Date: 9/2/25 5:35 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: Virginia's Warbler, Chat Re: [LACoBirds] Lucy's Warbler at Sorensen Park (Lake Los Angeles)
I stopped by at Sorensen Park this afternoon, and the birding has been fun
(after getting sandblasted at Piute earlier). Haven't found the Lucy's
Warbler (yet?) but I had a Virginia's Warbler and a YB Chat in tamarisks
outside the north fence of the park.
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sat, Aug 30, 2025, 11:41 AM Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Birders,
>
> A hatch-year Lucy's Warbler was at Steven Sorensen Park in Lake Los
> Angeles this morning. It was along the drainage north of the park -- more
> specifically in the low shrubby willows north of the park fence (opposite
> the baseball field) on the south side of the drainage.There was a good
> variety of passerine migrants in the park, though overall numbers were low.
> The seven warbler species also included 2 MacGillivray's and a Nashville.
> There was a female Blue Grosbeak along the north fence, and an *aculeata*
> (Pacific Coast) White-breasted Nuthatch in pines inside the park.
>
> Ebird list here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S270439695 >
> Kimball Garrett
> Juniper Hills
>
>
Date: 9/1/25 12:13 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Pelagic trip report, circumnavigating San Clemente Island 083125
Hi all,
Some of us went out on a 10+ hr pelagic trip on the zodiac Skimmer out of Newport Harbor yesterday 08/31. The weather forecast was for reasonably calm winds midday, and captain Delaney suggested that we could try a route going around San Clemente island, which we were happy to explore. There are very few birding boats that go to these waters. The route was Newport Harbor -> Lasuen Sea Mount -> The Slide -> Mackerel Bank (Emery Knoll on eBird) -> San Clemente Ridge -> 474 Bank (a small bank at the boundary between LA county waters and the Santa Barbara Island "donut hole") -> eastern end of the San Nicholas Basin to the 381 Bank (southwest of San Clemente Island) -> south end of San Clemente Island -> back 60 miles to Newport Harbor. The total round trip distance was a whopping 209 miles in 10.5 hours.
We had sunny skies and 3-4 ft swells throughout the day. Winds were relatively calm from mid-morning to early afternoon, but we had significant wind chop early in the morning and especially in the afternoon on the return trip (particularly severe at the southern ends of the islands).
The highlights of the trip were: - 5 Red-billed Tropicbirds at various locations around San Clemente Island, most of which were very cooperative. These included a pair sitting on the water at Mackerel Bank, with one bird vocalizing, which was pretty neat. - At least 5 Guadalupe Murrelets: a single bird on the San Clemente Ridge north of San Clemente Island, and a group of 4 very vocal birds (2 adults, 2 chicks) in the San Nicholas basin on the west side of the island. - 26 Craveri's Murrelets, mostly in pairs or small groups, and mostly west of San Clemente Island.
We had 17 other black-and-white murrelets, some of which looked like possible Guadalupe Murrelets, that could not be identified confidently as the seas got rougher later in the afternoon. The only shearwaters were the expected three species: Black-vented Shearwaters close to shore, Pink-footed Shearwaters all along the route, and a few scattered Sooty Shearwaters. Storm-petrels were surprisingly scarce throughout the day, and we only had about 10 Black Storm-Petrels and 3 Leach's Storm-Petrels. Given the weather forecast, we did not expect to find vastly more alcids than storm-petrels! At the north end of San Clemente Ridge, we encountered our only Common Terns and Sabine's Gulls. Pomarine and Parasitic Jaegers were scattered along the route, but we had no Long-tailed Jaegers or South Polar Skuas.
There were almost no birds in the waters between the two islands.
Marine mammals have been scarce in these waters all season, but we did manage to find two Blue Whales northwest of San Clemente Island, a couple of other distant/elusive baleen whales, offshore bottlenose dolphins, short-beaked common dolphins, and a few Risso's dolphins.
Date: 8/30/25 9:12 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] 2025 LA River Fall shorebird survey: Day 2 results
Hi all,
Today was the second of three surveys of shorebirds in the Los Angeles river planned for this fall. The goal of the surveys is to get a fairly thorough picture of shorebirds using the various stretches of the river, and how their distribution is changing over time. This is the third year of the survey in its current form (three surveys per year in the fall).
Going upstream from the river mouth, coverage was as follows. In Long Beach, Jeff Boyd surveyed between Golden Shore and Willow St, Jon Fisher counted from Willow St to Wardlow Rd, and Lance Benner counted from Wardlow Rd to Alondra Blvd, traveling by bike. Dick Barth surveyed the river in the Paramount area from Alondra to Rosecrans. In the South Gate-Maywood area, Mark Wilson counted from Southern Ave to Florence Ave, and Mark and Janet Scheel from Florence Ave to Atlantic Blvd. Andy Birch surveyed locations with good shorebird habitat from the 110/5 Fwy intersection up to Glendale Narrows. Naresh Satyan surveyed the Sepulveda basin dam area and Buena Vista Park in Burbank. We effectively looked at every stretch of the river that has any shorebird habitat, only excluding some of the concrete channel wastelands in Downtown LA and the San Fernando Valley.
It was a warm/hot day along the river, with temperatures starting around 70 F and warming to about 85 F inland. We had clear skies and practically no wind all morning. The tide was rising +3.5 to +4.0 ft at the river mouth in Long Beach. Water levels in the river were fairly high throughout the survey area, with strong flow in the central channel, and limited shorebird habitat, particularly in the upstream areas.
We had larger numbers and higher diversity of shorebirds compared to our first survey on August 10, and roughly comparable to our results from last year (August 31, 2024). The arrival of juveniles increased the total numbers of birds, but numbers continue to be very low compared to historical numbers from the early 2000s. A couple of factors today contributed to depressed numbers: the high tide at the river mouth, and the presence of active Peregrine Falcons early in the morning in some of the most productive areas of the river (lower river at Willow St and in the South Gate area at Florence/Gage) which presumably flushed a lot of shorebirds. Several birds/species present on August 29 were not recorded on August 30.
Some shorebirds of interest were a Baird's Sandpiper at Del Amo Blvd, and Solitary Sandpipers at Florence Ave in South Gate and at Buena Vista park in Burbank. Pectoral and Stilt Sandpipers, present until yesterday at Willow St, were not found today. Other interesting birds included a Red-breasted Merganser, a White-tailed Kite and an Indigo Bunting along the lower river (Jeff Boyd), and some southbound migrants including a couple of Willow Flycatchers at Sepulveda Basin.
The final survey for this fall is scheduled for September 20.
The results of today's survey are on eBird here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/406934 The results of the first day's survey on August 10, 2025 are here: ebird.org/tripreport/401630
Date: 8/30/25 11:41 am From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Lucy's Warbler at Sorensen Park (Lake Los Angeles)
Birders,
A hatch-year Lucy's Warbler was at Steven Sorensen Park in Lake Los Angeles this morning. It was along the drainage north of the park -- more specifically in the low shrubby willows north of the park fence (opposite the baseball field) on the south side of the drainage.There was a good variety of passerine migrants in the park, though overall numbers were low. The seven warbler species also included 2 MacGillivray's and a Nashville. There was a female Blue Grosbeak along the north fence, and an *aculeata* (Pacific Coast) White-breasted Nuthatch in pines inside the park.
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for August 29, 2025.
The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER along lower Ballona Creek was reported through August 28. Check for it with the flock of Black-bellied Plovers along the creek or on the salt pan. This area is just upstream from the Pacific Ave. bridge.
Two STILT SANDPIPERS were at the Willow Street crossing on the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach from August 23-28.
A COMMON TERN was at Belmont Shore / pier (Alamitos Bay) continued through August 23.
At least eight PURPLE MARTINS were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on August 24.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW and a VIRGINIA’S WARBLER were at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia on August 28 on the peninsula west of the parking area.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was in Acton on August 27.
-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
That's interesting about your Swinhoe's Whiteeye report. Last week on my
morning walk I discovered a small group (4-5) Swinhoe's Whiteeyes in a tree
above my head. I ID them through Merlin, then hurried a half block home to
get my bins for a better view. They only stayed a minute or so after I
returned, then flew to another tree before flying farther. I've been in my
Mar Vista neighborhood for 20 years and have never seen a Swinhoe's Whiteeye
here, much less a small group.
Lisa Freeman
<https://aolapp.onelink.me/eG2g?pid=NativePlacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_3 20_EmailSignature_AttributionDL&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3
=&af_sub4=100002473&af_sub5=SentFromNewAOLApp__Interstitial_&af_ios_store_cp
p=ce85ce34-ad0f-4811-a92b-a172743b064e&af_android_url=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.goo
gle.com%2Fstore%2Fapps%2Fdetails%3Fid%3Dcom.aol.mobile.aolapp%26listing%3Dem
ail_signature_attribution> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
Date: 8/25/25 8:48 am From: Loretta Selinger via groups.io <loretta...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] swinhoe's white-eye (and swallow-tailed kite)
Lisa. I live in mar vista as well. What cross streets did you see the white eyes? Block?
Loretta Selinger
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> on behalf of Lisa Freeman via groups.io <lisafreeman...>
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2025 8:30:43 AM
To: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...>
Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] swinhoe's white-eye (and swallow-tailed kite)
That’s interesting about your Swinhoe’s Whiteeye report. Last week on my morning walk I discovered a small group (4-5) Swinhoe’s Whiteeyes in a tree above my head. I ID them through Merlin, then hurried a half block home to get my bins for a better view. They only stayed a minute or so after I returned, then flew to another tree before flying farther. I’ve been in my Mar Vista neighborhood for 20 years and have never seen a Swinhoe’s Whiteeye here, much less a small group.
Lisa Freeman
Date: 8/25/25 8:30 am From: Lisa Freeman via groups.io <lisafreeman...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] swinhoe's white-eye (and swallow-tailed kite)
That’s interesting about your Swinhoe’s Whiteeye report. Last week on my morning walk I discovered a small group (4-5) Swinhoe’s Whiteeyes in a tree above my head. I ID them through Merlin, then hurried a half block home to get my bins for a better view. They only stayed a minute or so after I returned, then flew to another tree before flying farther. I’ve been in my Mar Vista neighborhood for 20 years and have never seen a Swinhoe’s Whiteeye here, much less a small group.Lisa FreemanÂ
Date: 8/24/25 10:17 am From: <mexczech...> via groups.io <mexczech...> Subject: [LACoBirds] swinhoe's white-eye (and swallow-tailed kite)
Hello Birders,
Around 10am this morning had a swinhoe's white-eye behind our home. We've lived here for over a year and haven't seen it before.
On Friday 8/15 while driving on the 110 near PCH had a nice view of the swallow-tailed kite circling and then heading toward Ken Malloy Park.
Stay cool,
Tim ZajicRancho Palos Verdes
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for August 23, 2025.
The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER along lower Ballona Creek through August 21. Check for it with the flock of Black-bellied Plovers along the creek or on the salt pan. This area is just upstream from the Pacific Ave. bridge.
A SEMIPLAMATED SANDPIPER was upstream near the Inglewood Blvd. crossing on August 16.
A COMMON TERN was at Belmont Shore / pier (Alamitos Bay) through August 20.
The continuing SWALLOW-TAILED KITE at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City was seen through August 17. No subsequent reports.
The BURROWING OWL continued at the Fish Docks in San Pedro through August 17 near Harbor Blvd. and West 22nd Street.
PURPLE MARTINS included one at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on August 17, one at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on August 20 and three at Jackson Lake near Big Pines on August 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: 8/22/25 4:19 pm From: Al Borodayko via groups.io <adboro...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Common Tern in Long Beach
Greetings,
I went to the beach in Long Beach where the Common Tern has been reported. I had a brief glimpse of it at approx 9:00 AM in with the tern colony. It was just west of Claremont Place/Ave. I got one photo of it, took my eyes off of it and when I looked up it was gone. I could not re-find it.
Date: 8/20/25 8:30 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Blue Ridge Road birds/fire damage
Hi, This weekend I wanted to go up to Table Mountain to look for various bird species, including one of my favorite birds, Clark's Nutcracker (I found some), but driving up Highway 2 I was curious as to whether or not the yellow metal gate was still closed, keeping people from driving up towards the now non-existent Grassy Hollow visitor center. It turned out that the gate is open and you can drive quite a bit up the 2. After confirming that the Grassy Hollow Visitor Center no longer exists, I found that I could drive on the dirt road that goes to Blue Ridge Campground. I did not drive all the way to the campground at all. I was surprised to find that the condition of the road itself was pretty good. I was in my Prius C and there was another dude driving one of those little Subaru WRX sports cars that had zero clearance. I only drove in less than a mile on the road and parked and walked around and I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of birds. Numerous normal mountain bird species were feeding babies. There were also numerous flowering plants, butterflies, European honey bees, and three species of rodents (the cute ones). I was hoping for Dusky Flycatcher and Black chinned Sparrow but then again I went up there at 4:00 in the afternoon. So perhaps those species are actually there, and it also doesn't help that I went there in mid-August, instead of being up there in the spring. I definitely will return here next spring for those two species and more. I intend to return here earlier than that, during the winter to see if I find something like a Golden crowned Kinglet. The other sort of almost pleasant surprise was that while, yes, there is extensive damage and many thousands of dead conifers, I'm guessing here, but 20 or 30% of the conifers survived the fire. There are extensive stands where if you randomly park and look in a certain direction, you would think that every single tree in the entire Mount Baldy area has been burned to death. But, like Mark Twain, rumors of their death have been greatly exaggerated. Of course, the amount of time (measured I assume in decades) that would take for a lot more conifers to grow back will take longer than I have left on this planet (you never know, so far I've outlived a lot of my male family members so maybe I'll get lucky) but I felt a certain level of hopefulness while I was standing there. One thing that might factor in is global warming might not be so conducive to all of those firs and pines growing back. If anybody feels like cross-posting this to the Los Angeles WhatsApp group, you have my permission. Tom Thomas Geza Miko Claremont, LA County 909.241.3300
Date: 8/19/25 10:23 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Purple Martin at El Dorado Park in Long Beach
Hi Everyone, In case my purple martin email caused confusion, here's what happened:I saw the bird at El Dorado Park around 12:30 pm on Sunday, tried to post a note to the listserve using my phone, but then got a message saying that the email couldn't go through. Evidently it finally did go through rougly 1 1/2 days after I tried to send it, so my apologies for the mixup. The bird was flying over the pond at the southwest part of the park (i.e., south of Willow) among a flock of barn swallows, cliff swallows, and a couple of northern rough-winged swallows. It looked like a first summer male. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CA --------------------
From: "Lance Benner" <lbenner...> To: <lacobirds...> Sent: August 19, 2025 at 1:10 AM PDT Subject: [LACoBirds] Purple Martin at El Dorado Park in Long Beach At the pond at the southwestern corner of the park. In among barn and cliff swallows. Lance Benner Pasadena, CA _._,_._,_
For folks interested in pelagic birding trips leaving from the LA area, the second Island Packers pelagic (9 hours) of the fall to the SBI booby colony will be on Sep 5 heading out of Ventura. The August trip had both Blue-footed and Masked Boobies in with the Cocos (Brown) Booby colony. En route, we saw a nice selection of other pelagic species including Leach’s, Ashy, Black and Least Storm-petrels, Buller’s Shearwater, Skua and both Craveri’s and Scripps’s Murrelets. Additional species (e.g. LT Jaeger) will be possible in September along this route.
There is another Island Packers pelagic on Sep 7 that will be a 12-bour trip. Dave Pereksta will post more details on this shortly.
Please contact Island Packers to book these trips. For any questions on routes/possible birds, feel free to email me.
Nick Lethaby Goleta, CA <nlethaby...> +1 805 284 6200
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for August 16, 2025.
The HOODED MERGANSER at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City continued through August 10.
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was observed at the Ballona Wetlands near Playa del Rey from August 6-12.
Up to three BLACK SWIFTS continued to be seen along Cobal Canyon Motorway above Claremont through August 11. A good spot is the bench some distance up the fire road. Late afternoon and early evening is the time to look for them.
A returning PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was back along lower Ballona Creek from August 12-15. Check for it with the flock of Black-bellied Plovers along the creek or on the salt pan.
A BAR-TAILED GODWIT was found in Playa del Rey on August 9 and seen there through August 11. It alternated between the beach adjacent the Ballona Creek mouth, to the creek channel and also on the salt pan. There have been no further reports.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continued at Dockweiler State Beach in El Segundo through August 15. It is often adjacent the end of Imperial Highway.
A COMMON TERN was at Belmont Shore / pier (Alamitos Bay) through August 15.
The continuing SWALLOW-TAILED KITE at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City was seen through August 15. It often prefers the north end of the lake and golf course, but it may be seen anywhere in the general area.
The BURROWING OWL continued at the Fish Docks in San Pedro through August 16 near Harbor Blvd. and West 22nd Street.
A rather early WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was at Jackson Lake near Big Pines on August 14.
An immature male SUMMER TANAGER was at Kenneth Hahn SRA near the Japanese Garden on August 10.
A male INDIGO BUNTING was along the San Gabriel River in South El Monte (just above the Whittier Narrows Dam) on August 15.
-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: 8/14/25 11:38 am From: Al Borodayko via groups.io <adboro...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Lesser Black-backed Gull Continues at Dockweiler SB
Greetings,
This morning, 14 Aug, I went to Dockweiler State Beach and found the Lesser Black-backed Gull at approx 9:00 AM, on the beach just south of Life Guard Tower 56 (End of Imperial Hwy). I posted a photo of it in the 11a Skuas, Gulls and Terns Album.
Date: 8/12/25 8:25 pm From: John Green via groups.io <bewickwren...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Swallow-tailed Kite continues
Birders,
Rob Skinner and I searched for the Swallow-tailed Kite from 10:20AM-1:15PM
without success. We had our equipment loaded in the car and were seconds
away from departure when it miraculously appeared atop a tree right next to
us. It stayed for about 10 minutes then briefly flew over the lake then to
northwest over the Kaiser building.
Seen in northwestern Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City at
33.790001, -118.292331.
Date: 8/11/25 3:09 pm From: David Koeppel via groups.io <davkofilms...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve coordinates
Hi Birders,
The Bar-tailed Godwit continues this afternoon along the north bank of the creek, easily viewed from the bike path. Its location for several hours has been within the mixed flock opposite the metal spillway grate - roughly between tall palm trees 1 and 3. The bird has been resting for long intervals before taking up at different points along this rocky stretch. Absolutely no need to breach the fence and walk the path alongside the preserve to look across.
Date: 8/10/25 10:55 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] 2025 LA River Fall Shorebird Survey: Day 1 results
Hi all,
Obviously the main shorebird attraction of the day was the Bar-tailed Godwit in Playa del Rey, but today was also the first of three surveys of shorebirds in the Los Angeles river planned for this fall. This is the third year of the survey in its current form. Many thanks to all the birders who contributed their time and effort this morning -- I'm sure some would rather have been birding along Ballona creek instead, but we covered most of the river.
Going upstream from the river mouth, coverage was as follows. In Long Beach, Jeff Boyd surveyed between Golden Shore and Willow St, Jon Fisher counted from Willow St to Wardlow Rd, and Lance Benner from Wardlow to Alondra Blvd. Dick Barth surveyed the river in the Paramount area from Alondra to Rosecrans. In the South Gate-Maywood area, Mark and Janet Scheel from Florence Ave to Atlantic Blvd. Andy Birch surveyed all locations with good shorebird habitat from the 110/5 Fwy intersection up to Glendale Narrows. Naresh Satyan surveyed the Sepulveda basin dam area and Buena Vista Park in Burbank. Except for a stretch of the river in South Gate (which has had no shorebirds yet on previous visits this year anyway), we effectively looked at every part of the river that has any shorebird habitat.
It was a pleasant morning, with temperatures ranging from 63 to 73 degrees F. There was a marine layer over much of the river for most of the morning, and there was very little wind. It was a low flood tide at the river mouth in Long Beach. Water levels in the river were very high throughout the survey area, with strong flow in the central channel.
Early August numbers of shorebirds continued to be extremely low for the third consecutive year. We somehow managed to have even fewer Western Sandpipers in 2025 (only 21 birds) compared to August 11, 2024 (76) and August 12, 2023 (290). The count of 6826 Western Sandpipers on the lower LA river by Dan Cooper et al on August 16, 2000 is now a distant memory. There were also no uncommon birds today.
Hopefully shorebird numbers will increase later in the year. There will be two follow-up surveys this fall, on August 30 and September 20.
Regards, Naresh
-- Naresh Satyan Pasadena, CA Los Angeles Birders -- www.labirders.org
Continues with a mixed flock very close to the bike path, near (33.9656765, -118.4496770)
Grigory Heaton
Pasadena, CA
________________________________
From: <LACoBirds...> <LACoBirds...> on behalf of Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...>
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2025 3:21:46 PM
To: <LACoBirds...> <lacobirds...>
Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve coordinates
After resting and preening for several hours today, and after the last of the birders had left, the bird took off from the creek at 3:05 pm and flew directly towards the ocean while calling. It flew by itself and not with the rest of the flock. Please update if you refind the bird.
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sat, Aug 9, 2025, 8:13 PM Andrew Birch via groups.io<http://groups.io> <andyrbirch...><mailto:<yahoo.com...>> wrote:
The BAR-TAILED GODWIT continued this evening amongst the large Willet and Marbled Godwit flock on the rocks along the creek. A small group of us watched it at close range here on bike path at 33.965815,-118.449555
Best, Andy Birch
Los Feliz

As a heads up, the rattlesnake signs at the gate are not a joke. If you choose to go around the fence, please stay walk in the center of the path away from the fence and embankment. The snakes like to sun themselves on the embankment and will conceal themselves near bushes. I've seen snakes twice-a 2' and a 6' rattler.
Bob Shanman
<wildbirdbob...><mailto:<wildbirdbob...>
On Sat, Aug 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM Larry Schmahl via groups.io<http://groups.io> <larschmahl...><mailto:<aol.com...>> wrote:
At the suggestion of my friend Tom Miko, the coordinates for the location of the Bar-tailed Godwit as of 9:30 this morning are 33 57' 58"N , 118 26' 48" W . per Google Earth.
This should put you on the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek and somewhere opposite the UCLA boat ramp which is on the opposite side of the same creek.
Larry Schmahl
Whittier Ca.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 04:10:48 PM PDT, T.G. Miko <tgmiko...><mailto:<tgmiko...>> wrote:
Larry,
Please provide GPS coordinates for where the bird was.
Thanks
Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont, LA County
909.241.3300
I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30. Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence.
From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate. I won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence. Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried Black Mustard stalks.
As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird checklist under godwit sp.
Date: 8/10/25 6:21 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Catalytic Converter theft near the LA River
Hi Everyone, I drove to David Molina Park in Long Beach this morning to check for shorebirds along the LA River. I left the car at 6:50 am, rode my bike south to Wardlow, and then north to Somerset. The park is next to the intersection between Del Amo Blvd. and Oregon Ave. The park seems nice, but when I got back to the car around 10 am someone had stolen the catalytic converter from my 2009 Prius. I filed a police report with Long Beach but I doubt they can do much. It appears that insurance will cover most of repairs, minus the deductible. So beware! Regarding birds, well, things were slow. The only shorebirds were a few killdeer. The highlight was seeing a peregrine falcon on the river channel eating a pigeon a short distance south of Artesia. There were also five Egyptican geese just north of Alondra. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena _._,_._,_
After resting and preening for several hours today, and after the last of
the birders had left, the bird took off from the creek at 3:05 pm and flew
directly towards the ocean while calling. It flew by itself and not with
the rest of the flock. Please update if you refind the bird.
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sat, Aug 9, 2025, 8:13 PM Andrew Birch via groups.io <andyrbirch=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> The BAR-TAILED GODWIT continued this evening amongst the large Willet and
> Marbled Godwit flock on the rocks along the creek. A small group of us
> watched it at close range here on bike path at 33.965815,-118.449555
> Best, Andy Birch
> Los Feliz
>
> On Aug 9, 2025, at 7:57 PM, Bob Shanman via groups.io <wildbirdbob=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> 
> As a heads up, the rattlesnake signs at the gate are not a joke. If you
> choose to go around the fence, please stay walk in the center of the path
> away from the fence and embankment. The snakes like to sun themselves on
> the embankment and will conceal themselves near bushes. I've seen snakes
> twice-a 2' and a 6' rattler.
> Bob Shanman
> <wildbirdbob...>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl=
> <aol.com...> wrote:
>
>> At the suggestion of my friend Tom Miko, the coordinates for the location
>> of the Bar-tailed Godwit as of 9:30 this morning are 33 57' 58"N , 118 26'
>> 48" W . per Google Earth.
>> This should put you on the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek and
>> somewhere opposite the UCLA boat ramp which is on the opposite side of the
>> same creek.
>>
>>
>> Larry Schmahl
>> Whittier Ca.
>>
>> On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 04:10:48 PM PDT, T.G. Miko <
>> <tgmiko...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Larry,
>> Please provide GPS coordinates for where the bird was.
>> Thanks
>> Tom
>>
>> Thomas Geza Miko
>> Claremont, LA County
>> 909.241.3300
>>
>> On Sat, Aug 9, 2025, 15:40 Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl=
>> <aol.com...> wrote:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt
>> pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30.
>> Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed
>> Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled
>> Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence.
>> From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate.
>> I won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence.
>> Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow
>> for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which
>> in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried
>> Black Mustard stalks.
>>
>> As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers
>> have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird
>> checklist under godwit sp.
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Larry
>> Whittier, Ca.
>>
>>
>
Date: 8/9/25 7:57 pm From: Bob Shanman via groups.io <wildbirdbob...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve coordinates
As a heads up, the rattlesnake signs at the gate are not a joke. If you
choose to go around the fence, please stay walk in the center of the path
away from the fence and embankment. The snakes like to sun themselves on
the embankment and will conceal themselves near bushes. I've seen snakes
twice-a 2' and a 6' rattler.
Bob Shanman
<wildbirdbob...>
On Sat, Aug 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> At the suggestion of my friend Tom Miko, the coordinates for the location
> of the Bar-tailed Godwit as of 9:30 this morning are 33 57' 58"N , 118 26'
> 48" W . per Google Earth.
> This should put you on the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek and
> somewhere opposite the UCLA boat ramp which is on the opposite side of the
> same creek.
>
>
> Larry Schmahl
> Whittier Ca.
>
> On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 04:10:48 PM PDT, T.G. Miko <
> <tgmiko...> wrote:
>
>
> Larry,
> Please provide GPS coordinates for where the bird was.
> Thanks
> Tom
>
> Thomas Geza Miko
> Claremont, LA County
> 909.241.3300
>
> On Sat, Aug 9, 2025, 15:40 Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl=
> <aol.com...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt
> pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30.
> Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed
> Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled
> Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence.
> From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate. I
> won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence.
> Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow
> for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which
> in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried
> Black Mustard stalks.
>
> As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers
> have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird
> checklist under godwit sp.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Larry
> Whittier, Ca.
>
>
>
>
Date: 8/9/25 7:21 pm From: Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve coordinates
At the suggestion of my friend Tom Miko, the coordinates for the location of the Bar-tailed Godwit as of 9:30 this morning are 33 57' 58"N , 118 26' 48" W . per Google Earth.This should put you on the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek and somewhere opposite the UCLA boat ramp which is on the opposite side of the same creek.
Larry SchmahlWhittier Ca.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 04:10:48 PM PDT, T.G. Miko <tgmiko...> wrote:
Larry,Please provide GPS coordinates for where the bird was. Thanks Tom
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont, LA County
909.241.3300
On Sat, Aug 9, 2025, 15:40 Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl...> wrote:
Hello all,
I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30. Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence.From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate. I won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence. Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried Black Mustard stalks.
As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird checklist under godwit sp.
Thank you,
LarryWhittier, Ca.
Date: 8/9/25 4:38 pm From: lathrotriccus via groups.io <lathrotriccus...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] possible Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve salt pans
Hi,
Thanks for getting the word out either way! Another option for scanning (without entering the restricted area) would be to park along Culver Blvd. and walk a short distance south up Cabora Dr., essentially across Culver from the Inn at Playa del Rey. Coords: 33.961421, -118.444563. There's a little dirt pullout that allows you to scan/scope the flats to the north, elevated a bit.
While the State hasn't been diligent about writing tickets along the south levee of Ballona Creek, a crowd might attract attention.
Also, the shorebird flock on the saltpan may also disperse depending on tidal conditions, to Del Rey Lagoon, the mouth of Marina del Rey, or farther up Ballona Creek.
Dan Cooper Ventura Co.
> <larschmahl...> wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt >> pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30. >> Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed >> Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled >> Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence. >> From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate. >> I won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence. >> Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow >> for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which >> in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried >> Black Mustard stalks. >> >> As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers >> have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird >> checklist under godwit sp. >> >> Thank you, >> >> Larry >> Whittier, Ca. >> >> > >
-- Daniel S. Cooper, Ph.D. President / Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc. / Oak Park, CA Research Associate / Department of Ornithology / NHM L.A. Co. 323.397.3562 (text/call)
Date: 8/9/25 4:10 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] possible Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve salt pans
Just a note to encourage people to go look for this bird - it was there on
Thursday evening around sunset... I got bad looks and some photos but
couldn't convince myself to report it. My fault - but the point is that the
bird has stuck for 2 days and may stick tomorrow.
Naresh
--
Naresh Satyan
Pasadena, CA
On Sat, Aug 9, 2025, 3:40 PM Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt
> pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30.
> Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed
> Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled
> Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence.
> From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate. I
> won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence.
> Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow
> for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which
> in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried
> Black Mustard stalks.
>
> As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers
> have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird
> checklist under godwit sp.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Larry
> Whittier, Ca.
>
>
>
Date: 8/9/25 3:40 pm From: Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl...> Subject: [LACoBirds] possible Bar-tailed Godwit Ballona Ecological Preserve salt pans
Hello all,
I observed and photographed a very possible Bar-tailed Godwit in the salt pans of the Ballona Ecological Preserve this morning at about 9:30. Photographs are being reviewed but initially it appears to be a Bar-tailed Godwit. The bird was with a large mixed flock of Willets and Marbled Godwits just on the Playa Del Rey side of the chain link fence.From the Playa Del Rey side of Ballona Creek, walk upstream to the gate. I won't make any statements as to the legality of going around the fence. Walk up the dirt road to where gaps in the vegetation on your right allow for viewing of the mudflats. There is no need to enter the preserve which in clearly trespassing. I observed the bird through the fence and dried Black Mustard stalks.
As of right now, this bird is officially a godwit sp. until all reviewers have had a look at my photos. Some of the photos will be on my ebird checklist under godwit sp.
Thank you,
LarryWhittier, Ca.
Date: 8/9/25 11:32 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Home is where the airfields are: What happens when hawks are moved from Los Angeles airports
Thomas Geza Miko Claremont, LA County 909.241.3300 " I don't know who is going to win the war between America and Iran, but I suspect it will be Lockheed Martin."--Jimmy Carr
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for August 8, 2025.
The HOODED MERGANSER at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park continued through August 4.
Up to six BLACK SWIFTS continued to be seen along Cobal Canyon Motorway above Claremont through August 6. A good spot is the bench some distance up the fire road. Late afternoon and early evening is the time to look for them.
A STILT SANDPIPER was along the Los Angeles River north of the Slauson crossing in Maywood on August 4.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continued at Dockweiler State Beach in El Segundo through August 7.
A COMMON TERN was at Belmont Shore / pier (Alamitos Bay) from August 2-5
A COMMON LOON was at Quail Lake near Gorman on August 1.
CALIFORNIA CONDORS continued to be seen at various locations along Ridge Route Road near Castaic through August 3. Google Maps 34.5725, -118.6650.
The continuing SWALLOW-TAILED KITE at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City was seen through August 7. It often prefers the north end of the lake and golf course, but it may be seen anywhere in the general area.
The BURROWING OWL continued at the Fish Docks in San Pedro through August 6 near Harbor Blvd. and West 22nd Street.
-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: 8/4/25 1:28 pm From: Richard Barth via groups.io <busyday...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Stilt Sandpiper LAR Slauson
Birders,
Monday 4 August
This morning I had a Stilt Sandpiper at the L.A.River just north of
Slauson Ave in Vernon. It sometimes stood around with the dowitchers
but also foraged alone. Photos.
eBird link: https://ebird/view/checklist/S265074709 Richard BarthWest Hollywood
