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No Turkeys at Malibu Lagoon, 24 November, 2019
Malibu Lagoon, a very narrow Surfrider Beach, and Santa Monica Bay with Palos Verdes Peninsula in the distance (L. Johnson 11-24-19)
Today’s crowd included the BioBlitz people, so we had at least double the number. Lu Plauzoles kindly took the BioBlitzers under his wing until 10am, when they split off to gather a plethora of soil samples. They reportedly enjoyed the walk and learned something about birds along the way.
BioBlitzers & Birders (L. Johnson 11-24-19)
Redhead (C. Tosdevin 11-24-19)
We had fewer birds but more species than last month, primarily because the number of coots dropped from 870 to a far more typical winter count of 210. Some unusual ducks showed up to replace last month’s unusual geese: a Redhead, Ring-necked Duck (probably a holdover from last month), Greater Scaup and Red-breasted Mergansers.
This last species is regular here in small numbers during the winter, but had not yet arrived as of October. We frequently see them plowing along through the water, faces submerged, looking for fish. The can easily see underwater as their nictating membrane – a third, transparent eyelid – functions as a natural swim goggle.
Red-breasted Mergansers in winter plumage (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
A Pacific Loon was on the ocean beyond the offshore rocks, along with a Pelagic Cormorant and some Western Grebes, a few of which were also in the lagoon. No Clarke’s Grebes. Lu Plauzoles spotted a Sora in the northern channel section, flying quickly from one bed of reeds to another, but most people missed this sneaky little devil.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in Atriplex (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
The reeds also hosted eight Common Yellowthroats and three Marsh Wrens, while the bushes were home to House and Bewick’s Wrens, as well as Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (eleven!), at least forty Bushtits, one Ruby-crowned Kinglet and two Wrentits.
Osprey (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
The Osprey is back, after being present in September but missing in October. To our great surprise it plonked into the lagoon and proceeded to take a bath, after which it retired to the nearby telephone pole by the path where the Mockingbird likes to sing. The Osprey – with his partially-white head, dark back and white belly, plus his fish-eating ways – appears superficially similar to the Bald Eagle. While Bald Eagles are not impossible in our coastal SoCal area, they’re far from common, whereas Ospreys are regular.
Osprey bathing in Malibu Lagoon (C. Tosdevin 11-24-19)
The Snowy Plover population seems to be holding steady: September 42, October 40, November 43. Today they were scattered all over the beach between the ocean and the southeast corner of the lagoon.
Black-bellied Plovers and a pair of Mallards (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
Ruddy Turnstones still outnumber Black Turnstones at the lagoon by 4-to-1. Last month it was 8-to-2, this month it’s 12-to-3. Evidently they are reading this blog and adjusting their numbers in order to keep my prediction accurate. Thanks, guys, but it’s really not necessary.
These Double-crested Cormorants have logged in for the day (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
Birds new for the season: Redhead, Greater Scaup, Red-breasted Merganser, Western Grebe, Sora, Glaucous-winged Gull, Pacific Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, American Kestrel, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Lesser Goldfinch.
Many thanks to our photographers: Chuck Bragg, Lillian Johnson, Larry Loeher & Chris Tosdevin.
Adult male Great-tailed Grackle checks the wrack for nibblies (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
Heermann’s Gulls regularly winter at Malibu Lagoon (C. Bragg 11-24-19)
Our next four scheduled field trips: Back Bay Newport 8am, Sat 14 December; Butterbredt Christmas Count 8:30am, Sat 21 December; Malibu Lagoon 8:30 & 10am, Sun 22 December; LA Xmas Count Santa Monica area, 8am, Sat 4 January.
Our next program: Cuban Birds & Island Biogeography, with Tom Hinnebusch. Tuesday, 4 February, 7:30 p.m., 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 (towards the water) of the parking area. Watch for Willie the Weasel. He’ll be watching for you and your big floppy feet.
Links: Unusual birds at Malibu Lagoon recently updated with new photos
9/23/02 Aerial photo of Malibu Lagoon
Blue-eyed Brown Pelican (L. Loeher 11-15-19)
Prior checklists:
2019: Jan-June
2018: Jan-June, July-Dec
2017: Jan-June, July-Dec
2016:Jan-June,July-Dec
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.
The 10-year comparison summaries created during the Lagoon Reconfiguration 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 restoration period June’12-June’14.
Many thanks to Chuck Bragg, Femi Faminu, Lillian Johnson, Chris Lord, Lu Plauzoles & Chris Tosdevin for their contributions to this month’s checklist. [Chuck Almdale]
| Malibu Census 2019 | 6/23 | 7/28 | 8/28 | 9/22 | 10/27 | 11/24 |
| Temperature | 63-68 | 62-66 | 72-78 | 70-77 | 61-71 | 62-72 |
| Tide Lo/Hi Height | L+0.55 | H+3.46 | H+3.39 | L+3.21 | H+6.41 | H+6.43 |
| Tide Time | 0835 | 0817 | 0725 | 0930 | 0907 | 0705 |
| Snow Goose | 1 | |||||
| Gr. White-fronted Goose | 2 | |||||
| Canada Goose | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Gadwall | 20 | 18 | 20 | 8 | ||
| American Wigeon | 6 | |||||
| Mallard | 18 | 18 | 18 | 40 | 35 | 15 |
| Green-winged Teal | 2 | 4 | ||||
| Redhead | 1 | |||||
| Ring-necked Duck | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Greater Scaup | 1 | |||||
| Red-breasted Merganser | 5 | |||||
| Ruddy Duck | 3 | 10 | ||||
| Pied-billed Grebe | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 7 | |
| Horned Grebe | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Eared Grebe | 4 | 8 | ||||
| Western Grebe | 14 | |||||
| Rock Pigeon | 15 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | 4 | 2 | ||||
| Mourning Dove | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 6 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Sora | 1 | |||||
| American Coot | 5 | 4 | 4 | 84 | 870 | 210 |
| Black-bellied Plover | 36 | 72 | 78 | 74 | 85 | |
| Snowy Plover | 11 | 14 | 42 | 40 | 43 | |
| Semipalmated Plover | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Killdeer | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
| Whimbrel | 85 | 15 | 20 | 3 | 3 | |
| Long-billed Curlew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Marbled Godwit | 1 | 17 | 24 | 24 | 10 | |
| Ruddy Turnstone | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | ||
| Black Turnstone | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Sanderling | 57 | 35 | 24 | |||
| Least Sandpiper | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Pectoral Sandpiper | 1 | |||||
| Western Sandpiper | 1 | 17 | 1 | |||
| Short-billed Dowitcher | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Spotted Sandpiper | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Willet | 15 | 16 | 52 | 13 | 6 | |
| Red-necked Phalarope | 5 | 8 | ||||
| Common Murre | 2 | |||||
| Heermann’s Gull | 2 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 22 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 8 | 45 | 25 | |||
| Western Gull | 70 | 80 | 18 | 29 | 85 | 110 |
| California Gull | 7 | 2 | 93 | 115 | 420 | |
| Herring Gull | 2 | |||||
| Glaucous-winged Gull | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Least Tern | 2 | 5 | ||||
| Caspian Tern | 5 | 3 | 12 | |||
| Royal Tern | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| Elegant Tern | 64 | |||||
| Pacific Loon | 1 | |||||
| Brandt’s Cormorant | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Double-crested Cormorant | 24 | 22 | 20 | 39 | 35 | 35 |
| Pelagic Cormorant | 1 | |||||
| Brown Pelican | 74 | 34 | 6 | 30 | 52 | 12 |
| Great Blue Heron | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Great Egret | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Snowy Egret | 6 | 19 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 3 |
| Green Heron | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | |||||
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Belted Kingfisher | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Nuttall’s Woodpecker | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| American Kestrel | 1 | |||||
| Nanday Parakeet | 4 | |||||
| Black Phoebe | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Say’s Phoebe | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Cassin’s Kingbird | 1 | |||||
| Western Kingbird | 3 | |||||
| California Scrub-Jay | 1 | 1 | ||||
| American Crow | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 |
| Common Raven | 1 | |||||
| Rough-winged Swallow | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Cliff Swallow | 8 | 11 | ||||
| Barn Swallow | 30 | 21 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Bushtit | 5 | 30 | 20 | 5 | 8 | 40 |
| House Wren | 4 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Marsh Wren | 1 | 5 | 3 | |||
| Bewick’s Wren | 1 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 4 | 3 | 11 | |||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 1 | |||||
| Wrentit | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
| Western Bluebird | 7 | |||||
| Northern Mockingbird | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| European Starling | 8 | 25 | 8 | 23 | 50 | 18 |
| Cedar Waxwing | 18 | |||||
| House Finch | 22 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Lesser Goldfinch | 2 | |||||
| California Towhee | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Song Sparrow | 5 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| White-crowned Sparrow | 2 | 10 | 4 | |||
| Western Meadowlark | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Hooded Oriole | 2 | 4 | 2 | |||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 2 | 15 | 1 | |||
| Brewer’s Blackbird | 34 | |||||
| Great-tailed Grackle | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Orange-crowned Warbler | 1 | 3 | ||||
| Common Yellowthroat | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 8 | |
| Yellow Warbler | 5 | |||||
| Yellow-rumped(Aud) Warbler | 15 | 5 | ||||
| Totals by Type | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
| Waterfowl | 44 | 42 | 18 | 40 | 73 | 45 |
| Water Birds – Other | 103 | 61 | 32 | 162 | 969 | 290 |
| Herons, Egrets & Ibis | 14 | 27 | 21 | 29 | 16 | 11 |
| Quail & Raptors | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Shorebirds | 6 | 162 | 172 | 305 | 213 | 205 |
| Gulls & Terns | 87 | 111 | 107 | 137 | 268 | 587 |
| Doves | 23 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Other Non-Passerines | 11 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Passerines | 107 | 130 | 84 | 143 | 152 | 132 |
| Totals Birds | 398 | 570 | 444 | 833 | 1711 | 1288 |
| Total Species | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
| Waterfowl | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Water Birds – Other | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Herons, Egrets & Ibis | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Quail & Raptors | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Shorebirds | 2 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 11 |
| Gulls & Terns | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Doves | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Other Non-Passerines | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Passerines | 15 | 13 | 17 | 27 | 18 | 21 |
| Totals Species – 104 | 41 | 46 | 52 | 65 | 59 | 68 |
The Internet: IP Addresses & DNS | Video
The co-founder of the Internet (!) Vint Cerf and software engineer Paola Mejia take us through the ins and outs of how networks talk to each other and what makes the Internet tick.
This is Part XII (7 minutes) of the series produced by Code.com explaining computers in terms most of us can understand. This is our last posting of this series.
If you like this series and want to go through it at your own rate, or wish to recommend the series to others, the 33 (so far) videos listed HERE include the twelve which I scheduled. Having some familiarity with the topics, I watched these twelve in about an hour. It’s time well spent.
The twelve videos we’ve seen, in order, are: How Computers Work-Bill Gates Introduction; What Makes a Computer a Computer; Circuits and Logic; Binary & Data; Hardware & Software; How Search Works; HTTP & HTML; Encryption & Public Keys; Cybersecurity & Crime; Internet, Wires, Cables & WiFi; What is the Internet; Internet, INS Addresses & DNS.
The additional five videos available HERE are: Packets, Routing & Reliability; Pixels; Data Compression; Data & Medicine. Six videos on coding have been added: IF/ELSE Statements; Pair Programming; Repeat Loops; Functions; Repeat Until; Persistence & Building a Foundation. Finally there are ten very short videos designed to inspire you to learn more about computers, the internet and coding. Have fun and learn something at the same time.
[Chuck Almdale]
Why Are So Many People Allergic To Food? | PBS Science Video
More people have food allergies than ever before. Peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs, and even milk… the list of possibly dangerous foods seems to get longer every day. But why do some people’s bodies have deadly reactions food? And why are food allergies on the rise? In this video we explain what food allergies really are, and what the difference is between food allergy and food intolerance. Some fellow YouTubers tell us their stories of what it’s like to live with food allergies, and we bring you the best current science on how to prevent food allergies in kids and adults. It’s a tough nut to crack.
This is an installment of the PBS – It’s OK to be Smart series. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you. [Chuck Almdale]
The Internet: What is the Internet? | Video
What is the internet? Short answer: a distributed packet-switched network. This is the introduction video to the series, “How the Internet Works”. Vint Cerf, one of the “fathers of the internet” explains the history of how the net and how no one person or organization is really in charge of it.
Part XI (4 minutes) of the series produced by Code.com explaining computers in terms most of us can understand. We’re getting past the ins & outs of downloads and uploads and into the guts. We’ll post a new installment approximately every ten days until we run out.
If you like this series and want to go through it at your own rate, the 17 videos listed HERE include the 12 which I have scheduled so far. Having some familiarity with the topics, I watched the first 12 in about an hour. It’s time well spent.
[Chuck Almdale]
https://youtu.be/Dxcc6ycZ73M
Malibu Lagoon Field Trips: Sunday, 24 November, 8:30 & 10am.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (C. Bragg 11-25-18)
Lots of migrants and wintering birds and dwindling crowds of humans make it a great day for the lagoon. Usually sunny, sometimes cool, with dolphins dancing in the waves. Forget those Thanksgiving table birds: see your birds here with us.
Some of the great birds we’ve had in November are: Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Pacific & Common Loons, Horned & Western Grebes, Osprey, American Kestrel, Merlin, Snowy Plover, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Boneparte’s & Glaucous-winged Gulls, Belted Kingfisher, Common Raven, Bushtit, Bewick’s, House & Marsh Wrens, California Towhee, Great-tailed Grackle, Lesser Goldfinch.
Adult Walk 8:30 a.m. – Beginner and experienced, 2-3
Have you donated Yet? (Clipartkid.com)
hours. Species range from 40 in June to 60-75 during migrations and winter. We meet at the metal-shaded viewing area (see photo below) next to the parking lot and begin walking east towards the lagoon. We always check the offshore rocks and the ocean. When lagoon outlet is closed we continue east around the lagoon to Adamson House. We put out special effort to make our monthly Malibu Lagoon walks attractive to first-time and beginning birdwatchers. So please, if you are at all worried about coming on a trip and embarrassing yourself because of all the experts, we remember our first trips too. Someone showed us the birds; now it’s our turn.
Children and Parents Walk 10:00 a.m. One hour session, meeting at the metal-shaded viewing area between parking lot and channel. We start at 10:00 for a shorter walk and to allow time for families to get it together on a sleepy Sunday morning. Our leaders are experienced with kids so please bring them to the beach! We have an ample supply of binoculars that children can use without striking terror into their parents. We want to see families enjoying nature. (If you have a Scout Troop or other group of more than seven people, you must call Jean (310-472-7209) to make sure we have enough binoculars and docents.)
Cackling Goose is uncommon at the lagoon (C. Bragg 11-25-18)
Map to Meeting Place
Directions: Malibu Lagoon is at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Cross Creek Road, west of Malibu Pier and the bridge. Look around for people wearing binoculars.
Parking: Parking machine recently installed in the lagoon lot: 1 hr $3; 2 hrs $6; 3 hrs $9, all day $12 ($11 seniors); credit cards accepted. Annual passes accepted. You may also park (read the signs carefully) either along PCH west of Cross Creek Road, on Cross Creek Road, or on Civic Center Way north (inland) of the shopping center. Lagoon parking in shopping center lots is not permitted.
Prior checklists:
2019: Jan-June
2018: Jan-June, July-Dec 2017: Jan-June, July-Dec
2016: Jan-June, July-Dec 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.
[Chuck Almdale]
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 