Date: 2/28/26 2:08 pm From: Ron Cyger via groups.io <ron...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Removal of Zone-tailed.Hawk Palms
Fellow birders,
The two large palm trees on private property that were the center of the Turkey Vulture roost in Monrovia were removed over the last few days.
I don't know how this will change vulture or hawk patterns, but this may be why the Zone-tailed Hawk has been spotted outside of the roost area in the last few days.
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for February 22, 2026.
Two ANCIENT MURRELETS were at the Ballona Creek Mouth on February 15. A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE was here on February 19.
Two LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were along the Los Angeles River at Clara Street in Cudahy on February 12. Others were along the river at Florence Street on February 18, at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on February 19 and (likely the same individual) at the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds- south of Washington- on February 22.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK continued in Monrovia (vicinity of Encinitas and Greystone) through February 21
The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel was reported through February 21. It often frequents the southeast area of the park.
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were at Marina Vista Park in Long Beach on February 17, at Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach on February 20 and at Golden Shore Marine Reserve in Long Beach on February 21.
The THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD in Griffith Park along the Mineral Wells Trail was reported through February 20. Google Maps 34.1394, -118.2881. One to two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS continued here through February 18 as did a SUMMER TANAGER through February 19.
The GREATER PEWEE at Monrovia Canyon Park continued around the Nature Center through February 21.
A HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER was at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on February 20 (along Studebaker Road across from LA Marimba Street).
A WESTERN FLYCATCHER was in Zuma Canyon on February 14.
CASSIN’S VIREOS included one in Claremont on February 15 and two in the Sepulveda Basin on February 15.
SAGEBRUSH SPARROWS were at 215th Street East and Avenue J in the Antelope Valley on February 14 and at 250th Street East at Adobe Mountain (2 birds) on February 14.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through February 21.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE continued on San Clemente Island (no public access) through February 14.
An OVENBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River near Willow Street through February 16. Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043.
A TENNESSEE WARBLER was at Barnsdall Art Park in Los Angeles on February 18.
The CAPE MAY WARBLER at Loyola Marymount University was reported through February 18.
A BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER continued at Whaley Park in Long Beach through February 21.
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through February 15 (south of the lake).
A YELLOW-RUMPED X GRACE’S WARBLER was at El Dorado Park in Long Beach from February 15-21. Last seen in the pines around the Fire Station at the south side of Area 3.
The BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at William Andrews Clark Memorial Library continued through February 20.
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at San Dimas Canyon Park near the restrooms through February 21 near the east restrooms.
Another PAINTED REDSTART continued at Cortez Park in West Covina through February 21.
SUMMER TANAGERS were in Valley Glen on February 15, at the Village Green Condominiums through February 15, at Cal State Long Beach on February 18, at El Retiro Park in Torrance on February 20 and at Scherer Park in Long Beach from February 20-21.
-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: 2/21/26 8:52 am From: msperalez via groups.io <msperalez...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Turkey Vultures and one Swainson Hawk on the Move
Good morning,
A prolonged march of Turkey vultures, at least 150 (and still counting)individuals in groups of 5-25, were moving west along the Glendora foothills this morning between 0815 and 0845. I looked at every bird that went by. Finally, in the middle of the movement was ONE Swainson's hawk, light phase, kettling with the vultures.
Many of the vultures appear to be streaming north into the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon.
I wonder if any Swainson's moved north before hitting my spot.
Date: 2/14/26 9:53 pm From: Loretta Selinger via groups.io <loretta...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Swainson's Hawks Over Northern Pasadena
Sounds fun
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> on behalf of Lance Benner <lbenner...>
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2026 9:42:42 PM
To: <lacobirds...> <lacobirds...>; <pasadenaaudubon...> <pasadenaaudubon...>
Subject: [LACoBirds] Swainson's Hawks Over Northern Pasadena
Hi Everyone,
Tonight at about 5:45 there were three Swainson's hawks flying low over Ranch Top Road in Upper Hastings Ranch in Pasadena. The birds were quite low and appeared to be heading for an evening roost in the vicinity of Pasadena Glen or Kinneloa Mesa. These are the first Swainson's hawks I've seen this year, so be on the watch for them, particularly in the foothills.
We're going to organize another dedictated Swainson's hawk watch in March, probably around the third week of the month. More on that in the near future.
Date: 2/14/26 9:42 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Swainson's Hawks Over Northern Pasadena
Hi Everyone, Tonight at about 5:45 there were three Swainson's hawks flying low over Ranch Top Road in Upper Hastings Ranch in Pasadena. The birds were quite low and appeared to be heading for an evening roost in the vicinity of Pasadena Glen or Kinneloa Mesa. These are the first Swainson's hawks I've seen this year, so be on the watch for them, particularly in the foothills. We're going to organize another dedictated Swainson's hawk watch in March, probably around the third week of the month. More on that in the near future. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CA _._,_._,_
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for February 14, 2026.
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER continued at the Hansen Dam spreading grounds (below the dam proper) through February 8.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were along the Los Angeles River in Vernon (at Soto Street) through February 5 and at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia on February 6.
Up to eight CALIFORNIA CONDORS continued along the Old Ridge Route near Templin Highway through February 8.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was in Monrovia (vicinity of Encinitas and Greystone) through February 8. Another or the same bird was in Duarte on February 13.
A WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER continued at Brand Park in Glendale through February 11 by the library.
The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel was reported through February 11. It typically frequents the southeast area of the park.
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach through February 7, along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach (by the Willow Street crossing) through February 6, at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro through February 7, at Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach through February 11 and continuing at the San Gabriel Coastal Basins Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivers through February 14.
The THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD in Griffith Park along the Mineral Wells Trail was reported through February 12. Google Maps 34.1394, -118.2881. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued here through February 6 and at least one SUMMER TANAGER continued through February 13.
Another THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD continued by the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round through February 7.
A GREATER PEWEE continued in Sycamore Canyon in Whittier (just west of the oil rig site) through February 9
A HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER was at Tournament Park in Pasadena from February 7-10.
Up to two BELL’S VIREOS were at Rio de Los Angeles Park through February 13.
A CASSIN’S VIREO was at Vista Hermosa Natural Park in Los Angeles on February 7.
A GRAY CATBIRD was at Sage Hill on the UCLA campus through January 25. Google Maps 34.0741, -118.4550.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the Whittier Narrows Soccer Fields in South El Monte on February 9 here 34.0487, -118.0690.
A DARK-EYED “GRAY-HEADED” JUNCO continued at the Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena through February 7 by the west side athletic fields.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were along the Wrigley Greenbelt in Long Beach on February 6, along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach (east side above Willow Street) through February 10 and at Cortez Park in West Covina on February 13.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through February 13 and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER continued here through February 7.
AN ORCHARD ORIOLE continued on San Clemente Island (no public access) through February 12.
A HOODED ORIOLE continued (often at the north end of the Desert Garden) at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena through February 7.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at the Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills through February 8 (at the Japanese Garden).
An OVENBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River near Willow Street through February 11. Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was at Amelia Mayberry Park in South Whittier on February 9.
A NASHVILLE WARBLER was at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City on February 12.
The CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the USC Campus continued through February 6. Google Maps 34.0210, -118.2861.
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through February 12 (south of the lake).
The BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at William Andrews Clark Memorial Library continued through February 11.
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at San Dimas Canyon Park near the restrooms through February 13 near the east restrooms.
Another PAINTED REDSTART was found at Cortez Park in West Covina on February 13.
SUMMER TANAGERS were in Palos Verdes Estates on February 8 and in Brookside Park in Pasadena (north of the aquatic center and tennis courts) from February 10-12.
-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: 2/13/26 12:14 pm From: Marcus England via groups.io <marcuscengland...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] The Merlin/Red-winged Blackbird mystery (solved?)
I find Merlin to be very helpful when I am traveling and don’t know the songs/calls… they need verification, of course. For example, my first outing on my first trip to Europe (Norway), with birds calling everywhere, it picked up a European Greenfinch. Using Merlin helped me to track the bird down and then get a photo. That, and many other things. Now, having been to Europe a few times, but still not knowing the vocalizations off the top of my head, it helps me determine there may be a potential life bird around for me to look for. “Merlin says there’s an [x], now I just have to find it”.
To bring it back to SoCal, I also use it, sometimes, even in areas that I know well if there is a lot of vocalizing going on as it will sometimes pick up songs/calls that I may actually know well, but my brain isn’t picking it up in the cacophony. Quite often, when it alerts me to it, I’m then able to get my focus on it and verify it.
It’s a helpful tool, as long as you understand its limits and don’t take everything it spits out at you as gospel.
Regards,
Marcus
Marcus C. England
Principal
England|Ecology, LLC
Mt. Washington, Los Angeles, California
mcengland.com <http://mcengland.com/> (213) 304-1826
Note: I will be traveling in Australia February 25 - March 14. As always, I will respond as I can, but there will be a significant time difference. The April Kansas trip previously in my signature has been canceled in favor of a very short trip to Sacramento for a training session with the Wetland Training Institute.
> On Feb 13, 2026, at 11:17, Chuck & Lillian via groups.io <misclists...> wrote:
>
> Tom:
> I'm not at all surprised. According to Merlin, both Ospreys and Northern Cardinals live in my back yard bougainvillea bush in the north central San Fernando Valley., alongside the abundance of House Sparrows and House Finches. I've never seen or heard the Osprey or NoCa.
>
> I don't trust Merlin on anything it claims but I can't hear on playback or doesn't sufficiently register on the moving sonogram to be noticeable.
>
> The Mockingbird error rate doesn't surprise me either. Merlin is essentially a Large Language Module, except the languages are avian. When data is still insufficient, mis-identifications/mis-interpretations/mis-understands can still occur. (You can certainly see this on Google AI; just pressure it a little.) I read somewhere that when they introduced Merlin to the US west, some time after introducing in the US east, there were a lot of ID's ascribed to eastern birds. which, I think, began to dwindle thereafter.
>
> Evidentially Merlin has not yet the sound-data base to deal with the Mockingbird's ability to mimic, nor reliably ID those marginal, nearly-to-fully inaudible chirps. Maybe they could install a little algorithm & window that shows the probability of their ID being correct.
>
> I don't use it much, and I never figured out a way to inform it that their ID was spurious.
> Chuck Almdale
> North Hills
>
>> Hi,
>> This morning, while walking Duke on our daily bird tour of Wheeler Park I heard some Red-winged Blackbirds. I did not see any. I also heard and saw Starlings. There were no Red-winged Blackbirds. A light bulb went on over my head. This weekend I was a cattle lot in the Antelope Valley, where there were many hundreds each of Starlings, Brewer's, and Red-winged Blackbirds. I suspect that Merlin "hears Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere" because it is hearing Starlings imitating Red-winged Blackbirds.Ă‚ Ă‚
>> Last Friday while looking for the Scott's Oriole in Orange County I stood there and watched a Northern Mockingbird imitate Cassin's Kingbird and White-breasted Nuthatch, and Merlin identified them as said species. I wonder if looking at the spectrograms would detect any difference between a Mockingbird and the species that it is imitating?
>> Up until now I had always assumed that there would be something on the spectrogram that gives it away but now I suspect that not to be the case.
>> Tom
>>
>> Tom Miko
>> Claremont 91711
>> 909.241.3300
>> "We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
>
>
Date: 2/13/26 11:51 am From: Chuck & Lillian via groups.io <misclists...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] The Merlin/Red-winged Blackbird mystery (solved?)
Tom:
I'm not at all surprised. According to Merlin,
both Ospreys and Northern Cardinals live in my
back yard bougainvillea bush in the north central
San Fernando Valley., alongside the abundance of
House Sparrows and House Finches. I've never seen or heard the Osprey or NoCa.
I don't trust Merlin on anything it claims but I
can't hear on playback or doesn't sufficiently
register on the moving sonogram to be noticeable.
The Mockingbird error rate doesn't surprise me
either. Merlin is essentially a Large Language
Module, except the languages are avian. When data
is still insufficient,
mis-identifications/mis-interpretations/mis-understands
can still occur. (You can certainly see this on
Google AI; just pressure it a little.) I read
somewhere that when they introduced Merlin to the
US west, some time after introducing in the US
east, there were a lot of ID's ascribed to
eastern birds. which, I think, began to dwindle thereafter.
Evidentially Merlin has not yet the sound-data
base to deal with the Mockingbird's ability to
mimic, nor reliably ID those marginal,
nearly-to-fully inaudible chirps. Maybe they
could install a little algorithm & window that
shows the probability of their ID being correct.
I don't use it much, and I never figured out a
way to inform it that their ID was spurious.
Chuck Almdale
North Hills
>Hi,
>This morning, while walking Duke on our daily
>bird tour of Wheeler Park I heard some
>Red-winged Blackbirds. I did not see any. I also
>heard and saw Starlings. There were no
>Red-winged Blackbirds. A light bulb went on over
>my head. This weekend I was a cattle lot in the
>Antelope Valley, where there were many hundreds
>each of Starlings, Brewer's, and Red-winged
>Blackbirds. I suspect that Merlin "hears
>Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere" because it is
>hearing Starlings imitating Red-winged Blackbirds. Â
>Last Friday while looking for the Scott's Oriole
>in Orange County I stood there and watched a
>Northern Mockingbird imitate Cassin's Kingbird
>and White-breasted Nuthatch, and Merlin
>identified them as said species. I wonder if
>looking at the spectrograms would detect any
>difference between a Mockingbird and the species that it is imitating?
>Up until now I had always assumed that there
>would be something on the spectrogram that gives
>it away but now I suspect that not to be the case.
>Tom
>
>Tom Miko
>Claremont 91711
>909.241.3300
>"We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a
>war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
David BartonSherman Oaks, CA
On Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 10:31:26 AM PST, <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> wrote:
Hi,This morning, while walking Duke on our daily bird tour of Wheeler Park I heard some Red-winged Blackbirds. I did not see any. I also heard and saw Starlings. There were no Red-winged Blackbirds. A light bulb went on over my head. This weekend I was a cattle lot in the Antelope Valley, where there were many hundreds each of Starlings, Brewer's, and Red-winged Blackbirds. I suspect that Merlin "hears Red-winged Blackbirds everywhere" because it is hearing Starlings imitating Red-winged Blackbirds.  Last Friday while looking for the Scott's Oriole in Orange County I stood there and watched a Northern Mockingbird imitate Cassin's Kingbird and White-breasted Nuthatch, and Merlin identified them as said species. I wonder if looking at the spectrograms would detect any difference between a Mockingbird and the species that it is imitating?Up until now I had always assumed that there would be something on the spectrogram that gives it away but now I suspect that not to be the case.Tom
Tom Miko
Claremont 91711
909.241.3300
"We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for February 6, 2026.
A EURASIAN WIGEON continued at the pond along Gorman Post Road through January 31.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE continued at Quail Lake through February 2.
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were along the lower Los Angeles River at Willow Street through February 5, at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia on February 4, along the Los Angeles River at Soto Street in Vernon on February 5 and at the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds on February 2 (best viewed from the west end of Canford St.).
CALIFORNIA CONDORS were again seen along the Old Ridge Route near Templin Highway from February 3-4.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was in Monrovia (vicinity of Encinitas and Greystone) through February 1.
Up to three SHORT-EARED OWLS continued by West Ave. B and 60th Street West in the Antelope Valley through February 2.
A WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER continued at Brand Park in Glendale through January 31 by the library.
The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel was reported through February 4. It typically frequents the southeast area of the park.
TROPICAL KINGBIRDS were at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach through February 4, along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach (by the Willow Street crossing) through January 31, in Area 3 of El Dorado Park in Long Beach through January 31, and at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro through February 5.
The THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD in Griffith Park along the Mineral Wells Trail was reported through February 6. Google Maps 34.1394, -118.2881. Two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were here on February 6 as was a continuing HEPATIC TANAGER. At least one SUMMER TANAGER continues as well.
Another THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD continued by the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round through February 2.
The GREATER PEWEE continued in Monrovia Canyon by the Nature Center through February 4. Google Maps 34.1774, -117.9910.
A HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER was at El Nido Park in Redondo Beach on February 2.
A WESTERN FLYCATCHER was at Country Hollow Park in Walnut on January 31.
A BELL’S VIREO continued at Rio de Los Angeles Park through February 2.
CASSIN’S VIREOS were at Vista Hermosa Natural Park in Los Angeles through February 1 and at Portero Heights Park in Montebello on February 5.
SAGEBRUSH SPARROWS included three near Adobe Mountain in the east Antelope Valley on January 29 and two were at West Ave. B and 60th Street West through February 2.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at Cesar E. Chavez Park in Long Beach on January 29, at City Terrace Park in east Los Angeles on January 30, along the Los Angeles River north of Willow Street in Long Beach through February 3, at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through January 30 and at Marschall Creek in La Verne on February 3.
A SWAMP SPARROW was at DeForest Park in Long Beach (southern section by the small pond) through February 1.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through February 5.
AN ORCHARD ORIOLE continued on San Clemente Island (no public access) through February 4.
Two BALTIMORE ORIOLES continued at Elysian Park through February 1. Google Maps 34.0845, -118.2472. A DARK-EYED “PINK-SIDED” JUNCO was in this area through February 1.
Another BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at the Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills through January 29 (at the Japanese Garden).
An OVENBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River near Willow Street through February 3. Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043.
A LUCY’S WARBLER was at Vista Hermosa Natural Park in Los Angeles on February 1.
The CAPE MAY WARBLER at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester continued through February 1.
The CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the USC Campus continued through February 1. Google Maps 34.0210, -118.2861.
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through February 1 (south of the lake).
The GRACE’S WARBLER at Wardlow Park in Long Beach was reported through January 31.
The BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at William Andrews Clark Memorial Library continued through February 5. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER continued here through February 1.
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at San Dimas Canyon Park near the restrooms through February 4 near the east restrooms.
SUMMER TANAGERS were at Stearns Champions Park in Long Beach through January 30, at Loyola Marymount University on February 1, and at Chavez Ravine (Elysian Park) on February 2.
-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: 2/4/26 1:13 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Road openings on the north slope of the San Gabriels
Hi Kimball, all-
Thanks for the update. To add to the conditions on the Angeles Crest: the
closure on the west side of the Angeles Crest Highway is about 1.5 miles
uphill from Three Points/Santa Clara Divide Road, at the Pacific Crest
Trail intersection at Camp Glenwood (approx MM54). I walked 1.5 miles east
of the closure a couple of days ago and found three different road failures
in just that stretch. I expect the Crest to be closed for a significant
time for repairs, and for Caltrans to discourage even pedestrians from
using the road.
On Wed, Feb 4, 2026, 1:04 PM Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Birders,
>
> You may be aware there were numerous road closures in the San Gabriel Mts.
> and Antelope Valley after the heavy rains in late December.
>
> While the Angeles Crest Hwy remains closed west from Big Pines (I believe
> the closure at the west end is at Santa Clara Divide Rd.), the Big Pines
> Highway is now open and accessible through Valyermo Rd., Bob's Gap Rd., or
> Largo Vista Rd.(all of which had been closed for some periods after the
> rains).
>
> Table Mountain Road is also open (as is Hwy 2 east to Wrightwood and Hwy
> 138). [A note to Atlasers who may visit Table Mtn, -- the campground itself
> is in a different Atlas Block (Mescal Creek SW) than the "Angeles NF--Table
> Mountain" hotspot, the pin for which is barely within Mescal Creek SE. The
> hotspot includes most of the parking lot and disc golf course and the
> buildings and trails to the east, but not the campground (which is where
> most birders go). Create a personal location for the campground, or
> preferably use the new Atlas hotspot once it is created (and named
> something like "Angeles NF--Table Mtn.Campground (CA Atlas--Mescal Creek
> SW)."
>
> Big Rock Creek Road remains closed. Farther west, Mt. Emma Road is closed
> between Cheseboro Rd. and 87th Street East because of flood damage at the
> Little Rock Creek crossing.
>
> Most of the road closures on the floor of the Antelope Valley appear to
> have expired (e.g., Palmdale Blvd. at Little Rock Creek wash was badly
> flooded but now open); however, Ave T at Big Rock Creek wash was still
> closed as of last week.
>
> One minor bird note from the north slope -- yesterday (3 Feb) there were
> at least 12 Lewis's Woodpeckers at Mile Hi (Big Pines Hwy at Largo Vista);
> I imagine a thorough scan of the vast numbers of bare, burned trees in that
> area would yield even higher counts.
>
> Kimball Garrett
> Juniper Hills, CA
>
>
>
Date: 2/4/26 1:04 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Road openings on the north slope of the San Gabriels
Birders,
You may be aware there were numerous road closures in the San Gabriel Mts. and Antelope Valley after the heavy rains in late December.
While the Angeles Crest Hwy remains closed west from Big Pines (I believe the closure at the west end is at Santa Clara Divide Rd.), the Big Pines Highway is now open and accessible through Valyermo Rd., Bob's Gap Rd., or Largo Vista Rd.(all of which had been closed for some periods after the rains).
Table Mountain Road is also open (as is Hwy 2 east to Wrightwood and Hwy 138). [A note to Atlasers who may visit Table Mtn, -- the campground itself is in a different Atlas Block (Mescal Creek SW) than the "Angeles NF--Table Mountain" hotspot, the pin for which is barely within Mescal Creek SE. The hotspot includes most of the parking lot and disc golf course and the buildings and trails to the east, but not the campground (which is where most birders go). Create a personal location for the campground, or preferably use the new Atlas hotspot once it is created (and named something like "Angeles NF--Table Mtn.Campground (CA Atlas--Mescal Creek SW)."
Big Rock Creek Road remains closed. Farther west, Mt. Emma Road is closed between Cheseboro Rd. and 87th Street East because of flood damage at the Little Rock Creek crossing.
Most of the road closures on the floor of the Antelope Valley appear to have expired (e.g., Palmdale Blvd. at Little Rock Creek wash was badly flooded but now open); however, Ave T at Big Rock Creek wash was still closed as of last week.
One minor bird note from the north slope -- yesterday (3 Feb) there were at least 12 Lewis's Woodpeckers at Mile Hi (Big Pines Hwy at Largo Vista); I imagine a thorough scan of the vast numbers of bare, burned trees in that area would yield even higher counts.
There is no greater wilderness than the Southern Ocean! If you take the globe and look at it from the south pole, there is a huge amount of water there encircling Antarctica, between it and the southern points of the continents and major islands. Seabirds, whales, fish, seals, move through these waters, some like the Wandering Albatross unimpeded by land. The albatross may circle the globe at these latitudes many times in their life. There are islands with hundreds of thousand of penguins, millions of prions (a small seabird) and astounding numbers of fur seals, elephant seals and whales. It is just spellbinding, and these areas are too far away for large cities to have sprung up, at the most some of these islands have a small town or perhaps no one at all on them. The distance you have to travel to get there, the lack of "civilization" and the incredible numbers of birds and other animals is what makes the Southern Ocean so enticing for the naturalist.
Alvaro will talk about some of the wonderful birds and wildlife of the subantarctic islands of New Zealand, as well as South America. Places like South Georgia, the Chatham Islands, Macquarie and of course the Antarctic Peninsula. Some of the places and wildlife you see here are life changing, and he hopes to convey the wonder and beauty that the far south has for you to see.
Alvaro Jaramillo, owner of international birding tour company Alvaro's Adventures, was born in Chile but began birding in Toronto, where he lived as a youth. He was trained in ecology and evolution with a particular interest in bird behavior. Research forays and backpacking trips introduced Alvaro to the riches of the Neotropics, where he has traveled extensively. He is the author of the Birds of Chile, an authoritative yet portable field guide to Chile's birds. For some time, Alvaro wrote the Identify Yourself column in Bird Watcher's Digest. He is author of a major New World sparrow chapter for the Handbook of Birds of the World (now Birds of the World), and the new ABA Field Guide to Birds of California. He was granted the Eisenmann Medal by the Linnaean Society of New York, which is awarded occasionally for excellence in ornithology and encouragement of the amateur. He organizes and leads international birding tours, as well as a full schedule of pelagic trips in central California. Alvaro lives with his family in Half Moon Bay, California.
Date: 2/2/26 1:47 pm From: David Ellsworth via groups.io <davidells...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Tropical Kingbird at Cabrillo Beach right now
Well, I see looking at eBird that this is a known bird. As is made evident by this, I do not check rare bird reports these days and prefer to find my own rarities, but if something pops out at me from the LACoBirds subject headings, occasionally I may try for it (if it's local enough). It seems to me that LACoBirds is dying though. It seems people are only posting straight to eBird, or maybe they're also posting on social media platforms that I don't use (since I don't want to support huge corporations that have way too much power over people's data). Discouraged by this and other things, I haven't even posted all the rarities and rare behaviors I've observed in the last few years, which would have been unthinkable to me in the past.
I've been seeing a kingbird at the beach from my house since December, and it may have been this bird at least some of the time, but previously when I went down to the beach to look for it, it had already flown away – and from home was too far away to identify for sure. I don't know why the thick bill didn't pop out at me before though, because this time, it did, even from this distance. (I'll have to check my records in light of this.)
David Ellsworth San Pedro, CA
On 2026-02-02 13:03:01, David Ellsworth via groups.io wrote: > Near the bathhouse (Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro), preening. Heavy bill; > extensive yellow on breast; white on chin; no pale trim on tail in > either direction. Will post footage later, but going back now with my > tripod. > > David Ellsworth > San Pedro, CA
Date: 2/2/26 1:03 pm From: David Ellsworth via groups.io <davidells...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Tropical Kingbird at Cabrillo Beach right now
Near the bathhouse (Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro), preening. Heavy bill;
extensive yellow on breast; white on chin; no pale trim on tail in
either direction. Will post footage later, but going back now with my
tripod.
Same as previous years: only detected in small numbers in the late winter. This part of northern Claremont that i am in is the same type of habitat that would be found in Monrovia. I don't understand why they don't stay and breed.
Tom Miko Claremont 91711 909.241.3300 "We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for January 29, 2026.
A EURASIAN WIGEON continued at the pond along Gorman Post Road through January 26.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE continued at Quail Lake through January 25.
A COMMON MURRE was along the Los Angeles River in Long Beach on January 23 by the Willow Street crossing.
A LAUGHING GULL was at the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on January 23. Viewing possible from the west end of Canford Street.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through January 24.
Another LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was along the lower Los Angeles River at Willow Street on January 27.
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was in Monrovia (vicinity of Encinitas and Greystone) through January 27.
Up to five SHORT-EARED OWLS were by West Ave. B and 60th Street West in the Antelope Valley on January 25.
A WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER continued at Brand Park in Glendale through January 29 by the library.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at the Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills on January 25.
The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel was reported through January 28. It typically frequents the southeast area of the park.
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach through January 23 by the Willow Street crossing.
Other TROPICAL KINGBIRDS continued at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro through January 25 and at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through January 24.
The THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD in Griffith Park along the Mineral Wells Trail was reported through January 26. Google Maps 34.1394, -118.2881.
Another THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD continued by the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round through January 25.
The GREATER PEWEE continued in Monrovia Canyon by the Nature Center through January 27. Google Maps 34.1774, -117.9910.
A HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER was at Arcadia County Park on January 28 in the northwest part of the park.
A BELL’S VIREO continued at Rio de Los Angeles Park through January 27.
A BROWN CREEPER was in San Pedro from January 27-28.
A PACIFIC WREN was in Fern Dell in Griffith Park from January 23-27. Google Maps 34.1086, -118.3070.
A GRAY CATBIRD was at Sage Hill on the UCLA campus through January 25. Google Maps 34.0741, -118.4550.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continued at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles through January 28 on the southeast side of the park.
A DARK-EYED “GRAY-HEADED” JUNCO was at the Dominguez Museum and Seminary in Compton on January 26.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS continued along the Los Angeles River (east side above Willow Street) through January 27, and one was in Mar Vista Heights on January 23.
SAGEBRUSH SPARROWS were in the Antelope Valley at 215th Street East and Ave. I and at West Ave. B and 60th Street West on January 25.
A SWAMP SPARROW was at DeForest Park in Long Beach (southern section by the small pond) through January 27.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through January 27.
Other GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES were in Signal Hill (north side trails) on January 23 and continuing at Hopkins Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach (southwest corner) through January 26.
A HOODED ORIOLE and a NASHVILLE WARBLER were at the Veteran’s Administration center in West Los Angeles (in the garden area) on January 24.
Two BALTIMORE ORIOLES continued at Elysian Park through January 25. Google Maps 34.0845, -118.2472. A DARK-EYED “PINK-SIDED” JUNCO was in this area through January 25.
Another BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at the Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills through January 25 (at the Japanese Garden).
An OVENBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River near Willow Street through January 27. Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043.
A LUCY’S WARBLER was at DeForest Park in Long Beach from January 22-26 at the extreme north end of the park.
A NASHVILLE WARBLER was at Plummer Park in Los Angeles on January 25.
The CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the USC Campus continued through January 28. Google Maps 34.0210, -118.2861.
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through January 29 (south of the lake).
The BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at William Andrews Clark Memorial Library continued through January 26.
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at San Dimas Canyon Park near the restrooms through January 25 near the east restrooms.
Another PAINTED REDSTART continued at Chavez Ravine in Elysian Park through January 23. It moves around a lot but is often in this area 34.0848, -118.2450.
Two SUMMER TANAGERS were in Griffith Park (Old Zoo area) through January 24. Another SUMMER TANAGER continued at the Whittier Narrows Nature Center in South El Monte through January 24.
-end transcript
Jon L Fisher
Glendale, CA
<JonF60...>
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Date: 1/29/26 9:20 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Cormorant question
I had multiple small blocks or clusters of cormorants flying over Wheeler Park, Claremont, this morning. One of them was a pair where the front bird was obviously double crested. The bird directly behind it was noticeably smaller and I think that the tail was proportionately longer but it didn't seem small enough. When I see the two species side by side on a dock or buoy the size difference is extreme. For these two birds yes, the back bird was noticeably smaller but I didn't feel like it was screamingly obviously smaller. Is the size difference less obvious when they are flying, as opposed to when they are on the ground or next to each other in the water?
Tom Miko Claremont 91711 909.241.3300 "We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
