D – No. Santa Monica Bay
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MAP OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY BIRDING REGIONS
Blue – Antelope Valley Green – San Gabriel Mountains
Orange – San Fernando Valley Violet – Northern Santa Monica Bay
Yellow – Central & Eastern L.A. County Aqua – South Bay & Palos Verdes Penn.
Airplane – LAX International Airport Anchor – Harbor for boat to see Island Scrub-Jay
Region D – Northern Santa Monica Bay
D1. ZUMA CANYON & BEACH
Highlights: Various typical riparian and chaparral birds. Woodpeckers, possible Canyon Wren up the creek. Migrants in spring. Shorebirds, gulls, terns on beach, Loons, grebes, sea ducks in water. Roosting site of 100+ Snowy Plover flock Oct-Apr.
Habitat: Chaparral, woods, brush, fields, permanent stream. Many wildflowers in spring.
Best Season/time: Fall, winter, Spring. Morning and early PM. Can be hot in summer.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road to sand beach, flush toilets on beach, pit toilet at trailhead, dirt trail.
Parking: Free, but limited at trailhead. Large beach pay parking lot, free on PCH.
Disabled Access: Paved beach parking lot. Dirt trail flat at beginning.
General Location: 33 miles W of downtown LA, just off Pacific Coast Hwy 7 miles west of Malibu.
Directions: From intersection 10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles, continue on Pacific Coast Hwy west 19.5 miles; right at light and uphill to canyon trailhead, beach is on left.
D2. SOLSTICE CANYON
Highlights: Riparian and chaparral birds. Woodpeckers, possible Canyon Wren past end of paved trail. Migrants in spring.
Habitat: Chaparral, woods, brush, fields, permanent stream. Many wildflowers in spring.
Best Season/time: Fall, winter, Spring. Morning and early PM. Can be hot in summer.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets, picnic tables.
Parking: Free, but limited. No parking available outside park.
Disabled Access: Long paved driveway (now trail) to ruined house. Uphill sometimes steep.
General Location: 29 miles W of downtown LA, just off Pacific Coast Hwy 3 miles west of Malibu.
Directions: From intersection 10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles, continue on Pacific Coast Hwy west 15.7 miles, right (north) on Solstice Cyn. Rd and .7 mile to park entrance on left.
D3. MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK
Highlights: Raptors, migrants, chaparral & riparian birds. Winter Red-breasted Sapsucker, also Lewis’ Woodpecker occasional.
Habitat: Riparian, chaparral, fields, hills, creeks.
Best Season/time: Sept through May. Morning. Can be hot in summer.
Monthly Birdwalk: 3rd Sunday 8:00am by San Fernando Valley Audubon Society.
Facilities: Paved road, camping, flush toilets, port-a-potties, interpretive center, picnic tables, phone, rock climbing, miles of trails, old M*A*S*H filming site.
Parking: Entrance fee.
Disabled Access: Paved parking areas & unused side road; hard packed dirt paths.
General Location: 34 miles WNW of downtown LA, between Pacific Coast Hwy and #101 Fwy.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles to Pacific Coast Hwy, continue approx.13 miles west, right (north) on Malibu Canyon Rd (becomes Las Virgenes Rd), approx. 7 miles north to park entrance on left.
D4. MALIBU LAGOON, SURFRIDER BEACH & ADAMSON HOUSE
Highlights: Offshore, shorebirds and waterfowl fall, winter, spring. 60+ species common in winter. Allen’s Hummingbird, Sora, wintering Snowy Plover & (often) Peregrine Falcon.
Habitat: Ocean, shore, salicornia coastal marsh, creek, brush & trees.
Best Season/time: Fall, winter, spring. All day; beach can be crowded in afternoon.
Monthly Birdwalk: 4th Sunday 8:30 am by Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society
Facilities: Paved road, pit toilets, interpretive center, picnic tables, phone, beach, surfing.
Parking: Fee lot, or free nearby street parking.
Disabled Access: Limited paved sidewalks; hard packed dirt paths.
Adamson House: Across the bridge from the lagoon parking lot. Trees & flowers. Paved sidewalks Free entrance to grounds.
General Location: 26 miles W of downtown LA in central Malibu.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles to Pacific Coast Hwy, continue approx. 12 miles west to Malibu Pier, continue past the bridge to park entrance on left or park on PCH or Cross Creek Rd.
D5. COLD CANYON PRESERVE
Highlights: Riparian and chaparral birds, migrants in season, Robin and (occasional) Varied Thrush in winter.
Habitat: Trees, brush, chaparral, creek.
Best Season/time: Fall, winter, spring. Morning, early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved main road to access gates. No facilities.
Parking: Free on street.
Disabled Access: Steep, uneven dirt paths.
General Location: 28 miles W of downtown LA, 15 miles NW of Santa Monica in mountains.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles to Pacific Coast Hwy, continue approx. 8 miles west to Las Flores Canyon Rd, right & uphill 5 miles to Schueren Rd, right 2 miles to Saddle Peak Rd, left 2 miles to gate in fence (preserve is not well marked).
D6. TOPANGA STATE PARK – TRIPPET RANCH
Highlights: Raptors, chaparral & riparian birds, migrants in season.
Habitat: Riparian, chaparral & fields, rocks & cliffs. Great views.
Best Season/time: Sept through May. Morning. Can be hot in summer.
Monthly Birdwalk: 1st Sunday 8:00am, led by Sierra Club.
Facilities: Paved road, interpretive center, flush toilets, picnic tables, phone, miles of trails.
Parking: Fee lot which can be crowded.
Disabled Access: Paved parking areas; hard packed dirt paths, but many hills.
General Location: 27 miles W of downtown LA, between Pacific Coast Hwy and #101 Fwy.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles, continue on Pacific Coast Hwy west 6 miles, right (north) on Topanga Canyon Rd 7 miles through village, right (uphill) Entrada Rd. & follow signs to park entrance.
D7. TEMESCAL CANYON
Highlights: Raptors, chaparral & riparian birds, migrants in season. Black-hooded Parakeets commonly seen. Nesting Phainopepla, Canyon Wren, Acorn Woodpecker, many others.
Habitat: Riparian, chaparral hillsides, creek and small waterfall.
Best Season/time: All year. Morning and early PM. Trail can be busy on weekends with hikers and joggers.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets, picnic tables near Sunset Blvd., phone, miles of trails.
Parking: Fee lot. Lot can be crowded. Street parking across Sunset Blvd.
Disabled Access: Paved sidewalk in picnic areas; hard packed dirt paths but steep, uneven climbs.
General Location: 17 miles W of downtown LA in Pacific Palisades just above Sunset Blvd.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #10 Fwy west 4 miles, continue on Pacific Coast Hwy west approx. 2.5 miles west to Temescal Canyon Rd, right (north) 1 mile to Sunset Blvd. Park on Temescal or continue north ¼ mile to park entrance.
D8. FRANKLIN CANYON
Highlights: Local birds, water birds, migrants in season, wintering vagrants, Wood Duck. Owls.
Habitat: Lake, trees, brush, plantings.
Best Season/time: Winter & Spring. Morning, early PM, dusk.
Monthly Birdwalk: 4th Saturday 8 am, 2nd Saturday evening owl walk, led by William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom.
Facilities: Paved road, interpretive center, flush toilets, phone.
Parking: Free parking lot.
Disabled Access: Paved roads and sidewalks.
General Location: 12 WNW of downtown LA in NW Beverly Hills in the Santa Monica Mtns.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 north 1.5 miles to Santa Monica Blvd exit, right (east) 3 miles to Coldwater Canyon Drive, then left onto Beverly Drive, (north) 2.5 miles to Franklin Canyon Dr, right 2 miles to reservoir.
D9a. BALLONA CREEK & MARINA DEL REY HARBOR ENTRANCE
Highlights: Seabirds, shorebirds, gulls, ducks, waders, raptors, migrants, nesting Great Blue Herons. Black Oystercatcher on outer jetty, Wandering Tattler & Surfbird in winter & migration, cormorants, sea ducks, grebes & loons, Brown Pelicans, Large-billed Savannah Sparrow (except high tide) in winter on fishing jetty. Least Terns nest May-August on Venice Beach north of north MDR jetty.
Habitat: Open sea, rocky shore, beach, marshland, pond.
Best Season/time: Sept through Apr. All day. Fishermen can crowd jetties on weekends, UCLA crew practice scares birds off creek.
Monthly Birdwalk: 3rd Sunday, 8 AM, led by Los Angeles Audubon Society.
Monthly Kayak: 1st Sunday 7:30am. Birders welcome. Meet at UCLA Boathouse 14001 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey. Call 310-823-0048 for information and/or reservations. From end of #90 Fwy & Culver Blvd (see below), continue W on #90 ½ mile to Mindinao Way, left ¼ mile to Admiralty Way, left ¼ mile to Fiji Way, right ¾ mile to cul-de-sac end, right to boat house at end. Limited parking, you may have to use lot further back on Fiji Way.
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets (southeast corner of Playa del Rey pond), picnic tables, phone.
Parking: Fee beachside lot. Street parking.
Disabled Access: Paved bike path & jetty sidewalk.
General Location: On the beach north of LA airport, 18 miles WSW of downtown LA.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 4 miles, #90 west 2 miles, Culver Blvd southwest 2 miles to end (don’t follow curve to south), north (right) on Pacific to end & park wherever available. Walk along south side of Ballona Creek to right, or north side bike path left or right.
D9b. BALLONA FRESH WATER MARSH
Highlights: Ducks, raptors, Moorhen & Sora, waders, gulls, ground & bush birds; Marsh Wren, Least Bittern (hard to see), Great-tailed Grackle, Total list is over 150 species.
Habitat: Fresh water marsh, reed beds, ponds, open fields.
Best Season/time: Sept through Apr. All day.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Port-a-potties
Parking: No lot. Free on south side of Jefferson Blvd. alongside marsh.
Disabled Access: Level crushed granite and dirt path.
General Location: Intersection of Lincoln & Jefferson Blvds, 1 mile east of Playa del Rey, 17 miles WSW of downtown LA.
MapQuest link & directions from Playa del Rey: http://mapq.st/eBbdGN
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 4 miles, #90 west 2 miles, Culver Blvd southwest 2 miles to end (don’t follow curve to south), north (right) on Pacific to end & park wherever available. Walk along south side of Ballona Creek to right, or north side bike path left or right.
MapQuest link & directions Back to LAX: http://mapq.st/dLSLIn
D10. DOCKWEILER BEACH
Highlights: Sea ducks, loons, grebes, pelicans, sandpipers, gulls, terns, Mew Gull seaward of parking lot south of Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant.
Habitat: Sandy beach, a few rock jetties, ocean.
Best Season/time: Fall – Spring. Bikepath can be busy on weekends.
Facilities: Parking lot, flush toilet, restaurant nearby.
Parking: Fee parking lot.
Disabled Access: Paved around parking lot. Paved bike path.
General Location: About 2 miles west of LAX terminals, 19 miles SW of downtown LA.
Directions: At the airport exit, turn south onto Sepulveda Blvd./Pacific Coast Hwy. In .7 miles, turn right (west) onto Fwy #110. Continue west 2 miles to the ocean as the fwy. ends and becomes Imperial Hwy. Left on Vista del Mar and 0.6 mile to a large pay parking lot on the ocean side. There are stairs down to the beach at the NW corner of this lot, next to a restroom.
Suggestions: Go for a walk on the beach. Scope is very useful (almost necessary) to scan the offshore flocks.
D11. KENNETH HAHN / BALDWIN HILLS RECREATION AREA
Highlights: Local birds, ducks in pond, migrants in season, wintering vagrants.
Habitat: Lake, trees, brush, plantings.
Best Season/time: Winter & Spring. Morning, early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: 3rd Saturday, 8am, turn left after gate into 1st lot and park; led by Los Angeles Audubon Society.
Facilities: Paved roads, bike paths, flush toilets, phone, water, picnic tables. This park is under development with many facilities including camping to be added, but some undeveloped areas will remain. It is the closest park to Los Angeles Airport, so if you have only a few hours to spare, you could take a taxi and pick up a few common SoCal birds.
Parking: Usually, but not always, entrance fee.
Disabled Access: Paved roads and sidewalks.
General Location: 8 miles WSW of downtown LA in Culver City in the Baldwin Hills, 7 miles NNE of LAX Airport.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #10 east 3 miles to La Cienega Blvd exit, right (south) 2 miles to Ken Hahn Park exit, then left into park, pay at entrance gate.
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[Chuck Almdale]
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 