Hi Tom :
I also got dropped off of CALBIRD last year and my queries did no good either. I
finally decided just to resubscribe, which worked.
Kevin Larson

Thomas Miko & Aniko Pomjanek wrote:

> >Steve:
> >
> >I suggested to Thomas the he post something over CALBIRD since it is a Review
> >species.  I have seen Little Gull only twice in California.
>
> Dear Birders,
> I got dropped off of CalBird involuntarily sometime last year. I have
> attempted to find out if this was a computer glitch at my end, or CalBird's
> end, and have not received an adequate answer to my repeated queries.  I
> have also asked if I have been exiled from CalBird for offensive behaviour,
> re: my posting about the mammals section at LA County NH Museum, or other
> mistakes that I have made (but also regretted, and apologized for
> sincerely) and have also received no answer. Whenever I attempt to post
> birds that I find on CalBird, they [ [ the postings, not the birds,
> themselves ;-)  ] don't show up. I give up.
> Thomas Miko
> 2445 Oswego Street
> Pasadena, CA 91107
> U.S.A.
> http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> LACoBirds-unsubscribe@egroups.com

>Steve:
>
>I suggested to Thomas the he post something over CALBIRD since it is a Review
>species.  I have seen Little Gull only twice in California.

Dear Birders,
I got dropped off of CalBird involuntarily sometime last year. I have
attempted to find out if this was a computer glitch at my end, or CalBird's
end, and have not received an adequate answer to my repeated queries.  I
have also asked if I have been exiled from CalBird for offensive behaviour,
re: my posting about the mammals section at LA County NH Museum, or other
mistakes that I have made (but also regretted, and apologized for
sincerely) and have also received no answer. Whenever I attempt to post
birds that I find on CalBird, they [ [ the postings, not the birds,
themselves ;-)  ] don't show up. I give up.
Thomas Miko
2445 Oswego Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
U.S.A.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary

For geese fanatics, there's quite a nice show out at Sepulveda Wildlife Basin
these days. Along Woodley Road before 9:30am a large flock feeds in an old
Maize field right beside the road. You can get very good views of Common and
Lesser Canada, Ross's, Snow and Greater White-fronted Geese.

Good birding,

Andy Birch

At 11:16 PM 1/12/01, Thomas Miko & Aniko Pomjanek wrote:
>Dockweiler State Beach today (Friday 1/12/00)... An adult Little Gull,
>Larus minutes, flew in, flew around the beach directly down from the
>parking lot, and flew back out.  There were also an immature male and a
>female White-winged Scoter in with the Surf Scoters, and about 200 Western
>Grebes nonchalantly sleeping in the swells.

Hi LA Birders,

The Little Gull was present briefly this morning at about 8:45. It was with
some Bonaparte's Gulls until they were flushed by beach smoothing
equipment. The White-winged Scoters were present as well as a female/juv.
Black Scoter, and a Horned Grebe. The Western/Clark's Grebe flock was
several thousand.

I tried calling the Birdbox several times, but got continual busy signals.


Good birding,
Steve <mailto:steve@...>

Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
Audubon in So. California                www.SoCalAudubon.org/socal/
San Fernando Valley AS       www.SanFernandoValleyAudubon.org/sfvas/

I went for a short, late afternoon stroll along Ballona Creek (Los
Angeles County, CA) after the pretty severe storm passed through on
Friday, January 12.

About the first birds I noticed on Del Rey Lagoon were a pair of Common
Goldeneyes among the many scaup, American Coots and Bufflehead. Most of
the scaup had their heads tucked, making further exploration difficult.
There was also one very small Canada Goose (possible Cackling) and one
female Red-breasted Merganser.

Along the creek there were many Western Gulls and one Herring Gull
dropping mussels on the bike path to break the shells. I have never seen
so many different individuals exhibit this behavior in this area, but
the tide was unusually low, exposing many of the bivalves. There were
many peeps along the creek, but the low tide made them difficult to see
because the water's edge was hidden from view by rocks. There were many
Black-bellied Plovers and Willets, a couple of Whimbrels and Marbled
Godwits, a few Black Turnstones and one Ruddy Turnstone, a couple of
Short-billed Dowitchers and a couple of American Pipits. Many gulls
could be seen in the distance sitting on the exposed creek bottom and as
the tide came in flocks of California and Bonaparte's Gulls flew by
towards the ocean. I saw three Glaucus-winged Gulls, including one
adult.

Del Rey Lagoon and the bridge over Ballona Creek are on Pacific Avenue
in Play Del Rey. From the end of the Marina (90) Freeway make a left on
Culver Blvd. and a right on Pacific Ave.

Bernardo Alps
Santa Monica, CA
Whalephoto@...

There is still time to sign up for the deep water pelagic trip on the
“Condor” on 20 January. <Http://www.condorcruises.com/>

Species:

      Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
      Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis
      Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
      Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
      Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
      Great Egret Ardea alba
      Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
      Canada Goose Branta canadensis
      Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
      Lesser Scaup Aythia affinis
      Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
      Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
      Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
      Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
      White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
      Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
      American Coot Fulica americana
      Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
      Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
      Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
      Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
      Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala
      Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
      Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
      Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
      Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia
      Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni
      California Gull Larus californicus
      Herring Gull Larus argentatus
      Western Gull Larus occidentalis
      Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
      Rock Dove Columba livia
      Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
      American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
      Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
      European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
      American Pipit Anthus rubescens
      Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
      White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
      Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
      Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
      House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
      House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Dear Angelenos,
          I took my wife to Dockweiler State Beach today (Friday 1/12/00)
sans cell phone to see big waves (should have taken her yesterday, when
they reached the bottom of the Manhattan Beach Pier) before we went to a
biology career seminar at Cal Poly Pomona, where we spent the rest of the
day. An adult Little Gull, Larus minutus, flew in, flew around the beach
directly down from the parking lot, and flew back out.  There were also an
immature male and a female White-winged Scoter in with the Surf Scoters,
and about 200 Western Grebes nonchalantly sleeping in the swells.
          To get to Dockweiler State beach, take the 105 Freeway west until
it ends, and becomes Imperial Highway. Keep going west, until you run out
of street, and are forced left (south). The first big parking lot on your
right is the beach parking lot. There's a booth for paying entry fees, but
it was abandoned today (closed today, or all winter?).
Thomas Miko
2445 Oswego Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
U.S.A.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

L A County Birders:

For those who run into California Bird Records Committee Review list
species and submit your documentation to the CBRC, note the new secretary
and mailing address:

	 Guy McCaskie, Secretary
	 California Bird Records Committee
	 P. O. Box 275
	 Imperial Beach, CA 91933-0275

Keep this address handy; the CBRC web site (www.wfo-cbrc.org) will soon be
updated to reflect this change and other recent committee changes.

-- Kimball

*****************************
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
(213) 746-2999 FAX
kgarrett@...
*****************************

Does anybody know what's happening to the LeConte's
Thrasher site on Ave O next to the Palmdale Country
Club (site #1 in ABA/Lane guides)?  My brother and I
visited the site today and were disturbed/ticked off
to see that a large portion of Ave O on the side of
the country club was bulldozed clean.  Some reliable
thrasher habitat is lost to human materialism.
   On a brighter note, we birded the other side of the
road and saw a pair of LeConte's Thrashers.  At least
a few are still around for now...
   We also birded the Mtn. Plover sites mentioned
previously in this newsgroup.  There were 20+ Mtn.
Plovers on 50th St. between L & M in the alfalfa
fields.  Another 20+ in the alfalfa on Ave J east of
110th St. East along with equally many Long-billed
Curlews.  There were 10 Mtn. Plovers in the plowed
field on 70th St. East near Ave F along with few
Vesper Sparrows. Directly opposite this field, a pair
of Burrowing Owls.  Good birding.

I can't think of safer places than the L.A. Co. Arboreta. The South Coast
Botanic Garden, L.A. Arboretum and you already do Descanso Garden. I believe
that a $20 year pass will get you in all three places. These spots can have
great birding year round, especially in migration and winter.
Kevin Larson

"Sandra J. Smith" wrote:

> I can't seem to get my husband interested in birding, so on days when there's
so scheduled field trip I'm stuck birding by myself.  I'd like people's thoughts
on safe locations in the LA/Orange County area for a woman to bird by herself. 
Right now the only places I'm comfortable doing it are Franklin Canyon,
Huntington Library Gardens, Descanso Gardens, Bolsa Chica, and parts of Upper
Newport Bay.  I'd also appreciate comments on places that are definitely NOT
safe.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Sandy Smith
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> LACoBirds-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Did some late afternoon birding in the San Gabriel
Valley today.  Birds seen of local interest include a
Lewis's Woodpecker in Glendora, reported earlier in
the week in the birdbox (thank you). Then went to
nearby Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale.  The Mountain
Bluebirds (lots of them) are still there.  They are
scattered t/o the park but the bulk of them seem to
hang around the vicinity of parking lot 5.  The
resident feral geese were also joined by their Artic
cousins: 2 Ross's Goose and 1 Snow Goose.

At 09:47 AM 1/3/01, Dan Cooper wrote:
>I'd stay away from the following spots if you're worried:
>
>Bosque del Rio Hondo Park (El Monte)
>Harbor Park (Wilmington)
>Banning Park (Wilmington)
>DeForrest Park (Long Beach)
>Lower Los Angeles River (Long Beach)

One other place I would avoid as a lone woman is Hansen Dam. However, it is
a fabulous place to bird. We had 96 species there on our CBC. So, find some
birding buddies and get there.


Good birding,
Steve <mailto:steve@...>

Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
Audubon in So. California                www.SoCalAudubon.org/socal/
San Fernando Valley AS       www.SanFernandoValleyAudubon.org/sfvas/

Sandy,

Nearly all of the hundreds of places to bird in the LA area are very safe -
you really take your life in your hands driving to and from the places on
freeways. I'd stay away from the following spots if you're worried:

Bosque del Rio Hondo Park (El Monte)
Harbor Park (Wilmington)
Banning Park (Wilmington)
DeForrest Park (Long Beach)
Lower Los Angeles River (Long Beach)

I've never had a problem at any of them, but there's quite a lot of drug/sex
activity, so it's probably good to visit in groups.

Otherwise, places like Lincoln Park (El Sereno) and Echo Park might SEEM
unsafe if, but they're actually fine, particularly early in the morning. As
a tip - if you see hikers, joggers or families picnicking, the site's
probably safe. If you see homeless people, single guys sitting in cars, or
people drinking beer, I'd move on. Remember to park in a visible, well-lit
place, where people can see both sides of the car (not tucked up against
bushes).

That's my 2 cents.

Dan Cooper
dcooper1@...

Many thanks to those who responded to my query  about the sparrow-like
birds with long, slender bills at Castaic Lake.  Subsequent trips to the
site determined them to be American Pipits.  Amazing how easy the call
is when birds appear where they are expected, on the ground busily
pecking in the dirt!  Has anyone else seen Pipits sitting calmly over 10
feet up in a tree?

Yesterday at Castaic I was treated to a show by the resident Osprey
repeatedly diving at a Golden Eagle which was soaring over the big main
dam.  They put on quite an aerial demonstration for several minutes.

Ken Stevens

At 09:09 PM 12/30/00, Kevin Larson wrote:
>On Ave J east of 110th St. East there were 10 Mtn. Plovers

Hi LACo Birders,

I also saw these Mt. Plovers this afternoon, but did not see the Sage
Thrashers.

In addition, I saw a Rough-legged Hawk on the corner of Gaskell and 100th
St. West.

Good birding,
Steve <mailto:steve@...>

Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
Audubon in So. California                www.SoCalAudubon.org/socal/
San Fernando Valley AS       www.SanFernandoValleyAudubon.org/sfvas/

Hi L. A. Birders,
   If out in the Antelope Valley and the usual Mountain Plover spot at
50th St. East betw. L & M doesn't pay off , today I had about 20 at 70th
St. East, closer to Ave F than Ave E. An added bonus is that the dark
morph Ferruginous Hawk that I had in Nov. is still present here. On Ave
J east of 110th St. East there were 10 Mtn. Plovers and 2 Sage Thrashers
on the alfalfa. An additional Sage Thrasher was on the alfalfa on Ave I
east of 110th St. East. On the Sod Farm bordered by 40th St. E & Ave N,
there was a mostly albino Horned Lark. This is probably the same bird
seen by N&M Freeman in fall. It  was white on upper and underparts,
white head and tail and wing. It had a black breastband and a ghost of
the black face pattern of a Horned Lark. The bird of the day!
Best,
Kevin Larson

Hi All,

I'm passing this on from a visiting birder:

Today I saw a LEWIS' WOODPECKER on a telephone pole at the intersection of
Plummer and Valley Circle in Chatsworth. I was driving and couldn't stop,
as we were late for a family photo at WalMart, but I though there might
have been more than one bird.
all for now,
Steve Hampton


Good birding,
Steve <mailto:steve@...>

Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
Audubon in So. California                www.SoCalAudubon.org/socal/
San Fernando Valley AS       www.SanFernandoValleyAudubon.org/sfvas/

I can't seem to get my husband interested in birding, so on days when there's so
scheduled field trip I'm stuck birding by myself.  I'd like people's thoughts on
safe locations in the LA/Orange County area for a woman to bird by herself. 
Right now the only places I'm comfortable doing it are Franklin Canyon,
Huntington Library Gardens, Descanso Gardens, Bolsa Chica, and parts of Upper
Newport Bay.  I'd also appreciate comments on places that are definitely NOT
safe.

Thanks.

Sandy Smith


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am trying to provide all the assets appropriate to a wildlife habitat.
What I am having trouble providing -- due to my lack of information about
the needs of birds in this area -- is places for birds to raise their young.

Does anyone out there know the specific needs of our birds here in this
respect?  House finches, hummingbirds, various sparrows, bandtailed pigeons,
mourning doves, mountain chickadees, goldfinches?  I've been told that
birdhouses and nesting boxes are not used here.

Would appreciate some info.  Thanks!

--Leslie

P.S. I put out major goodies for the holidays (peanut butter and birdseed
covered pinecones; cornmeal mush with mixed nut morsels and currants) and
the birds  (and squirrels) utterly ignored them in favor of their regular
diet of black oil sunflower seeds, wild bird seed,  and peanuts.

Hi Again.

We're going up to Mt. Pinos tomorrow to look for some owls and Fox
Sparrows. We'd like some local backup places on the latter, especially
Sooty and Thick-billed. Please respond with only recent sightings.

TIA

Good birding,
Steve <mailto:steve@...>

Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
Audubon in So. California                www.SoCalAudubon.org/socal/
San Fernando Valley AS       www.SanFernandoValleyAudubon.org/sfvas/

Dear Steve and all,

San Pedro is the place for you. At Cabrillo Beach, walk towards the pier in
the early morning, and stop at the jetty that points south, towards
Catalina Island. Scope this (100 foot?) jetty. It should have Surfbird and
Tattler, and maybe even both turnstones.

Directions to Cabrillo Beach: Take the 110 Harbor Freeway south from
downtown Los Angeles until it ends in San Pedro. When it ends, the freeway
becomes Gaffey Street. Continue left (south) all the way to 22nd Street,
turn left (east) a few blocks to Pacific Ave., turn right (south again),
and go  appr. 1 mile to Stephen White Drive.
>Subject: [LACoBirds] RFI Wandering Tattler
>
>Hi All,
>
>My sister is visiting from CT, and is looking for Wandering Tattler. We
>have tried several spots including Ballona Creek, Ventura Harbor, and much
>of the Northern CA coast. If anyone sees one in the next two days, please
>e-mail me.
>
>Good birding,
>Steve <mailto:steve@...>
>
>Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
>10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
>Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
>Audubon in So. California                www.SoCalAudubon.org/socal/
>San Fernando Valley AS       www.SanFernandoValleyAudubon.org/sfvas/
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>LACoBirds-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>

Thomas Miko
2445 Oswego Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
U.S.A.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary

This morning while birding on the west side of the Castaic afterbay,
north of the last parking lot, I saw three birds sitting in a cottonwood
tree which were unlike any I have seen before.  From the back they were
sparrow-like, brown with two light wing bars and approximately the same
size as the lark and white-crowned sparrows I had been observing.
However, when they turned their heads the bills were much longer and
thinner than on a sparrow.  The bills were even longer and thinner than
on the pine siskins seen immediately afterwards.

The throat was clear gray with distinct brown streaks on the breast and
then the belly was clear gray again.  The feet and tail appeared to be
black.  The face was nearly plain with just a hint of lightening above
the eye and a faint gray whisker line.

The three birds sat calmly about 15 feet up in the cottonwood while I
pulled up my camp stool,  wrote some notes and went through my Kaufman
looking for any possible matches, before finally flying away.

Could anyone out there tell me what the birds may be?  Any help would be
greatly appreciated.

I also saw a California Towhee with white patches covering both sides of
its face.  What could cause that?

Ken Stevens
Saugus, CA

Dear Leslie,
Bandtail Pigeons are residents in Benedict Canyon, I saw two on the telephone
poles at Benedict and Hutton on friday the 22nd and will try to get them for
the L:A Xmas count. .
Raymond Schep.

In a message dated 12/22/00 10:14:22 PM Pacific Standard Time,
leslielipton@... writes:

> Is it usual for them to visit this area?  Two spent the day alternating
>  between feeders in my front and back yard and were quite beautiful, despite
>  their divisive ways.
>
>  -------------------------- e

At 10:14 PM 12/22/00 -0800, Leslie Lipton wrote:
>Is it usual for them to visit this area?  Two spent the day alternating
>between feeders in my front and back yard and were quite beautiful, despite
>their divisive ways.

Band-tailed Pigeons have spread considerably through the urban parts of Los
Angeles County in the last decade or two; for example the species now
breeds in the Los Angeles Civic Center!  It has been my experience that
they are increasing in the southern and northern flanks fo the San Fernando
Valley (i.e. Woodland Hills east to North Hollywood, and Sylmar east to
Lake View Terrace), but that they are still absent for much of the floor of
the valley.  Perhaps someone can add some detail to this picture.

By the way, the Los Angeles County Breeding Bird Atlas is currently being
written, based on the field data collected by many of you from 1995 to
1999; the published atlas will show at a glance the distribution of birds
such as the Band-tailed Pigeon in the county.

-- Kimball
*****************************
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
(213) 746-2999 FAX
kgarrett@...
*****************************

Hi there!
          There was an adult male Greater Scaup swimming separately from the
Lesser Scaups & Ring-necked Ducks in the pond at Lincoln Park, today.  The
head shape was distinctive and easy to observe and compare (to Lesser
Scaups) at various distances.
          The Ross' Goose continues, but still no Redheads. I need Redheads!!!
          In an oak near the pond there were 3 Zebra Finches, Poephila
guttata (G'day, mate!).
Lincoln Park is on Mission Road in East Los Angeles, 4 blocks north of L.A.
County-USC Medical Center.

Thomas Miko
2445 Oswego Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
U.S.A.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Is it usual for them to visit this area?  Two spent the day alternating
between feeders in my front and back yard and were quite beautiful, despite
their divisive ways.

Los Angeles County Birders:

A word to the wise:

Attachments are not allowed over LA County Birds.  I have my Netscape
programed so that fowarded mail goes through as an attachment.  So, in this
case the forwarded messaged was repaced by "[Non-text portions of this
message have been removed]"  Those using MS Outlook will cause "[Non-text
portions of this message have been removed]" to be added as well.

Here is the original message that many you have received under the old
server.  At least now it will be archived on Egroups.

<<Dear Birders,
         I hope that somebody refinds the Dickcissel at Peck Pit, because Ed
Stonicks, Bill Myers, and I didn't see it this morning. But! There was a
beautiful, cooperative adult Swamp Sparrow in the exact same area where the
Dickcissel is supposed to be.
         By the way, I went up to Mt Wilson this morning.  Other than 3
Clark's
Nutcrackers behaving like oversized nuthatches (peeling and pecking at
bark) in the oaks, and 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets at the Mt. Wilson Park
entrance, there was nothing exciting. However, it was unbelievably warm. I
had to take my sweater off at 10 in the morning. I only mention this in
case you're thinking about birding up on the Angeles Crest Highway (HWY 2).
Thomas Miko
2445 Oswego Street
Pasadena, CA 91107
U.S.A.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/birdsofhungary>>


Mike Feighner wrote:

> forwarding for Thomas to the New LA County Birds (Egroups)....
>
> --
> Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> LACoBirds-unsubscribe@egroups.com

--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County

forwarding for Thomas to the New LA County Birds (Egroups)....

--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I briefly stopped by at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale this
afternoon and was surprised to see a large flock of
Mountain Bluebirds.  There were at least 30+ in the
field next to parking lot 5 and other smaller flocks
of
2-3 birds nearby.  Didn't think I could see so many of
them this close to LA.

Los Angeles County birders:

A couple of weeks ago I sent out a request for fall (1 August to 30
November) sightings for Los Angeles County for North American Birds.  I
thank those of you who cooperated by sending in reports.

I thought it might interest L. A. birders to post the DRAFT of my Fall 2000
Los Angeles County report here.  More importantly, this will give you an
opportunity to make corrections or additions.  Note that there are a few
queries scattered through the report. Please e-mail me ASAP if you have
changes; as always documentation is required for unusual species.  You will
note below that several excellent finds were unsupported by any details; I
cannot include such sightings without receiving details.  This is not a
reflection on any observers, but simply a common-sense need for
documentation before something goes into the scientific record.

Because of the recent transfer of LACoBirds, I'm not sure how many folks
will actually see this message, but please respond if you have anything to
add or change.

If thre seems to be enough interest, I'll make a point of posting all of my
seasonal Los Angeles County reports (all of them, since 1979, are on file
here at the Natural History Museum and available to researchers).

Best,

Kimball Garrett


DRAFT -- LOS ANGELES COUNTY REPORT -- DRAFT

FALL 2000 (1 August to 30 November)

Compiled by:

Kimball L. Garrett
Section of Ornithology
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, CA 90007
kgarrett@...


PACIFIC LOON  One off Leo Carrillo State Beach, west of Malibu, on 13
August (Kimball Garrett) was undoubtedly an oversummering bird.

[RED-NECKED GREBE  One was reported 2 October by J. Ivanov in Long Beach
Harbor at the mouth of the Los Angeles River; no details received]

PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER  An amazing concentration of 2500 birds (along with
about 500 Sooty Shearwaters) was observed from shore at Leo Carrillo State
Beach, west of Malibu, on 13 August (Kimball L. Garrett).

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER  One on an LAAS pelagic trip 11 miles WSW of Marina
del Rey on 14 October (D. Mitchell Heindel, Kevin Larson).  One was
reported from shore, near a feeding flock of Black-vented Shearwaters 300 m
of White's Point, Palos Verdes Peninsula, on 27 October (D. Mitchell Heindel).

BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER  Large numbers had returned to inshore waters by
early September (e.g. 100+ off Malibu on 17 September; Mike San Miguel);
large numbers were seen by D. Mitchell Heindel off Palos Verdes starting in
early September).

RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD  One seen 13 mi. NW of San Clemente Island on the
LAAS pelagic trip on 23 September (Kevin Larson et al.).

LEAST BITTERN  One at the Sepulveda Basin wildlife area, Encino, on 1
November (Jean Brandt) was at a well-worked locality where the species is
rarely recorded.

WHITE-FACED IBIS  A migrant on a schoolyard lawn in Venice (near Venice and
Walgrove) on 6 October was at an unusual locality (Julie Pfaffinger).

ROSS'S GOOSE  The tamed bird continues at El Dorado Park, Long Beach
(Thomas E. Wurster, 5 August).  An immature was on Holiday Lake on 11
November (Kimball L. Garrett).

EURASIAN WIGEON  A male coming out of eclipse plumage was at Hansen Dam,
Lakeview Terrace, on 5 November (Kimball L. Garrett).

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER  A female was off Dockweiler Beach, El Segundo, on 3
November (Richard Barth).

BLACK SCOTER  An adult male was off Dockweiler Beach, El Segundo, on 7
November (Richard Barth).

OSPREY  A count of ten together over the lakes at El Dorado Park, Long
Beach, on 22 October (Thomas E. Wurster) was unusually high.

SWAINSON'S HAWK  An adult with a recently fledged juvenile was at the
traditional nest site 5 miles east of Lancaster on 6 August (Thomas E.
Wurster, Karen S. Gilbert).  A kettle of 10-12 birds was over Claremont on
16 October (Josh Engel).

FERRUGINOUS HAWK  A migrating bird was seen over a residential area in
Brentwood (West Los Angeles) on 3 November (Larry Schmahl).

MERLIN  A female of the subspecies richardsoni was seen in the Los Angeles
Basin in Ladera Heights on 3 November (Richard Barth); other richardsoni
were in the Antelope Valley (e.g. one east of Lancaster on 11 November;
Kimball L. Garrett), and nominate columbarius was widespread and numerous
throughout the county.

SHOREBIRDS  Weekly shorebird surveys along the lower Los Angeles River
(from Paramount to Long Beach), organized by Daniel S. Cooper, were
conducted from 9 August to 6 September.  Totals ranged from 8585 to 15,110
individuals, the latter peak being on 23 August.  Western Sandpipers
constituted about half of all individuals, with Black-necked Stilt, Least
Sandpiper, and Long-billed Dowitcher acounting for most of the rest; a
total of 23 shorebird species noted.

MOUNTAIN PLOVER  An early migrant was at the Lancaster Sewage Ponds on 17
September (Karen S. Gilbert, Thomas E. Wurster).

SOLITARY SANDPIPER  One was in the Sepulveda Basin on 29 September (Kimball
L. Garrett).

WHIMBREL  One was at Nebecker Ranch, northwest of Lancaster, on 22
September (Thomas E. Wurster); this species is rare but regular in fall in
the Antelope Valley.

RED KNOT  One was at the Lancaster Sewage Ponds on 27 August (Karen S.
Gilbert, Jim E. Pike); this species is rare but regular in spring and fall
in the Antelope Valley.

SANDERLING  Four were at the Lancaster Sewage Ponds on 7 September (Karen
S. Gilbert).  This species is rare but regular in fall in the Antelope Valley.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER  Different juveniles were along the lower Los
Angeles River in Long Beach on 5 and 12 August (Kevin Larson), and five
were counted there on 16 August (Jon L. Dunn, Kimball L. Garrett).

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER  The highest count was 8-10 at the Lancaster Sewage Ponds
on 2 September (Karen S. Gilbert).

RUFF  One was along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach 7 October
(Daniel S. Cooper, Kevin Larson, Mike San Miguel; description on file).

RED PHALAROPE  One was along the Los Angeles River (Compton/Paramount
border) on 30 August (Daniel S. Cooper; description on file).

SOUTH POLAR SKUA  One was seen 14 mi. SSW of Pt. Dume on the 14 October
LAAS pelagic trip (Kevin Larson, D. Mitchell Heindel).

POMARINE JAEGER  Ten just off Leo Carrillo State Beach on 13 August
(Kimball Garrett) was a large number to be observed from shore.

FRANKLIN'S GULL  One [age??] was at the Lancaster Sewage Ponds on 16
September (Robert Weissler, Ron Beck).  A juv. was at nearby Piute Ponds on
17 September (Kimball L. Garrett, Mike San Miguel).

SABINE'S GULL   Two [age?] were on the Lancaster Sewage Ponds on 20
September (Karen S. Gilbert, James E. Pike). An adult on Lancaster Sewage
Ponds on 24 September (Daniel S. Cooper).

COMMON TERN  One was at the Lancaster Sewage Ponds on 21 September (Karen
S. Gilbert).  Three were at Lake Palmdale on 27 September (Kimball L.
Garrett).

CRAVERI'S MURRELET  Two (adult and grown immature?) were well-studied about
10 km SSW of the NW tip of Santa Catalina Island on 26 August (Kimball L.
Garrett, D. Mitchell Heindel).

MITRED PARAKEET  A flock of 92 on the campus of California State
University, Long Beach, on 30 November (Charles T. Collins) was the highest
count for the flock that has been monitored in that areas for several years.

FLAMMULATED OWL  Extremely unusual was one found freshly dead in Debs
Regional Park in Highland Park (north of downtown Los Angeles) on 5
November (Daniel S. Cooper; specimen to LACM).

BURROWING OWL  One was near the  Monterey Park/Montebello border, about ten
miles east of downtown Los Angeles, on 16 October (Rod Higbie); this
species has become quite rare within the Los Angeles Basin (and breeding
populations have apparently disappeared).

VAUX'S SWIFT  The major roost site in downtown Los Angeles shifted from the
corner of 9th and Broadway to the old Herald Examiner Building at 11th and
Hill this year; peak estimate on 28 September was of about 10,000 birds
(Kimball L. Garrett).

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER   A total of four recorded.  An immature male was
at El Dorado Park, Long Beach 7 November+ (Karen S. Gilbert, Thomas E.
Wurster). An immature male was at the South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos
Verdes, on 15 October (Kevin Larson; description on file).  A juvenile
(sex?) was at Recreation Park in Long Beach on 15 November (Robert A.
Hamilton).  A juvenile male was at Veterans' Park in Sylmar on  17 November
(Richard Barth).

LEWIS'S WOODPECKER  The first report was one at Chatsworth Reservoir on 30
September (Art Langton, S. D. Wells).  Three were at Henninger Flats above
Pasadena on 21 October (Larry Schmahl). One near Three Points, on the south
flank of the western Antelope Valley on 26 November (Kevin Larson) was in
an area where the species is nearly annual.

LEAST FLYCATCHER  An HY bird was at Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach, 29
August to 1 September (Kevin Larson; description on file).  Another was at
Playa del Rey on 12 October (Richard A. Erickson; description on file).

DUSKY FLYCATCHER  A very ragged, molting "whitting" Empidonax at Lower
Arroyo Park, Pasadena, 20 November+ (Thomas E. Wurster, Kimball L. Garrett)
appeared to be a Dusky (KLG photos on file).

GRAY FLYCATCHER  One was at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 12 November+
(Kimball L. Garrett).

PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER   One giving its full "position note" several
times was at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on the rather late date of 5
November (Kimball L. Garrett).

VERMILION FLYCATCHER  An immature male in El Dorado Park, Long Beach, after
early November appeared to be wintering (Richard Barth, Thomas E. Wurster).
  A female was at Rynerson Park, Lakewood, 24 November (Thomas E. Wurster,
Karen S. Gilbert).

EASTERN PHOEBE  One was at Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates,
Palos Verdes, 18-19 November (Kevin Larson; photo).  One was at Hansen Dam
in Lakeview Terrace, ne. San Fernando Valley, 5-12 November (Richard Barth,
Kimball L. Garrett).

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER  One in El Dorado Park, Long Beach, 22 Oct to at
least 18 November (Thomas E. Wurster) is likely wintering.

TROPICAL KINGBIRD  One was at Madrona Marsh, Torrance, 5 Oct (Richard Barth).

THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD  The wintering bird at Cal Poly Pomona returned for
its 8th (at least) winter as of 29 October (Mike San Miguel; description on
file and to CBRC).

BELL'S VIREO  Three singing birds were still present at Hansen Dam,
Lakeview Terrace, on 2 September (Kimball L. Garrett), and one was still
singing there on the seemingly late date of 16 September (KLG).

PLUMBEOUS VIREO  A singing bird was at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank on 11
October (Daniel S. Cooper).  A singing bird was at Hansen Dam, Lakeview
Terrace, on 14 October (Kimball L. Garrett). One was at Lower Arroyo Park,
Pasadena, on 28 November (Thomas E. Wurster).  Another appeared to be
wintering in El Dorado Park, Long Beach (Thomas E. Wurster).

CASSIN'S VIREO  A singing bird was at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 5
November (Kimball L. Garrett).

PINYON JAY  A flock of 25 was flying east over the Mt. Gleason Rd. near
Mill Creek Summit in the San Gabriel Mtns. on 17 September (Kimball L.
Garrett, Mike San Miguel).  This is one of the few records for the county,
and perhaps the first since 1-2 invasion years in the 1970s.

CLARK'S NUTCRACKER  Two flying over the Mt. Gleason Rd. near Mill Creek
Summit (at  about 5200 ft. in the San Gabriel Mountains) were well below
breeding habitat.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH  Small numbers were rather widespread throughout the
lowlands of the county, but this fall did not see a major invasion.

PYGMY NUTHATCH  Two at Veterans' Park in Sylmar on 13 October were the only
indication of a movement of this species during the fall (Richard Barth).

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET  Rather common and widespread in the coastal
lowlands of the county this fall (numerous observers).  Even recorded on
the immediate coast, e.g. one in Naples (Long Beach) on 14 November (Robert
A. Hamilton).  Considered "notably widespread" in the Palos Verdes/South
Bay area by Kevin Larson.

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD  A flock of nine, including 3 adult males, was along a
recently cleared ridge in Diamond Bar on 21 November (Mike San Miguel).

TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE  One was in Diamond Bar on 21 November (Mike San Miguel).

SWAINSON'S THRUSH  One at the El Dorado Nature Center on 22 October (Thomas
E. Wurster) was on the late side.

SAGE THRASHER  One was on San Clemente Island on 18 November (Daniel S.
Cooper).

TENNESSEE WARBLER  One was Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey 6-7 October
(Kevin Larson).   [Also, "Steve B. found and showed me 2 Tenn. Warblers in
Sycamores near our small pond (Whittier Narrows) today (= 17 September?), a
YEWA and BTGW and several OCWA" (Ray Jillson; DETAILS?]

VIRGINIA'S WARBLER  A total of five reported.  One was in Debs Park,
Highland Park, on 29 August (Daniel S. Cooper). One was at Hansen Dam,
Lakeview Terrace, on 9 September (Kimball L. Garrett).  Another there
(slightly different area) on 24 September (Kimball L. Garrett).  One was in
Blaisdell Park, Claremont, on 28 September (Josh Engel). A dull female was
in Santa Ynez Canyon Park, Pacific Palisades, on 12 November (Richard
Barth; description on file).

LUCY'S WARBLER  One was at Madrona Marsh, Torrance, 17 September (Kevin
Larson) to 23 September (John Ivanov, fide Kevin Larson).

NORTHERN PARULA  One was in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles on 2
October (Kimball L. Garrett)

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER   A total of four reported.  Holmby Park, West Los
Angeles, 4 October (Richard Barth).  Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 5 October
(Michael C. Long).  Los Angeles River at Los Feliz, Atwater, 5 October
(Richard Barth).  Burton Chace Park, Marina del Rey, 6-7 October (Kevin
Larson, Bernardo Alps).

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER  A male was in Eaton Canyon on 29 October
(Chuck Hamilton).

[MAGNOLIA WARBLER  Two reported on the internet without any details:  Sand
Dune Park, 4 October (John Ivanov fide D. M. Heindel)]; Banning Park, 5
October (John Ivanov, Bird Box call).]

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER  The first "Audubon's" reported in the lowlands was
at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 2 September (Kimball L. Garrett).  The
first "push" in the coastal lowlands was 16 September, with about 10 birds
at Hansen Dam.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER  A total of three reported.  A bright male was at
Ladera County Park, Ladera Heights, on 11 October (Richard Barth). One (HY
male?) was photographed at South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, on 21
October (Kevin Larson).  Another (possibly an adult male) was at Banning
Park in Wilmington on 28 October (Kevin Larson; also Sandy Koonce, Tod
McGrath, Mike San Miguel).

BLACKPOLL WARBLER  At least five in the in southern coast of the  county in
late September/early October according to D. M. Heindel; details?.  One was
at the South Coast Botanic Gardens, 8 October (Kevin Larson)

[BAY-BREASTED WARBLER Reported from Wilderness Park, Redondo Beach, on 28
September by D. Mitchell Heindel; no details]

PINE WARBLER  A very bright male was at El Dorado Park, Long Beach, on 9
November (Karen S. Gilbert), and two (the bright male and a duller bird)
were there together on 11 November (Mike San Miguel, Karen S. Gilbert,
Brian E. Daniels; description to CBRC) and 18 November (Thomas E. Wurster).
  One of these birds (the brighter one seems to be an adult male) is
probably a returning wintering bird; both were still present as of the end
of the period.

PALM WARBLER  A very early bird was at Madrona Marsh, Torrance, on 10
September (Kevin Larson); description indicates nominate palmarum.  One was
at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 5 November (Kimball L. Garrett).

BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER 	 At least five were reported:  A female was in the
willow forest at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 9 September (Kimball L.
Garrett).  A HY male was at Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach, 3-31 Oct (+?)
(Kevin Larson).  A HY male was at South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes,
on 8 Oct (Kevin Larson).  A HY male was at the Village Green in Los Angeles
on 12 October to at least 27 November  (Kimball L. Garrett, Richard Barth).
  One was in El Dorado Park, Long Beach, on 7 November (Karen S. Gilbert).

AMERICAN REDSTART   Only three reports received.  One was at Madrona Marsh,
Torrance, on 16 September (Ron Meline [sp?]).   A HY bird was in Exposition
Park on 28 September (Kimball L. Garrett).  A HY male at South Coast
Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, 24 September (Kevin Larson).

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER  One was in Banning Park, Wilmington, on 20 September
(Robert A. Hamilton, Mike San Miguel; descriptions on file); age and sex
uncertain, but clearly not an adult male.  [Another was reported at Sur La
Brea Park in Lomita on 3 October (D. Mitchell Heindel) but no details,
other than "male", were received.]

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH  One was in Banning Park, Wilmington, on 28 August (D.
Mitchell Heindel).  One was at Madrona Marsh, Torrance, on 19 September
(David Moody).

SCARLET TANAGER  An immature male was in Banning Park, Wilmington, 26-29
October (D. Mitchell Heindel, Kevin Larson; photos and description by
Larson on file).  [Two additional Scarlet Tanagers were reported by DMH at
Banning Park, beginning 13 October, as well as another in San Pedro, on 7
October; no details received for any of these.]

GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE  A migrant was in a yard in La Verne on 27 September
(Chris Brady).

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW  An adult was on San Clemente Island on 19 November
(Daniel S. Cooper); it was associating with White-crowneds; description on
file.

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW  Hatch-year birds were at Bull Creek in the
Sepulveda Basin, Encino, on 27 August (Andy Birch), at Kenneth Hahn State
Recreation Area in the Baldwin Hills on 12 September (Richard Barth), and
at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 16 September (Kimball L. Garrett).

[LARGE-BILLED] SAVANNAH SPARROW  One on the Ballona Creek jetty in Playa
del Rey starting 15 August (Richard Barth) was undoubtedly the same bird
that spent the past two winters in the exact same spot; arrival dates the
previous two winters were uncertain.

SWAMP SPARROW  One was at Hansen Dam, Lakeview Terrace, on 5 November
(Kimball L. Garrett).

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW  A tan-striped adult was on San Clemente Island on
17 November (Daniel S. Cooper).

DARK-EYED JUNCO  A Gray-headed Junco (J. h. caniceps) was on San Clemente
Island on 19 November (Daniel S. Cooper).

MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR  A well-marked male was on the A&G sod farms north of
Palmdale on 11 November (Kimball L. Garrett); a dull bird was there on 25
November (Kevin Larson)

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR  One was on San Clemente Island on 19 November
(Daniel S. Cooper).

LAPLAND LONGSPUR  Up to ten were on the A&G Sod Farms, Palmdale, from at
least 29 October to at least 11 November (Thomas E. Wurster, Steve
Sosensky, Jim Abernathy, Mike San Miguel, Kimball Garrett).  One was on San
Clemente Island on 19 November (Daniel S. Cooper).

NORTHERN CARDINAL  An escapee was at the El Dorado Nature Center on 5
August (Thomas E. Wurster, Karen S. Gilbert).

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK  A female was at Banning Park, Wilmington, on 20
September (Kevin Larson). An immature male was at the Sepulveda Basin
wildlife area, Encino, on 19 November (Kevin Larson).

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK  An immature male was in Elysian Park, Los Angeles,
on 24 November (Mike San Miguel).

INDIGO BUNTING  The only reports were of one on 4 September in the San
Gabriel R. north of Whittier Blvd., Pico Rivera (Larry Schmahl) and two on
10 September in the Devil's Gate Dam Basin, Pasadena (Kimball L. Garrett)

PAINTED BUNTING   An immature was found along the Wilmington Drain in
Lomita (just north of Harbor Regional Park) on 2 September (D. Mitchell
Heindel; description posted on Internet).  Another immature or adult female
was coming to a backyard feeder in a residential area of the Baldwin Hills
in late November (Eric Brooks); it was last seen on 2 December.  The status
of these birds as natural vagrants must remain uncertain, but at least the
former bird was during an established seasonal window for this species.
There remains no CBRC-accepted record for Los Angeles County.

DICKCISSEL  One was at the edge of a weedy pond basin at Pepperdine
University, Malibu, on 17 September (Mike San Miguel, Kimball L. Garrett).

BOBOLINK  Two were at Pepperdine University, Malibu, on 17 September
(Kimball L. Garrett, Mike San Miguel).

TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD  Localities included Hansen Dam Park, Lakeview
Terrace, on 16 September (10; Kimball L. Garrett); and Lane County Park,
Quartz Hill, 17 September (10+; Kimball L. Garrett, Mike San Miguel).

RUSTY BLACKBIRD  A female was photographed at South Coast Botanic Garden,
Palos Verdes, on 28 October (Kevin Larson; photos and description on file).

[ORCHARD ORIOLE  Two were reported at Banning Park, Wilmington, on 29
September by D. Mitchell Heindel; some details posted on "LACoBirds".]

BALTIMORE ORIOLE  An immature male was at Banning Park, Wilmington, on 7
September (Mike San Miguel).  A dull female was at Recreation Park in Long
Beach 15-17 November (Robert A. Hamilton).  Two females were at El Dorado
Park on after 23 November (Karen S. Gilbert, Thomas E. Wurster).

RED CROSSBILL  Three were over the South Coast Botanical Gardens, Palos
Verdes, on 11 November (Kevin Larson).

YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY  (Serinus mozambicus) The first reports of birds that
likely originated from the large illegal release in early summer were of
two birds at Whittier Narrows Nature Center on [17?] September (Barbara
Courtois).

PINE SISKIN  Rather common and widespread in the coastal and desert
lowlands this fall.

ORANGE BISHOP  Six, including a bright alternate male, were in the Ballona
Wetlands, Playa del Rey, on 23 October (Richard A. Erickson).

PIN-TAILED WHYDAH  Two displaying males and several female-plumaged birds
were at Whittier Narrows 20 August to 3 September (Ray R. Jillson).  There
is still no proven breeding of this African brood parasite in California.

*****************************
Kimball L. Garrett
Ornithology Collections Manager
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90007 USA
(213) 763-3368
(213) 746-2999 FAX
kgarrett@...
*****************************

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Steve Sosensky, photographer                        www.sosensky.com
10834 Blix Street #213                                  818-508-4946
Toluca Lake, CA 91602                      34*09'02" N, 118*22'47" W
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