F – Palos Verdes Penn. & So. 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

Adjust map size to see all locations.   Click markers for site description.

Region F – Palos Verdes Penninsula & South Bay

Adjust map size to see all locations.  Click markers for site description.
F1.  SAND DUNE PARK
Highlights: Migrant and vagrant birds in season.
Habitat: Large sand dune, trees, brush.
Best Season/time: Fall & spring.  Morning, early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: None.
Facilities: Paved parking lot, bathroom. Popular with the exercise crowd.
Parking: Free in lot or on streets but crowded.
Disabled Access: Paved pathways, fairly gentle slopes.
General Location: 21 miles S of downtown LA in Manhattan Beach.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 Fwy south 10 miles to Rosecrans Ave, right (west) 1.5 miles to Sepulveda Blvd, left (south) 0.1 mile to N. Valley Dr, right 0.9 to N. Blanche Rd, right on N. Blanche (which become Bell Ave) 0.4 to parking.

F2.  MADRONA MARSH
Highlights: Water birds on pond, migrants in season, grassland birds.
Habitat: Pond, grasslands, brush, trees.
Best Season/time: Fall, winter, spring.  Morning, early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: None.
Facilities: Paved parking lot
Parking: Free in lot.
Disabled Access: Level hard packed dirt trails.
General Location: 18 miles S of downtown LA in Torrance.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 Fwy south 15.2 miles to Redondo Beach Blvd exit, left to Prairie Ave, almost immediate right (south) on Prairie (becomes Madrona Ave) 3 miles to Plaza del Amo, left ½ block, park in lot on left.

F3.  SOUTH COAST BOTANNICAL GARDEN
Highlights: Common local birds, migrants in season, nesting Allen’s Hummingbird.
Habitat: Gardens, trees, brush, water.
Best Season/time: All year.  Morning, early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: 1^st Sunday and 3^rd Wednesday, 8 am.
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets, picnic tables, gift shop, phone.
Parking: Fee lot, or free on street.
Disabled Access: Fairly level paved paths.
General Location: 20 miles SSE of downtown LA on northern Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Directions: From intersection 10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 16.5 miles to Crenshaw Blvd exit, right (south) 5.75 miles, park entrance is on left as you go up the hill.

F4.  ROYAL PALMS BEACH – WHITE’S POINT
Highlights: Rocky & sandy shore birds, seabirds offshore, raptors along cliff, shearwaters, cormorants, Black Oystercatcher, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone, Cactus Wren.
Habitat: Sandy beach, rocky shore, cliffs, fields & cactus.
Best Season/time: All year, all day.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, flush & pit toilets.
Parking: Free in clifftop lot and street.  $2-5 sometimes in Beachside lot, especially summer weekends.
Disabled Access: Paved access road.  Paved sidewalk in clifftop park.
General Location: 25 miles S of downtown LA on Palos Verdes Peninsula south side.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 19 miles, #110 Fwy south 6.25 miles to end, continue south on Gaffey St. 2.75 miles to end, right (west) on Paseo del Mar 1.75 to clifftop park and entrance to beachside parking lots.

F5.  CABRILLO BEACH & POINT FERMIN
Highlights: Rocky & sandy shore birds, seabirds offshore, raptors along cliff, shearwaters, cormorants, Black Oystercatcher, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, Black Turnstone, Cactus Wren.
Habitat: Sandy beach on sea & harbor, rocky shore, cliffs, jetties and fishing pier.
Best Season/time: All year, all day.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, flush & pit toilets.
Parking: Parking fee lot, free on nearby streets if you can find it.
Disabled Access: Paved access road.  Paved sidewalk to jetty & pier.
General Location: 25 miles S of downtown LA on Palos Verdes Peninsula south side.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 19 miles, #110 Fwy south 6.25 miles to end, continue south on Gaffey St. 2.75 miles to Pt. Fermin clifftop park.  Beach and museum entrance & pay parking lot are on 36^th St. off of Pacific Ave. (parallels Gaffey to east).

F6.  KEN MALLOY – HARBOR REGIONAL PARK
Highlights: Ducks, gulls, raptors, passerines.  Migrants in season, nesting Least Bittern.  Often has Tricolored Blackbird,  Great-tailed Grackle, Ground Dove.
Habitat: Manmade freshwater lake, grass lawn, fields, riparian area.
Warning!:  Can look very trashy; homeless people in bushes.
Best Season/time: All year , but best migrants in Spring & Fall.  Morning and early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: 2^nd Sunday 8 am, meet in south parking lot.  Led by Palos Verdes Audubon Society.
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets, picnic tables, phone, fishing, potable water.
Parking: Free.
Disabled Access: Paved sidewalk along lakeside.
General Location: 17 miles S of downtown LA just off #110 Harbor Fwy.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 southeast 19 miles, #110 Fwy south 5.6 miles to Anaheim St. exit, right (west) 1 mile to park entrance on right just before intersection with Vermont/Gaffey.  Additional parking lot to north off S. Vermont Ave. and W. Pacific Coast Highway.

F7.  BANNING PARK
Highlights: Tree birds, migrants and vagrants in season.
Habitat: City park with trees and lawn, restored house/museum.
Best Season/time: Fall & Spring.  Morning & early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets, picnic tables.
Parking: Free parking in lot and on streets.
Disabled Access: Paved sidewalks.
General Location: 22 miles S of downtown LA in Wilmington.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 16.2 miles, #110 Fwy south 4.7 miles to Pacific Coast Hwy, PCH east 1.4 miles, pass park on right & turn right on Eubank Ave, right again 1 block on E. M St and into parking lot.

F8.  LOWER LOS ANGELES RIVER
Highlights: Shorebirds, egrets, gulls & terns, raptors.
Habitat: Wide river with cement banks, mudflats, water plants, brush.
Best Season/time: Late July – early Octover.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, bike/walking path.
Parking: Free parking on streets.
Disabled Access: Paved bike & walking paths.
General Location: 22 miles S of downtown LA in Long Beach.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 21.5 miles, #110 Fwy south 1.7 miles to Willow St, east 0.4 mile to Maine Ave and make a U-turn, west 0.1 mile to Golden Ave & turn right, 1 block turn left on 26th Way, park near end of street and go up access path to bike path next to river.

F9.  DEFOREST PARK
Highlights: Tree birds, migrants and vagrants in season.
Habitat: City park with trees and lawn, access to lower Los Angeles River.
Best Season/time: Late July – Winter.  Morning & early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: None
Facilities: Paved road, flush toilets, picnic tables.
Parking: Free parking in lot and on streets.
Disabled Access: Paved sidewalks, hard packed dirt path, riverside bike path not wheelchair accessible from here.
General Location: 18 miles S of downtown LA in Long Beach.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 7.7 miles, #105 Fwy east 11.4 miles, #710 Fwy south 2.7 miles, #91 Fwy east 0.6 mile, exit 12B Atlantic Ave south 0.6 mile, right on E. Harding St 0.4 mile to park.

F10.  EL DORADO PARK
Highlights: All kinds of birds.  Migrants in season.  Wintering raptors, sparrows and (often) vagrants.
Habitat: Freshwater pond & lake.  Riparian area, fields, grassy lawns among trees.
Best Season/time: Fall, winter, Spring.  Morning and early PM.
Monthly Birdwalk: 2^nd Sunday 8:30 am, meet in Nature Center parking lot.  Led by El Dorado Audubon Society.
Facilities: Paved road, interpretive center, flush toilets, picnic tables, phone, fishing, potable water.
Parking: Fee lots only.  One admission covers entire park.
Disabled Access: Hard packed level dirt trails in Nature Center.  Paved roads, bike paths and grassy lawns in northern section of park.
General Location: 21 miles SE of downtown LA, just off #605 Fwy in NE Long Beach.
Directions: From intersection #10 & 405 Fwys, #405 south 8.8 miles, #105 Fwy east 15.5 miles, #605 south 7.5 miles to Spring St exit, right (west) ¼ mile to park entrances, Nature Center on left and main park on right, accessable from one to another via underpass.
Nature Center: Freshwater pond, riparian area, fields, several miles of trails.
Northern Section: Freshwater lake, grassy lawns, tree groves.
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[Chuck Almdale]