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Sycamore Canyon Field Trip Report March 19, 2016
After postponement from the previous week, we were treated to a thick layer of coastal clouds all morning as we hiked to the Serrano Trail rockfall, nearly two miles up Sycamore Canyon. The rain of the previous week had certainly kept the canyon green and encouraged early blooms from a number of species. Vetch, Monkey Flower, red and blue Bush Lupine , Phacelia, Morning Glory, Jimson Weed were all in bloom. There were a couple of slopes covered with Parry’s Phacelia and Blue Dicks that merited a photo or two. The White Pincushion was an added, after-fire treat. Since the cloud cover persisted into the early afternoon, relatively few smaller passerines were observed browsing in the the budding Sycamores or sprouting Coast Live Oaks. We did, however witness at least one Canyon Wren at the rockslide along the Serrano Trail, our turn-around.
Parry’s Phacelia
Surf Scoter 7
Red-throated Loon 1
Eared Grebe 1
Red-tailed Hawk 5
Western Gull 6
Mourning Dove 2
Anna’s Hummingbird 3
Acorn Woodpecker 1
Nuttall’s Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
American Kestrel 3
Nanday Parakeet 13
Black Phoebe 1
Western Scrub-Jay 8
American Crow 11
Common Raven 2
Oak Titmouse 2
Bushtit 6
Canyon Wren 2
Wrentit 4
Western Bluebird 5
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 16
Dark-eyed Junco 1
White-crowned Sparrow 5
Golden-crowned Sparrow 2
California Towhee 5
Bullock’s Oriole 1
House Finch 18
American Goldfinch 2
33 species
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28435621
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)
[Lucien Plauzoles]
Act Now! – Threat to Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
Park resident Great Horned Owl doesn’t like noisy neighbors (R. Ehler 2-13-16)
The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, a favorite birdwatching location in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, is under threat. Please read what the San Fernando Valley Audubon website says about the proposal to hold a three day mega concert in Woodley Park this coming October at www.sfvaudubon.org . Then sign the petition against it. It will help if you explain why you care in the comments area of the sign-on page. Your sign-on is most effective before this Thursday, March 24.
Or, go directly to the petition to sign on.
I’ve already signed the petition, and I urge all readers to do so as soon as possible.
Read about our February 2016 field trip to Woodley Park.
[Chuck Almdale]
Belted Kingfisher, park resident
(J. Waterman 2-13-16)
Full Worm Moon Update – March 23, 2016 5:00 a.m. PDT
Here’s another update from SMBAS Blog on that large, disc-like, shining object which has frequently and mysteriously appeared in our nighttime sky this year (which the cognoscenti call the moon).
Crow Moon, Worm Moon
(Skowfield & Powzyk)
March 23, 5:00 a.m. PDT — Full Worm Moon. In this month, the ground softens and the earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of the robins. The more northern tribes called this the Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter, or the Full Crust Moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marking the time to tap maple trees, is another variation. Other names include the Chaste Moon and the Death Moon. Christian settlers also called this the Lenten Moon and considered it the last moon of winter. In 2016 this is also the Paschal Full Moon; the first full moon of the spring season.
Note: Pacific Daylight Time started on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 2 AM (becoming 3 AM) and ends Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 2 AM (becoming 1 AM).
The Paschal Moon is the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox (March 21). The first Sunday following the Paschal Moon is Easter Sunday, and so Easter falls on March 27. Simple, eh? Read this, and see if you still think it’s simple. And sometimes the Ecclesiastical Paschal Full Moon doesn’t fall on the actual full moon. Go figure. Really. Go figure.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a page for each full moon. Set your eggs on the 22nd & 23rd. Plant aboveground on 16th & 17th, belowground on 26th & 27th. Now you know, so you have no excuse.
Have a nice moon photo? Send it to us at: misclists [AT] verizon [DOT] net, along with name to credit and time/location of photo. [Infographic: Moon Phases & Lunar Cycles]
The next significant full moon will occur on April 21, 10:23 p.m. PDT. Keep an eye on this spot for additional late-breaking news on this unprecedented event.
This information comes to you courtesy of: http://www.space.com/24262-weird-full-moon-names-2014-explained.html
written by Joe Rao. Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York’s Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer’s Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, N.Y.
But that’s waaay too long to type in, and besides, you don’t need to go there because SMBAS has done the work for you!
[Chuck Almdale]
Bird Photography Trip to Ecuador
This is an Audubon Chapter blog and we do not usually promote other for-profit activities. However, since I feel this is an especially interesting trip, interesting enough that I have signed up to go, here is a link to the details. It’s limited to five participants and the price is reasonable – photo trips are frequently more expensive than straight birding trips. For me one of the big attractions is that the participants will be instructed in and able to use often a multi-flash setup for hummingbirds. This setup will work for any camera. Check out the photos on the link.
If you’re interested, don’t wait. Five participants only, and three have signed up as of Sunday March 13.
Bluebirds in Santa Monica and West L.A.
(Ian Kimbrey reports on the bluebird boxes he has been placing locally.)
Female Western Bluebird with dinner (mealworms)
I started the bluebird trail at Penmar in 2009. That first year we had one nest next to the 6th fairway and fledged six chicks. This past year, 2015, we fledged 32 chicks from eight nests at Penmar.
The trail has expanded to include Rancho par-3 course, Heroes Golf Course at the V.A., and Woodlawn Cemetery. Total fledge count for 2015 was 93 bluebird chicks from 25 nests. (323 bluebirds fledged since project began in 2009).
Hoping to fledge 100 this year.
— Ian Kimbrey
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 