Malibu Lagoon Trip Report: 25 March, 2012

Caspian Terns in better weather. (C.Bragg 5/10)

A fine morning for birding!   With a low ceiling, sporadic rain, and a 10 mph breeze, we were quite wet within the first 20 minutes of birding.   Had we not welcomed a hardy couple from New York, we might have stayed in the car.   The birds, however, seemed stimulated by the cool rainy weather and we were able to see a decent number of species in the lagoon, although fewer than our usual allotment of coastal scrub species.   The Snowy Plovers were few and scattered outside the enclosure.

Western Kingbird (J.Kenney 8/15/11)

Our most pleasant surprise was a flight of migrating Kingbirds (Westerns?)   Where we weren’t wearing waterproofs, we were soaked to the skin by 9:40 and called it a day.   We hope there were no family groups who came after our departure.   [Lu Plauzoles]

Our next three field trips:   Placerita Canyon / Walker Ranch 7 April, 8:30 am;   Paramount Ranch to Malibu Creek Flowers & Birds Hike, 15 April, 8 am;   Malibu Lagoon 22 April 8:30 & 10 am.
Our next program: Tuesday, 3 April, 7:30 pm – Madrona Marsh Flora & Fauna, presented by Tracy Drake.   The usual reminders will be emailed from the blog.

As a reminder to those coming to our 10 a.m. Parent’s & Kids Birdwalk, it meets at the beach trail footbridge closest to the parking lot.

Links: Unusual birds at Malibu Lagoon
Aerial photo of Malibu Lagoon from 9/23/02.
Prior checklists: July-Dec’11, Jan-June’11, July-Dec ’10, Jan-June ’10, Jul-Dec ‘09, and Jan-June ‘09.
Note: Species and numbers this month are much lower than normal due to difficulty of birding & counting in the rain.