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Rumor has it that the lagoon breach was – unlike previous breaches for at least 15 years – authorized and done by one of the numerous gov’t agencies – State Parks, perhaps. A large sand berm was created in front of Adamson House,

Sand berm by Adamson House (L. Johnson 12/22/13)

presumably to protect it from winter storm surges, and the breach was placed as far to the west of it as possible. This makes the beach walk a bit short for birders.  The outlet was already swinging to the east, moved (I think) by the prevailing easterly current. No doubt the entire breach will steadily move eastward. Lu Plauzoles checked Adamson House and counted Snowy Plovers on the east beach.

Peregrine Falcon resting in cypress (R. Ehler 12/22/13)

Most of the gulls were again offshore. All the terns and even Heermann’s Gulls were absent, and but a single Brown Pelican showed his face. The cool weather made for a very pleasant and congenial walk. The Peregrine Falcon – absent in November – was back, as were the Sanderlings, with a nice flock of them busily charging back and forth at water’s edge as waves rose and fell. Even the Townsend’s Warbler, not a bird one expects at the lagoon, appeared for the third month in a row.

Bewick’s Wren in the open (L. Johnson 12/22/13)

Birds new for the season were: Northern Pintail; Red-throated, Pacific & Common Loons; Western Sandpiper; Savannah Sparrow.

Our next three scheduled field trips:  Antelope Valley Raptor Search, 11 Jan, 8am; Malibu Lagoon, 26 Dec, 8:30 & 10am; San Jacinto Wildlife Refuge (Riverside County), 15 Feb, 8:30am.
Our next program:  Tuesday, 4 Feb., 7:30 pm. Urban Bobcats III, presented by Laurel Serieys.

Great-tailed Grackle and his yellow eye (R. Ehler 12/22/13)

NOTE: 10 a.m. Parent’s & Kids Birdwalk meets at the metal canopy.

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.

Here are some pictures taken in November while I was gallivanting around Oregon. Click on any picture to make it larger & create a mini slide show.

Comments on Bird Lists Below
Total Birds:   December total birds of 1412 is 49% below the 6-year Dec. average, due primarily to the absence of gulls and terns which – like last month – were offshore by the thousands but too distant to determine species.

Summary of total birds from the 6-year average so far:  Jun’12 +36%, Jul’12 -9%, Aug’12 -9%, Sep’12 +12%, Oct’12 +3%, Nov’12 -5%, Dec’12 +30%, Jan’13 -20%, Feb’13 -29%, Mar’13 -30%, Apr’13 -34%, May’13 -37%, Jun’13 -24%, Jul’13 +83%, Aug’13 +37%, Sep’13 +23%, Oct’13 +41%, Nov’13 -58%, Dec’13 -49%.
Species Diversity:  December 2013 with 61 species was slightly below (-6%) the 6-year average of 65.2.
Summary of species diversity from the 6-year average so far:  Jun’12 -10%, Jul’12 +10%, Aug’12. -6%, Sep’12 -20%, Oct’12 +5%, Nov’12 +2%, Dec’12 -4%, Jan’13 +2%, Feb’13 -8%, Mar’13 +9%, Apr’13 -2%, May’13 +3%, Jun’13 +13%, Jul’13 0%, Aug’13 +11%, Sep’13 -14%, Oct’13 +19%, Nov’13 -3%, Dec’13 -6%.
10-year comparison summaries are available on our Lagoon Project Bird Census Page.    [Chuck Almdale]