Hot! Malibu Lagoon, September 25, 2016

Pelagic Cormorant shows them how to surf (G. Murayama 9-11-16)

Clear and sunny t’was the morn, but by 11:30 am, it was 96°F (35.6°C elsewhere).  That’s hot, especially for the breezy shores of Malibu. Birders were dropping out before we reached the beach. I carried water and needed it. Hey! Global warming deniers! This is the future, and it’s your grandkids who will be suffering. I don’t have any. Did I say it was hot?

Brant (G. Murayama 9-11-16)

More birds and more species appear as we inch into the fall, with sixteen species we haven’t seen in three or more months. The Brant continues – present seven out of the last eight months. We hadn’t seen Anna’s Hummingbird since June, which is

Belted Kingfisher on PCH Bridge (R Ehler 9-25-16)

very strange, as they are permanent residents. Anna’s local populations have declined (it seems to me) while the sedentarius subspecies of Allen’s Hummingbird, continues to increase. Over at Adamson House I found a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, busily flicking his tail and shagging flies from a twiggy brush under a large palm overhanging the easternmost baylet of the lagoon.

Great Blue Herons danced their way from the island down to the lagoon
(R Ehler 9-25-16)

Gull, tern and pelican numbers were low; September is often a low month for these species, but it was lower than usual, with one Brown Pelican and a mere 54 gulls and terns, consisting mostly of Western Gulls. We had seen a Marsh Wren in the reeds by the pavilion a week ago during the coastal cleanup, but missed it today.

Marsh Wren visits again
(J. Waterman 9-17-16)

The Snowy Plover roosting colony continues to grow: 35 birds (per Chris Lord) with banded bird AA:BL continuing from last month. Grace Murayama has also reported sightings of GA:OY and newcomer RR:BB – banded at Oceano Dunes, Summer 2016 – from 9-22-16. We don’t have banding information on RR:BB yet. Continuing to grow is our word-in-progress slide show of banded Snowy Plovers sighted in Los Angeles. Look for it here.

Los Angeles Times/US higher education writer, Teresa Watanabe joined our walk, and stuck it out to the last Snowy Plover on the beach, despite the heat. I don’t know what she learned, but come againm Teresa – the weather will cool, I promise (knock on MDF particle board wood).

Whimbrel (G. Murayama 9-11-16)

Slightly farther afield, I stopped by Zuma beach after leaving the lagoon to see if any Snowy Plovers were at their old stomping grounds near lifeguard station #10. Since the mid-90’s, when we began censusing the local Snowy population on behalf of Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory (now Point Blue), this has traditionally been the largest winter roosting colony in Los Angeles. I was alarmed when I recently heard

Snowy Plover GA:OY on Surfrider Beach (B. Crowe 9-20-16)

that the Snowy population on Zuma had fallen drastically. When Frances at Point Blue advised me that local birder Bill Crowe had reported 22 birds on 9-20-16 from that location, I decided to take a look. I found only 9, but it was about noon on this very hot day, and the location swarmed with people. Pavilions with smoking barbeques, roasting weenies and simmering sunbathers were everywhere. Three groups of people lay on towels within ten yards of the poor plovers. There’s only about 2500 Western Snowy Plovers left in existence, and it’s heartbreaking to see them so beleaguered and ignored. We really need to get some area here roped off. It need not be huge: 100 yards would be good, 200 would be better. That’s insignificant on a beach that is miles long.

Northern Shoveler female (R Ehler 9-25-16)

Long-billed Dowitcher
(R Ehler 9-25-16)

Birds new for the season were: American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Anna’s Hummingbird, Peregrine Falcon, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Bewick’s Wren, Wilson’s Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Lesser Goldfinch.

Marbled Godwit (G. Murayama 9-11-16)

As always, many thanks to our photographers: Chuck Bragg, Bill Crowe, Jeffrey Davidson, Randy Ehler, Larry Loeher, Grace Murayama, and Joyce Waterman.

Osprey searches for fish (J. Davidson 9-25-16)

Common Yellowthroat singing
(Chuck Bragg 2-28-16)

Our next three scheduled field trips:  Bolsa Chica, 8 Oct 8:30am; Malibu Lagoon 8:30 & 10am, 23 Oct; Ballona Creek, 19 Nov 8:30am.

Our next program: Roadrunners with Mark Mendelsohn, Tuesday, 4 Oct, 7:30 pm; Chris Reed Park, 1133 7th St., NE corner of 7th and Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.

NOTE: Our 10 a.m. Parent’s & Kids Birdwalk meets at the shaded viewpoint just south of the parking area. Watch for Willie the Weasel. He’ll be watching for you and your big floppy feet.

Black Phoebe scouts for a fly (R Ehler 9-25-16)

Links: Unusual birds at Malibu Lagoon
9/23/02 Aerial photo of Malibu Lagoon
Prior checklists:
2016:   Jan-June                          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

Northern Pintail trio (R Ehler 9-25-16)

The 10-year comparison summaries created during the project period, despite numerous complaints, remain available on our Lagoon Project Bird Census Page. Very briefly summarized, the results unexpectedly indicate that avian species diversification and numbers improved slightly during the period Jun’12-June’14.     [Chuck Almdale]