Date: 10/13/26 12:07 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Possible Short-eared Owl over JPL
Hi Everyone, I saw a possible short-eared owl fly over NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena at about 11:15. I barely got binoculars on it out my office window before the bird disappeared behind a building. The colors, size, flight style, and silhouette looked good for a female short-eared owl and it clearly wasn't a buteo, falcon, accipiter, vulture, eagle, osprey, or heron. The principal source of possible confusion might have been a barn owl, but it didn't look right for that either. Alas, I wasn't able to get any pictures and I was already late for a meeting when I saw it, so I wasn't able to dash outside for a better look. If you're in the area near Hahamongna Watershed Park, be on the watch for it! It went by at an elevation of about 200 feet and was heading southeast from JPL's building 264 toward Hahamongna. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena _._,_._,_
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach on October 3.
A RIDGWAYS RAIL continued at Ballona Lagoon through October 3.
A probable ARCTIC TERN was near Avalon on Santa Catalina Island on October 10.
SABINES GULLS were at the Ballona Creek mouth on October 3, at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera from October 3-4, at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB (letter of permission required for entry) on October 6 (two birds), and at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas from October 7-10.
Two NAZCA BOOBIES were offshore south of San Pedro on October 10 and a MASKED / NAZCA BOOBY was found on the Santa Monica Pier on October 4.
Up to five COCOS BOOBIES were offshore adjacent the Palos Verdes Peninsula from October 4-10.
A probable WHITE IBIS was seen flying over Lake Palmdale on October 11.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through October 3.
BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were in South El Monte on October 9 and at Griffith Park (Brush Canyon) on October 10.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was at Mt. Wilson on October 4.
A FLAMMULATED OWL was at Mt. Wilson on October 6.
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS were at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles from October 4-11 and at Wardlow Park in Long Beach from October 6-8.
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS continued at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach through October 4 and at Golden Shore in Long Beach through October 10.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was at the Chilao Visitors Center (San Gabriel Mountains) on October 6.
A few PINYON JAYS continued at various spots along the Angeles Crest Highway through October 7. Likewise did a number of CLARKS NUTCRACKERS, including twenty at Mt. Wilson through October 10.
A GRAY CATBIRD was at Avalon on Santa Catalina Island on October 5.
A SAGE THRASHER was at the Toyon Landfill in Griffith Park (restricted access on weekdays) from October 3-11.
VARIED THRUSHES were at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on October 6 and on Santa Catalina Island from October 10-11.
EVENING GROSBEAKS continued in small numbers in the Angeles National Forest. Reports included two at Mt. Wilson and one at Mt. Lowe on October 10.
A RED CROSSBILL was in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island on October 10.
A CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR was on Santa Catalina Island (Haypress Reservoir) on October 5.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were at Brookside Park in Pasadena from October 3-6, at Everett Martin Park in Littlerock on October 4, at the Bette Davis Picnic Area in Glendale from October 8-10 and at Avalon on Santa Catalina Island on October 10.
A DARK-EYED GRAY-HEADED JUNCO was at Hahamongna Watershed Park (lower west side by the nursery) on October 9.
A SWAMP SPARROW was above the dam spillway at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale on October 11.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES included one continuing at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through October 10 and one at Vista Hermosa Park in Los Angeles on October 10.
Two likely continuing BOBOLINKS were the San Gabriel River adjacent the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds through October 3.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS were at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles from October 4-5, at Bee Canyon in Granada Hills on October 5, on Santa Catalina Island (Thompson Reservoir) on October 5, at Arcadia County Park from October 6-8 and at Ladera Park through October 11.
TENNESSEE WARBLERS were at the UCLA Botanical Gardens on October 3, at Arcadia County Park on October 5, at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on October 7, at Pt Dume on October 9, at Behringer Park in La Mirada on October 12 and at Avalon on Santa Catalina Island on October 10.
A LUCYS WARBLER continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through October 4.
AMERICAN REDSTARTS were at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB from October 3-6 and at the Veterans Administrations Japanese Garden in West Los Angeles on October 6.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS included one continuing at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through October 3 and one at Avalon on Santa Catalina Island on October 10.
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS were at the UCLA Botanical Garden in Westwood from October 3-10 and at Bee Canyon Park in Granada Hills on October 5.
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was in Signal Hill (North Side Trails) on October 10.
A DICKCISSEL was at Stephen Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles from October 4-6.
-end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 10/12/26 11:36 am From: Mark Wilson via groups.io <marklyonwilson...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Griffith Park Irruption Species
Birders,
I was recently granted permission by the Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) and by Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) to place automated recording units (ARUs) in Griffith Park. I was able to deploy one near the Toyon Landfill, where the relatively high elevation, low levels of city noise, and unique habitat could yield some fascinating results, both diurnally and nocturnally.
I'd like to emphasize that Toyon Landfill is technically closed to the general public. The landfill continues to produce methane and is considered a health hazard. The eBird hotspot page for the landfill provides more details, so please be sure to read it before considering a visit: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L6528214/about ( https://ebird.org/hotspot/L6528214/about )
With that said, I'm happy to report that within a few days of deployment, the ARU recorded Evening Grosbeak (Type 1) and Pinyon Jay on multiple days. Combined with Greg Slak's recent report of a Clark's Nutcracker at Ferraro Soccer Fields, Griffith Park should be considered well part of the 2026 irruption. I'm not sure about records predating eBird, but all three appear to be new species for the park.
Griffith Park is oddly underbirded, but hopefully this serves as incentive to visit more often especially during this irruption year. Who knows? With a little more effort, we might even turn up a Cassinâs Finch.
Date: 10/11/26 1:47 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] TropicallStorm Rachel birds... or not
Birders,
Judging from the eBird review queue, Tropical Storm Rachel has brought some interesting birds to Imperial County (eg. Least and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels, Elegant Terns,Least Tern, large numbers of Black Terns, etc.) and San Diego County (e.g. from-shore Buller's Shearwater, etc.). As usual, there hasn't been a single post to the listservs about storm-related birds in these counties, and virtually nothing from anywhere else in southern California (or Arizona). PLEASE consider posting storm-related sightings on the listservs in addition to the various other chat venues.
As for Los Angeles County, though hard to imagine it was storm-blown, the Scheels and Naresh Satyan had a likely adult White Ibis flying northeast from the Lake Palmdale area within the past hour or so. They're going to check for it at Piute Ponds and other potential sites. My check of Lake Palmdale in strong south winds (from vantage points at the Park and Ride and Barrel Springs Rd.) earlier this morning yielded nothing beyond the expected birds that would have been there with or without a storm.
KImball Garrett Juniper Hills, CA (0.35" rain from this storm, and no avian waifs)
Date: 10/11/26 9:39 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Deer Hunting Season Has Started
All, While birding at Mt. Wilson yesterday I saw numerous deer hunters parked and camping on the north side of the Mt. Wilson Circle Road. This is on the north side of the antennas and a short distance west of the gate into the observatory. Right now would NOT be a good time to hike down the Kenyon-Devore Trail on the north side of Mt. Wilson! So please be aware that deer hunting season with firearms started on Saturday and lasts until November 8. If you're out birding in the local mountains, you could encounter hunters, so it's a good idea to wear blaze orange or other very conspicuous colors and to stay on well-travelled roads and trails. Expect to see hunters at all the campgrounds, particularly on weekends. Given experience from previous years, I would also expect hunters along Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, Barley Flats Road (which has become a popular birding destination recently), the road that connects Three Points on the east with Pacifico Mountain and Mill Creek Summit on the west, the Mt. Gleason Road, possibly along the Angeles Crest east of the closure at mile 54, and along roads on the north slope near Big Rock Creek, South Fork Campground, and Jackson Lake. This is a partial list and I'm sure there are hunters elsewhere. Regarding birds, there were 20 Clark's nutcrackers near the 60 inch telescope at Mt. Wilson shortly after 2 pm yesterday and a couple of Cassin's finches along the road near the museum. I didn't find any evening grosbeaks but they were reported by Miles and Hugo yesterday among trees along the upper parking lot near the Cosmic Cafe. I was also startled to see a Say's Phoebe perched on a fence next to the 150 foot solar telescope. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena _._,_._,_
Date: 10/7/26 5:41 pm From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Visible migration; Inspiration Point; 10/7/26
Birders:
I had a very nice couple of hours at Inspiration Point/Lightning Ridge on the north side of the San Gabriels this morning. Highlights were fly-over Evening Grosbeaks, Clark's Nutcrackers, Cassin's Finches, Pine Siskins, Williamson's Sapsuckers, and some Pinyon Jays (I guess they were flying somewhere, I never saw them), but overall there was a good variety of fall migrants in numbers that kept me busy.
Mostly, things were flying south, calling, in groups less than 5 individuals, and occasionally perching in the burned trees on their way. There were a few pulses of Yellow-rumped Warblers, juncos, and finches to about 10-15 birds. The 2 Williamson's Sapsuckers and the Brown Creeper both flew north over the saddle, but may have just been moving locally. Activity began not long after I arrived at 6:45 and things were still and quiet by 8:30.
The prescribed burns at Piute Ponds last week resulted in some burned patches in the south pond complex and the se. corner of Big Piute, plus some burned reeds south of Ave C at nw. Big Piute. But overall there was little obvious habitat change.
This morning I saw two juvenile Sabine's Gulls flying west from the Duckbill pond area -- it looked like they might be heading for the Lancaster sewage ponds, but they turned south (and were not seen again). Landbirds of interest included a continuing American Redstart (found by Sona Conlin on 3 Oct), and a Varied Thrush at the NE corner of Big Piute. Lots of ducks, relatively few shorebirds, and a nice view of a White-tailed Kite pulling entrails out of a small mouse it had caught. My eBird list for the morning is here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S399869405
Date: 10/6/26 12:11 pm From: Chuck & Lillian via groups.io <misclists...> Subject: [LACoBirds] SMBAS Zoom Program Tonight Tues. 10/06/26, 7:30 pm PT: Important Birds of Ancient Lake Cahuilla and the Salton Sea with Kurt Leuschner
*Birders:
Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society* invites you to our monthly Zoom program tonight, Tuesday.
*Important Birds of Ancient Lake Cahuilla and the Salton Sea, **with Kurt Leuschner. Zoom Evening Meeting, Tuesday, 6 October, 7:30Â p.m. Pacific Time **Zoom waiting room opens 7:15 p.m. On October 6, 2026 at 7:15â7:30 pm, Join the Zoom Presentation by CLICKING HERE <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87824586495?<pwd...> *
*Then give it about 30 seconds for Zoom Workplace to show up (If the button above doesn't work for you, see detailed zoom invitation below)*
*Before the Salton Sea appeared there was Ancient Lake Cahuilla. *Until several hundred years ago, this giant freshwater lake filled the entire Salton Sink and most of the Coachella Valley. Birds and people depended on this body of water just as they do today. In this program you'll learn about the special birds associated with this lake that was six times bigger than today's Salton Sea. Youâll also receive an update on the â10-year planâ and how recent years of global warming and drought have impacted the current situation at the Salton Sea.
*Kurt Leuschner* is a Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert where he teaches courses on Conservation, Entomology, Field Ornithology, Native Plants, and GPS Navigation. He has a Bachelorâs degree in Zoology from U.C. Santa Barbara and a Masterâs in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida. Kurt has led numerous field trips both locally and as far afield as Africa, New Zealand, and the Galapagos. He is the founder of the Desert Cities Bird Club, on the Board of Directors of Western Field Ornithologists, and is past President of the Natural Science Collaborative. He has studied sound recordings of the various subspecies of North American Scrub-Jays. In 2009 Kurt finished the */Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail/* map, a two-year project, which details the ten best birding and hiking locations in and around the Coachella Valley. Kurt also teaches weekend courses and workshops on birdwatching, insects, GPS, and backyard habitats for UCR Extension, the Desert Institute, the Desert Studies Center, and the Living Desert. He also teaches natural history courses for the Bureau of Land Management, UCR Extension, the Desert Institute, California State Parks, Riverside County Parks, and many other conservation organizations. *Zoom waiting room opens 7:15 p.m. * If the above link doesn't work for you, go to our SMBAS blog announcement and follow the link from there: https://smbasblog.com/2026/10/05/important-birds-of-ancient-lake-cahuilla-and-the-salton-sea-with-kurt-leuschner-zoom-evening-meeting-reminder-tuesday-6-october-730-p-m-3/
Date: 10/5/26 8:16 pm From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: [LACoBirds] LA Birders pelagic trip report, 10/4/26
Birders:
Yesterday, 10/4/26, Los Angeles Birders ran a 5 hour pelagic trip from King Harbor, Redondo Beach that went out Redondo Canyon, across the shipping lanes to the 270 Bank.
Conditions were good in that the seas were gentle, glassy in places, and there was little wind... that said, it was hot as blazes out there, and when the boat stopped, it got real warm on deck.
There was only one sizeable flock of birds: a mix of gulls, pelicans, a Cocos Booby, and some hundreds of Black-vented Shearwaters along the Palos Verdes Escarpment.
The 270 Bank, our target destination, was pretty slow, but there, and in the shipping lanes we saw Black, Ashy, and Least Storm-Petrels, as well as Red and Red-necked Phalaropes, a Cassin's Auklet, a couple of Sooty Shearwaters, and a scattering of Common Murres. An interesting murre, popped by Dave Pereksta on our ride in, was pretty exciting with an overall pattern like Thick-billed Murre. We were able to take a close pass, get lots of photos, and now have something to talk about. It may just be an aberrant Common Murre, but it's not yet settled, so, here a "/". I put some of my photos in the trip report. Way better ones were taken by way better photographers on board, so check back later.
These five hour trips are a good intro trip to our nearshore waters and great for beginning pelagic birders. We'll be running our next one in January, so stay tuned (www.losangelesbirders.org).
Date: 10/5/26 12:15 pm From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: [LACoBirds] CS and Blk&Wht Warblers; Bee Canyon Park, Granada Hills; 10/5/26
Birders:
There is a bright Black-and-white Warbler and a dull Chestnut-sided Warbler in Bee Canyon Park in Granada Hills. 34.306966, -118.507964
They were with a mixed flock of regular warblers, Bushtits, and goldfinches.
Date: 10/5/26 8:16 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Catalina Island (Avalon) Sunday birds
100426 20:55
Rick Fisher and I took the Catalina Express from Long Beach to Avalon, this
morning Sunday 10/4/2026. We wanted to take the boat out of San Pedroâto go
past the red buoy and the green buoy where boobies (starting with a Nazca
Booby)âbut San Pedro boat tickets were all sold out on Thursday.
We arrived in Avalon around 0930, and spent the day slowly ascending Avalon
Canyon Road, arriving at the Wrigley Memorial around 1230 PM. Along the
way, we saw bazillions of Red breasted Nuthatchesâwho were in every type of
tree or bush you could imagineânot limiting themselves to pines
(mostâperhaps allânon native pines). It was hot. We sweated a lot. We drank
a lot of water. It was exhausting and not birdy at all, until Rick found a
weird Empidonax:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S399265092 Then we sat around, resting in town, and it finally got birdy in the last
hour of sunlight:
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S399305105 We randomly sat in front of an espresso/ ice cream/ bakery place and saw
multiple cool birds.
Date: 10/4/26 5:11 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: Dickcissel continues; some other LA county notes Re: [LACoBirds] Dickcissel, Black-and-white Warbler at Sorensen Park, Lake L. A.
Hi all,
Mark and Janet Scheel and I chased the Dickcissel was in the same place
that Kimball describes below. Shortly before refinding the Dickcissel,
Janet also found an incredible White-headed Woodpecker in the same area.
Strange place for one.
To make amends for chasing a bird this far, and because it is 10 degrees
cooler here in the desert than in Pasadena, I stopped at Everett Martin
Park on the way back. This park has been dead on my previous visits this
fall, but sparrows have arrived now, and I found a Clay-colored Sparrow
with a couple of Chipping Sparrows along the south fence. Clay-colored
Sparrows are harder to find in the desert than on the coastal slope.
In montane irruption news, I spent the day yesterday driving the (sometimes
very rough) road along the Liebre-Sawmill ridge in the western Angeles
National Forest, and visiting some spots off this road. I had the "usual"
suspects for this year: lots of Clark's Nutcrackers, lots of Red-breasted
Nuthatches, and singles of Pinyon Jay, Pine Siskin and Cassin's Finch.
Other migrants included my FOF Lewis's Woodpecker and several Sharp-shinned
Hawks. Trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/578717
Stay cool!
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sun, Oct 4, 2026, 12:26â¯PM Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Sorry, there is not an endemic subspecies of Lark Sparrow at Lake Los
> Angeles. My "Lake Sparrows" were, in fact, Lark Sparrows,
>
> Kimball Garrett
> Juniper Hills, Ca
>
> On Sun, Oct 4, 2026 at 12:20â¯PM Kimball Garrett via groups.io
> <cyanolyca818...> wrote:
>
>> Birders,
>>
>> This morning there was a Dickcissel at Sorensen Park (entrance off Ave P,
>> a bit west of 170th Street East in Lake Los Angeles). It was foraging on
>> the lawns just inside the park entrance, accompanied by Chipping and Lake
>> Sparrows. This is outside the fenced (off-limits) renovation area in the
>> eastern part of the park, but that fenced area has some unmowed grass and
>> annual weeds and is likely as attractive to sparrows (and Dickcissels) as
>> the lawn where I saw the bird. That area can be viewed (scope would be
>> handy) from the west or north sides of the fence.
>>
>>
>>
>
Date: 10/4/26 12:26 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Dickcissel, Black-and-white Warbler at Sorensen Park, Lake L. A.
Sorry, there is not an endemic subspecies of Lark Sparrow at Lake Los
Angeles. My "Lake Sparrows" were, in fact, Lark Sparrows,
Kimball Garrett
Juniper Hills, Ca
On Sun, Oct 4, 2026 at 12:20â¯PM Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Birders,
>
> This morning there was a Dickcissel at Sorensen Park (entrance off Ave P,
> a bit west of 170th Street East in Lake Los Angeles). It was foraging on
> the lawns just inside the park entrance, accompanied by Chipping and Lake
> Sparrows. This is outside the fenced (off-limits) renovation area in the
> eastern part of the park, but that fenced area has some unmowed grass and
> annual weeds and is likely as attractive to sparrows (and Dickcissels) as
> the lawn where I saw the bird. That area can be viewed (scope would be
> handy) from the west or north sides of the fence.
>
>
>
Date: 10/4/26 12:20 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Dickcissel, Black-and-white Warbler at Sorensen Park, Lake L. A.
Birders,
This morning there was a Dickcissel at Sorensen Park (entrance off Ave P, a bit west of 170th Street East in Lake Los Angeles). It was foraging on the lawns just inside the park entrance, accompanied by Chipping and Lake Sparrows. This is outside the fenced (off-limits) renovation area in the eastern part of the park, but that fenced area has some unmowed grass and annual weeds and is likely as attractive to sparrows (and Dickcissels) as the lawn where I saw the bird. That area can be viewed (scope would be handy) from the west or north sides of the fence.
There was a male Black-and-white Warbler in the pines just north of the renovation area fence -- this is just a bit east of the restroom building. Lots of chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches in the park and in the salt cedars and willows outside the park (mainly along the drainage north of the park). Of note was a scrub-jay (rare this far out into the Antelope Valley), though sadly it proved to be a California Scrub-Jay.
In other Antelope Valley area news, there was a tight flock of ten Cassin's Finches that briefly landed in our Juniper Hills yard early this morning -- this is another of the irruptive species being seen widely beyond "normal" areas of occurrence this fall.
Date: 10/3/26 5:57 pm From: <mexczech...> via groups.io <mexczech...> Subject: [LACoBirds] my possible tennessee warbler (dead) is a western warb vireo - rancho palos verdes
Hi Birders
Thank you to the 4 birders for reviewing my photos!
Here are their opinions with their initials:
TB, AV, DCÂ Â Western Warbling VireoLCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Orange-Crowned Warbler
I was thrown by Sibley's length for the warbling vireo of 5.5 inches. It seems they can go down to just above 4.5 inches; my bird was right around 4.5 inches.
Happy Birding,
Tim ZajicRPV, LA County Â
On Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 09:46:34 PM PDT, <mexczech...> <mexczech...> wrote:
Hi Birders,
My daughter found a dead bird in our front yard. I took some pictures and was a little baffled. At first I thought it was a vireo as the bird has a small hook at the end of the bill. The only candidate would be a red-eyed vireo but the bird is smaller (4.5 inches). I know orange-crowned is common around our house and is quite varied but this bird does not fit well any of the drawings/photos of OCs that I have come across.
I imagine I can not post a photo here? If anyone has a minute and is willing to take a look, I can send a photo.
Regards,
Tim ZajicRPV, LA CountyÂ
A RIDGWAYS RAIL continued at Ballona Lagoon through September 30.
A SABINES GULL was at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera from October 1-3.
Three more SABINES GULLS were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on October 2.
A MANX SHEARWATER was offshore south of San Pedro on September 27.
Up to six NAZCA BOOBIES were offshore in the area south of San Pedro on September 27.
Two COCOS BOOBIES was south of Long Beach Harbor on September 27.
WESTERN CATTLE-EGRETS included one continuing at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through October 2 and one at Silver Lake Reservoir on October 27.
A WILLIAMSONS SAPSUCKER continued at Veterans Park in Sylmar through September 28.
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach on September 29 and at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach from October 1-2.
A LEAST FLYCATCHER was on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) on September 26.
Always rare in the county, dozens of PINYON JAYS continued away from expected areas, with eleven at Jackson Lake on October 1, eighteen at Table Mountain on October 2 and four near Baldwin Hills on October 2.
CLARKS NUTCRACKERS continued to be seen away from expected areas in the San Gabriel Mountains, on the coastal slope and on Santa Catalina Island.
YELLOW-GREEN VIREOS continued at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester through September 27 and on Santa Catalina Island through September 28.
EVENING GROSBEAKS continued to be reported, with birds at Table Mountain, at Mt. Gleason, at Charlton Flat, at Barley Flat and at Mt. Wilson this past week.
A LARK BUNTING was at the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale from September 30-October 1.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was a Ballona Lagoon in Marina del Rey from September 26-30. Additionally, two to three were on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) from September 25-26.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail (usually by the south end of Monte Verde Park) in Lakewood through October 1.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) on September 25.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH continued at the Zuma Creek mouth in Malibu through September 26.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS included a bird continuing at Ladera Park through September 27 and one in South Pasadena on October 2.
A TENNESSEE WARBLER was on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) from September 26-28.
A LUCYS WARBLER continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through October 2 just north of Carson Street.
An AMERICAN REDSTART was at Apollo Park in Lancaster on September 26 and another continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through September 28. One was in the West Adams area of Los Angeles on September 27.
A NORTHERN PARULA continued at Ladera Park through September 27.
Another NORTHERN PARULA was in Signal Hill (North Side Trails) on September 26.
A MAGNOLIA WARBLER was on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) from September 26-28.
A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through October 2 (in the riparian strip near Picnic Area #2).
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS continued at Ladera Park through September 26 at Pt. Dume also through September 26.
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER was on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) from September 26-27.
A PALM WARBLER was at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood on September 29.
Up to two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were on Santa Catalina Island (Avalon area) from September 25-27.
A SUMMER TANAGER was in Rolling Hills Estates through October 1.
-end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 10/1/26 11:47 am From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Sabine’s Gull. SG Spreading Grounds; 9/30/26
Correction: the date of this is October 1 not September 30.
Jon Feenstra
Pasadena
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> on behalf of Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...>
Sent: Thursday, 01 October 2026 10:11:15
To: LACoBirds <lacobirds...>
Subject: [LACoBirds] Sabines Gull. SG Spreading Grounds; 9/30/26
There's a juvenile plumaged Sabine's Gull at the San Gabriel Coastal Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera. It was at the north end of the south pond (south of Mines) then flew south to land with all the other gulls at the south end.
Also a Western Cattle-Egret in the same area and a lingering Hooded Oriole along the neighborhood edge near the south end of the south pond.
Conditions look great with shallow water and lots of mud.
Date: 10/1/26 11:19 am From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Some notes from Pacifico Mountain
Hi all,
As everyone knows by now, this is a good time to be up in the mountains looking for things. I was up at Pacifico Mountain around sunset yesterday, birding a small patch of intact pine forest between 6600' and 7200'. Always a fun place to go birding. While I did not have Nutcrackers, Pinyon Jays or Evening Grosbeaks, there were a few interesting birds: - A small flock of 6 Pine Siskins silently flew over. These have been scarce for me in the county over the past 3 years. - Ruby-crowned Kinglets were moving through in good numbers. It was extremely buggy up there, and the kinglets and a few warblers were enjoying the bugs. - Several Red-breasted Nuthatches were present. There were likely more birds that were silent and hard to detect - Fox Sparrows were back in the chaparral in good numbers. I heard all three expected types, and several birds were singing at sunset. - Very unexpected was a Northern Pygmy-Owl at sunset.
-- Separately, I've found Clark's Nutcrackers and Pinyon Jays in a few places in the mountains and desert now (and also saw the one in Avalon the other day) - these birds are becoming old news. Still hoping to come across Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills somewhere.
Date: 10/1/26 10:11 am From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Sabine’s Gull. SG Spreading Grounds; 9/30/26
There's a juvenile plumaged Sabine's Gull at the San Gabriel Coastal Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera. It was at the north end of the south pond (south of Mines) then flew south to land with all the other gulls at the south end.
Also a Western Cattle-Egret in the same area and a lingering Hooded Oriole along the neighborhood edge near the south end of the south pond.
Conditions look great with shallow water and lots of mud.
Date: 9/29/26 9:46 pm From: <mexczech...> via groups.io <mexczech...> Subject: [LACoBirds] possible tennessee warbler (dead) - rancho palos verdes
Hi Birders,
My daughter found a dead bird in our front yard. I took some pictures and was a little baffled. At first I thought it was a vireo as the bird has a small hook at the end of the bill. The only candidate would be a red-eyed vireo but the bird is smaller (4.5 inches). I know orange-crowned is common around our house and is quite varied but this bird does not fit well any of the drawings/photos of OCs that I have come across.
I imagine I can not post a photo here? If anyone has a minute and is willing to take a look, I can send a photo.
Regards,
Tim ZajicRPV, LA CountyÂ
Date: 9/28/26 12:17 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Evening Grosbeak on Mt. Gleason Road
All, Late this afternoon I heard a single type 1 evening grosbeak calling on the Mt. Gleason Road. The location was about a mile uphill from Mill Creek Summit in a grove of conifers and canyon live oaks on the north-facing slope of the road. The bird called about ten times and I managed to get a recording for about half of them: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S397070056?subID=S397070056 Despite windy conditions in the general area, this particular stretch of the road was relatively calm and quite active with birds. I had hoped to check the conifers around Lightning Point Group Campground for nutcrackers, pinyon jays, and more grosbeaks, but the wind was howling and the only bird I found was a single brown creeper. On a more positive note, although this area burned quite a bit during the Station Fire in 2009, it was encouraging to see that a lot of conifers at higher elevations on Mt. Gleason are growing back. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena _._,_._,_
Date: 9/27/26 11:47 pm From: Grigory Heaton via groups.io <g.heaton...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Nazca Boobies outside LA harbor up to 4x + Catalina Ferry
Hi all,
I spent the day birding on Catalina, both in Avalon and Two Harbors (via the Cyclone speedboat). Land migrant numbers were pretty bad and I managed to miss every rarity in Avalon reported yesterday (and earlier in the morning) after taking a later boat to allow for pelagic birding on the ferry, with a marsh wren and white-winged dove in Two Harbors being the only remotely notable birds.
The ferry rides, though, were another story. On the return boat, I counted now up to *four* Nazca-type boobies in the vicinity of the buoy line extending out from Angel's Gate - the two presumably continuing adult/subadult Nazca birds on Buoys 1 (green) and 2 (red) seen at extreme distance, the continuing dark-headed immature Nazca/Masked flying and diving near these buoys (also seen extremely far away), and another subadult Nazca (?) on top of Buoy 3 (green) with fantastic views as the ferry went right by this last buoy.
I also had what I'm currently calling a Manx Shearwater in a large raft of Black-vented Shearwaters, about 3 miles south of Angel's Gate. Storm petrels are still unusually easy to find in the channel with the warm water temperatures, with one Ashy SP and lots of Black & Least SPs.
For seeing the buoys/boobies - Harbor Breeze Whale-watch out of San Pedro will stop at the buoys if you ask on the way out, but Catalina Ferries are pretty hit-and-miss in terms of getting close to any of them since they definitely won't go out of their way for wildlife, and I don't think their routes ever get near buoys 1 or 2.
Date: 9/27/26 9:41 am From: musicsoop via groups.io <musicsoop...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Evening Grosbeak and Clark's Nutcrackers at Charlton Flat and Williamson's Sapsucker at Chilao Visitor Center
Yesterday morning I went to Charlton Flat to hike up to the Vetter Mtn fire lookout. The peak itself was a bit sleepy, but Charlton Flat was very birdy.
One Evening Grosbeak flew across the trail right in front of me on the way up but I couldn't find it after that. Too fast to get a photo.
On the way back down, just as I was photoing a Pine Siskin around 34.292821, -118.012741 a totally silent flock of 25 Clark's Nutcrackers caught me off guard but managed to get a few shots.
This is the Los Angeles RBA for September 26, 2026.
A RIDGWAYS RAIL continued at Ballona Lagoon through September 25.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS were along the Los Angeles River near Maywood on September 19 and adjacent to DeForest Park in Long Beach on September 20.
A RED PHALAROPE was at Lake Palmdale on September 20.
A COMMON TERN was at the Ballona Creek mouth on September 19.
A LITTLE GULL was at Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB (letter of permission required for access) on September 18.
A LEAST BITTERN was on Santa Catalina Island on September 19 (at Thompson Reservoir).
A REDDISH EGRET continued on the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach through September 20 at Willow Street.
A WILLIAMSONS SAPSUCKER was at Veterans Park in Sylmar on September 24.
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were at Golden Shore Marine Reserve from September 20-22 and at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park on September 20.
A YELLOW-GREEN VIREO was at Loyola Marymount University from September 25-26. Google Maps 33.9663, -118.4138
The notable incursion of PINYON JAYS continued, with twenty-five at Bear Divide near Santa Clarita on September 24, up to twenty at Chilao Flat and up to a dozen were at Table Mountain near Wrightwood. Remarkably, one was on Santa Catalina Island on September 25.
CLARKS NUTCRACKERS have been following suit, with notable reports including one on San Clemente Island on September 23 and one in Redondo Beach on September 24.
Four PURPLE MARTINS were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on September 24.
EVENING GROSBEAKS were at Jackson Lake near Big Pines on September 20, at Mt. Wilson on September 22 (two birds) and along the Angeles Crest Highway past Chilao on September 23.
Two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena on September 20.
Another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was along the Los Angeles River adjacent to the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale on September 21.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail (usually by the south end of Monte Verde Park) in Lakewood through September 25.
Another GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE was in Woodland Hills from September 24-25.
Two BOBOLINKS were along the San Gabriel River in Pico Rivera (near Dunlap Crossing) on September 26.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at the Zuma Creek mouth in Malibu on September 19.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS were at Charles Wilson Park in Torrance on September 21, at Ladera Park from September 23-25, at Highland Park in South Pasadena on September 21 and at South Gate Park on September 25.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was at Pt. Dume in Malibu on September 23 along with a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.
TENNESSEE WARBLERS were at Arcadia County Park on September 20, at Piute Ponds on September 20, in Signal Hill on September 20, at the Los Angeles National Cemetery from September 21-24, at La Mirada Creek Park through September 22, at Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach on September 22 and at William Andrews Clark Memorial Library in Los Angeles on September 24.
A LUCYS WARBLER continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through September 23 just north of Carson Street.
Another LUCYS WARBLER was at Agua Amarga Canyon in Palos Verdes Estates on September 21.
AMERICAN REDSTARTS were north of Castaic Lake on September 21 and at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas from September 25-26 (in the riparian strip near Picnic Area #2). A
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER was also at the latter location from September 25-26.
A CAPE MAY WARBLER continued at Sequoia Park in Monterey Park through September 19.
A NORTHERN PARULA was at Ladera Park from September 24-25 and another was at Malibu Lagoon on September 23.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was at Ladera Park from September 21-25.
BLACKPOLL WARBLERS were at Veterans Park in Sylmar on September 21 and at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on September 24.
SUMMER TANAGERS were at Murphy Ranch Park in Whittier on September 18, at Bee Canyon Park in Granada Hills on September 21, at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas (north side by the boat ramp) on September 21 and in Rolling Hills Estates through September 23.
An INDIGO BUNTING was at Samta Fe Dam (above the spillway) on September 18.
PAINTED BUNTINGS were at the West San Gabirel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood on September 19 and at Bonelli regional Park in San Dimas from September 20-22.
Santa Catalina Island (primarily the Avalon area) produced a remarkable number of rarities this past week. These included a LEAST FLYCATCHER on September 18, three YELLOW-GREEN VIREOS between September 18 and 22, a BELLS VIREO on September 22, a BLACK-THROATED SPARROW, two CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, an ORCHARD ORIOLE on September 25, an OVENBIRD on September 18, five TENNESSEE WARBLERS on September 18, a SUMMER TANAGER on September 18, a DICKCISSEL on September 18 and two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS from September 19-25.
-end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 9/24/26 3:32 pm From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Channel Islands observations of Clark's Nutcrackers and Pinyon Jay
Yesterday (23 September), Jimmy McMorran messaged me from San Clemente Island to report he'd seen and heard a Pinyon Jay, and possibly a second. Later that afternoon, Nicole Desnoyers sent photos of a Clark's Nutcracker in the parking lot of the field station in Wilson Cove. Both species were previously unrecorded on San Clemente Island.
Date: 9/24/26 11:04 am From: Mary & Nick Freeman via groups.io <mnfreeman...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Chilao Evening Grosbeak 9/23/26

Hi Birders!
Yesterday afternoon at Chilao up the Manzanita road and past the bathroom at campsite #7, I heard two distant calling Evening Grosbeaks. It was about 3:00pm. We also heard one Red-breasted Nuthatch. We made several stops along the Crest - negative for Pinyon jays and nutcrackers. We drove as far as the road closure. Two White-crowned Sparrows made an appearance at the Clear Creek Ranger shack.
Date: 9/24/26 8:51 am From: Elisa via groups.io <chiccadee100...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pin-tailed Whydah and Scaly-breasted Munia: Citizen Science Project
Hi everyone,
My name is Elisa Yang and I'm OC birder doing my PhD in ornithology. I study the brood parasitic relationship between introduced Pin-tailed Whydahs and Scaly-breasted Munias. Thanks to tips from local birders, I've been studying these species at the Fullerton Arboretum the last two years, and have come with many exciting findings I can't wait to share. We have primarily been working in Orange County, but have also started working in LA County close to Long Beach, near CSU Dominguez Hills.
This year and next year we are expanding the project to include a citizen science approach, working with people who may have a munia nest in their yard, or have seen one in their neighborhood. The munia nest is a large domed ball of grass with a side entrance, tucked into a shrub, tree, or eave. I can work with nests up to about 18 feet high.
If that sounds like your yard, here's the project page. It contains a lot more information on the current research, people on the project, and what types of data we are collecting. Feel free to either email me with information (either if you have a nest, or if you see a lot of munias nesting in your neighborhood), or fill out the intake form on the website. Thanks so much for your help!
https://sites.google.com/ princeton.edu/elisayang/ citizen-science-project ( https://sites.google.com/princeton.edu/elisayang/citizen-science-project )
Greetings Everyone, Grigory's audio recording definitely shows type 1 evening grosbeak flight calls. They look very similar to the ones Norm Vargas reported at Mt. Wilson Observatory yesterday. The area in question is east of the locked gate at about mile 54 on the Angeles Crest Highway, and it has actually seen quite a bit of coverage by birders this year. Clark's nutcrackers have been present in modest numbers all summer and have seemed more reliable there than usual. The elevation at the gate is around 6200-6300 feet and is usually about as low in elevation as nutcrackers regularly occur in the area. Most of us visiting the area have walked a mile or two past the locked gate and used the mile 55.44 eBird hotspot for our bird lists. Given that places like Cloud Burst Summit, Buckhorn, Eagle's Roost, and Islip Saddle aren't accessible to cars due to the road closure, you can still park at the gate at mile 54 and walk east along the road or along the Pacific Crest Trail. Right now this provides the easiest access to high elevations on the west side of the Crest. If you visit during weekdays there might be construction crews on the road but on weekends there's much less activity and you might encounter only a few hikers. If you're feeling especially intrepid, it's still possible to walk along the highway to Cloud Burst Summit (about 3 miles, with ~700 feet of elevation gain) or to the Buckhorn area (~4 miles to the entrance, 5 miles to the exit). Note that the entrance road into Buckhorn has multiple deep and wide washouts, so I recommend going in along the exit road, which is in good condition. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena --------------------
From: "Grigory Heaton via groups.io" <g.heaton...> Reply-To: <g.heaton...> To: <LACoBirds...> Sent: September 23, 2026 at 1:46 PM PDT Subject: [LACoBirds] Evening Grosbeak flyover + Irruptions Hi all, I spent some time this morning checking out various points along the 2 in the San Gabriels looking for pinyon jays and other irruption species. After walking a few miles around Chilao campground (no notable sightings, although Lawrence's goldfinches are always a welcome surprise) I decided to check out an area up the road I don't think has been covered recently and walked out behind the road closure at the 6000' gate a bit. Walking the highway right above Glenwood camp, I heard an Evening Grosbeak flying over heading south - spectrogram looks like the expected Type 1 to me but I'm no expert on these: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395599787. I also had two Clark's nutcrackers flying south here, although at this elevation it's not too out of range for nutcrackers. This stretch of closed road is right above a large canyon and may be good for funneling birds heading south over the ridge.
Stopping by Chilao visitor center on the way back, I briefly heard a single pinyon jay.
I spent some time this morning checking out various points along the 2 in the San Gabriels looking for pinyon jays and other irruption species. After walking a few miles around Chilao campground (no notable sightings, although Lawrence's goldfinches are always a welcome surprise) I decided to check out an area up the road I don't think has been covered recently and walked out behind the road closure at the 6000' gate a bit. Walking the highway right above Glenwood camp, I heard an Evening Grosbeak flying over heading south - spectrogram looks like the expected Type 1 to me but I'm no expert on these: https://ebird.org/checklist/S395599787. I also had two Clark's nutcrackers flying south here, although at this elevation it's not too out of range for nutcrackers. This stretch of closed road is right above a large canyon and may be good for funneling birds heading south over the ridge.
Stopping by Chilao visitor center on the way back, I briefly heard a single pinyon jay.
Date: 9/23/26 10:53 am From: Luke Tiller via groups.io <luke.tiller...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Rescheduled PAS Pelagic - Sunday October 11th.
Hi all,
People may have seen that PAS had to cancel their pelagic on September 20th due to mechanical issues with the boat (terrible timing). Itâs been rescheduled for Sunday October 11th. There are a few tickets remaining. If youâre interested I recommend booking ASAP. Itâs typically within the window of good birds and this year it might be interesting to see what this warmer water will bring. A full day of offshore birding for a very reasonable $140. https://www.pasadenaaudubon.org/?q=pelagic
In other birding news I went to Clear Creek, Chilao and thought about going to Mt Wilson while parked at Red Box and heard exactly one distant Pinyon Jay over the whole day. Another data point for you Kimball ;). Ps thanks for posting info about prior irruptions and species to look out for. A reason the listserve is still an invaluable tool for local birders.
Date: 9/23/26 9:59 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Another nutcracker data point
As Norm's post from Mt. Wilson shows, Clark's Nutcrackers are on the move in L. A. County, away from Hugh mountain areas where largely resident. This morning I saw 4 nutcrackers flying over Clear Creek summit, heading east. This is at the intersection of Angeles Crest and Angeles Forest highways. Checking similar summits and ridges might prove fruitful.
Date: 9/22/26 10:42 am From: Vargas, Norman via groups.io <normvargas2011...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Clark’s Nutcrackers at Mount Wilson Observatory
A flock of about 30 nutcrackers landed in a few trees, but then continued eastward down the slope into Santa Anita Canyon towards Sturtevant camp.
Two evening grosbeaks were calling to each other, and I was able to get a recording I believe this is the same bird that has been calling up here for many weeks, but I could never see it or identify it.
Date: 9/21/26 5:18 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] This fall's bird irruptions -- 1972 redux
Birders,
The widespread occurrence (and in some cases massive numbers) of Pinyon Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, etc. this month in California brings to mind the fall of 1972, which veteran (i.e., old) birders will remember well. I was living on the UCLA campus that fall, and had numerous Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, and Pine Siskins on campus, along with records of Clark's Nutcracker, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak. In his introduction to the Fall Season report in American Birds (now NAB), Guy McCaskie wrote the following:
"Acom Woodpeckers appeared to stage a small invasion of the coast, and Lewis' Woodpeckers invaded the entire Region. A number of the Corvidae irrupted, resulting in many records of Pinon Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers far from their normal ranges, as well as a few records of Steller's and Scrub Jays, Black-billed Magpies and Com. Crows away from areas of normal occurrence. The Region experienced a massive flight of Red-breasted Nuthatches; apparent by a few Whitebreasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets were also involved. Varied Thrushes were much commoner than usual, occurring in many areas where normally absent. The numbers of Evening Grosbeaks found in the eastern portions of the Region were spectacular, and some even occurred west to the coast, indicating an exceptionally heavy flight during October; a few Purple and Cassin's Finches as well as Red Crossbills may have also been involved with this influx."
It remains to be seen how this year's irruptions will play out -- and every irruption year is a bit different. Guy did note in the following (Winter Season) report that the irruptions largely fizzled out after December, which could well happen again this winter. Enjoy it while it lasts, and I would repeat what some others have urged: Explore a variety of areas and go where other birders don't -- that will help paint a more complete picture of what is going on.
Lance
1. My ability to identify trees to species is very poor. I definitely know
they were not Jefferies, but after that anything goes.
2. I did have cross bills that tells me that I forgot to include them on
the list.
3. Iâm going to have to download those apps that you were suggesting
because I did not succeed in getting any recordings
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
On Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 2:27â¯PM <lbenner...> wrote:
> Hi Tom,
>
> Thank you for posting this. The ongoing irruption is pretty exciting
> and it wouldn't suprise me if the nutcrackers and pinyon jays show up in
> many other areas. Did you happen to get any recordings? Please remember
> that any sound recording app on your phone probably has sufficient
> sensitivity to get something useful. I normally use Song Meter Touch and
> Voice Record Pro, because they're the most sensitive apps I've found, but
> Merlin could also work.
>
> Regarding the nutcrackers, every now and then Cathy McFadden and Paul
> Clarke find some on Sunset Peak near where you found some. After one of
> their reports (maybe in 2019...?) I rode my bike from Cow Canyon Saddle to
> Sunset Peak and heard some in the same area where they had reported them.
> So there's a history of them showing up in that area.
>
> Also, if you find any evening grosbeaks and red crossbills, please record
> those too!
>
> Finally, I've been by that grove of trees you mentioned. There are a
> number of bigcone Douglas-firs and incense cedars, and perhaps Coulter
> pine, but I don't remember any sugar pines.
>
> Regards,
>
> Lance
>
>
>
> --------------------
>
> From: "<tgmiko...> via groups.io" <tgmiko...>
> Reply-To: <tgmiko...>
> To: "LACoBirds" <lacobirds...>
> Sent: September 21, 2026 at 1:48 PM PDT
> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pinyon Jays Glendora Ridge Road
> Hi,
> Yesterday I tried to go to Barrett Stoddard because I wanted to look for
> Pinyon Jays (and normal fall migrants) there and it was already so
> incredibly crowded at 8:15 in the morning (a huge number of cars were
> parked illegally in spots that have large, easy to see No Parking signs. I
> wonder how many parking tickets were issued yesterday?) that I gave up and
> drove further uphill to a spot that does not have a useful or sexy name but
> itâs a great spot to park and walk uphill through a couple miles of
> chaparral until you get into a bend in the forest, where remarkably a small
> stand of pine forest survived the fire. The pines in this area are Sugar
> Pines, not Jeffries, and I didnât think about that when I started walking
> to that spot but I think that may have had some negative influence, but Iâm
> not sure. While I was still walking uphill in the open chaparral, however I
> had a small number of Pinyon Jays flying over me and calling. Remarkably
> when I first got out of my car I had a Clarkâs Nutcracker flying overhead
> and calling. A first for me at that location.
> So I think that the Pinyon Jays and the Nutcracker flew past that open
> chaparral where I had them and flew further south to an area that has a
> mixed species group of pines which was probably better habitat albeit
> inaccessible to hikers like me.
> Because eBird doesnât like it if you keep running the same checklist when
> you walk back towards your car, I stopped that list, thinking, âWell, you
> canât top thatâ and only started a new one on the way downhill When I had a
> mixed flock of three species of swift, floating directly overhead causing
> me to ruin my dumb decision to not haul my camera with me. I had recording
> equipment because I figured I need to record the Jays. Little did I think
> that I would wind up with Black Swifts cooperatively, posing, and demanding
> that I take their picture. Sigh.
> There were quite a number of vaguely finch sized songbirds flying around
> that I didnât get good enough looks at while walking uphill in the
> chaparral. By the way, when it is foggy and dark in the coastal cities or
> even in Claremont, when you drive up here, youâre above the cloud layer in
> blue skies.
> Another reason I wish I had had my camera with me was that there were
> quite a number of interesting and cool insects, including Pale
> Swallowtails, California Sisters, 4 dragonfly species (including Red Rock
> Skimmer) and some kind of bizarre, small moth that looked like a
> combination of a very small skipper with a moth whose posterior wings were
> all blackâ along with four species of lizard, including a Coast Horned
> Lizard.
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S394734181 > and
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S394735073?continue >
> Tom
>
> Thomas Geza Miko
> Claremont CA 91711
> 909.241.3300
>
>
Date: 9/21/26 2:38 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Evening grosbeaks and red crossbills
All, Following up on the message from Dan Cooper about evening grosbeak sounds, if you find any grosbeaks or red crossbills during the irruption that is developing, PLEASE try to get recordings! You probably don't need fancy equipment and your cell phone probably has enough sensitivity. Any one of the sound recording apps on modern phones will probably work, including Merlin, but I prefer Song Meter Touch and Voice Record Pro (both are free) because they are more sensitive than Merlin and will pick up fainter sounds. There are five known evening grosbeak flight call types and two have been recorded in southern California: types 1 and 2. Type 2s breed in the Sierra but most of the grosbeaks documented in this part of the state have been type 1s. There are 12 red crossbill flight call types currently known in North America, and of these, types 2, 3, and 4 have been documented in Los Angeles County. The vast majority have been type 2s, which are adapted for ponderosa and Jeffrey pines, and to date these are the only ones found in the mountains. Types 3 and 4 are much, much less common. The best way to tell the types apart is with audio spectrograms generated from recordings and videos. If you get find red crossbills and evening grosbeak and get recordings, please upload them to your eBird lists. This will really help us understand this irruption better. Finally, be on the watch for breeding by red crossbills. They can breed at any time of the year if the cone crop is good. If so, then they will be singing in addition to calling. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena P.S. Please note that Cassin's finches and Lewis's woodpeckers are also starting to turn up so be on the alert for them. _._,_._,_
Hi,
Yesterday I tried to go to Barrett Stoddard because I wanted to look for
Pinyon Jays (and normal fall migrants) there and it was already so
incredibly crowded at 8:15 in the morning (a huge number of cars were
parked illegally in spots that have large, easy to see No Parking signs. I
wonder how many parking tickets were issued yesterday?) that I gave up and
drove further uphill to a spot that does not have a useful or sexy name but
itâs a great spot to park and walk uphill through a couple miles of
chaparral until you get into a bend in the forest, where remarkably a small
stand of pine forest survived the fire. The pines in this area are Sugar
Pines, not Jeffries, and I didnât think about that when I started walking
to that spot but I think that may have had some negative influence, but Iâm
not sure. While I was still walking uphill in the open chaparral, however I
had a small number of Pinyon Jays flying over me and calling. Remarkably
when I first got out of my car I had a Clarkâs Nutcracker flying overhead
and calling. A first for me at that location.
So I think that the Pinyon Jays and the Nutcracker flew past that open
chaparral where I had them and flew further south to an area that has a
mixed species group of pines which was probably better habitat albeit
inaccessible to hikers like me.
Because eBird doesnât like it if you keep running the same checklist when
you walk back towards your car, I stopped that list, thinking, âWell, you
canât top thatâ and only started a new one on the way downhill When I had a
mixed flock of three species of swift, floating directly overhead causing
me to ruin my dumb decision to not haul my camera with me. I had recording
equipment because I figured I need to record the Jays. Little did I think
that I would wind up with Black Swifts cooperatively, posing, and demanding
that I take their picture. Sigh.
There were quite a number of vaguely finch sized songbirds flying around
that I didnât get good enough looks at while walking uphill in the
chaparral. By the way, when it is foggy and dark in the coastal cities or
even in Claremont, when you drive up here, youâre above the cloud layer in
blue skies.
Another reason I wish I had had my camera with me was that there were quite
a number of interesting and cool insects, including Pale Swallowtails,
California Sisters, 4 dragonfly species (including Red Rock Skimmer)
and some kind of bizarre, small moth that looked like a combination of a
very small skipper with a moth whose posterior wings were all blackâ along
with four species of lizard, including a Coast Horned Lizard.
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S394734181 and
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S394735073?continue
Date: 9/21/26 8:49 am From: lathrotriccus via groups.io <lathrotriccus...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Evening Grosbeak, Jackson Lake
Great sighting!
Just back from Western Field Ornithologists' annual meeting in Ashland, OR,
where they're also experiencing an invasion by certain (normally rare)
montane birds. Double-digit flocks of things like Clark's Nutcracker in
areas where they might be lucky to glimpse one per year. Red Crossbill,
Pinyon Jay, Cassin's Finch and Evening Grosbeak also seem to be on the move
in numbers, though it's still early in the season so the full pattern is
still taking shape (we had the grosbeaks flycatching from trees in Lithia
Park right in Ashland!). At one campground in the mountains east of town,
multiple nutcrackers and crossbills were voraciously feeding on pine cones,
presumably extracting seeds; as pointed out to us by a local birder, this
was about the only tree in sight 'with' pine cones, so some type of
broad-scale crop failure may be happening.
This is a good time to brush up on the flight calls of all these species
since you're most likely to encounter them moving high overhead. Evening
Grosbeak has a very distinctive loud single-note call in flight, which to
me sounds like an amplified Western Bluebird's, like "PEEeer" or "SEEEnt".
Have a listen here:
https://ebird.org/news/evening-grosbeak-call-types-of-north-america.
We hear Clark's more often, so folks may already be familiar w/ its raspy,
jay-like call. Crossbills have a few call types that have been discussed at
length : )
Dan Cooper
Ventura Co.
On Sun, Sep 20, 2026 at 11:08â¯PM Grigory Heaton via groups.io <g.heaton=
<outlook.com...> wrote:
> This afternoon I had an immature male EVENING GROSBEAK pop up while
> walking back to my car at Jackson Lake, while searching the eastern San
> Gabriels unsuccessfully for pinyon jays. Seen at 3:45pm at 34°23'35.9"N
> 117°43'39.9"W. Oddly, the bird was apparently sheltering in a shrub just a
> few feet high right next to the road before flushing up to a branch, giving
> fantastic views for a bit and then flying down somewhere nearby unseen near
> the base of slope.
>
> We seem to be witnessing the start of an irruption of these with birds
> reported in Santa Barbara county and Death Valley over the weekend, so keep
> an eye out when you're up in the mountains.
>
> Grigory Heaton
> Pasadena, CA
>
>
>
--
Daniel S. Cooper, Ph.D.
President / Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc. / Oak Park, CA
Lecturer / UC & CSU
Research Associate / Department of Ornithology / NHMLA
323.397.3562 (text/call)
Date: 9/20/26 11:08 pm From: Grigory Heaton via groups.io <g.heaton...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Evening Grosbeak, Jackson Lake
This afternoon I had an immature male EVENING GROSBEAK pop up while walking back to my car at Jackson Lake, while searching the eastern San Gabriels unsuccessfully for pinyon jays. Seen at 3:45pm at 34°23'35.9"N 117°43'39.9"W. Oddly, the bird was apparently sheltering in a shrub just a few feet high right next to the road before flushing up to a branch, giving fantastic views for a bit and then flying down somewhere nearby unseen near the base of slope.
We seem to be witnessing the start of an irruption of these with birds reported in Santa Barbara county and Death Valley over the weekend, so keep an eye out when you're up in the mountains.
Date: 9/20/26 11:03 pm From: musicsoop via groups.io <musicsoop...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pinyon Jays - Hansen Dam
[Edited Message Follows]
A little after noon today I parked in the lower lot below the ranger station and very shortly after heard and recorded Pinyon Jays somewhere in the area, which includes a hillside with pines on it. Not the best recording but it seemed pretty obvious that's what it was. Later saw them flying together but not close enough to photo.
Date: 9/20/26 10:59 pm From: musicsoop via groups.io <musicsoop...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pinyon Jays - Hansen Dam
A little after noon today I parked in the lower lot below the ranger station and very shortly after heard and recorded Pinyon Jays somewhere in the area, which includes a hillside with pines on it. Not the best recording but it seemed pretty obvious that's what it was. Later saw them flying together but not close enough to photo.
Hi Loretta,
Hopefully Kimball will correct or amend what I am going to say: any place
with a lot of pinesâprobablyâbut not certainly with Jeffrey Pines. I know
that sounds vague and useless. Lightning may strike twice. I think someone
had Pinyon Jays again at Chilao, after a bunch of us didnât have any last
Sunday. Were the most recent Chilao Pinyon Jays the same birds, or a new
set?
Table Mountain Frisbee Golf Course had some the other day. Where ever you
go, I think the real trick is to be there early in the morning, know what
Pinyon Jays sound like, and have Merlin running on your phone, in your
pocket.
I would expect that if someone went (in the morning!) up to the end of
Highway 39, where it ends (in the morning!) and hung out at Crystal Lake
Compground they would have them there. While there, you will have other
mountain birds like Townsendâs Solitaires pretending to be dull Western
Bluebirds, all three Nuthatch species, etc.
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
On Sat, Sep 19, 2026 at 1:13â¯PM Loretta Selinger via groups.io <loretta=
<lhselinger.com...> wrote:
> Does anyone have a suggestion for the best place to try for this bird in
> LA county?
>
> Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> >
>
>
Date: 9/20/26 5:42 am From: Katz, Nurit via groups.io <nkatz...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground
Thank you Kimball. Do the pines they feed on have mast years? Could that be the cause of the irruptions?
Thank you,
Nurit
Encino, CA
From: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> On Behalf Of Kimball Garrett via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2026 8:19 AM
To: <edstonick...>
Cc: <naresh.satyan...>; <LACoBirds...>
Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground
Ed,
The main thing that this fall's irruptive species have in common is a diet that depends largely on pine seeds. So I wouldn't expect ecologically very different species (such as a boreal forest waxwing) to be involved, except through coincidence. Likewise, there is little indication (at least up to this point) of any strong irruptions of finches into our region (a few siskin and crossbill reports, but no local Evening Grosbeak reports, for example).
Besides the corvids, there are lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches in the lowlands, and Mountain Chickadees seem much more widespread on the deserts than in most falls. I wonder about the possible presence of Great Basin/Rocky Mtn. Mountain Chickadees this fall (subtly different, with buffier flanks and a bit more white on the supercilium and forehead), and apparently there has been at least one "Interior/Mountain" White-breasted Nuthatch (tenuissima, with the distinctive staccato call notes) in the coast range north of L. A. County. Birders should be aware of the potential for that taxon in L. A. this fall (though the 2-3 White-breasted Nuthatches I have found on the Antelope Valley floor this fall have been coastal aculeata). Please try to record vocalizations of any desert lowland (or odd-sounding coastal) W-b Nuthatches.
We still don't know where these corvids are coming from, other than conifer forests and woodlands somewhere from the Sierra Nevada east to the Rocky Mtns, (thus, likely much of the Great Basin as Naresh indicated). And unless the Santa Barbara folks have figured it out, we don't know where the triple (even quadruple) digits of Clark's Nutcrackers seen almost daily at La Cumbre Peak are coming from and headed to each day and whether it is new birds or repeat birds each day.
The good news is that there are lots of birders out there reporting on eBird, and maybe by the end of this season's phenomenon we'll have a better understanding of the patterns that are unfolding.
This is the first I've heard of an invasion of northern Great Basin birds to L. A .County.
Have there been similar events in the past? What else might we expect in Southern or other parts of California e. g. Bohemian Waxwings, woodpeckers, etc.
I had a couple of Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake campground (west of Lake Hughes) this evening. There are no previous reports of this species in the western part of the Angeles National Forest (west of about Mt Gleason), at least on eBird. It is hard to be sure what's going on with nutcrackers in the eastern San Gabriels where there is a resident population, but these birds would appear to be solidly linked to the ongoing corvid irruption from the Great Basin.
I did not hear any Pinyon Jays (or see any, but my chances of seeing a silent bird were pretty slim).
Date: 9/19/26 11:24 pm From: Grigory Heaton via groups.io <g.heaton...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Least Storm Petrels / Catalina Ferry
Standing on the top deck of the Catalina Express today to and from Avalon, I counted 4x Least SPs around the middle of the Catalina Channel (3x outbound, one on the way back), most vaguely associating with Black SPs. They're generally quite common pretty close to shore at the moment all over southern California even on whale-watches just 3-4 miles from shore, so if you want to see one locally now is the time.
Buoy 2, host to an adult Nazca booby and immature Masked/Nazca recently, is just barely in viewing range from the San Pedro-Avalon ferry route. I was able to pick out the immature in my camera with a 600mm lens (albeit with Ivory-billed Woodpecker Evidence quality), and I suspect if a specifically *adult* Nazca was there it would be just close enough to call it.
Date: 9/19/26 9:09 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] LA River Fall shorebird survey 2026: Day 3 results
Hi all,
Our third and final day of the annual shorebird survey of the LA river this fall was on Saturday September 19. This is the fourth year of the survey. The results are here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/573388
All three days had more-or-less the same coverage. Today, we had overcast skies under a marine layer, and relatively cool temperatures in the 60s to 70s F.
Much of the interesting stuff was in Long Beach as usual. Jon Fisher had a continuing Dunlin (first for the survey) at Willow and an insane sighting of a Red-footed Booby that seemed to have vanished after he saw it. Lance Benner found a Reddish Egret that moved up and down the river, and most of the surveyors saw the bird. Other firsts for the survey were American White Pelican and Sharp-shinned Hawk (we typically miss the arrivals of these birds). Mark and Janet Scheel found a Semipalmated Sandpiper in Bell. On the other hand, this is the first year that we missed Pectoral Sandpiper, which seems to be late this year.
This season's results are tabulated at the bottom of this email.
It is interesting to compare with the results of previous years' surveys. The results of these annual surveys are on the LA Birders website here: https://www.labirders.org/science_projects/la_river_shorebird_survey.html -- scroll down to the spreadsheet at the bottom of the page. There were more shorebirds this year than the past three years.
Thanks again to the birders who participated today: Jeff Boyd, Jon Fisher, Lance Benner, Mark Wilson, Mark and Janet Scheel.
*[We do these surveys three days a year annually. There is always something interesting to learn about year-to-year changes. The LA river is probably my favorite body of water in LA to look at birds apart from the ocean. If you'd like to help out on next year's survey, please send me an email off-list]*
Regards, Naresh
Date 1-Aug-26 29-Aug-26 19-Sep-26 Conditions 69-90 F, clear skies, mostly calm. Extreme Heat Warning over Southern California. The tide was a relatively low at the river mouth. 73-90 F, clear skies, mostly calm. The last day of an extended heat wave across the area. The tide was rapidly rising (0.1 ft to 4.9 ft) through the morning at the river mouth A relatively cool morning under a marine layer much of the time, with temperature in the 60s rising to mid 70s F, and no wind. The tide was high, over +3.0 ft at the river mouth. Comments Water levels in the river were fairly high throughout the survey area, with strong flow in the central channel. Water levels in the river were fairly high throughout the survey area, with strong flow in the central channel. Water levels in the river continued to be very high. eBird Trip Report https://ebird.org/tripreport/554972 https://ebird.org/tripreport/565419https://ebird.org/tripreport/573388
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: T.G. Miko <tgmiko...>
Sent: Saturday, 19 September 2026 13:36:59
To: Loretta Selinger <Loretta...>
Cc: LACoBirds <LACoBirds...>
Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Pinyon jays
Hi Loretta,
Hopefully Kimball will correct or amend what I am going to say: any place with a lot of pinesâprobablyâbut not certainly with Jeffrey Pines. I know that sounds vague and useless. Lightning may strike twice. I think someone had Pinyon Jays again at Chilao, after a bunch of us didnât have any last Sunday. Were the most recent Chilao Pinyon Jays the same birds, or a new set?
Table Mountain Frisbee Golf Course had some the other day. Where ever you go, I think the real trick is to be there early in the morning, know what Pinyon Jays sound like, and have Merlin running on your phone, in your pocket.
I would expect that if someone went (in the morning!) up to the end of Highway 39, where it ends (in the morning!) and hung out at Crystal Lake Compground they would have them there. While there, you will have other mountain birds like Townsendâs Solitaires pretending to be dull Western Bluebirds, all three Nuthatch species, etc.
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
On Sat, Sep 19, 2026 at 1:13â¯PM Loretta Selinger via groups.io<http://groups.io> <loretta...><mailto:<lhselinger.com...>> wrote:
Does anyone have a suggestion for the best place to try for this bird in LA county?
This is the Los Angeles RBA for September 19, 2026.
A HOODED MERGANSER continued at La Mirada Community Park in La Mirada through September 16.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through September 17.
A RIDGWAYS RAIL was at Ballona Lagoon on September 19. Last seen here 33.9701,-118.4576 (Google Maps).
DUNLINS were along the Los Angeles River between Bandini and Slauson on September 13, in the Ballona area (Ballona Creek mouth and salt pan) from September 13-15 and along the Los Angeles River at Willow Street on September 19.
A COMMON TERN was at Piute Ponds on September 17.
A SABINES GULL was at the Lancaster Water Treatment Plant (no public access) on September 14.
Three WILSONS STORM-PETRELS and a WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL were southeast of Santa Catalina Island on September 12.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET was at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on September 13.
A RED-FOOTED BOOBY was at Malibu Lagoon on September 13 and later seen farther east along the coast the same day.
Another RED-FOOTED BOOBY was seen briefly along the lower Los Angeles River at the Willow Street crossing on September 19.
A REDDISH EGRET was along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach on September 19, first above Wardlow and later by the Willow Street crossing.
A BALD EAGLE continued at Jackson Lake near Big Pines through September 13.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was at Sycamore Canyon in Whittier on September 12.
A notable incursion of PINYON JAYS began this past week, with about two dozen birds recorded on the deserts, in the San Gabriel Mountains and at Hansen Dam between September 12 and 19. Birds have been reported at Chilao Flat in the San Gabriels through September 18.
Two CLARKS NUTCRACKERS were just west of Lake Hughes on September 18, another indication of a Corvid irruption this fall.
PURPLE MARTINS included two along the San Gabriel River in Pico Rivera on September 12, one near the Whittier Narrows Dam on September 13 and two at Hansen Dam on September 15.
A BLACK-THROATED SPARROW was along the Los Angeles River in Long Beach (at the Willow Street crossing) on September 18.
CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS were at the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale from September 15-16 and in Long Beach from September 17-18.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through September 18.
A BOBOLINK was along the south side of Quail Lake on September 18.
A NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was at Cal Poly Pomona on September 16.
TENNESSEE WARBLERS were at Biola University in La Mirada on September 14 and at Veterans Park in Sylmar on September 16.
A LUCYS WARBLER was at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood from September 12-18. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was here from September 13-14 (by the Carson Street entrance).
AMERICAN REDSTARTS were at La Mirada Creek Park on September 12 (west of Santa Gertrudes), at North Weddington Park in North Hollywood on September 17 and at Piute Ponds on September 17.
A CAPE MAY WARBLER was at Sequoia Park in Monterey Park from September 17-18.
A SUMMER TANAGER continued at Descanso Gardens in La Canada through September 17. Another was at the Mineral Wells Picnic Area in Griffith Park on September 16 and one was at Banning Park in Wilmington on September 18.
Two INDIGO BUNTINGS were at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City on September 17.
-end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org
Date: 9/19/26 1:41 pm From: Bob Shanman via groups.io <wildbirdbob...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] RIDGWAY'S RAIL, Ballona Lagoon
WOW!
Bob Shanman
<wildbirdbob...>
On Sat, Sep 19, 2026 at 12:29â¯PM Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> For people who haven't heard the news yet, there is a Ridgway's Rail at
> Ballona Lagoon. Now best viewed from the west side of the lagoon at Reef
> St. The bird is here: 33.970104,-118.457626
>
> Not sure who found it, but Henry Witksen somehow spotted it while he was
> driving on the road.
>
> Naresh
>
> --
> Naresh Satyan
> Pasadena, CA
>
>
>
For people who haven't heard the news yet, there is a Ridgway's Rail at Ballona Lagoon. Now best viewed from the west side of the lagoon at Reef St. The bird is here: 33.970104,-118.457626
Not sure who found it, but Henry Witksen somehow spotted it while he was driving on the road.
Date: 9/19/26 11:00 am From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Reddish Egret LA River at Wardlow
This bird moved south to a ways south of Willow (thanks Mark Scheel), now
flew back and is right under the Willow St bridge.
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sat, Sep 19, 2026, 9:05â¯AM Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Passing on a message from Lance Benner -- on the west side of the river a
> few hundred meters north of Wardlow.
>
> Naresh Satyan
> Pasadena, CA
>
>
Date: 9/19/26 8:18 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground
Ed,
The main thing that this fall's irruptive species have in common is a diet
that depends largely on pine seeds. So I wouldn't expect ecologically very
different species (such as a boreal forest waxwing) to be involved, except
through coincidence. Likewise, there is little indication (at least up to
this point) of any strong irruptions of finches into our region (a few
siskin and crossbill reports, but no local Evening Grosbeak reports, for
example).
Besides the corvids, there are lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches in the
lowlands, and Mountain Chickadees seem much more widespread on the deserts
than in most falls. I wonder about the possible presence of Great
Basin/Rocky Mtn. Mountain Chickadees this fall (subtly different, with
buffier flanks and a bit more white on the supercilium and forehead), and
apparently there has been at least one "Interior/Mountain" White-breasted
Nuthatch (tenuissima, with the distinctive staccato call notes) in the
coast range north of L. A. County. Birders should be aware of the potential
for that taxon in L. A. this fall (though the 2-3 White-breasted Nuthatches
I have found on the Antelope Valley floor this fall have been coastal
aculeata). Please try to record vocalizations of any desert lowland (or
odd-sounding coastal) W-b Nuthatches.
We still don't know where these corvids are coming from, other than conifer
forests and woodlands somewhere from the Sierra Nevada east to the Rocky
Mtns, (thus, likely much of the Great Basin as Naresh indicated). And
unless the Santa Barbara folks have figured it out, we don't know where the
triple (even quadruple) digits of Clark's Nutcrackers seen almost daily at
La Cumbre Peak are coming from and headed to each day and whether it is new
birds or repeat birds each day.
The good news is that there are lots of birders out there reporting on
eBird, and maybe by the end of this season's phenomenon we'll have a better
understanding of the patterns that are unfolding.
Kimball Garrett
Juniper Hills
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 9:40â¯PM Ed Stonick via groups.io <edstonick=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Greetings!
>
> This is the first I've heard of an invasion of northern Great Basin birds
> to L. A .County.
>
> Have there been similar events in the past? What else might we expect in
> Southern or other parts of California e. g. Bohemian Waxwings, woodpeckers,
> etc.
>
> Thanks,
> Ed Stonick
> Pasadena, Ca
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: "Naresh Satyan via groups.io" <naresh.satyan...>
> Date: 9/18/26 7:58 PM (GMT-08:00)
> To: "<LACoBirds...>" <lacobirds...>
> Subject: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground
>
> Hi all,
>
> I had a couple of Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake campground (west of
> Lake Hughes) this evening. There are no previous reports of this species in
> the western part of the Angeles National Forest (west of about Mt Gleason),
> at least on eBird. It is hard to be sure what's going on with nutcrackers
> in the eastern San Gabriels where there is a resident population, but these
> birds would appear to be solidly linked to the ongoing corvid irruption
> from the Great Basin.
>
> I did not hear any Pinyon Jays (or see any, but my chances of seeing a
> silent bird were pretty slim).
>
> Regards,
> Naresh
>
> --
> Naresh Satyan
> Pasadena, CA
>
>
Date: 9/18/26 9:40 pm From: Ed Stonick via groups.io <edstonick...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground
Greetings!This is the first I've heard of an invasion of northern Great Basin birds to L. A .County.Have there been similar events in the past? What else might we expect in Southern or other parts of California e. g. Bohemian Waxwings, woodpeckers, etc.Thanks,Ed Stonick Pasadena, CaSent from my Galaxy -------- Original message --------From: "Naresh Satyan via groups.io" <naresh.satyan...> Date: 9/18/26 7:58 PM (GMT-08:00) To: "<LACoBirds...>" <lacobirds...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground Hi all, I had a couple of Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake campground (west of Lake Hughes) this evening. There are no previous reports of this species in the western part of the Angeles National Forest (west of about Mt Gleason), at least on eBird. It is hard to be sure what's going on with nutcrackers in the eastern San Gabriels where there is a resident population, but these birds would appear to be solidly linked to the ongoing corvid irruption from the Great Basin. I did not hear any Pinyon Jays (or see any, but my chances of seeing a silent bird were pretty slim).Regards, Naresh--Naresh SatyanPasadena, CA
Date: 9/18/26 7:58 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake Campground
Hi all,
I had a couple of Clark's Nutcrackers at Upper Shake campground (west of Lake Hughes) this evening. There are no previous reports of this species in the western part of the Angeles National Forest (west of about Mt Gleason), at least on eBird. It is hard to be sure what's going on with nutcrackers in the eastern San Gabriels where there is a resident population, but these birds would appear to be solidly linked to the ongoing corvid irruption from the Great Basin.
I did not hear any Pinyon Jays (or see any, but my chances of seeing a silent bird were pretty slim).
Date: 9/18/26 1:55 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Bobolink at Quail Lake
Hi all,
I just flushed a Bobolink from the flooded reeds on the south shore of Quail Lake, roughly here: 34.77,-118.75. This bird is probably not chasable with the lake conditions as they are now. Through a series of questionable decisions, I found myself there in shin-to-knee deep water (I also flushed swimming mallards shortly afterwards). Only posting here because I don't think there is is a report of a Bobolink on eBird within about 20 miles of this spot. I expect there will be more chaseable birds elsewhere.
Date: 9/17/26 8:11 am From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Storm-petrels south of Catalina island
Hi all,
An update to this post --
I did say that some numbers of storm-petrels may change, but didn't expect
them to change in this direction:
- Looking at plumage details in photos of the Wilson's Storm-Petrels
(mostly molt progression), we're up to at least 4 birds now. Three at the
277 Bank, and one at the Thirty Mile Bank.
- Incredibly, Mark Scheel has great photos of a *second *Wedge-rumped
Storm-Petrel from the trip, from the big flock on the dead animal at the
277 Bank. Unfortunately, it appears the rest of us on the boat were looking
in other directions at the time with thousands of storm-petrels around us.
Thankfully we found another bird later in the day, so Mark is off the hook.
4 Wilson's and 2 Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels in one day has to be some sort
of record. There is a Pasadena Audubon trip going out to nearby waters this
weekend - good luck if you're on that boat! I don't know if there is room
on any other boats - most appear to be sold out.
Regards,
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sat, Sep 12, 2026, 10:00â¯PM Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> A quick report from a fantastic small-boat pelagic trip today aboard the
> zodiac Skimmer out of Newport Beach with Captain Delaney T and 5 birders on
> board. With stronger winds predicted outside San Clemente island, we chose
> to instead go to the south end of Catalina island, then head south from
> there to the 43 Bank (/Forty mile bank) and back via the Thirty mile bank.
>
> The highlight of the trip was a huge number and diversity of
> storm-petrels. There was what appeared to be a dead large mammal on the
> ocean floor at the 277 Bank (southeast of Catalina Island) which hosted
> several thousand storm-petrels, and we also found another aggregation of
> several hundred birds close to the top of the Thirty mile bank (on the west
> side of the ridge).
>
> - Black Storm-Petrels: estimated between 3000 and 4000 birds for the
> day, everywhere along the route but mostly in these huge flocks
> - Least Storm-Petrels: 500-600 birds, mostly mixed in with the large
> Black Storm-Petrel rafts, but also singles all along the route including
> several in fairly nearshore Orange County waters
> - WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS: At least three different individuals (two
> birds over the 277 bank and one near the 30 mile bank), all associating
> with the large Black and Least Storm-Petrel rafts
> - WEDGE-RUMPED STORM-PETREL: A stunning bird at the 30 mile bank, also
> with the Black and Least Storm-Petrel flock.
> - Townsend's Storm-Petrels: ~10 birds identified as this species,
> among many Leach's/Townsend's type birds; all white-rumped; singles and not
> associating with the large rafts; mostly between Catalina island and Lasuen
> sea mount, and dropping off in numbers further south
> - Leach's Storm-Petrels: ~20 birds, almost all dark-rumped; singles
> and not associating with the large rafts.
>
> We had fantastic views of most of these species, and also got to record
> vocalizations of Black Storm-Petrels squabbling over food, which I don't
> remember hearing at sea before.
>
> Otherwise, we had 5 Cocos Boobies, a few Common Terns, a pair of Craveri's
> Murrelets, a fly-by Guadalupe Murrelet (above eye level!), a Fulmar, a few
> phalaropes of both types, and not too many shearwaters or jaegers.
>
> It may take some while to get eBird checklists done, but there should be
> photos eventually, and the Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel claim will need to be
> reviewed by the CBRC. Storm-petrels are not easy, and some corrections to
> these numbers are possible (even expected).
>
> Regards,
> Naresh (w/ Chris Dean, Mark Scheel, Mark Wilson, Ashley Hopkins)
>
> --
> Naresh Satyan
> Pasadena, CA
>
>
>
Date: 9/16/26 5:06 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] High Volume of Migrants on a Low Volume Predicted Day
I have no experience with Birdcast but I had multiple Warbling Vireos and W
Wood Pewees at every park I visited yesterday afternoon along the coast,
while Claremont (50 miles from the ocean) continues to have little to no
migrants. I didnât even take binoculars with me when I walked Duke early
this morning.
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
On Wed, Sep 16, 2026 at 2:02â¯PM dotandruss via groups.io <dotandruss=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hello Birders,
>
> If you are only interested in rare birds, you can stop now. If you care
> about migration and BirdCast, please continue. I've been using BirdCast
> since it came out, and I know that it is not designed to forecast daytime
> counts. But I would expect some correlation, and I have found none! I
> birded Saturday at Loyola Marymount University after a predicted High
> Volume night, and found one migrant. I birded there today after a
> predicted Low Volume night, and saw so many migrants that eBird flagged
> high counts on two of them. 8 Wilson's Warblers is unusual for LMU in the
> Fall, and 8 Warbling Vireos is unbelievable. I sometimes see large numbers
> of migrants here in the Spring, but rarely in the Fall. Many warbler-sized
> birds were left uncounted due to dim light, tall trees and neck issues. My
> counts are almost surely undercounts.
>
> Do other birders have similar experiences with BirdCast? Do you ever
> count birds flying past the moon at night? Do you find correlation there?
> Do you find more daytime correlation in other places in Southern
> California? Do you find it in other parts of the country?
>
> Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
>
> Russell Stone
> Westchester
>
>
>
Date: 9/16/26 2:02 pm From: dotandruss via groups.io <dotandruss...> Subject: [LACoBirds] High Volume of Migrants on a Low Volume Predicted Day
Hello Birders,
If you are only interested in rare birds, you can stop now. If you care about migration and BirdCast, please continue. I've been using BirdCast since it came out, and I know that it is not designed to forecast daytime counts. But I would expect some correlation, and I have found none! I birded Saturday at Loyola Marymount University after a predicted High Volume night, and found one migrant. I birded there today after a predicted Low Volume night, and saw so many migrants that eBird flagged high counts on two of them. 8 Wilson's Warblers is unusual for LMU in the Fall, and 8 Warbling Vireos is unbelievable. I sometimes see large numbers of migrants here in the Spring, but rarely in the Fall. Many warbler-sized birds were left uncounted due to dim light, tall trees and neck issues. My counts are almost surely undercounts.
Do other birders have similar experiences with BirdCast? Do you ever count birds flying past the moon at night? Do you find correlation there? Do you find more daytime correlation in other places in Southern California? Do you find it in other parts of the country?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Date: 9/15/26 10:34 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] More Pinyon Jays -- Juniper Hills
Birders,
The September 2026 Pinyon Jay madness continues. At 1010-1015 hr this morning a flock of six Pinyon Jays was around planted pines in the vicinity of 122nd Street East and Ave X-8 (one block south of Ft. Tejon Rd.), calling frequently. I then watched the flock fly WNW at about 1015 hr, roughly following Ft. Tejon Rd. toward the west. A lone bird remained, perched obligingly atop a utility pole, then flew south low over our yard. Although the birds have moved on, I would recommend driving slowly, stopping at intervals, and listening for the jays anywhere in the juniper habitat in the Juniper Hills, Littlerock, and Valyermo areas -- and especially where there are (ornamental) cone-bearing pine trees. Most Pinyon Jay flocks in our local mountains and foothills have been around Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines as well as various planted pines (such as the abundant Eldarica pines in the Juniper Hills area). They don't seem to feed around junipers or pinyon pines (though a trip up Ball lFlat Rd. near Jackson Lake would be worth it if the pinyon pines there have mature cones).
Date: 9/15/26 6:22 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Some Piute Ponds notes (no rarities)
Birders,
As Piute Ponds permit holders know, the brief closure (due to work on a gas line) has ended and the ponds are open to birders (with permits) once again. Hunting season will begin around the weekend of 17-18 October so the ponds will be closed to birders and other recreationalists on hunting days (usually Wednesdays, Sundays, and holidays, but details will be forthcoming from the EAFB Environmental office).
Landbirding is excellent right now along the Ave C riparian row from west of Parking 1 to the east side of Big Piute. Some birds of note on my visit on Monday (14 September) included the continuing Nuttall's Woodpecker, (possibly continuing) Mountain Chickadee, first-of-fall (for me) Northern Flicker, (Slate-colored) Fox Sparrow, and (gambelii) White-crowned Sparrow, and about 70 warblers of five species (dominated by about 30 Orange-crowneds).
Shorebirds were scarce, with the best habitat on Thoreau Pond and a few shorebirds on Ducks Unlimited; Duckbill is still completely dry, Duck numbers are increasing (e.g., a flock of 50 Green-winged Teal), but the massive numbers of Northern Shovelers seem to spend much of their time over at the Lancaster Water Treatment Plant. A flyover Swainson's Hawk and a White-tailed Kite on a snag near Little Piute were bonuses.
Date: 9/14/26 12:07 pm From: Hugo Wang via groups.io <luster.wang...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Any update on the Red-footed Booby found in Malibu yesterday?
Hi all,
Iâm wondering if anyone has an update on the Red-footed Booby that was seen
in Malibu early yesterday.
We first found the bird yesterday morning during a regular LA Birders â
Students field trip on the beach in Malibu. At the time, we could tell that
something seemed wrong, but we didnât realize until later, after reviewing
our photos, that there was a loop-shaped metal fishhook clearly stuck in
its throat. That may explain why it came ashore â perhaps it was looking
for help.
Unfortunately, the bird flew off before it could be captured and taken to a
wildlife rescue center. We heard that it was seen at a few other locations
later in the day, but we havenât been able to find out what happened after
that.
Does anyone know the latest update? Has the bird been rescued or received
any help?
Date: 9/14/26 12:07 pm From: Hugo Wang via groups.io <luster.wang...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Pinyon Jays - Chilao Visitor Center
Thanks to Tim's update.
Sunday morning from roughly 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, we spent quite a bit of
time walking around the Chilao Visitor Center and Picnic Area. We listened
carefully and looked around, but we didn't find them. During that time,
we ran into four or five other birders, some of whom had arrived much
earlier. We also spoke with the staff at the visitor center. She mentioned
that no one had seen the Pinyon Jays this morning, but someone had reported
it on Saturday, which sounds like what you were referring to.
These Pinyon Jays were probably flying around in flocks, looking for a
reliable food source. They likely circled the Chilao Visitor Center area,
didn't find anything suitable to eat, and flew off somewhere else. So ...
Hugo
La Canada, CA
On Mon, Sep 14, 2026 at 11:11â¯AM musicsoop via groups.io <musicsoop=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Saturday morning a flock flew into the tops of some of the trees in the
> parking lot for the visitor center. If I hadn't noticed that they sounded
> particularly raspy for Scrub Jays I wouldn't have even looked. They were in
> and out and nothing really suggested that they'd be hanging around at that
> spot, but they're up in the mountains somewhere.
>
> Tim Aarons
> Glendale, CA
>
>
>
Date: 9/14/26 11:46 am From: Chris Spurgeon via groups.io <chris...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Help out with the fall Turkey Vulture migration count in Kern County
Posting this in the hope that some LA county folks will be interested in driving one county north to help out. Feel free to share and repost
--------
*Volunteer for the 2026 Kern River Valley Turkey Vulture Count!*
Southern Sierra Research Station is excited to announce plans to resume the annual Kern River Valley fall Turkey Vulture count!
Originally conducted from 1994â2005, this count documented one of the largest Turkey Vulture migration phenomena in the United States, with nearly 30,000 individuals passing through the Kern River Valley each fall.
We are seeking volunteer counters from September 19 through October 10, 2026, during the peak of vulture migration through the Kern River valley. Volunteers will help count migrating raptors alongside SSRS staff for approximately 5â6 hours per day.
Volunteers should plan to be available for at least two days of counting during the count period. This will allow enough time for training and for volunteers to become familiar with the movement of birds through the Kern River valley.
Interested in joining the count? Please go to the SSRS website and fill in the contact form and enter your details.
â Contact form: https://southernsierraresearch.org/contact/ â Indicate that you are interested in Volunteer activities
â Then you will see an option to indicate Vulture count.
â Please put some dates you may be available in the comments.
â If you have already done this, no need to do it again. You will get an email soon.
Come be part of the return of this long-running migration count and help us document one of
the KRV's most spectacular seasonal wildlife movements!
Date: 9/14/26 11:11 am From: musicsoop via groups.io <musicsoop...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pinyon Jays - Chilao Visitor Center
Saturday morning a flock flew into the tops of some of the trees in the parking lot for the visitor center. If I hadn't noticed that they sounded particularly raspy for Scrub Jays I wouldn't have even looked. They were in and out and nothing really suggested that they'd be hanging around at that spot, but they're up in the mountains somewhere.
Date: 9/14/26 10:23 am From: Jonathan Feenstra via groups.io <feenstra...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Zone-tailed Hawk, Arcadia, 9/14/26
A Zone-tailed Hawk is (was 10:00-10:19) flying around over Arcadia. This is roughly at Santa Anita Ave and Orange Grove, circling high and east-southeast maybe over Whispering Pines Drive. I first saw it low and it may have come out of the row of tall pines (night roost?) that run SW from near the corner of Virginia and Highland Oaks. Perhaps it's our returning bird.
Jon Feenstra
Pasadena
Date: 9/14/26 9:45 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Red-footed Booby and the apparent demise of the LACoBirds listserve
Hi Kimball,
1. Several independent parties visited Chaleo this morning and wandered
around for hours without having any Pinyon Jays. There was no cell phone
reception anywhere up there, which was a big pain in terms of not being
able to let people know that there were no jays up here. We also checked
several other areas up there.
2. if you think the Los Angeles email situation as a problem, consider
this: The abandonment of the Arizona list serve is much worse and yet they
have problems with the technical details of the Discord group. I have
repeatedly been sent links that were supposedly active and valid to join
Arizonaâs discord group and they donât work so despite my willingness to
chase Gen Z across the Internet to keep up on Arizona info itâs not
happening. And in all fairness there are people like Andy Birch who do
cross post rare birds here to this email list.
3. A friend who is an excellent, experienced birder described a small
off-white raptor to me that he first blew off as an extremely pale Sharp
shinned Hawk, but now suspects may have been your Pearl Kite in the eastern
San Gabriel Mountains at a lower elevation. I donât know why he didnât
report this observation. He did say that he thought that it was potentially
the wrong habitat for the bird so that made him think that he was wrong.
4. Speaking of Pearl Kites, I actually spent some time driving in
circlesâor I guess, more accuratelyârectangles around that entire area
where you saw it and I stared at a lot of pale birds on wires throughout
that part of the Antelope Valley a week or two after you saw the bird. I
didnât say anything to anybody at the time because I guessed that others
also did the same thing on the way to and from the Piute Ponds.
Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont CA 91711
909.241.3300
On Sun, Sep 13, 2026 at 1:58â¯PM Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Birders,
>
> I realize that posting rarities to this listserv is viewed as something as
> archaic as using smoke signals or a telegraph to some, but many people
> still use it and I don't know why we can't follow the lead of counties like
> San Diego where there are daily reports of unusual birds and other
> interesting sightings on their listserv. Yes, rabid listers and most
> younger birders prefer other channels of communication, which is fine, but
> can somebody using those channels also take a second to post information on
> the LACoBirds listserv as well?
>
> Sure, eBird alerts or WhatsApp/Discord/etc. channels probably alerted most
> birders to the presence of a Red-footed Booby found early in this morning
> at Malibu Lagoon and present later in the morning a ways east along PCH
> (near the mouth of Tuna Canyon), but in the interest of wider communication
> and discussion it would have been nice to have the sighting posted here.
>
> The developing fall irruptions of species like Pinyon Jays, Clark's
> Nutcrackers, and Red-breasted Nuthatches have been noted on some southern
> California listservs in recent days (thanks Lance for posting your Pinyon
> Jay near Buckhorn). Tracking those sorts of events would be an ideal use of
> this listserv in addition to getting the word out about rarities.
>
> Kimball Garrett
> Juniper Hills
>
> .
>
>
>
Date: 9/14/26 8:36 am From: Dessi Sieburth via groups.io <Dessisieburth...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pinyon Jay, Table Mountain
One Pinyon Jay was foraging in pines at the Table Mountain Parking lot, at (34.3848379, -117.6873989). Calling loudly and even coming to the ground at times. A couple nutcrackers in the vicinity as well.
Date: 9/13/26 3:10 pm From: James Pike via groups.io <jimpike444...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Red-footed Booby and the apparent demise of the LACoBirds listserve
On behalf of Jim, an eBird eschewer, I approve of your post, Kimball; it brought a rare smile to my face!
Date: 9/13/26 2:30 pm From: Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Solitary Sandpipers and Western Cattle Egret San Gab Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds
Hello birders,
This morning, 13 September, there was a Western Cattle Egret in the San Gabriel River between Whittier Blvd and Dunlop Crossing. The riverbed is best viewed from the settling basins on the west side. The west side is higher so the view is better. In the very small basin adjacent to Washington Blvd on the extreme south end, there were three Solitary Sandpipers. The large south basin is still full and some water is spilling into this very small basin and creating some shorebird habitat. Lots of migrants in the area between Whittier and Washington Blvds. The riverbed, just upstream of Washington must have a lot of fish. It's a good place to watch Osprey diving for fish, including carp, tilapia and catfish.
There is an island in the south basin that is dominated by a Mulberry Tree that hosts numerous Neotropic Cormorants and at least three Neotropic Cormorant nests. Many fishing Neotropic Cormorants in the adjacent riverbed.
Happy birding.
Larry SchmahlWhittier
Date: 9/13/26 1:58 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Red-footed Booby and the apparent demise of the LACoBirds listserve
Birders,
I realize that posting rarities to this listserv is viewed as something as archaic as using smoke signals or a telegraph to some, but many people still use it and I don't know why we can't follow the lead of counties like San Diego where there are daily reports of unusual birds and other interesting sightings on their listserv. Yes, rabid listers and most younger birders prefer other channels of communication, which is fine, but can somebody using those channels also take a second to post information on the LACoBirds listserv as well?
Sure, eBird alerts or WhatsApp/Discord/etc. channels probably alerted most birders to the presence of a Red-footed Booby found early in this morning at Malibu Lagoon and present later in the morning a ways east along PCH (near the mouth of Tuna Canyon), but in the interest of wider communication and discussion it would have been nice to have the sighting posted here.
The developing fall irruptions of species like Pinyon Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers, and Red-breasted Nuthatches have been noted on some southern California listservs in recent days (thanks Lance for posting your Pinyon Jay near Buckhorn). Tracking those sorts of events would be an ideal use of this listserv in addition to getting the word out about rarities.
