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Sepulveda Basin Trip Report: 9 November, 2013
Los Angeles River looking southeast towards Sepulveda flood control dam (L. Johnson 11/9/13)
We haven’t visited this area as a club for a couple of years. A deficit in chapter members was, to my great surprise, offset by a large number of San Fernando Valley and Pasadena birders.
Sycamore in Fall
(L. Johnson 11/9/13)
While waiting for potential late arrivals, we checked the lawn & trees near the parking lot and turned up a variety of Sparrows – Chipping, Lark, Savannah, Song, White-crowned and Dark-eyed Junco. Western Meadowlarks – the 1st of two small flocks – meandered through grass, as Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Lesser & American Goldfinches, House Finches and some of the ever-present wintering Yellow-rumped Warblers worked the leafy trees. A small flock of Yellow-chevroned Parakeets alerted us with their calls as they vanished beyond the trees. By the time we set off for the pond, it was already warm enough to shed jackets, due to late fall Santa Ana conditions.
Merlin (T. Hinnebusch 11/9/13)
The pond held the usual suspects: five species of herons, three of grebe, three of duck, coots, White Pelican and Double-crested Cormorant and Osprey, while the surrounding bushes had more Song Sparrows, California Towhees, Common Yellowthroats, Bushtits and the first of 2 Blue-grey Gnatcatchers. The best bird though – and really the best bird of the day – was a Merlin which flew in and perched nearby in the leafless top of a small tree, staying for several minutes, affording everyone fine views and sufficient time to determine that it indeed was a Merlin and why it wasn’t something else.
We frequently heard, yet could not see, Soras calling from the dense lake-edge reeds. Overhead, on thermals from the warming day, rode adult and juvenile Turkey Vultures, and a very dark Red-tailed Hawk.
Dark Red-tail Hawk (T. Hinnebusch 11/9/13)
About half the group continued past Burbank Blvd. to the Los Angeles River. The Army Corp of Engineers did indeed whack down many bushes and trees, including the magnificent Eucalyptus, locally famous as host to warblers and vireos, including migrating eastern birds who’ve wandered off-track. Strangely, most trees bordering Haskell Creek remained, giving cover to birds and homeless denizens alike.
Where the large bird-friendly Eucalyptus used to be
(L. Johnson 11/9/13)
From time to time odd birds like Bobolinks appear at the river. We searched for the Red-throated Pipit – a bird whose breeding range extends from Asia into the edge of far western Alaska, who very occasionally migrates south through the Americas instead of Siberia and China, and who had been seen earlier in the week – but saw only the plain-backed American Pipits patrolling the ploughed field on the river’s south side. Oh well, so it goes.
Birds in the Los Angeles River at Balboa Blvd.(L. Johnson 11/9/13)
In the river were Spotted & Least Sandpipers and several White-faced Ibis keeping the ducks company. An Osprey made several plunges into the river, but arose fishless. We had earlier seen several sizable carp in Haskell Creek; perhaps they were in the river as well. Absent (perhaps oddly) were Orange Bishops which one frequently sees in the mid-river reeds and shrubbery.
By the time we staggered back to the cars, the day was hot, we were thirsty, and no one felt like visiting Lake Balboa. [Chuck Almdale]
| Sepulveda Wildlife Area | Trip List 11/9/13 | ||
| Canada Goose | 7 | Yellow-chevroned Parakeet | 8 |
| Gadwall | 2 | Merlin | 1 |
| American Wigeon | 8 | Black Phoebe | 20 |
| Mallard | 50 | Say’s Phoebe | 4 |
| Pied-billed Grebe | 20 | Cassin’s Kingbird | 3 |
| Eared Grebe | 6 | Western Scrub-Jay | 2 |
| Western Grebe | 1 | American Crow | 10 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 30 | Barn Swallow | 6 |
| American White Pelican | 12 | Bushtit | 8 |
| Great Blue Heron | 4 | Bewick’s Wren | 1 |
| Great Egret | 4 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 2 |
| Snowy Egret | 2 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 6 |
| Green Heron | 3 | Northern Mockingbird | 5 |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | 5 | California Thrasher | 1 |
| White-faced Ibis | 2 | American Pipit | 12 |
| Turkey Vulture | 8 | Common Yellowthroat | 6 |
| Osprey | 2 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | 40 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | Spotted Towhee | 2 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | California Towhee | 8 |
| Sora | 4 H | Chipping Sparrow | 10 |
| American Coot | 10 | Lark Sparrow | 5 |
| Killdeer | 3 | Savannah Sparrow | 10 |
| Spotted Sandpiper | 2 | Song Sparrow | 10 |
| Least Sandpiper | 15 | White-crowned Sparrow | 30 |
| California Gull | 10 | Dark-eyed Junco | 8 |
| Rock Pigeon | 15 | Red-winged Blackbird | 4 |
| Mourning Dove | 8 | Western Meadowlark | 15 |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 3 | House Finch | 30 |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 10 | Lesser Goldfinch | 4 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 1 | American Goldfinch | 30 |
| Nuttall’s Woodpecker | 2 | House Sparrow | 6 |
| Northern Flicker | 4 | Total Species | 63 |
Traditional Holloween Butterbredt Weekend: 26-27 October, 2013
Drought conditions in the desert this year were obvious in the blackened shrubbery, dry earth and in the astonishingly, extremely low counts of expected bird species. Although water has been available at sources such as Butterbredt, Sageland, Tunnel Spring on Kelso Valley Rd., the usually abundant flocks of White-crowned Sparrows, Bell’s Sparrows, California Quail, for instance, simply were not found. Foraging cattle, now gone, helped eliminate what little seeds and vegetation that had grown, food for birds and mammals. Nor were there the raptors who are their predators. No eagles, (think wind turbines), one Red-tailed Hawk, one Cooper’s Hawk, no Great Horned Owls lurking in the cottonwoods at Butterbredt or Sageland. In fact, small mammals seemed strangely scarce. I was happy to spot a bush bunny as I was leaving and one or two chipmunks at our camp site.
Nevertheless, we collected a count of 32 bird species, and some of those, quite rare. Tops was the White-throated Sparrow at Keith Axelson’s, seen well for a short time on Friday, but never again. A day earlier, Keith reported, Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Slate-colored Junco were among a large party of juncos, which by Saturday were reduced to about five birds under his feeders. Pine Siskins and Lesser Goldfinches had also deserted, leaving only two House Finches and a few juncos on the nyjer seeds. Keith’s recently spotted Sharp-shinned hawk never showed up. Worst news, the four species of sapsuckers, Red-bellied, Red-naped, Williamson’s, and one other “mystery” species, seen briefly by Keith, Lys and her friend shortly before we arrived, never appeared again at their Chinese Elm food tree. In conclusion, we guessed that the missing birds had been migrating and, perhaps, had decided to escape before stormy, cold weather arrived on Saturday.
A banquet for butterflies (Roxie Seidner 10/26/13)
Regardless of these factors, our trip was beautiful. Glowing golden Rabbit Brush carpeted the slopes among Joshua Trees, apparently immune to drought. Gold and green highlighted the Cottonwoods, which harbored many cheeping Yellow-rumped Warblers, quite a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets, some Bushtits and, surprisingly, more than six Northern Flickers in the different locations we visited. Feathers under the trees suggested they had supplied prey for some raptor. Only one Rock Wren seen, three Bewick’s Wrens, one Mourning Dove, (no Eurasian Collared Doves –previously well established at Sageland). In balance, Chuck Bragg spotted a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher for us down at Butterbredt before leaving, and we did watch three Red-breasted Sapsuckers, seemingly squabbling, in the trees at Keith’s. Another great surprise were Lys’ catching the sounds of Cedar Waxwings, a large flock checking the mistletoe berries along with Western Bluebirds, in the big Cottonwood at the ranch. They did not stay long but had not been seen there for several years. Another pleasant surprise on our Sunday walk up Axelson Creek, was in fact the only bird found – a beautiful Hermit Thrush lurking in the undergrowth.
Water trough elicits rigorous observation
(Roxie Seidner 10/26/13)
There was evidence that a flash flood had raced through Butterbredt Spring but had not struck Sageland. Roads were beautifully graded. The cattle trough was full of water and plants. Just, no birds around!
Red Admiral Butterfly (C. Bragg 10/26/13)
In contrast to past trips and current expectations were huge flights of Painted Lady butterflies, seen everywhere, on the rabbit brush flowers and, especially, flying in masses ahead of us on our drive up Butterbredt Canyon road Saturday. Monarchs also floated among the crowd, and even a very unexpected Queen butterfly, a Red Admiral, an occasional Yellow Sulfur, and a Blue or two. I know, butterflies are not the object of the trip, but interesting and beautiful.
“I’m lost in a daydream – and there’s a mouse in my eye.”
Pumpkins by Kay (C. Bragg 10/26/13)
Having fun, great food, pumpkin carving and amazing judging and displays, jokes, stories of sightings, mishaps, past times, and, of course BIRDS are the objective. But:
Having an experience few city-dwellers are ever privileged to see, the huge black desert sky, its brilliant stars, the milky way, towering over us as we sleep, almost every year, myself, for some 28 years; each one is different – and the people, and stories remembered, are treasures. This is a tradition of our chapter and, hopefully, more of our members will discover and enjoy it. Mary Prismon
| Butterbredt Trip List | October 26-27, 2013 | ||
| California Quail | 50+ | Bewick’s Wren | 3 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1 | Cactus Wren | 2 |
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 5 |
| Mourning Dove | 1 | Western Bluebird | 4 |
| Greater Roadrunner | 1 | Hermit Thrush | 1 |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 1 | California Thrasher | 1 |
| Red-breasted Sapsucker | 3 | European Starling | 4 |
| Nuttall’s Woodpecker | 1 | Cedar Waxwing | 15 |
| Northern Flicker | 7 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | 50+ |
| Black Phoebe | 1 | California Towhee | 2 |
| Loggerhead Shrike | 3 | Sage Sparrow | 1 |
| Western Scrub-Jay | 6 | White-throated Sparrow | 1 |
| Common Raven | 2 | White-crowned Sparrow | 5 |
| Bushtit | 3 | Dark-eyed Junco | 6 |
| Rock Wren | 1 | House Finch | 2 |
| Total Species | 32 |
Malibu Lagoon Trip Report: 27 October, 2013
Lucy’s Warbler – a drab warbler occasionally seen in the eastern SoCal deserts, but far more common in Arizona – had been seen the previous day along the colony fence line. We searched all the bushes all around the park, turning up plenty of other warblers in the process but, alas, Lucy-less we remained.
Black-crowned Night-Heron, longer than he usually looks
(Randy Ehler 10/27/13)
And other birds there were, in force: total birds of 1671 is the 3rd-highest October count (top is 1901 on 10/23/05); 75 species tied for 3rd place (behind 78 on 9/26/10 and 76 on 9/26/04, with 75 on 4/21/91). That’s out of 289 visits for which we have records.
Migration always helps, doesn’t it? – thus the high previous numbers for September and April. But perhaps the foggy sky and cool temperature were also a factor. Most of the ducks were back and, as previously mentioned, warblers were relatively numerous. Waves seemed flat and surfers were scant on the dropping tide, but birders were happy.
Black-throated Gray Warbler – note yellow lores
(Randy Ehler 10/27/13)
No one saw all these birds, so if you were there and missed something, so did we all. Those who lead the Parents & Kids walk tend to move quickly to the beach in order to be back at the parking lot by 10am, so they often see birds we slower-moving people miss, just as we’ll see something they missed.
View across lagoon channel island to Malibu – Where did all the algae go? (L. Johnson 10/27/13)
There are some new information signs (see slide show). At the start of the beach path is a 3-D topographical feature showing the entire Malibu Creek watershed. Turn the obscurely located handle to make it rain and watch the water flow out to sea (in miniature).
Western Meadowlark – Six of these Autumn migrant visitors prowled the lagoon channel islands
(Monica Minden 10/17/13)
Birds new for the season were: Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, White-faced Ibis, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Sanderling, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Caspian Tern, Northern Flicker, Bewick’s Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, Black-throated Gray & Townsend’s Warblers, White-crowned Sparrow, and Western Meadowlark.
The offshore rocks had been taken over by Brant’s and Pelagic Cormorants. Three falcon species at the lagoon in one day is really unusual: we’ve had many sightings of a single species, Kestrel & Peregrine 3 times, Kestrel & Merlin once, and Merlin & Peregrine once, but all three have occurred only once before, on 1/23/00. The Brant (geese) continue – it’s possible that these birds have been at the lagoon since last April, although not always seen.
Noticeably poorly represented are the small sandpipers (aka ‘peeps’): one each of Least, Pectoral and Dunlin doesn’t amount to much. A small group of Sanderlings were in the low-tide-exposed rocks and running through the kelp wrack with the Snowy Plovers. Stalwart Snowy Plover counter Lu Plauzoles toted 58 birds, a tricky task when they’re scurrying across the sand. Snowy GG:AR was back in the flock: present in July’13 but missing in Aug. and Sept. This bird was banded in Summer 2011 at Oceano Dunes near Pismo Beach, and first showed up at the lagoon on 9/25/11.
Say’s Phoebe, regular winterer (Randy Ehler 10/27/13)
Our next three scheduled field trips: Sepulveda Basin, 9 Nov, 8:30am; Malibu Lagoon, 24 Nov, 8:30 & 10am; Carrizo Plain, 7 Dec, 9am.
Our next program: Tuesday, 5 Nov., 7:30 pm. Carrizo Plain History, Geology & Ecology, presented by Craig Deutsche.
NOTE: Our 10 a.m. Parent’s & Kids Birdwalk meets at the shaded viewing area near the parking lot.
Links: Unusual birds at Malibu Lagoon
Aerial photo of Malibu Lagoon from 9/23/02.
Prior checklists: July-Dec’11, Jan-June’11, July-Dec ’10, Jan-June ’10, Jul-Dec ‘09, and Jan-June ‘09.
Comments on Bird Lists Below
Total Birds: October total birds of 1671 are 41% above the 6-year Oct. average, continuing the improvement begun in June’13; most categories saw significant increases except for shorebirds (sandpipers).
Summary of total birds from the 6-year average so far: Jun’12 +36%, Jul’12 -9%, Aug’12 -9%, Sep’12 +12%, Oct’12 +3%, Nov’12 -5%, Dec’12 +30%, Jan’13 -20%, Feb’13 -29%, Mar’13 -30%, Apr’13 -34%, May’13 -37%, Jun’13 -24%, Jul’13 +83%, Aug’13 +37%, Sep’13 +23%, Oct’13 +41%. Up & down, yakatty-yak.
Species Diversity: October 2013 with 75 species was moderately (+19%) above the 6-year average of 63.
Summary of species diversity from the 6-year average so far: Jun’12 -10%, Jul’12 +10%, Aug’12. -6%, Sep’12 -20%, Oct’12 +5%, Nov’12 +2%, Dec’12 -4%, Jan’13 +2%, Feb’13 -8%, Mar’13 +9%, Apr’13 -2%, May’13 +3%, Jun’13 +13%, Jul’13 0%, Aug’13 +11%, Sep’13 -14%, Oct’13 +19%. Up, down, up, down, etc.
10-year comparison summaries are available on our Lagoon Project Bird Census Page. [Chuck Almdale]
| Malibu Census | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| October 2008-2013 | 10/26 | 10/25 | 10/24 | 10/23 | 10/28 | 10/27 | |
| Temperature | 60-74 | 60-65 | 59-64 | 72-78 | 55-65 | ||
| Tide Lo/Hi Height | H+5.9 | L+3.5 | H+6.02 | H+5.40 | H+5.93 | L+2.91 | Ave. |
| Tide Time | 0813 | 0941 | 0952 | 0718 | 0845 | 1127 | Birds |
| Brant | 3 | 0.5 | |||||
| Wood Duck | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Gadwall | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 6.3 |
| Eurasian Wigeon | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| American Wigeon | 3 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 6.7 | |
| Mallard | 8 | 24 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 35 | 18.7 |
| Blue-winged Teal | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | ||||
| Cinnamon Teal | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Northern Shoveler | 15 | 25 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 18.0 |
| Green-winged Teal | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1.7 | |||
| Lesser Scaup | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Bufflehead | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Red-brestd Merganser | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Ruddy Duck | 8 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 10.3 | |
| Pacific Loon | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Common Loon | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Pied-billed Grebe | 1 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 4.7 |
| Horned Grebe | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Eared Grebe | 1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 4.8 |
| Western Grebe | 1 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 35 | 12.8 |
| Clark’s Grebe | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Blk-vented Shearwater | 12 | 2.0 | |||||
| Brandt’s Cormorant | 1 | 3 | 12 | 2.7 | |||
| Dble-crestd Cormorant | 20 | 25 | 15 | 32 | 45 | 40 | 29.5 |
| Pelagic Cormorant | 1 | 4 | 0.8 | ||||
| Brown Pelican | 55 | 8 | 40 | 12 | 6 | 43 | 27.3 |
| Great Blue Heron | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3.7 |
| Great Egret | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2.3 | |
| Snowy Egret | 16 | 15 | 2 | 26 | 6 | 15 | 13.3 |
| Blck-crowned N-Heron | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2.0 | ||
| White-faced Ibis | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.7 | |||
| American Kestrel | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Merlin | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Peregrine Falcon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | |||
| Virginia Rail | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Sora | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | ||
| American Coot | 140 | 266 | 100 | 370 | 250 | 395 | 253.5 |
| Black-bellied Plover | 114 | 100 | 700 | 75 | 85 | 179.0 | |
| Snowy Plover | 58 | 61 | 5 | 62 | 58 | 40.7 | |
| Killdeer | 2 | 5 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| Black Oystercatcher | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Spotted Sandpiper | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3.3 |
| Willet | 16 | 40 | 26 | 10 | 7 | 28 | 21.2 |
| Whimbrel | 6 | 28 | 2 | 11 | 7.8 | ||
| Marbled Godwit | 12 | 25 | 9 | 7.7 | |||
| Ruddy Turnstone | 12 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 9.8 | |
| Black Turnstone | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1.2 | |||
| Sanderling | 1 | 145 | 200 | 15 | 60.2 | ||
| Western Sandpiper | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2.0 | |||
| Least Sandpiper | 12 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 7.2 | ||
| Pectoral Sandpiper | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Dunlin | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | ||
| Short-billed Dowitcher | 20 | 3.3 | |||||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | 30 | 2 | 1 | 5.5 | |||
| Wilson’s Snipe | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Heermann’s Gull | 45 | 12 | 41 | 14 | 8 | 40 | 26.7 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 27 | 14 | 97 | 18 | 39 | 12 | 34.5 |
| Western Gull | 65 | 82 | 52 | 80 | 6 | 85 | 61.7 |
| California Gull | 6 | 123 | 8 | 120 | 60 | 290 | 101.2 |
| Herring Gull | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | |||
| Glaucous-wingd Gull | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Caspian Tern | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Forster’s Tern | 1 | 22 | 10 | 5.5 | |||
| Royal Tern | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 2.7 | ||
| Elegant Tern | 2 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 6.5 | |
| Rock Pigeon | 3 | 6 | 45 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 15.3 |
| Mourning Dove | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.8 | |
| Anna’s Hummingbird | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3.2 |
| Allen’s Hummingbird | 5 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.8 | ||
| Northern Flicker | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Black Phoebe | 3 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 17 | 8.7 |
| Say’s Phoebe | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1.5 | |
| Western Scrub-Jay | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | ||
| American Crow | 8 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 8.2 |
| Tree Swallow | 1 | 0.2 | |||||
| Oak Titmouse | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Bushtit | 15 | 20 | 10 | 7.5 | |||
| Bewick’s Wren | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | ||
| House Wren | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| Marsh Wren | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1.3 | |||
| Northern Mockingbird | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.7 | |
| European Starling | 35 | 12 | 60 | 10 | 35 | 25.3 | |
| American Pipit | 1 | 25 | 4.3 | ||||
| Orange-crwnd Warbler | 1 | 3 | 0.7 | ||||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 20 | 3 | 15 | 8 | 25 | 35 | 17.7 |
| Blk-throated G. Warbler | 1 | 1 | 0.3 | ||||
| Townsend’s Warbler | 2 | 0.3 | |||||
| Common Yellowthroat | 3 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 6.8 |
| Wilson’s Warbler | 7 | 1.2 | |||||
| Spotted Towhee | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | |||
| California Towhee | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1.5 | |||
| Savannah Sparrow | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1.7 | |||
| Song Sparrow | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 5.0 |
| White-crownd Sparrow | 6 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 4 | 28 | 11.7 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 5 | 40 | 7.5 | ||||
| Western Meadowlark | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1.5 | ||
| Brewer’s Blackbird | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0.8 | |||
| Great-tailed Grackle | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4.5 | ||
| House Finch | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3.8 | |
| Lesser Goldfinch | 5 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 5.3 | ||
| Totals by Type | 10/26 | 10/25 | 10/24 | 10/23 | 10/28 | 10/27 | Ave. |
| Waterfowl | 46 | 86 | 28 | 48 | 57 | 122 | 65 |
| Water Birds-Other | 231 | 341 | 170 | 440 | 315 | 547 | 341 |
| Herons, Egrets | 26 | 20 | 13 | 31 | 15 | 24 | 22 |
| Raptors | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Shorebirds | 93 | 455 | 164 | 797 | 400 | 237 | 358 |
| Gulls & Terns | 149 | 244 | 203 | 233 | 149 | 461 | 240 |
| Doves | 4 | 16 | 46 | 6 | 20 | 17 | 18 |
| Other Non-Pass. | 9 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| Passerines | 119 | 66 | 76 | 157 | 133 | 252 | 134 |
| Totals Birds | 677 | 1233 | 720 | 1723 | 1099 | 1671 | 1187 |
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | ||
| Total Species | 10/26 | 10/25 | 10/24 | 10/23 | 10/28 | 10/27 | Ave. |
| Waterfowl | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6.7 |
| Water Birds-Other | 8 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8.7 |
| Herons, Egrets | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3.7 |
| Raptors | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2.3 |
| Shorebirds | 7 | 14 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10.7 |
| Gulls & Terns | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 7.2 |
| Doves | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.8 |
| Other Non-Pass. | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.8 |
| Passerines | 21 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 19.0 |
| Totals Species – 106 | 61 | 63 | 49 | 65 | 64 | 75 | 62.8 |
Quiz Time! – Birds Large & Small
First: factoid-of-the-day.
Birds are usually measured in grams.
A nickel weighs 5 grams. Just to refresh your memory…1 gram is one thousandth of a kilogram (2.2 pounds) or… a box of 333 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (@ 3 grams each) would equal a kilogram or a smaller box of only 150 Ruby-throats would equal a pound. Remember that next time you’re at See’s Candies looking for chocolate-covered treats!
Female Belted Kingfisher
(C. Bragg 11/25/12)
Island Scrub-Jay
(Stephen Francis Oct. ’07)
Now for the quiz! Which bird weighs more?
Belted Kingfisher or Western Scrub-Jay ?
American Goldfinch or Yellow Warbler ?
Mourning Dove or Yellow-billed Magpie ?
European Starling or Northern Mockingbird ?
Female Cooper’s Hawk or Female Peregrine Falcon ?
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European Starling – noted cavity nester (J.Kenney 3/13/10)
Northern Mockingbird
(J.Kenney 3/13/10)
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ANSWERS
A – American Goldfinch (13 grams) vs. Yellow Warbler (9.3 grams)
[Ellen Vahan]
Local Fish Divers
There has been a lot of coastal fishing going on lately. Jim Kenney, Pacific Palisades resident, photographer and SMBAS member captured some of this activity.
Offshore Brown Pelican flock on 10/3/13 Palisadian-Post
(Jim Kenney photographer)
The gathering of seabirds in Santa Monica Bay went on for many weeks. Frequently commented on within the local birding community, it also made it into the local press.
Meanwhile, activity in Malibu Lagoon had picked up.
Brown Pelicans diving in Lagoon west channel
(J. Kenney 10/14/13)
Despite comments on the lagoon’s green algae to the contrary, underwater films (on EcoMalibu) have documented the active life under the water’s surface. The Brown Pelicans have independently discovered this fact. Their preferred prey are probably the large Mullet.
Jim Kenney reported: “One of these [pelicans] had a blue tag labeled P06. I sent it to Bird Rescue.”
Jay Holcomb of International Bird Rescue reported back: “P06 was rehabbed at our Northern California center and released on November 2, 2012 in Sausalito (under the Golden Gate Bridge) after being treated for fishing tackle injuries. Looks like its doing well. Thanks again!”
Things can get pretty testy when two of them spot the same fish.
Brown Pelicans dive lagoon’s west channel (J. Kenney 10/14/13)
They’re not the only ones finding food in the west channel. Fish too small for pelicans to bother with can be just right for an Eared Grebe.
Eared Grebe in Malibu Lagoon west channel with fish
(J. Kenney 10/19/13)
Thanks, as always, to ace photographer Jim Kenney.
[Chuck Almdale]
SANTA MONICA BAY AUDUBON SOCIETY BLOG 