Ballona Fresh Water Marsh Reminder: 9 November, 2019, 8 AM

Great Blue Heron (R.Ehler 2/22/15)

Although it’s now been over 15 years since the Ballona Fresh Water Marsh was created, it’s still one of the newest and birdiest spots around. Last year’s trip found 48 species. We’ll look for whatever is around, of course, but we have good chances for wintering birds like Hermit Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Fox, Lincoln’s and Savannah Sparrows. Least Bittern is less likely but possible; they are far more often heard than seen, so if you can, familiarize yourself with their calls before the walk. Wintering ducks, including Green- winged and Cinnamon Teals, should be back in their basic (winter) plumage. Year-around residents include our area’s five most common herons and egrets. Yellow-crowned Herons, both adult and immature, seem to be expanding their range from Baja into Alta California (that’s us) and show up irregularly at this marsh,  Raptors are likely but unpredictable there.

Distance: It is about a 1.75 to 2-mile walk on mostly flat ground with a sometimes uneven dirt path.

Bufflehead male (Joyce Waterman 12-9-17)

Leader: Ellen Vahan (310-476-3359) ertvahan [AT] aol [DOT] com
Field Trip Chair: Jean Garrett 310-472-7209

Link to Google Map
You’re heading for the inland red dot for the freshwater marsh, NOT the westernmost dots near the beach.

Via Freeway: SAN DIEGO FWY (I-405) south to MARINA FWY (CA-90) west to CULVER BLVD. off-ramp and turn left under freeway and west towards Playa del Rey. Cross the Lincoln Blvd. overpass, then turn left at the first traffic light onto W. JEFFERSON BLVD. Park on the right at the Wetlands entrance, the last few hundred yards before you get back to Lincoln Blvd. Free street parking only.
Via Lincoln Blvd: Lincoln Blvd. south through Marina del Rey to West Jefferson Blvd. Right on Jefferson. Parking is on the south side of Jefferson only, so you’ll have to figure out where to turn around to get back close to Lincoln Blvd.     [Chuck Almdale]

Green Heron. Ballona Wetlands 2016 Randy Ehler