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No salesman will call, at least not from us. Maybe from someone else.
Malibu Lagoon Monthly Field Trips: Sunday, 24 February, 8:30 & 10am.
Osprey on a snag, waiting for a Jumping Mullet to jump into his mouth
(R. Ehler 1-28-18)
Still more birds than you can shake a stick at. What can I say? Birds you’ve never dreamed of! Garbled Modwit, Club-sandwich Tern, Faque’s Tourniquet, Delicious Gull, Fraculated Wigulet, Desert Island Diskette, Insignificant Sandpiper, Plaid Oysterroaster, the inimitable Glink, Western Roof-Owl (see our monograph), maybe 65 other species. A quiet beach on a quiet day. Who can complain about that? Dress in layers.
Most of January’s birds will still be with us, including: up to 22 species of passerines, 12 species of gulls & terns, 11 ducks, 8 sandpipers, 4 grebes, 4 herons & egrets, 4 raptors, 4 plovers, 3 loons, 3 doves, 3 cormorants, 2 hummingbirds and the inevitable partridge in a persimmon tree. Come and meet them all.
Wintering male ducks: American Wigeon and Gadwall (J. Waterman 1-28-18)
Adult Walk 8:30 a.m., 4th Sunday of every month. Beginner and experienced, 2-3 hours. Species range from 40 in June to 60-75 during migrations and winter. We meet at the metal-shaded viewing area (see photo below) next to the parking lot and begin walking east towards the lagoon. We always check the offshore rocks and the ocean. When lagoon outlet is closed we 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.
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 (310-472-7209) to make sure we have enough binoculars and docents.)
Heermann’s Gull already in breeding (alternate) plumage (J. Waterman 1-28-18)
Map to Meeting Place
Directions: Malibu Lagoon is at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Cross Creek Road, west of Malibu Pier and the bridge. Look around for people wearing binoculars.
Parking: Parking machine recently installed in the lagoon lot: 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.
Prior checklists:
2018: Jan-June, July-Dec 2017: Jan-June, July-Dec
2016: Jan-June, July-Dec 2015: Jan-May, July-Dec
2014: Jan-July, July-Dec 2013: Jan-June, July-Dec
2012: Jan-June, July -Dec 2011: Jan-June, July-Dec
2010: Jan-June, July-Dec 2009: Jan-June, July-Dec.
[Chuck Almdale]
Save Big on State Park Day Use Fees
If you are over 62 years old, and I believe some of you are, then pay heed to the “Limited Use Golden Bear Pass.” For $20 you get a pass, good for the current calendar year, that gives you free parking at State Parks managed by State Park employees. The pass is good for off-peak dates, which means that from the Friday before Memorial Day until Labor Day it is not valid for most parks. For some parks, such as Salton Sea NRA, the opposite time period holds – the pass is good there when it stops being good at, for instance, Malibu Lagoon. (Yes, I know the Salton Sea NRA is not a State Park, but the SP documents specifically say the pass is good, in the summer season. I also do not have a list of which State Parks do not qualify because they are managed by other entities, such as some of our beaches.)
If you’re a birder, then off-peak seasons are the best seasons. Considering that the day-use fee is typically $12, just two visits/field trips pay for themselves. And the off-peak seasons last for nine months!
You can apply by mail or in person at some of the State Park offices, notably the one just past the guard house entrance to Malibu Creek State Park. By mail it will take a month, so keeping our next two trips in mind, maybe a visit in person is in order.
Click HERE to download the terms and conditions PDF.
Click HERE to download the application form PDF.
Voices: Common Loon | Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Experience the quintessential sound of the North Woods as described by Macaulay Library Audio Curator, Greg Budney.
A film from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. The Lab is a member-supported organization; they welcome your membership and support. [Chuck Almdale]
