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No salesman will call, at least not from us. Maybe from someone else.
The Thick-legged Monkey Eater | BBC Wildlife
[Posted by Chuck Almdale, submitted by Lillian Johnson]
Some birds just have more charisma that others – beautiful, really small, great flier, long-lived, ugly, really large, great songster, strange behavior. This article is about one of the most charismatic birds in South America. one which the typical birder in the tropics hopes to see, and never forgets the moment when they saw it. One meter long, two-meter wingspan, talons up to 7 cm that can pierce thick leather gloves. The Darién forest of southern Panama hosts their highest population.
Its legs are as thick as wrists and it’s able to rip monkeys from branches with its deadly talons: Meet the world’s most powerful bird
What are harpy eagles? Where do they live and just how big are they? Learn all about this iconic eagle in our expert guide.
By BBC Wildlife Magazine, 7 August 2026
The article has a film of researchers with a captured Harpy Eagle; they then climb 120 ft. up to a nest. In it they found a primate skull (photo below, not a link) and a nestling among the scraps of food.
Young Birders United Conference Sat. August 29, 8am
[Posted by Chuck Almdale]
Young birders everywhere are flocking to the first-ever Young Birders United Conference (YBUC) on Saturday, August 29 at 8 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET. This free, virtual gathering launched by Taking Flight will bring together young birders, families, and supporters for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and community. All are invited—young birders with or without chapters, parents of young birders, and young birder supporters. Learn more about the Young Birders United Conference and how to register. Here is the actual link to the registration form – the first page is information, then at the bottom click ‘next’ to get to the actual registration form. Registration is due by 8/22/2026.
Founded in 2019 by Karinne Tennenbaum, Taking Flight is an educational initiative to inspire the next generation of climate leaders through the magic of birding. Taking Flight recently launched Young Birders United, a campaign to establish young birder chapters nationwide.
Saturday, 29 August: Lower Los Angeles River. EARLY START! 7 AM. The lower portion of the LA River has become a late summer hotspot for southbound migrants: in the vegetated river channel are Sandpipers, Phalaropes, Ibis, Terns; various passerines in the trees and bushes of adjacent parks. Baird’s and Pectoral Sandpipers quite possible! The river is wide, so bring your spotting scope and 10X binoculars if you have them, water, snacks and dress for variable weather. Rainshowers occasionally. Sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats and water recommended, small folding chair/stool can be useful. Family guide: 1-2 miles walking on pavement and grass, ending about 11-11:30am.
Try to arrive early. We start birding at 7:00, not just gathering. Early birders get the jump on late arrivals.
Reservations: Please contact Lu Plauzoles (310-779-0966). We just like to know who’s coming so we can keep an eye open for them. Open to everyone.
Car Pooling: If you are interested in a carpool ride or have a seat available please contact Lu Plauzoles (310-779-0966), by Thursday afternoon if possible so we can try to match you up. (If no answer, please leave a message.)
Lunch: For those who wish, we will have lunch at our last birding stop and thrash out our sightings, DeForest Park in Long Beach no later than noon. Often there are many migrating warblers in the trees, including occasional oddities.
(Thomas Hinnebusch 8/27/2016)
Directions to LA River meeting spot: from Santa Monica, take I-10 east to I-405, south on I-405 22 miles to Long Beach Fwy I-710. South on I-710 1.5 mi. to Willow St., exit eastbound over the Fwy. & river. Turn left at first stoplight at Golden Ave., left again at 26th Way, then 2 blocks to end at DeForest Ave. Park along DeForest Ave. and meet at the bikeway at the top of the pedestrian ramp. Meet at 7 am. Allow 45 minutes from Santa Monica.
After birding here, we will go north to DeForest Park for more birds and lunch. To reach DeForest Park, return to I-710 north, pass the I-405 and exit at Artesia Blvd. Proceed east and turn right onto Atlantic Ave., then right again onto E. Harding St. The park is at the end of the road. Park along DeForest Ave. or in the lot near the pickleball courts.
Leaders: Chuck Almdale & Lu Plauzoles
Field Trip Chair & Information: Jean Garrett 213-522-0062
Prior Reports including trip lists: August 2016, September 2015, September 2014, August 2013, September 2012, September 2011, October 2010
[Posted by Chuck Almdale]
Always the 4th (not last) Sunday of the month, 8:30am & 10 am
Pacific Coast Highway: There are still reportedly lane closures as fire recovery work continues.
- 25 MPH between Temescal Canyon Rd. & Sunset Blvd.
- 35 MPH between Sunset Blvd & Carbon Beach Terrace
- Watch for workers & vehicles. (Active work on Sunday morning at 8am? Take a picture.)
The migrating shorebirds are picking up in numbers and diversity, as are gulls and terns. Many may still have their bright breeding plumages. Snowy Plovers have returned from breeding. You never know what might blow, float or wander in.
Some of the great birds we’ve had in August are:
Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, White-winged Dove, White-throated Swift, American Avocet, Semipalmated Plover, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser & Greater Yellowlegs, Ruddy & Black Turnstones, Sanderling, Baird’s, Least, Pectoral & Western Sandpipers, Black Skimmer, Least, Forster’s, Royal & Elegant Terns, Brandt’s & Pelagic Cormorants, White-faced Ibis, Yellow-crowned & Black-crowned Night Herons, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Tree, Barn & No. Rough-winged Swallows, Bushtit, Savannah & Song Sparrows, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged & Brewer’s Blackbirds, Bullock’s Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow, Orange-crowned & Wilson’s Warblers, Western Tanager.
Weather prediction as of 18 August
Temp: 69-73°F; Wind 2-7 mph from W; Sky Cover: 50 > 24%
Tide: medium, little change: High: 3.64 ft. @ 8:58am, Low: +2.85 ft. @ 1:17pm
July 26 trip report link
Adult Walk 8:30 a.m., 4th Sunday of every month. Adults, teens and children you deem mature enough to be with adults. Beginners and experienced, 2-3 hours, meeting at the metal-shaded viewing area between parking lot and channel. Species range from 35 in June to 60-75 during migrations and winter. We move slowly and check everything as we move along. When lagoon outlet is closed we may continue east around the lagoon to Adamson House. We put out special effort to make our monthly Malibu Lagoon walks attractive to first-time and beginning birdwatchers. So please, if you are at all worried about coming on a trip and embarrassing yourself because of all the experts, we remember our first trips too. Someone showed us the birds; now it’s our turn. Bring your birding questions.
Children and Parents Walk, 10:00 a.m., 4th Sunday of every month: One hour session, meeting at the metal-shaded viewing area between parking lot and channel. We start at 10:00 for a shorter walk and to allow time for families to get it together on a sleepy Sunday morning. Our leaders are experienced with kids so please bring them to the beach! We have an ample supply of binoculars that children can use without striking terror into their parents. We want to see families enjoying nature. (If you have a Scout Troop or other group of more than seven people, you must call Jean (213-522-0062) to make sure we have enough binoculars, docents and sand.) It’s a good idea to call Jean anyway so she knows to expect you. If you’re late, they’re probably heading towards the beach.
Directions: Malibu Lagoon – street address is 3999 Cross Creek Rd. – is at the stoplighted intersection of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Cross Creek Road, just west of Malibu Pier and the bridge, 15 miles west of Santa Monica via PCH. Turn towards the ocean at the stoplight, opposite the Shell station. We gather in the metal-shaded pavilion area near the parking lot. Look around for people wearing binoculars and hats. Do NOT go to 23200 PCH, the address for Adamson House, east of Malibu Creek bridge, and a 5-10 minute walk away, plus 20-40 minutes to get into their surfer-packed parking lot.
Parking: Parking machine in the lagoon lot near our meeting area: 1 hr $3; 2 hrs $6; 3 hrs $9, all day $12 ($11 seniors); credit cards accepted. Annual passes accepted. You may also park (read the signs carefully) either along PCH west of Cross Creek Road, on Cross Creek Road, or on Civic Center Way north (inland) of the shopping center. Lagoon parking in shopping center lots is not permitted.
[Written & posted by Chuck Almdale]
Dead fish flotilla in Ballona Lagoon
[Posted by Chuck Almdale]
Long time frequenters of Malibu Lagoon well-remember the big die-off of Jumping Mullet back in August 2018. I’m not sure if anyone ever determine the exact reason(s) why 3,000-5,000 died in the lagoon, although the primary suspect was uncommonly warm air temperatures common in August, plus very warm temperatures in the lagoon itself. Warm water can’t hold as much oxygen as can cooler water. As I wrote then:
Some tests were taken that day: dissolved oxygen was 3-5 milligrams per liter, described as “… isn’t great, but also isn’t below the critical thresholds.” Water temperature was high: about 28°C (83-84°F). This was not good, as according to FishBase the maximum temperature limit for Mugil cephalus is 24°C (75°F). Many mullet were still jumping frequently in the lagoon. Mullet were seen “roiling the water” as far as ½ mile up Malibu Creek.
Something possibly similar seems to be going on in the Ballona Lagoon, that long narrow body of water on the east side of the Venice “peninsula.”
This was announced on the Los Angeles birders listserve https://groups.io/g/LACoBirds/ by alert Venice resident Ursula Heise on Tuesday, 13 Aug 2026, when she wrote in:
Just got back from going along Ballona Lagoon/Strongs Drive in Marina Del Rey. There are hundreds of dead fish floating from the ocean toward the Venice Canals: large and small, all kinds of species. Does anybody have info on what’s happening? Or how to report it to LA County Beaches and Harbors? I went to their website, and there seems to be no link to report an environmental issue that also has one concerned about the birds in the area (lots of egrets this morning). Thanks for any help.
Perhaps LA County Beaches might install a prominent link on their website redirecting people to the proper location to report a Beach & Harbor problem if they wish to have nothing to do with it?
One birder replied that such reports can be made to the California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Laboratories/Wildlife-Health/Monitoring/Mortality-Report
Another birder wrote that such events can be reported to Los Angeles County Environmental Protection Agency at: 888-700-9995, or by dialing 211 for the National Hotline Service available 24/7, linking people with local community, health and human service agencies. Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society has information at https://smbasblog.com/bird-rescue/ for Bird & Marine Mammal Rescue & Tags.
I contacted Ms. Heise, who was kind enough to supply the photograph below and brief explanatory text. She explained that she’d been running, had no camera, and was stunned to so many dead fish. Other local people she asked knew nothing about it. She went home and returned around 9:45 am with her phone camera, saw that there were “noticeably fewer fish” and only one of the larger fish, but took the photo which is “…not great, but you can see that there are a number of small fish and one midsize one.”
At around 9 am on Thursday, 8/13/26, I observed hundreds of dead fish drifting down the canal along the Esplanade/Strongs Dr. [just south of Washington Blvd. between Anchorage and Jib Sts.] in Marina Del Rey from the Ballona Lagoon north toward Washington Blvd. and the Venice Canals. The fish included very small fish, sardine-sized fish, several large flatfish (halibut or flounder?) and at least one large round fish that looked like a catfish (which it was not, of course, but that was the rough shape and size). None of the pedestrians and utility workers had realized the issue except for one elderly woman, who planned to notify Beaches and Harbors. Upon return 45 minutes later, the number and size of fish had diminished, but there was still a steady flow of dead fish in the same direction. I spoke to representatives of CA Fish and Wildlife (a woman named Karen) and to someone at Heal the Bay.
—— Ursula K. Heise, Venice
If anyone learns anything additional, let me know and I’ll update this post.
Surface Water Temperature chart NOAA Fahrenheit Link. Temperatures in Santa Monica Bay are currently over 70°F.
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 