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This day was Mr. Lincoln’s 202nd birthday. He was unavailable, but the rest of us on this lovely sunny day should have worn our sunscreen.  We  had great views of birds in the lagoon, from the jetty, in the wetlands and in the fresh water marsh.  There were favorites each place….there was a female Ring-necked Duck in the lagoon – with Lesser Scaup.  On the rocks by the jetty were a Black Turnstone and a Ruddy Turnstone side by side…how helpful of them to show how alike and

Black Turnstone on the Jetty (C.Almdale)

different they are.  We also had a lesson with a Clark’s Grebe and a Western Grebe.  The out-of- towners got new birds!  We also had a few Black Oystercatchers (shouldn’t that be Oysterfinders – how tricky can it be to catch an oyster?), and many, many Brandt’s Cormorants.  My favorites were the Surf Scoters which seemed to be having a grand day in the channel and ignoring the rowing teams working back and forth.  Back by the wetlands we did indeed see the Burrowing Owl – well, Chuck Almdale found it and showed the rest of us where it was lurking in the red, yellow and orange ice plant.

Surfbird on Ballona Jetty (C.Almdale)

The freshwater marsh had Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Common Moorhens and ubiquitous American Coots.  The big lesson was the difference between the two Yellow-rumped Warblers, Western and Eastern or Audubon’s and Myrtle.  And maybe, someday…I too will be able to tell them apart – I was just  thankful there was not a written quiz.

Willet, in a pensive moment (C.Almdale)

This was a wonderful day to be outside AND to see lots of our local birds.  Many thanks to Chuck Almdale for leading this informative walk.   [Ellen Vahan]