Canto are not available on the web site. As Xeno-Canto explains, "Some species are under extreme pressure due to trapping or harassment. The open availability of high-quality recordings of these species can make the problems even worse. For this reason, streaming and downloading of these recordings is disabled."
We have been validating eBird entries of Japanese White-eye from southern California in order to establish that as the working hypothesis regarding identification. If you're searching for white-eye sightings, search on that species but also on "Zosterops sp. (white-eye sp.)," since many observers understandably are only comfortable entering sightings at that level of certainty. Bottom line: get recordings, and get specimens, and we'll be able to figure out for certain what we have.
Kimball
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
<kgarrett...>
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/ornithology
From: <LACoBirds...> [mailto:<LACoBirds...>] On Behalf Of David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds]
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 8:19 AM
To: LACoBirds
Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
Secondly, I wanted to add that of all the Japanese White-eye audio samples on xeno-canto.org<https://xeno-canto.org/>, the only ones that actually sounded like ours here were two recordings made in Orange County. None of the recordings made in Japan sounded like ours. I am inclined to believe that the identification of Japanese White-eye is incorrect, and they're in fact some other species of White-eye (or at least, a subspecies of Japanese White-eye that is vastly under-represented on xeno-canto); the call sounds like an innate call, which wouldn't need to be learned, so captive-raised birds should do the same calls as wild ones in their native habitat, right?
Kimball et Al,
Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale was e-x-a-c-t-l-y like that Saturday afternoon 5/26/18 where I spent hours, yet failed to find a White tailed Kite reported there at 11:30 a.m. I put "60" for Phainopepla but believed that to be an undercount.
Speaking of which, is their (White tailed Kite) number ever going to rebound? I have the feeling that there is literally one White tailed Kite wandering back and forth along the foothills of the San Gabriels.
Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd.,#C
Claremont, CA 91711
cell one: 909.241.3300
cell two: 213.471.6001
home: 909.445.1456
office: 213.351.7382
office main 213.351.7897
________________________________
From: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> on behalf of Kimball Garrett <kgarrett...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 1:20:46 PM
To: <LACoBirds...>
Subject: [LACoBirds] Phainomania
Birders,
One of the rewards of birding a “patch” with frequent and consistent coverage is gaining insight into year-to-year differences in species occurrences. This month (May 2018) the Hansen Dam basin has seen a phenomenal incursion of Phainopeplas, which appear to be taking advantage of a bumper crop of golden currant berries as well as abundant berries on the ornamental pepper trees and perhaps the elderberries as well; they’re also doing a lot of sallying for insects. Because my coverage has been pretty consistent for the past several years (4-5 shorter morning visits a week, and more intensive coverage a couple of times a month), the numbers are probably as valid as they are striking:
May 2014 – total of 17 birds on 9 visits
May 2015 – total of 1 bird on 1 visit
May 2016 – zero birds
May 2017 – total of 3 birds on 1 visit
May 2018 – total of 241 birds on 18 visits
This is also the first year I’ve seen nesting evidence (nest building) for Phainopeplas at Hansen Dam. I’ve heard from others that Phainopeplas seem more numerous than usual this year in their patches – I wonder how geographically widespread this phenomenon is. The good crop of currant fruits may also explain the continuing presence of Cedar Waxwings at Hansen Dam (12+ yesterday, 28 May).
Kimball
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
<kgarrett...>
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/ornithology
One of the rewards of birding a "patch" with frequent and consistent coverage is gaining insight into year-to-year differences in species occurrences. This month (May 2018) the Hansen Dam basin has seen a phenomenal incursion of Phainopeplas, which appear to be taking advantage of a bumper crop of golden currant berries as well as abundant berries on the ornamental pepper trees and perhaps the elderberries as well; they're also doing a lot of sallying for insects. Because my coverage has been pretty consistent for the past several years (4-5 shorter morning visits a week, and more intensive coverage a couple of times a month), the numbers are probably as valid as they are striking:
May 2014 - total of 17 birds on 9 visits
May 2015 - total of 1 bird on 1 visit
May 2016 - zero birds
May 2017 - total of 3 birds on 1 visit
May 2018 - total of 241 birds on 18 visits
This is also the first year I've seen nesting evidence (nest building) for Phainopeplas at Hansen Dam. I've heard from others that Phainopeplas seem more numerous than usual this year in their patches - I wonder how geographically widespread this phenomenon is. The good crop of currant fruits may also explain the continuing presence of Cedar Waxwings at Hansen Dam (12+ yesterday, 28 May).
Kimball
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
<kgarrett...>
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/ornithology
Date: 5/29/18 10:35 am From: David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
I just went down to Cabrillo Beach, and as of 9:15am, the Brant continues, this time on the inner beach (not the scout camp beach) along with a flock of Black Skimmers, California Gulls, and Western Gulls. I also just took a beached Red-throated Loon (adult in nonbreeding plumage) from the inner beach to IBRRC. I haven't checked yet if the Pacific Loon is still here, but it seems healthy; it looked very clean when it showed its belly yesterday evening, and was putting its head underwater to look for prey (though didn't dive while I watched).
And a third thing I forgot to include: An Olive-sided Flycatcher was perching in trees both small and large on the west side of the southern stretch of Shoshonean Road (west-adjacent of the Salt Marsh), on May 22 from 9:02am to 9:18am.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-29 08:18, David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
First of all, I forgot to include three things: A Nashville Warbler was in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach on May 23 and 24, and a male Phainopepla was at the Greg Smith Conifer Grove again on May 20 at 12:10pm. And, for a few days starting May 15, there were singing Swainson's Thrushes all over the Cabrillo area (in a tree near the dirt ramp down to Cabrillo Beach; in a tree in the Marine Aquarium parking lot area; all along the top of the slope/cliffside on the west side of Shoshonean Road), just like the singing Black-headed Grosbeaks; both species are still around here, but not singing anywhere near as much as they were during those few days.
Secondly, I wanted to add that of all the Japanese White-eye audio samples on xeno-canto.org, the only ones that actually sounded like ours here were two recordings made in Orange County. None of the recordings made in Japan sounded like ours. I am inclined to believe that the identification of Japanese White-eye is incorrect, and they're in fact some other species of White-eye (or at least, a subspecies of Japanese White-eye that is vastly under-represented on xeno-canto); the call sounds like an innate call, which wouldn't need to be learned, so captive-raised birds should do the same calls as wild ones in their native habitat, right?
Photos still to come later.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-28 23:13, David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
Yesterday and today (May 27-28) both a Black Brant, and a Pacific Loon in absolutely full breeding plumage, were at Cabrillo Youth Camp (during the late afternoon, at least, when I looked on both days). The Brant spent time both on water and on shore. Both birds can be seen from the boat launch dock which is southeast-adjacent to the salt marsh (Salinas de San Pedro).
On both May 23 and 25 a Willow Flycatcher showed up in my backyard, giving me a new yard bird. (It's possible they weren't even the same individual.) Other flycatchers have been especially abundant as well; Pacific-slope Flycatchers have been as numerous as I ever remember them being here, and Willow Flycatchers might be even more numerous than they've been before in my experience (i.e. since 2006). I saw an agonistic territorial encounter between two Willow Flycatchers for the first time (in my backyard) and one of them made an agonistic call sounding identical to a Say's Phoebe agonstic call (a call that many Northern Mockingbirds include in their song repertoire) – a call which I think is most notable for its peculiar lack of "aggressive-soundingness" to human ears, in contrast to the agonistic calls of most other species. And I have found two Ash-throated Flycatchers recently at different local spots, one of them continuing, when Ash-throated Flycatchers have been mostly absent in my area for years.
The Warbling Vireos are still present in force. I've had at least 6 at once in my backyard at times, and they often sing.
I have observed proof of Orange-crowned Warbler nesting success in the Salt Marsh / Shoshonean Road area. An Orange-crowned Warbler, whose song I recognize from at least one year ago at the same location, fed a begging juvenile, and I recognized his identifying physical features from having filmed him singing earlier. And at another spot, an Orange-crowned Warbler sang for vast swaths of the day (also with a unique recognizable song), every day for weeks, and suddenly a few days ago stopped singing and started hanging out with a second Orange-crowned Warbler – very suggestive that this pair are nesting as well.
At least two "Japanese" White-eyes have been quite consipicuous in the area, with a Hutton's Vireo like call, showing up often in the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium parking lot... and today for the first time I'm aware of, in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach. (They usually show up as a pair together, which for a while made me think there are two in the area, but in retrospect the frequency with which I encounter them suggests there are quite a bit more than two.) I put "Japanese" in quotes because I don't understand why virtually everyone is identifying these as Japanese White-eyes. I looked at the various species of White-eye (they are numerous) and a large number of them look virtually identical – I couldn't find any distinguishing characteristics by looking at photos. When listing to samples of a large subset of White-eye species on xeno-canto.org, I couldn't find any that actually matches the Hutton's Vireo like call I most often hear from the ones here and in Orange County. Certainly, the Japanese White-eye audio samples sound nothing like the ones here. So why do birders identify them as Japanese White-eye instead of White-eye sp.?
Black Skimmers have been sticking around every day lately at the Cabrillo Youth Camp shore. They're very vocal whenever another skimmer comes in to land with them, and each one has an audibly different voice. I got to see a behavior I'd never seen before from this species – a fish display. A skimmer held the fish in his bill, as if to entice the other skimmers, but none of them proved worthy of it (all who tried to take it were denied) and eventually he ended up eating it himself.
On May 24 I had my first-of-season Least Tern at Cabrillo Beach dive and catch a fish in the water just outside the salt marsh.
A Heermann's Gull adult in breeding plumage was at Cabrillo Beach today at 5:33pm. I haven't even seen an immature one since May 12, and hadn't seen an adult since March 24.
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Date: 5/29/18 8:36 am From: David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
First of all, I forgot to include three things: A Nashville Warbler was in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach on May 23 and 24, and a male Phainopepla was at the Greg Smith Conifer Grove again on May 20 at 12:10pm. And, for a few days starting May 15, there were singing Swainson's Thrushes all over the Cabrillo area (in a tree near the dirt ramp down to Cabrillo Beach; in a tree in the Marine Aquarium parking lot area; all along the top of the slope/cliffside on the west side of Shoshonean Road), just like the singing Black-headed Grosbeaks; both species are still around here, but not singing anywhere near as much as they were during those few days.
Secondly, I wanted to add that of all the Japanese White-eye audio samples on xeno-canto.org, the only ones that actually sounded like ours here were two recordings made in Orange County. None of the recordings made in Japan sounded like ours. I am inclined to believe that the identification of Japanese White-eye is incorrect, and they're in fact some other species of White-eye (or at least, a subspecies of Japanese White-eye that is vastly under-represented on xeno-canto); the call sounds like an innate call, which wouldn't need to be learned, so captive-raised birds should do the same calls as wild ones in their native habitat, right?
Photos still to come later.
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
At 2018-05-28 23:13, David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] wrote:
Yesterday and today (May 27-28) both a Black Brant, and a Pacific Loon in absolutely full breeding plumage, were at Cabrillo Youth Camp (during the late afternoon, at least, when I looked on both days). The Brant spent time both on water and on shore. Both birds can be seen from the boat launch dock which is southeast-adjacent to the salt marsh (Salinas de San Pedro).
On both May 23 and 25 a Willow Flycatcher showed up in my backyard, giving me a new yard bird. (It's possible they weren't even the same individual.) Other flycatchers have been especially abundant as well; Pacific-slope Flycatchers have been as numerous as I ever remember them being here, and Willow Flycatchers might be even more numerous than they've been before in my experience (i.e. since 2006). I saw an agonistic territorial encounter between two Willow Flycatchers for the first time (in my backyard) and one of them made an agonistic call sounding identical to a Say's Phoebe agonstic call (a call that many Northern Mockingbirds include in their song repertoire) – a call which I think is most notable for its peculiar lack of "aggressive-soundingness" to human ears, in contrast to the agonistic calls of most other species. And I have found two Ash-throated Flycatchers recently at different local spots, one of them continuing, when Ash-throated Flycatchers have been mostly absent in my area for years.
The Warbling Vireos are still present in force. I've had at least 6 at once in my backyard at times, and they often sing.
I have observed proof of Orange-crowned Warbler nesting success in the Salt Marsh / Shoshonean Road area. An Orange-crowned Warbler, whose song I recognize from at least one year ago at the same location, fed a begging juvenile, and I recognized his identifying physical features from having filmed him singing earlier. And at another spot, an Orange-crowned Warbler sang for vast swaths of the day (also with a unique recognizable song), every day for weeks, and suddenly a few days ago stopped singing and started hanging out with a second Orange-crowned Warbler – very suggestive that this pair are nesting as well.
At least two "Japanese" White-eyes have been quite consipicuous in the area, with a Hutton's Vireo like call, showing up often in the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium parking lot... and today for the first time I'm aware of, in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach. (They usually show up as a pair together, which for a while made me think there are two in the area, but in retrospect the frequency with which I encounter them suggests there are quite a bit more than two.) I put "Japanese" in quotes because I don't understand why virtually everyone is identifying these as Japanese White-eyes. I looked at the various species of White-eye (they are numerous) and a large number of them look virtually identical – I couldn't find any distinguishing characteristics by looking at photos. When listing to samples of a large subset of White-eye species on xeno-canto.org, I couldn't find any that actually matches the Hutton's Vireo like call I most often hear from the ones here and in Orange County. Certainly, the Japanese White-eye audio samples sound nothing like the ones here. So why do birders identify them as Japanese White-eye instead of White-eye sp.?
Black Skimmers have been sticking around every day lately at the Cabrillo Youth Camp shore. They're very vocal whenever another skimmer comes in to land with them, and each one has an audibly different voice. I got to see a behavior I'd never seen before from this species – a fish display. A skimmer held the fish in his bill, as if to entice the other skimmers, but none of them proved worthy of it (all who tried to take it were denied) and eventually he ended up eating it himself.
On May 24 I had my first-of-season Least Tern at Cabrillo Beach dive and catch a fish in the water just outside the salt marsh.
A Heermann's Gull adult in breeding plumage was at Cabrillo Beach today at 5:33pm. I haven't even seen an immature one since May 12, and hadn't seen an adult since March 24.
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Date: 5/28/18 11:14 pm From: David Ellsworth <davidells...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Continuing Brant, Pacific Loon, Willow Flycatcher & more (San Pedro)
Yesterday and today (May 27-28) both a Black Brant, and a Pacific Loon in absolutely full breeding plumage, were at Cabrillo Youth Camp (during the late afternoon, at least, when I looked on both days). The Brant spent time both on water and on shore. Both birds can be seen from the boat launch dock which is southeast-adjacent to the salt marsh (Salinas de San Pedro).
On both May 23 and 25 a Willow Flycatcher showed up in my backyard, giving me a new yard bird. (It's possible they weren't even the same individual.) Other flycatchers have been especially abundant as well; Pacific-slope Flycatchers have been as numerous as I ever remember them being here, and Willow Flycatchers might be even more numerous than they've been before in my experience (i.e. since 2006). I saw an agonistic territorial encounter between two Willow Flycatchers for the first time (in my backyard) and one of them made an agonistic call sounding identical to a Say's Phoebe agonstic call (a call that many Northern Mockingbirds include in their song repertoire) – a call which I think is most notable for its peculiar lack of "aggressive-soundingness" to human ears, in contrast to the agonistic calls of most other species. And I have found two Ash-throated Flycatchers recently at different local spots, one of them continuing, when Ash-throated Flycatchers have been mostly absent in my area for years.
The Warbling Vireos are still present in force. I've had at least 6 at once in my backyard at times, and they often sing.
I have observed proof of Orange-crowned Warbler nesting success in the Salt Marsh / Shoshonean Road area. An Orange-crowned Warbler, whose song I recognize from at least one year ago at the same location, fed a begging juvenile, and I recognized his identifying physical features from having filmed him singing earlier. And at another spot, an Orange-crowned Warbler sang for vast swaths of the day (also with a unique recognizable song), every day for weeks, and suddenly a few days ago stopped singing and started hanging out with a second Orange-crowned Warbler – very suggestive that this pair are nesting as well.
At least two "Japanese" White-eyes have been quite consipicuous in the area, with a Hutton's Vireo like call, showing up often in the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium parking lot... and today for the first time I'm aware of, in my backyard near Cabrillo Beach. (They usually show up as a pair together, which for a while made me think there are two in the area, but in retrospect the frequency with which I encounter them suggests there are quite a bit more than two.) I put "Japanese" in quotes because I don't understand why virtually everyone is identifying these as Japanese White-eyes. I looked at the various species of White-eye (they are numerous) and a large number of them look virtually identical – I couldn't find any distinguishing characteristics by looking at photos. When listing to samples of a large subset of White-eye species on xeno-canto.org, I couldn't find any that actually matches the Hutton's Vireo like call I most often hear from the ones here and in Orange County. Certainly, the Japanese White-eye audio samples sound nothing like the ones here. So why do birders identify them as Japanese White-eye instead of White-eye sp.?
Black Skimmers have been sticking around every day lately at the Cabrillo Youth Camp shore. They're very vocal whenever another skimmer comes in to land with them, and each one has an audibly different voice. I got to see a behavior I'd never seen before from this species – a fish display. A skimmer held the fish in his bill, as if to entice the other skimmers, but none of them proved worthy of it (all who tried to take it were denied) and eventually he ended up eating it himself.
On May 24 I had my first-of-season Least Tern at Cabrillo Beach dive and catch a fish in the water just outside the salt marsh.
A Heermann's Gull adult in breeding plumage was at Cabrillo Beach today at 5:33pm. I haven't even seen an immature one since May 12, and hadn't seen an adult since March 24.
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Ran the Mt. Baldy Breeding Bird Survey route on Friday from 5:06 to 10:03 a.m. For those not familiar, North American BBS routes (conducted once per year during breeding season) are 24.5 miles long with stops at each .5 miles for a total of 50. This route begins at the intersection of Baldy and Shinn Rds., heading north, then continues west on Glendora Ridge Road, north on Glendora Mtn. Rd., ending along the river in Azusa Canyon. The habitat consists of Sage Scrub, with a few scattered Pine and Locust trees on the ridge and Sycamore/riparian woodland on the later portion.
Weather was in the mid to high 40's for the majority of the route, with fog and heavy mist rolling through which seemed to keep the sparrows and hummingbirds down.
Following are some of the more notable findings:
Mountain Quail - 68 (typically 6-15 are recorded per survey with a high of 55 reported in 2001)
Common Poorwill - 7 (typically 2-5 recorded per survey since 2000)
Acorn Woodpecker - 4 (lowest reported on any survey was 2 with 12 reported in 2015,14 reported in 2016, and 18 reported in 2017)
Ash-throated Flycatcher - 39 (typical numbers in the teens recorded per survey with 23 reported in 2017)
Oak Titmouse - 0 (previous survey results range from 1-3 with 17 reported in 2017)
Warbling Vireo - 7 (typically 0 are reported per survey with 2 years since 2000 that one has been reported)
Hutton's Vireo - 3 (only 1 has been found on the survey since 2000)
Wrentit - 130 (previous survey results range from 36-89 with 72 reported in 2017)
California Thrasher - 29 (typically 0-5 are reported per survey since 2012)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 9 (typically 0 are reported per survey with 7 reported in 2015, 5 reported in 2016, and 1 reported in 2017)
Spotted Towhee - 113 (previous survey results range from 25-80 with 71 reported in 2017)
California Towhee - 45 (previous survey results range from 17-47 with 24 reported in 2017)
Black-chinned Sparrow- 4 (previous survey results range from 0-2)
Song Sparrow - 2 (typically 0 are reported per survey with 2 reported in 2012 and 2014)
Orange-crowned Warbler - 5 (typically 0 are reported per survey with 2 reported in 2013 and 2014)
Western Tanager - 15 (previous survey results range from 0-2 with 4 reported in 2001)
Black-headed Grosbeak - 61 (previous survey results range from 14-24 with 23 reported in 2017)
A small flock of Chukar was heard at mile marker 2.17 along Glendora Mountain Rd. looking down into East Fork Horse Canyon. I was puzzled and a search yielded information on an upland game hunting ranch in that area 15 or so years ago. I'm unable to locate any eBird reports for the species in that area and would appreciate information from anyone else who may have seen/heard them in the vicinity.
Date: 5/28/18 12:51 pm From: Manuel Duran <mhduran...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Rose-breasted Grosbeak at South Coast Botanic Garden
This morning we saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at South Coast Botanic Garden. It was vocalizing and feeding at the Schotia red flowers located at Creek Lane and Tram Road. I will post pictures later.
Manuel Duran Alejandra Cedillo Lomita CA
------------------------------------ Posted by: Manuel Duran <mhduran...> ------------------------------------
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Date: 5/28/18 10:41 am From: Devon DeRaad <deraad...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Hepatic Tanager in Angeles National Forest
Hey y’all,
Maggie Schedl and I were birding the road into Chilao Campground on
Saturday afternoon and came across what I originally wrote off as an
immature/female summer tanager. After hearing from other birders, it seems
that the bird is actually a Hepatic Tanager. My photos show gray cheeks and
a stout, dark bill consistent with hepatic Tanager. In addition, the
pine-oak habitat at Chilao is consistent with hepatic Tanager breeding
habitat. We noticed the bird in a pine on the left side of the paved road
between little pines campground and manzanita campground. eBird checklist
here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46098796
Date: 5/27/18 8:11 pm From: Tom Benson <Thomasabenson...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Potential Cortez Bank pelagic trip, August 25
LA County birders,
I am trying to organize a pelagic trip to the Cortez Bank this year. The basic details are: departure from Dana Point aboard the R/V Sea Explorer (same boat used on Orange County Audubon pelagics), leaving at 1-2 AM and returning at 8-9 PM on Saturday, August 25 (18-20 hours); there are NO bunks or full galley on board, but possibly enough room to sleep on the floor or benches inside (plenty of room outside). The per person cost will likely be $200 (it will not be more than that).
This should be an excellent opportunity to add species like Black-footed Albatross, Leach's Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Craveri's Murrelet, Arctic Tern, South Polar Skua, and Long-tailed Jaeger to your LA County list. It is also a good opportunity to look for rare species such as Cook's and Hawaiian Petrels, Townsend's Storm-Petrel, Least Storm-Petrel, and Guadalupe Murrelet.
If you are interested in going, please email me back (off list) and let me know so I can put your name on the manifest and determine if there is enough interest to fill the boat. I have a list of about 10 people who have expressed interest already, but we need 20-25 more to fill the boat and make this trip happen. If you have any questions regarding the details of the trip, please contact me and I will answer them to the best of my ability.
here was a Red-throated Loon turning toward breeding plumage in the Ballona Channel east of the Pacific Avenue bridge this morning. observed by Louis Tucker, Kerry Morris and myself.
Date: 5/26/18 6:42 pm From: Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Lake Balboa Brown Pelican
Wondering if any of the locals had any insight on where it hangs out when it's not on the actual lake itself. I've noticed that it is sporadically reported on eBird checklists over the past month and I've looked a couple of times without success (including a couple of hours yesterday walking the entire perimeter checking the grassy areas/picnic tables in case it mixes in with the geese etc). I'm somewhat intrigued if there is actually an inland Brown Pelican at large when it's not at Lake Balboa. I've been faithfully checking Silver Lake and Hollywood Reservoir... Feel free to reply off the group as I imagine this topic has limited appeal to the wider group.
Date: 5/26/18 1:04 pm From: Thomas Miko <thomas_miko...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Claremont American Redstart
There is an unchaseable drab female type American Redstart in a backyard in Claremont. The bird was detected this morning, and shows up once an hour, giving brief glimpses, before disappearing again, somewhere to the east of the house. The homeowner is still trying to photograph it.
Dang, I should have birded the cemetery this morning.
Wheeler Park this morning had a surprising mix of late western migrants e.g.. 4 Yellow Warblers and a Warbling Vireo.
Due to the wet, cloudy weather, the Black Swifts have not been appearing in the afternoons above Cobal Canyon Trail in Claremont Wilderness Park. Even the number of Cliff Swallows is lower than average for late May. When it gets hot and dry they will show up, and pose for photos. They've got to be somewhere, probably at some pond or lake, but I can't figure out where.
Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd.,#C
Claremont, CA 91711
cell one: 909.241.3300
cell two: 213.471.6001
home: 909.445.1456
office: 213.351.7382
office main 213.351.7897
Date: 5/25/18 8:19 pm From: <busyday...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Dusky-capped still at Ladera Park
Birders,
Friday 25 May
The Dusky-capped Flycatcher that wintered at Ladera Park and was reported twice this spring on eBird (although not seen on the ABC count) was present in the park this morning. It foraged from trees on the slope west of the playground before flying up toward the west border fence and possibly into the neighborhood. Ladera Park is south of Slauson and west of LaBrea in Ladera Heights.
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Coverage: Los Angeles County, Ventura County as warranted
-Transcript
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for May 25.
At least one CHIMNEY SWIFT was seen along the LA River just above the Los Feliz crossing in Glendale/Atwater Village from May 21-23. Park in the golf course parking lot off Los Feliz, or at North Atwater Park and walk down to Los Feliz.
Continuing at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through May 19 was a NEOTROPIC CORMORANT. It has usually been near the north shore of the reservoir, sometimes across from the RV Park. A PURPLE MARTIN was at the northeast corner of the lake on May 20.
The BROWN PELICAN at Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley was observed through May 22.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON continued at Sim's Pond Bio Reserve in Long Beach through May 20.
Eight CALIFORNIA CONDORS were seen near Castaic along the Old Ridge Route on May 19.
The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER that wintered at Ladera Park was reported through May 20.
The TROPICAL KINGBIRD at Entradero Park in Torrance continued around the pond through May 21.
A SCISSOR-TAILED FYCATCHER was at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from May 19-20 on the north side of Duckbill Lake. A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at the south Ducks Unlimited Pond on May 20. A letter of permission is required for entry.
A BANK SWALLOW was at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh (corner of Lincoln and Jefferson) near Playa Vista on May 21.
A male SUMMER TANAGER was seen briefly at the LA County Natural History Museum Nature Gardens on May 23.
San Clemente Island reported an OVENBIRD, a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER and BALTIMORE ORIOLE on May 23.
- end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
The cactus (and other plants) on the PV peninsula are in very bad shape mainly due to the prolonged drought, and the resident bird community there is feeling the effect. I'm in the middle of spring monitoring for Cactus Wren and Calif. Gnatcatcher and we've seen two main patterns - delayed breeding and very low numbers, particularly of Cactus Wren. There may be <10 wren pairs left at PV, a fraction of what was there a couple decades ago. They seem to be blinking out of the reserves there one by one, retreating to the most "stereotypical" habitat. Baldwin Hills and (maybe?) Big Tujunga Wash populations are already lost, so we're hoping PV will rebound if it ever starts raining again (yes, cactus is desert-adapted, but still needs something). There's also the issue of increasing Cooper's Hawks preying on wrens, so there are a few interacting causes.
We pushed the 2018 survey out to late May/June just since we weren't finding any nesting in Feb./Mar., so I'll know more in the coming weeks, but it's looking grim. Encelia and other coastal sage scrub species had no leaves up until a couple weeks ago (main growing season should be mid-winter).
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (you can look them up) is the group managing the preserves, and they're doing a good job with limited resources and extremely high human use of the remaining open spaces.
Date: 5/23/18 4:12 pm From: Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Chimney Swift at LA River, Atwater Village
For would-be Chimney Swift viewers who don't relish the challenge of sifting through a hundred swirling swifts and swallows, the best time is early in the mornings when there are very few or no White-throated Swifts at this location (usually just the chaetura and fewer swallows). This morning, there were 3 Vaux's in view almost constantly and the Chimney would cruise in on bowed wings every 10 mins or so. It was an ideal time to try and get some comparison shots between the 2 species (although not easy with a point and shoot). I have posted a couple of comparison shots of both species photographed within minutes of each other this morning on the checklist below. The bottom of the 2 comparisons is relatively in focus and may be helpful to others here, conveying the general shape and impression. What's not conveyed is scale. In real life, the Chimney is noticeably larger than the Vaux's:Â
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45958120.
The Chimney is considerably larger and darker with a slower, cruising flight pattern compared to the more frantic bat-like flapping of the Vaux's. Once you've been there long enough to get neck-ache and get familiar with both species, the Chimney can easily be picked out with the naked eye among the Vaux's.Â
There is parking at the Los Feliz Golf Course on the east side of the river (and north of Los Feliz Blvd) and you can enter the LA River bike path from that parking lot. I've personally found best viewing on the bike path immediately north of the bridge (east side of the river).
Best, Andy BirchLos Feliz
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 10:56:47 PM PDT, Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> wrote:
A Chimney Swift was still present this evening at the LA River by the Los Feliz Blvd bridge. We were able to get excellent views in direct comparison with Vaux's and White-throateds often at eye level and below us as it fed along the river. In comparison with Vaux's (often with the naked eye), it is a noticeably larger, longer-winged, longer-tailed, all dark swift. Heard to give a sweet chatter at one point.
There is parking at the Los Feliz Golf Course on the east side of the river and you can enter the LA River bike path from that parking lot.
Best, Andy Birch
Los Feliz
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 10:05:42 AM PDT, Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> wrote:
Date: 5/23/18 4:05 pm From: Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Chimney Swift, LA River, Atwater Village
For would-be Chimney Swift viewers who don't relish the challenge of sifting through a hundred swirling swifts and swallows, the best time is early in the mornings when there are very few or no White-throated Swifts at this location (usually just the chaetura and fewer swallows). This morning, there were 3 Vaux's in view almost constantly and the Chimney would cruise in on bowed wings every 10 mins or so. It was an ideal time to try and get some comparison shots between the 2 species (although not easy with a point and shoot). I have posted a couple of comparison shots of both species photographed within minutes of each other this morning on the checklist below. The bottom of the 2 comparisons is relatively in focus and may be helpful to others here, conveying the general shape and impression. What's not conveyed is scale. In real life, the Chimney is noticeably larger than the Vaux's:Â
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45958120.
The Chimney is considerably larger and darker with a slower, cruising flight pattern compared to the more frantic bat-like flapping of the Vaux's. Once you've been there long enough to get neck-ache and get familiar with both species, the Chimney can easily be picked out with the naked eye among the Vaux's.Â
There is parking at the Los Feliz Golf Course (big EATS sign by side of road) on the east side of the river (and north side of Los Feliz Blvd). You can enter the LA River bike path from that parking lot. I've personally found best viewing on the bike path immediately north of the bridge (east side of the river).
Hi Jeanette,
Much of the white looking "fungus" on various cactus plants is really not a fungus at all, but the nest pods of scale insects. While the cactus can tolerate a lot of this without much ill effect, it has no interaction with the life of the Cactus Wrens success in nesting and raising young. While this is all off the top of my head just now to reassure you, there is probably a lot more to this story than I know.  Chime in bug or bird people who know more, please.
Â
Elaine MacPherson
Sierra Madre
Â
In a message dated 5/23/2018 8:38:08 AM Pacific Standard Time, <LACoBirds-noreply...> writes:
Â
 Â
I reported on this Nest in Palos Verdes last month. It's now gone because the cactus it was in is crippled by a fungus. Looks to be damaging a lot of them around here. Anyone know anything about it? Anyone know if there's a group that works and preservation in this area?
Â
   Jeanette ReppÂ
   San Pedro
Â
Date: 5/23/18 10:10 am From: Kimball Garrett <kgarrett...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] RE: RFI Condors and Blue Grosbeaks
Tom,
Regarding Blue Grosbeaks at Hansen Dam..... They avoid the interior of the tall willow forest, sticking to the edges (e.g., to the mulefat and elderberry shrubs bordering the willows), and to the edges of the open park areas. One consistent territory this year has been around the lower ball fields in the sports complex area - the male often sings from the edge of the mesa at the east end of these ball fields or from the east end of the pepper tree row, but will fly almost all the way west to the shrubs just east of the upper swimming pool/fishing lake. In other words, territories are quite large. In the last week or two there has been a noticeable reduction in territorial singing - probably related to the phase of the nesting cycle. Within a couple of weeks there will probably be fledged young and the grosbeaks will become more conspicuous again.
Sorry, no condors at Hansen Dam.
Kimball
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
<kgarrett...>
http://www.nhm.org/site/research-collections/ornithology
From: <LACoBirds...> [mailto:<LACoBirds...>] On Behalf Of Thomas Miko <thomas_miko...> [LACoBirds]
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2018 7:13 PM
To: LA Co Birds
Subject: [LACoBirds] RFI Condors and Blue Grosbeaks
2. I stopped at Hansen Dam today and I saw (and heard) all kinds of expected neotropical migrants that are now on their breeding grounds, except for Blue Grosbeaks. I checked the lower section below Dronfield, starting from the lower parking lot and walking towards the willow forest, including the area formerly known as Garbagehenge or Dumspterhenge. Do they like tall dense mature willow forest, or do they prefer open, we be habitat that is no taller than 1 or 2 feet high? Do they prefer to be very near the water, or just vaguely somewhere near a body of water?
Thanks
Tom
I reported on this Nest in Palos Verdes last month. It's now gone because the cactus it was in is crippled by a fungus. Looks to be damaging a lot of them around here. Anyone know anything about it? Anyone know if there's a group that works and preservation in this area?
Date: 5/22/18 7:13 pm From: Thomas Miko <thomas_miko...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] RFI Condors and Blue Grosbeaks
1. I have noticed over the past several months multiple sightings of California Condors along a stretch of highway 5. I would like to ask parties involved if you guys just randomly saw these condors and pulled over and took pictures of them or if all of you collectively were actively searching for Condors? If you were actively searching for condors, please share some suggestions or tips.
2. I stopped at Hansen Dam today and I saw (and heard) all kinds of expected neotropical migrants that are now on their breeding grounds, except for Blue Grosbeaks. I checked the lower section below Dronfield, starting from the lower parking lot and walking towards the willow forest, including the area formerly known as Garbagehenge or Dumspterhenge. Do they like tall dense mature willow forest, or do they prefer open, we be habitat that is no taller than 1 or 2 feet high? Do they prefer to be very near the water, or just vaguely somewhere near a body of water?
Thanks
Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd.,#C
Claremont, CA 91711
cell one: 909.241.3300
cell two: 213.471.6001
home: 909.445.1456
office: 213.351.7382
office main 213.351.7897
Hi
I can only look at this bird on my cell phone and I am up in Sunshine Canyon, working outdoors for another hour. I wasn't convinced that it was an Eastern Kingbird but if it turned out that I was wrong, I had the option of driving down there after work today.
Thanks for the help, and I hope I did not make Charlie feel bad. I have done things like this myself, more than once.
Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd.,#C
Claremont, CA 91711
cell one: 909.241.3300
cell two: 213.471.6001
home: 909.445.1456
office: 213.351.7382
office main 213.351.7897
Hi
I can't see white on the tip of the tail, and wish there was a photo of this bird in profile. Has anybody else seen the subject bird?
See:
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) (1)
- Reported May 22, 2018 08:40 by Charlie Keller
- Entradero Park, Los Angeles, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=33.8536309,-118.3720636&ll=33.8536309,-118.3720636 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45933021 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Seen in the trees that line the ditch that feeds the pond."
Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd.,#C
Claremont, CA 91711
cell one: 909.241.3300
cell two: 213.471.6001
home: 909.445.1456
office: 213.351.7382
office main 213.351.7897
The bird in the checklist linked below to my eye is not an Eastern Kingbird. The dark along the sides below the wing, seems like part of a vest. The underparts below breast would be snow white on an Eastern Kingbird. Also the bold extensive white edges to tertials are far beyond what I see on Eastern Kingbirds, which typically has very narrow pale edges on terts.
I'm sure some other more knowledgeable will chime in... but I do not think this is an Eastern Kingbird.
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...> Resume email delivery: mailto:<LACoBirds-normal...> ------------------------------------
Hi
I can't see white on the tip of the tail, and wish there was a photo of this bird in profile. Has anybody else seen the subject bird?
See:
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) (1)
- Reported May 22, 2018 08:40 by Charlie Keller
- Entradero Park, Los Angeles, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=33.8536309,-118.3720636&ll=33.8536309,-118.3720636 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45933021 - Media: 1 Photo
- Comments: "Seen in the trees that line the ditch that feeds the pond."
Thomas Geza Miko
653 S. Indian Hill Blvd.,#C
Claremont, CA 91711
cell one: 909.241.3300
cell two: 213.471.6001
home: 909.445.1456
office: 213.351.7382
office main 213.351.7897
Date: 5/21/18 10:57 pm From: Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Chimney Swift at LA River, Atwater Village
A Chimney Swift was still present this evening at the LA River by the Los Feliz Blvd bridge. We were able to get excellent views in direct comparison with Vaux's and White-throateds often at eye level and below us as it fed along the river. In comparison with Vaux's (often with the naked eye), it is a noticeably larger, longer-winged, longer-tailed, all dark swift. Heard to give a sweet chatter at one point.
There is parking at the Los Feliz Golf Course on the east side of the river and you can enter the LA River bike path from that parking lot.
Best, Andy Birch
Los Feliz
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 10:05:42 AM PDT, Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> wrote:
Date: 5/21/18 11:02 am From: <kevin_lapp...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Bank Swallow (I think) at Ballona Freshwater Marsh
While Andy Birch is finding Chimney Swifts in his 5MR, I was in my 5MR this morning at Ballona Freshwater Marsh in a slight mist, and believe I saw at least one Bank Swallow. Amongst the Barn, Tree, Cliff, and Rough-winged swallows working the water from the west end to the elbow, I spotted a brown swallow with a distinct brown chest band, and white curving up back behind the eye and before the wing, that distinguished it from the female tree swallows. Fuzzy photos in the following checklist.
Date: 5/21/18 10:06 am From: Andrew Birch <andyrbirch...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Interesting chaetura swifts at LA River, Atwater Village
Date: 5/20/18 4:07 pm From: Tom Benson <Thomasabenson...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Purple Martin at Bonelli (May 20)
This afternoon (May 20) while watching swallows at the northeast corner of the lake at Bonelli Regional Park, a single female Purple Martin made a pass relatively low over the lake, then gained altitude, made two more high passes and continued flying off to the northeast. There are relatively few (40-50) swallows present. Tom BensonSan Bernardino, CA
Coverage: Los Angeles County, Ventura County as warranted
-Transcript
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for May 19.
Eight COMMON MERGANSERS were at Castaic Lagoon on May 13.
Two COMMON GROUND-DOVES were still along the San Gabriel River in Bellflower on May 16. They are usually seen on the west side of the river along the bike path south of Trabuco.
Late was a HERRING GULL at Zuma Creek mouth on May 12.
A COMMON LOON continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through May 18. Also continuing here was a NEOTROPIC CORMORANT through May 17. It has usually been near the north shore of the reservoir, sometimes across from the RV Park.
Other late or lingering loons included a PACIFIC LOON on the lake at Hansen Dam on May 12 and COMMON LOONS at Silverlake Reservoir on May 12 and at Quail Lake on May 13.
A MASKED/NAZCA BOOBY was observed flying by Pt. Dume on May 12.
The YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at Sim's Pond Bio Reserve in Long Beach was present through May 14.
A BURROWING OWL was at the LA Harbor by Pier 400 on May 11.
A male VERMILION FLYCATCHER was at the Sepulveda Basin from May 12-13. It was by the parking area and restrooms northwest of the wildlife area north entrance. Another was by the northwest parking lot at Castaic Lagoon on May 13.
The TROPICAL KINGBIRD at Entradero Park in Torrance continued around the pond through May 17.
Two PURPLE MARTINS were at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on May 13. Remember that a letter of permission is required for entry.
The BROWN THRASHER at Lower Malaga Creek was present through May 12. It has been in acacias along the creek side of the pathway (before the baseball field) and also around a dark paved circular parking lot.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at the Piute Ponds from May 12-13 along Ave. C by the concrete spillway of Big Piute Pond.
The male HOODED WARBLER at Sand Dune Park in Manhattan Beach was last seen on May 16.
An INDIGO BUNTING was on San Clemente Island on May 11.
- end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 5/19/18 5:27 pm From: <busyday...> [LACoBirds] <LACoBirds-noreply...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Spotted Doves seen again in S. Compton
Birders,
Sat 19 May
Early this morning in South Compton two Spotted Doves flew out of the little industrial/warehouse lot at the corner of Alameda and Greenleaf, and into Jorge's Nursery across the street. That eastern section of Jorge's Nursery is closed on weekends but I photographed the birds over the fence. For a while last year SPDOs were readily seen in the industrial/warehouse lot plus generally along Greenleaf and in the neighborhood, but then they became increasingly difficult to find. (I believe the last report was 30 October.) Photos from today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbarth/40412724950 http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbarth/27348797967
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...> Resume email delivery: mailto:<LACoBirds-normal...> ------------------------------------
