Date: 4/14/26 10:43 pm From: condor262001 via groups.io <condor262001...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Sand Dune Park Indigo Bunting
It seemed slow at Sand Dune until about 1PM when merlin heard a Calliope Hummingbird that I never saw and then an all blue bird that was neither a mountain bluebird nor a blue grosbeak but rather an Indigo Bunting.
Pictures can be found at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/25876581@N00/
Date: 4/13/26 11:00 pm From: David Koeppel via groups.io <davkofilms...> Subject: [LACoBirds] East San Gabriel Mountains preview
While E. Blue Ridge Road in the San Gabriel Mountains remains closed, the section of the Pacific Crest Trail that runs alongside it offers a user-friendly means of accessing the ridge and the wilderness beyond. By parking at the Inspiration Point parking lot on the opposite side of Angeles Crest Highway, I easily walked the half mile to the fire road that, in past springs, has yielded a good mix of upper montane species. Even on a blustery morning cut short by snow flurries, sleet, dense fog, and wind, a flourish of birds that included Hairy Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Fox Sparrow, and Spotted Towhee managed to liven up the fire-ravaged bleakness of the surroundings. Amazingly, most of the white firs and about 60% of the Jeffrey pines in the first stand along the fire road withstood the devastation, so I encourage Atlasers living in closer proximity to the San Gabriel Mountains than myself to check back here in May, June, and July. Maybe there is hope for the Nashville Warblers, Flammulated Owls, and other standouts known to have bred in this area.
Date: 4/12/26 7:25 pm From: Alexander Viduetsky via groups.io <alikoster...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Two Common Loons flew over Descanso Gardens on April 12, 2026.
Hello birders,
Today, April 12, 2026, I photographed two Common Loons flying northwest over Descanso Gardens. It appeared to be a new species (# 207) at that location.
Date: 4/11/26 9:50 pm From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Bird Atlas Update for Los Angeles County: 2026 April 11
Hi Everyone, Here's another update on progress with the California Bird Atlas in Los Angeles County. These are results as of the morning of 2026 April 11. LA County eBird Atlasers: 526 eBird Checklists: 8027 Atlas effort: 6075 hoursAtlas blocks with data: 328 (76% of the total)Species with a breeding code: 222 Species with breeding confirmed: 110 32 species have been confirmed in at least 10 blocks: 14 Canada Goose 21 Mallard 16 Mourning Dove 28 Anna's Hummingbird 36 Allen's Hummingbird 13 Great Blue Heron 14 Cooper's Hawk 13 Red-shouldered Hawk 37 Red-tailed Hawk 21 Great Horned Owl 35 Black Phoebe 16 Cassin's Kingbird 20 California Scrub-Jay 39 American Crow 89 Common Raven 21 Oak Titmouse 12 Cliff Swallow 65 Bushtit 12 Northern House Wren 23 Bewick's Wren 35 European Starling 16 Northern Mockingbird 19 Western Bluebird 14 Scaly-Breasted Munia 51 House Sparrow 73 House Finch 18 Lesser Goldfinch 20 Dark-eyed Junco 26 Song Sparrow 34 California Towhee 10 Hooded Oriole 10 Orange-crowned Warbler The number on the left gives the number of blocks where each species has been confirmed. The number of blocks with new confirmations of hummingbird and red-shouldered hawks has slowed considerably, which is expected given that these species nest early, but several other species, such as Cooper's hawk, hooded oriole, orange-crowned warbler, and cliff swallow have picked up. Common Ravens, house finches, and bushtits have been confirmed in the most blocks. Los Angeles County blocks where breeding has been confirmed for at least 10 species: 16 Baldwin Park NW 18 Burbank SE 10 El Monte CE 16 El Monte SE 13 Glendora SE 14 Hollywood CE 26 Hollywood NE 13 Hollywood SE 10 Juniper Hills CW 15 Long Beach CE 12 Long Beach CW 10 Long Beach SE 15 Los Alamitos CW 14 Los Alamitos NW 17 Los Angeles CW 10 Los Angeles NE 20 Los Angeles NW 20 Mount Wilson SE 21 Mount Wilson SW 17 Newhall CW 18 Ontario NW 37 Pasadena CE 26 Pasadena CW 18 Pasadena SE 10 Rosamond CW 21 San Dimas CE 32 San Dimas NE 14 San Fernando SE 10 Val Verde SE 13 Valyermo NW 24 Van Nuys CW 19 Venice NE 10 Warm Springs Mountain CW 38 Whittier SE Here the number gives the number of species in that block that have been confirmed. Note that 30+ species have been confirmed breeding in three blocks: Pasadena CE (37), San Dimas NE (32), and Whittier SE (38). Two weeks ago there were 21 blocks on this list. Now there are 34. We are making progress! Blocks with at least 50 species with breeding codes: 54 Baldwin Park NW 77 Burbank SE 59 El Monte SE 58 Hollywood NE 55 Lake Hughes CW 50 Los Alamitos CW 65 Los Angeles NW 64 Mount Wilson CE 53 Mount Wilson CW 53 Mount Wilson SE 62 Mount Wilson SW 53 Ontario NW 75 Pasadena CE 60 Pasadena CW 51 Pasadena NE 64 Pasadena SE 74 San Dimas NE 81 San Fernando SE 56 Valyermo NW 65 Van Nuys CW 58 Venice NE 62 Whittier SEFor comparison, two weeks ago 14 blocks had at least 50 coded species. Now the total is 22. The numbers in some of these blocks are approaching levels from the first Los Angeles County Bird Atlas from 1995-1999. Some are already higher. Given results from the previous Los Angeles County Bird Atlas, we should be able to push the number of coded species above 50 for most of the blocks along the coastal slope, Santa Monica Mountains, valleys, and in the mountains, although perhaps not in the urban core of Los Angeles. With some effort, many blocks in the Antelope Valley might reach ~30 species. Right now is an excellent time to see evidence of breeding. In the past ten days or so, I've seen numerous birds carrying nesting material, carrying food, feeding young, and a few occupied nests. My own neighborhood has been far more productive than I expected. To date, and in no particular order, I've confirmed breeding for the following species:Bewick's Wren, Common Raven, Oak Titmouse, Anna's Hummingbird, Northern Mockingbird, Red-whiskered Bulbul, European Starling, Bushtit, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, and Lesser Goldfinch. So please check your neighborhood! To see how much effort has been contributed (number of hours), number of species coded, confirmed, complete checklists, etc. go to: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/effortmap Once you bring up the map, you can zoom in to any particular part of the state, and if you click on each rectangle, you can see a summary of effort and species reported there. Although we're making really good progress in Los Angeles County, we still have a long way to go. There are 434 blocks in the county and more than 100 still have zero data. If you're looking for good areas to contribute, check the map discussed above, zoom in on a block where there's little or no effort, and go birding there. We hope you'll join us! Regards, Lance Lance Benner Pasadena, CA One of your friendly neighborhood regional coordinators for LA County. _._,_._,_
The Vireonidae is a rather small bird family, yet some of our most
difficult field identification issues involve these small gleaners of
forests, woodlands, and dense thickets. We’ll review the identification
characters of California’s vireos, while stressing the importance of
understanding their seasonal status, distribution, migration patterns, and
vagrancy, and touch on some as-yet unresolved taxonomic issues involving
our vireos.
This webinar will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel
<https://tinyurl.com/2y6efp3f> and will also be recorded for later viewing.
Please use the YouTube link above (alternatively:
https://tinyurl.com/2y6efp3f) which will take you directly to LAB’s main
page, where the live webinar should be visible once it begins at 7pm.
Become a LAB Member! Though our webinars will always remain free and
available to all, members of Los Angeles Birders have access to live
webinars via Zoom, invitations to special LAB-only field trips, priority
sign-up on LAB field trips & events, and discounts on paid LAB programs. To
learn more about membership, please see our website
<https://www.labirders.org/>!
Looking for a past webinar? Don’t forget that a list of all of our
previously recorded webinars <https://www.labirders.org/webinars.html> is
available on our website – which might come in handy if you want to study
up before a field trip, or if you're looking to build your birding skills
from home! Just scroll all the way down, past our upcoming and most recent
online programs and you'll find a list of webinars sorted by category.
These recordings are all viewable via our YouTube
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHbAhQTFVaeowMCl-sD2e0g> page.
Upcoming Events
4/12 Sundays at the Huntington (member-only field trip) - FULL
4/12 Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve with Duncan McClure (field trip)
4/14 Vireos Unraveled with Kimball Garrett and Jon Dunn (webinar)
5/2 Huntington Central Park with Duncan McClure (field trip)
5/12 Icterid Identification with Diego Blanco (webinar)
5/31 Redondo Canyon Pelagic with Jon Feenstra (field trip)
Date: 4/10/26 11:35 am From: Maya Rodriguez via groups.io <mayajailyn4...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Concrete Chorus Recruitment
Hi LACoBIRDS community,
My name is Maya, and I’m an undergraduate student and researcher at UCLA.
I’m helping support a multi-city study focused on understanding the drivers
of urban bird biodiversity, in collaboration with researchers at Colorado
State University.
As part of this work, we are supporting a community science project called
Concrete Chorus, which engages residents in collecting short sound
recordings of birds across urban areas. Our goal is to better understand
how environmental and social factors (such as tree canopy, green space, and
neighborhood characteristics) shape bird diversity in cities, including
patterns related to inequities in access to the benefits of nature.
We are currently recruiting volunteers across Los Angeles and wanted to
reach out to see whether this opportunity might be a good fit to share
through LACoBIRDS networks, programs, or community engagement channels.
Participation is designed to be simple and accessible: volunteers visit an
assigned site near where they live or work four times in May - June and
make short, 3-minute recordings using the free Merlin Bird ID app. Just 12
minutes of data collection in total! These recordings contribute valuable
data to better understand how birds use urban landscapes and how we can
support more biodiverse and equitable cities.
Date: 4/8/26 10:14 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] California Bird Atlas Newsletter + April 16 Town Hall
Hi Everyone, The California Bird Atlas monthly summary for March has been posted on the eBird portal at: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/news/atlas-dispatch-march-2026 The next Town Hall Q & A session on Zoom will be on April 16 at 7 pm. Below is an email from Van that provides information about how to sign up for the Town Hall and other information about progress with the atlas. There are still large areas in Los Angeles County that need coverage! In my previous email I mentioned that we need help in the Antelope Valley, Castaic Highlands, and San Gabriel Mountains, but coverage in the Santa Monica Mountains is also sparse in most blocks. If you haven't already signed up, please join us! Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CA ----------Forwarded Message----------
From: "Van Pierszalowski via groups.io" <van...> Reply-To: <van...> To: <CALBIRDS...> Sent: April 6, 2026 at 9:14 AM PDT Subject: [CALBIRDS] California Bird Atlas Newsletter + April 16 Town Hall Birders, Thank you to everyone contributing to the California Bird Atlas. The latest edition of The Atlas Dispatch is now live. Click here for a full update, including Atlas-first breeding records, field highlights from across the state, and incredible photos. We continue to be blown away by the level of engagement statewide. As of today, 66,642 Atlas checklists have been submitted across 5,131 blocks, spanning all 58 counties. 3,196 atlasers have contributed to the project, and we’re still in the first spring of a five-year Atlas period! If you haven’t joined the eBird Atlas project yet, you can do so here. We also hosted our first CBA Town Hall on March 19. A recording is available on our YouTube channel here. Our next Town Hall is April 16. We’ll share project updates, take questions, and feature Megan Jankowski (CBA Review Coordinator) presenting on how to find breeding birds. Register for the Zoom here. Submit questions here. California Bird Atlas is an independent 501(c)(3), and donations can be made here. Your support helps us grow the team, expand coverage, and continue building this incredible momentum statewide. We are deeply grateful :) Thanks, all - we’re just getting started! Happy Atlasing,Van Pierszalowski Executive DirectorCalifornia Bird Atlas <van...> Angeles, CA_._,_._,
Date: 4/6/26 5:44 pm From: Chuck & Lillian via groups.io <misclists...> Subject: [LACoBirds] SMBAS program Tues. 4/7/26, 7:30 pm:
Birders:
Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society invites you to
our monthly program Tuesday evening.
Building California's First Statewide Breeding
Bird Atlas, with Van Pierszalowski.
Zoom Evening Meeting, Tuesday, 7 April, 7:30 p.m.
Zoom waiting room opens 7:15 p.m.
From the ocean to the deserts to the highest
mountains, California is home to tens of millions
of birds. But there’s no one definitive resource
laying out exactly where the more than 700 bird
species that live and breed in California can be
found. The California Bird Atlas project aims to
change that, by doing the first comprehensive,
detailed bird survey of the entire state all 58
counties, all 163,000 square miles. By the end of
February over 100 breeding species had been
confirmed, and by mid-March over 50,000 trip
lists had been recorded by birders statewide. The
leader of the project, Van Pierszalowski, tells
us what’s involved in doing one of the most
ambitious bird science projects ever, and how
everyday birders can contribute to the effort.
Van Pierszalowski is the Executive Director of
the California Bird Atlas. Van’s childhood was
split between Cambria, CA, and Kodiak Island, AK,
where he worked on his father’s commercial salmon
fishing boat for eight years. After earning a
degree in Anthropology at UC Berkeley, he
embarked on a successful career as a songwriter
and musician, appearing on TV shows like Late
Night with Conan O’Brien and CBS News Sunday
Morning. Now living in LA, he’s fallen in love
with the area’s varied habitats and stunning
vagrant birds, and is continually inspired by its
diverse birding community. In 2023, Van completed
a California Big Year, recording 503 species,
becoming only the second birder to surpass 500 in
a single year in the state. He is an eBird
Regional Reviewer for Los Angeles County, and
leads trips for several local organizations,
including Los Angeles Birders and the Pasadena Audubon Society.
Date: 4/5/26 12:39 am From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Early season report from the Castaic lake area
Hi all,
This morning (Saturday 4/4), Armando Martinez, Jonathan Nakai and I hiked some trails on the west side of Castaic Lake. The habitat here is rolling hills with open fields of grass and low shrubs. We had good weather for much of the hike before it got pretty windy midmorning. The big highlight was a spectacle of several thousand Painted Ladies migrating through the area, along with a few other butterfly species in smaller numbers. We also had quite a lot of bird activity. There were a few migrants and several birds on breeding territories. Particularly interesting were 17 singing male Lazuli Buntings -- I've usually only been seeing such numbers in late April here. Other expected breeding species were also well-represented, though I was surprised not to find any Costa's Hummingbirds, and it seemed like some residents like Rufous-crowned and Bell's Sparrows had gone silent (presumably on nests?). We also found no Grasshopper Sparrows (as expected).
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for April 4, 2026.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was in the Los Angeles Harbor by Terminal Island from March 30-April 3. It was last visible from near the Japanese Fishing Memorial.
Inland BROWN PELICANS continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through April 1 and at Legg Lake in South El Monte on March 29.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at the Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills through April 2 (by the Japanese Garden) and at Pomona College through March 30. Two more were at Marshall Creek in La Verne on March 31.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through April 2.
A LUCY’S WARBLER continued at DeForest Park in Long Beach through March 29.
A NORTHERN PARULA was at Avenue Park in La Puente from March 30-April 3. Goole Maps 34.0355, -117.9937
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through April 1 (south of the lake). A PINE WARBLER continued in the northeast part of the park through April 1.
The BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena was seen through April 3 north of the lower west side parking lot and by Frisbee Golf hole 2.
SUMMER TANAGERS continued at Elysian Park through March 31 and in Griffith Park by the Old Zoo area through April 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
We’re scheduling a lint cleaning and the price drops from 350 to 150 per home if more people join! Lint buildup can be a serious fire hazard, so regular lint removal and exhaust cleaning help keep your home safe. Feel free to message me if interested.
Date: 3/31/26 8:44 am From: cathleenwrightworks via groups.io <cathleenwrightworks...> Subject: [LACoBirds] palos verdes
Sparrows were surprisingly scarce on or around the Palos Verdes golf course today. Highlights were two White-breasted Nuthatches, two Bullock's Orioles, a Red-breasted Sapsucker, a Purple Finch, a Hermit Warbler, and, last but certainly least, a Japanese White-eye.
Date: 3/30/26 6:20 pm From: Bernardo Alps via groups.io <whalephoto...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Red-necked Grebe in LA Harbor
Thank you for sharing, Tom.
The grebe is easy to see from the Japanese Fisherman Memorial on Seaside
Ave. on Terminal Island (plenty of free parking). There is no access to the
water on the east side of the basin.
Good birding,
Bernardo
On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 12:47 PM Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> Not sure if it's visible from land ot a publicly accessible location, but
> there is a Red-necked Grebe in LA Harbor at 33.7311156, -118.2657322.
>
> Tom Benson
> Redlands, CA
>
>
>
--
--
Bernardo Alps
Wildlife Biologist
California Whales & Wildlife
www.photocetus.com
<whalephoto...>
310.597.0449
P.O. Box 1667
San Pedro, CA 90733
Date: 3/30/26 12:47 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Red-necked Grebe in LA Harbor
Not sure if it's visible from land ot a publicly accessible location, but there is a Red-necked Grebe in LA Harbor at 33.7311156, -118.2657322.Tom BensonRedlands, CA
Date: 3/28/26 1:59 pm From: Larry Schmahl via groups.io <larschmahl...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Brown Pelican at Legg Lake
For those of you that keep a Legg Lake list, there was an immature Brown Pelican on the south lake at Legg Lake this morning, March 28th. There was also a 5K race going on as well. The park was a busy place.
Larry SchmahlWhittier
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for March 28, 2026.
Inland BROWN PELICANS were at MacArthur Park from March 22-23, at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas from March 23-27, at Legg Lake in South El Monte on March 22, and at the Hollywood Reservoir from March 24-26.
WESTERN CATTLE-EGRETS were along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach on March 26 and in Lake View Terrace on March 27.
A “PRAIRIE” MERLIN was at Rancho Sierra Golf Course in the east Antelope Valley on March 22.
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued at El Dorado Park in Long Beach (Area 3, north of the construction site) through March 21.
The GREATER PEWEE at Sycamore Canyon in Whittier was seen again on March 23. It has been west of the oil rig site.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood on March 23.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through March 27 (near Picnic Area 2), at the Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills through March 27 (by the Japanese Garden), along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach by Willow Street through March 24 (Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043) and at Pomona College on March 27.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through March 23.
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through March 27 (south of the lake). A PINE WARBLER continued in the northeast part of the park through March 24.
A SUMMER TANAGER continued at Griffith Park by the Old Zoo area.
-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: 3/28/26 11:24 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Bird Atlas Results for LA County: 2026 March 28
Hi Everyone, We're off to a very strong start with the California Bird Atlas across the state. In this email I want to summarize some results for Los Angeles County. First, a bit of background: Los Angeles County is divided into 434 rectangular blocks based on the US Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps. Each quadrangle has a name, such as "Waterman Mountain," and each quadrangle is subdivided into six rectangles that are about 3 miles on a side: Northwest, Northeast, Center West, Center East, Southwest, and Southeast. That is:NW NECW CESW SE I poked around in the California Bird Atlas eBird portal (https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home) to see how we're doing since January 1. As of 10 am on the morning of March 28, here are some statistics for LA County: Number of Atlasers = 483Hours of Atlas effort = 4975 eBird checklists = 6817Blocks with data = 315 (73% of the county total) Number of species with breeding codes: 203Number of species with breeding confirmed: 90 Here are the species (in taxonomic order) with breeding confirmed in at least 10 blocks: Blocks 13 Mourning Dove 26 Anna's Hummingbird 35 Allen's Hummingbird 10 Great Blue Heron 11 Cooper's Hawk 13 Red-shouldered Hawk 34 Red-tailed Hawk 19 Great Horned Owl 21 Black Phoebe 11 Cassin's Kingbird 18 California Scrub-Jay 37 American Crow 69 Common Raven 12 Oak Titmouse 54 Bushtit 13 Bewick's Wren 26 European Starling 10 Northern Mockingbird 13 Western Bluebird 13 Scaly-breasted Munia 38 House Sparrow 59 House Finch 14 Dark-eyed Junco 14 Song Sparrow 19 California Towhee Common raven has been confirmed the most: in 69 blocks. Here are the blocks where at least 10 species have been confirmed: Blocks with 10+ Species Confirmed: N Location 13 Burbank SE 13 El Monte SE 19 Hollywood NE 12 Hollywood SW 12 Long Beach CE 11 Long Beach CW 15 Los Alamitos CW 12 Los Alamitos NW 11 Los Angeles CW 16 Los Angeles NW 15 Mt. Wilson SE 16 Mt. Wilson SW 16 Newhall CW 14 Ontario NW 22 Pasadena CE 19 Pasadena CW 11 Pasadena SE 18 San Dimas CE 26 San Dimas NE 23 Van Nuys CW 28 Whittier SE The number on the left gives the number of blocks. Here are the blocks with at least 50 species with a breeding code: Blocks with 50+ Species Coded: N Location 51 Baldwin Park NE 71 Burbank SE 54 Hollywood NE 57 Los Angeles NW 50 Mt. Wilson CW 50 Mt. Wilson SE 55 Mt. Wilson SW 61 Pasadena CE 54 Pasadena CW 55 Pasadena SE 67 San Dimas NE 69 San Fernando SE 57 Van Nuys CW 55 Whittier SE Given that there's been effort in 315 blocks, this means that there's no data for 119 blocks, which are concentrated in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Castaic Highlands (i.e., north of Santa Clarita), and in the Antelope Valley. So we're making really good progress but we still have a lot to do! If you haven't contributed to the bird atlas yet, joining is easy. On a computer, go to https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home, scroll down a bit, and look for the green button marked "Join Project" on the left. Click on it and then you can contribute!On a phone, start the eBird app, go to the settings, select the "Portal," and then select the California Bird Atlas. We still need a lot of help so we hope you'll join us! Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CA _._,_._,_
Date: 3/23/26 5:22 pm From: ms.hiker99 via groups.io <ms.hiker99...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Angeles Crest Highway
All, Highway 2 is now open between Big Pines and Vincent Gap. Blue Ridge Road has a locked gate across it, as does Grassy Hollow. There are still snow patches along the road, and Mt. Baden-Powell has quite a bit of snow. Here are my checklists for three stops along that stretch:
Date: 3/22/26 6:50 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Big Rock Creek notes
Birders,
The road up Big Rock Creek from the Big Pines Hwy in Valyermo has finally reopened after the December/January storms. The good news is that there is now access to the Big Rock Creek riparian (from the National Forest Boundary upstream to Sycamore Flat Campground) and to the Big Rock Creek Campground area. The bad news is that the hordes of weekend revelers who trash the creek are now back in full force, so expect a bit of chaos if you visit on weekends. However, almost nobody goes to the end of the paved road (at the Fenner Canyon Prison Camp) to bird the BIg Rock Campground area, and it is quite birdy right now. [It looks like the gate on the road up to the South Fork of BIg Rock Creek is closed and locked.]
The gate to the road to and beyond Big Rock Campground is closed and locked, so you can't drive into the campground or up to Angeles Crest Hwy. at Vincent Gap. Not that you could do that anyway since the winter storms completely obliterated the road from shortly beyond the gate to the Icy Springs tributary confluence and beyond, You can make your way on foot (being careful in several areas where what used to be the road is now a set of ravines with lots of rocks of various sizes and shapes). This morning I walked about a mile up the road and had lots of bird activity. There were at least eight singing territorial Black-throated Gray Warblers (similar to Naresh's experience yesterday on the Angeles Crest beyond Chilao). Also at least six singing Western Warbling-Vireos, a Western Flycatcher, several Townsend's Solitaires, and an active Hutton's Vireo nest. See my eBird list here: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S312148398
Lawrence's Goldfinches have been common and conspicuous through most of the Valyermo/Juniper Hills/Pearblossom area in the past few weeks (with some at Big Rock as well). Scott's Orioles are just now showing up in force in the Joshua tree/juniper woodlands.
Not much movement of vultures and Swainson's Hawks yet (a couple of big vulture days a few weeks ago, but the only Swainson's I've seen in the desert foothills was a single bird yesterday in Juniper Hills that had likely roosted the previous night in the area).
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for March 22, 2026.
A “EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL was at the Hansen Spreading Grounds on March 15. Google Maps 34.2504, -118.3844
A continuing SOLITARY SANDPIPER was at Hansen Dam through March 17 along the base of the dam (north side) east of the outflow.
A COMMON MURRE was along the lower Los Angeles at Willow Street on March 15.
A SABINE’S GULL was offshore south of San Pedro on March 16.
Inland BROWN PELICANS were at Reseda Park on March 15 and at Hollywood Reservoir from March 17-18.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER continued at Kenneth Hahn SRA through March 16. Google Maps 34.0064, -118.3654
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued at El Dorado Park in Long Beach through March 16 in Area 3.
A VESPER SPARROW was at Glen Haven and Sholom Memorial Park in Sylmar on March 15.
Six WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were reported in the past week.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through March 19.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at Kenneth Hahn SRA through March 15 by the Japanese Garden.
The OVENBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River near Willow Street through March 17. Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through March 21 (south of the lake). A PINE WARBLER continued in the northeast part of the park through March 21.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER continued at the William Andrews Clark Library in Los Angeles through March 20. A SUMMER TANAGER was here on March 19.
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued along the Mineral Wells Trail in Griffith Park through March 14. A SUMMER TANAGER was present here through March 17. Google Maps 34.1394, -118.2881
-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: 3/18/26 2:05 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Swainson's hawk picket lines: March 21
Birders,
Just a quick note to encourage folks who might be in or near the Antelope
Valley on Saturday to also be watching for migrating Swainson's Hawks. The
Antelope Valley generally does not get the push of Swainson's Hawks that is
expected along the coastal slope foothills in February. Those birds are
probably heading up into the Central Valley (and beyond). But beginning in
March, and especially in the latter half of that month, these hawks begin
to move north over the A. V. -- sometimes even in triple digits. These
later birds are probably heading to more easterly breeding areas, such as
in the western Great Basin.
Thus, we have a chance not only to get a handle on numbers of Swainson's
Hawks moving through our region in the spring, but we can also tease apart
the two slightly different migration routes through the county in terms of
both geography and timing.
Kimball Garrett
Juniper Hills
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 9:51 AM Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner=
<charter.net...> wrote:
> Greetings Everyone,
>
> The purpose of this email is to provide a quick update on Swainson's Hawk
> migration through this area and to invite you to join us on picket lines on
> Saturday, March 21, to try to understand their migration routes better.
>
>
>
Date: 3/18/26 1:42 pm From: Vargas, Norman via groups.io <normvargas2011...> Subject: Re: [LACoBirds] Swainson's hawk picket lines: March 21
For those who can't get out but would like to watch for hawks,
ALERTCalifornia and its vast network of "fire" cams might be useful to see
hawks moving along the foothills. There are many cameras and watching a few
cameras live may show something. Time lapse videos can be studied
afterwards also. They can be found here.
https://cameras.alertcalifornia.org/?<pos...> Look for Pine
Mountain, Johnson Peak, Mount Harvard, Sunset Peak, San Sevaine Lookout,
etc.
Given the few hawks I see over San Gabriel, I presume some come off the
west end of the Whittier Hills which implies they are coming north along
the mountains east of Orange County. There are a few cameras there,
Santiago Peak and Chino Hills, that may show limited numbers.
I will be at Mount Wilson on the east end overlooking the Santa Anita
Canyon. Last year I was at the lookout/helipad? at Chantry Flat which gives
a nice view south and east to see whether birds continue west or turn up
the canyon. If someone goes there, arrive early as the parking lot fills up
quickly. Overflow parking is available at the pack station for $20, but
mention you are there for the annual hawk watch and maybe you can get a
discount. Enjoy the food and drink afterward.
Norm Vargas
San Gabriel and Mount Wilson
On Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 9:51 AM Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner=
<charter.net...> wrote:
> Greetings Everyone,
>
> The purpose of this email is to provide a quick update on Swainson's Hawk
> migration through this area and to invite you to join us on picket lines on
> Saturday, March 21, to try to understand their migration routes better.
>
> I've been keeping track of all the Swainson's hawks reported in eBird west
> and north of Borrego Springs and Palm Springs this month, and to date,
> about 350 Swainson's hawks have moved through the area. This is far fewer
> than we had tallied at this date last year so it could be that we've missed
> a lot due to unusually clear weather, which makes the birds hard to see,
> and/or that a significant number haven't arrived yet.
>
> There have been fewer large groups of hawks seen moving along the
> foothills west of Glendora relative to previous years. Reports dating back
> several years have documented the birds flying into the mountains over
> Glendora Ridge during sunny weather; more birds are seen west through
> Pasadena when low clouds are present.
>
> Right now we're close to the historical peak of Swainson's hawk migration
> in this area.
>
> We'd like to invite you to help us check sites along the foothills _and_
> in the San Gabriel Mountains.
>
> In 2025 observers spread out east-west along the foothills and also in a
> rough line in the mountains along the Angeles Crest Highway. Currently the
> Angeles Crest Highway is open on the west from La Canada-Flintridge to the
> gate at mile 54, which is about 3 miles east of Newcomb's Ranch.
>
> We don't know in detail where the hawks go once they get into the
> mountains, so we'd like to position observers along the Angeles Crest
> Highway east of Clear Creek Junction (where the Crest and the Angeles
> Forest Highways intersect) to watch for hawks from 9:00-11:00 on March 21.
>
> We suspect that sites east of Red Box Gap might be more likely to have
> hawks, but we don't really know. We can't guarantee that hawks will
> migrate over any specific location, but it we won't know if we don't try.
>
> If this might interest you, please feel free to contact me if you have a
> site you'd like to check; if not, I can suggest locations, although pretty
> much any spot along the road with clear views to the south and east could
> work well.
>
> Locations along the Angeles Forest Highway might also be worth checking
> (say, Mill Creek Summit). It's also fine if you just head up there and
> report back later. Bear Divide could also be worth checking even though
> it's farther west. 50+
> hawks were reported there on March 16.
>
> In 2025, the largest numbers were seen around miles 45-46 on the Angeles
> Crest Highway.
>
> We also welcome reports from observers along the foothills from the Palm
> Springs area on the east all the way to the Grapevine on the west.
>
> It would be particularly helpful if someone could cover Glen Helen Park to
> see if the birds are moving through the Cajon Pass.
>
> Of course, observations from the Antelope Valley and anywhere else in the
> greater Los Angeles area are also welcome.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Lance
>
> Lance Benner
> Pasadena, CA
> On behalf of Los Angeles Birders
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/18/26 9:51 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Swainson's hawk picket lines: March 21
Greetings Everyone, The purpose of this email is to provide a quick update on Swainson's Hawk migration through this area and to invite you to join us on picket lines on Saturday, March 21, to try to understand their migration routes better. I've been keeping track of all the Swainson's hawks reported in eBird west and north of Borrego Springs and Palm Springs this month, and to date, about 350 Swainson's hawks have moved through the area. This is far fewer than we had tallied at this date last year so it could be that we've missed a lot due to unusually clear weather, which makes the birds hard to see, and/or that a significant number haven't arrived yet. There have been fewer large groups of hawks seen moving along the foothills west of Glendora relative to previous years. Reports dating back several years have documented the birds flying into the mountains over Glendora Ridge during sunny weather; more birds are seen west through Pasadena when low clouds are present. Right now we're close to the historical peak of Swainson's hawk migration in this area. We'd like to invite you to help us check sites along the foothills _and_ in the San Gabriel Mountains. In 2025 observers spread out east-west along the foothills and also in a rough line in the mountains along the Angeles Crest Highway. Currently the Angeles Crest Highway is open on the west from La Canada-Flintridge to the gate at mile 54, which is about 3 miles east of Newcomb's Ranch. We don't know in detail where the hawks go once they get into the mountains, so we'd like to position observers along the Angeles Crest Highway east of Clear Creek Junction (where the Crest and the Angeles Forest Highways intersect) to watch for hawks from 9:00-11:00 on March 21. We suspect that sites east of Red Box Gap might be more likely to have hawks, but we don't really know. We can't guarantee that hawks will migrate over any specific location, but it we won't know if we don't try. If this might interest you, please feel free to contact me if you have a site you'd like to check; if not, I can suggest locations, although pretty much any spot along the road with clear views to the south and east could work well. Locations along the Angeles Forest Highway might also be worth checking (say, Mill Creek Summit). It's also fine if you just head up there and report back later. Bear Divide could also be worth checking even though it's farther west. 50+hawks were reported there on March 16. In 2025, the largest numbers were seen around miles 45-46 on the Angeles Crest Highway. We also welcome reports from observers along the foothills from the Palm Springs area on the east all the way to the Grapevine on the west. It would be particularly helpful if someone could cover Glen Helen Park to see if the birds are moving through the Cajon Pass. Of course, observations from the Antelope Valley and anywhere else in the greater Los Angeles area are also welcome. Thank you! Lance Lance Benner Pasadena, CA On behalf of Los Angeles Birders _._,_._,_
Date: 3/18/26 9:39 am From: Lance Benner via groups.io <lbenner...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Swainson's hawk migration
Hi Everyone, Swainson's hawk migration is finally underway across Los Angeles County and adjacent areas. Until early March only a trickle of birds had been reported, but in the last week there's been a significant uptick. Here's a list of at least five Swainson's hawks reported west of Anza-Borrego since early March:
N Date Time Location Observers 34 Mar 5 1646 Debs Park Van Pierszalowski ?? Mar 5 morning Aguanga. Large group reported on Facebook. Near Palomar Mountain. 5 Mar 5 0720 Hahamongna Watershed Park Jeff and Mary Fenwick 42 Mar 7 0811 Griffith Park Los Angeles Birders Young Birders 12 Mar 7 0913 Griffith Park Richard Davis (possible some of the same birds seen by LAB) 5 Mar 10 0725 Hahamongna Jeff and Mary Fenwick 32 Mar 12 1007 Mouth of Fish Canyon Kurt Cato 47 Mar 14 1355 Barley Flats Naresh Satyan 20 Mar 15 1840 Cresthaven Dr, Riverside Angela Kenny
51 Mar 16 0709 Bear Divide Jodhan Fine 10 Mar 16 0815 O'Melveny Park Anna Mindel & Mike Grubb 53 Mar 16 0915 north Glendora Patrick GavitTotal: 329 Updated 2026 Mar 17
We're going to organize a picket line again on Saturday, March 21. I'll provide details for that in a separate email. Regards, Lance Lance Benner Pasadena, CA On behalf of Los Angeles Birders _._,_._,_
Date: 3/15/26 8:45 pm From: Alexander Viduetsky via groups.io <alikoster...> Subject: [LACoBirds] 2 White-throated Sparrows at Descanso Gardens on March 15
Hello birders, Today (Sunday, March 15, 2026), there were two White-throated Sparrows actively foraging on the ground at Descanso Gardens. I was surprised to see both of them near each other. If interested, you may see my photos and a short video of them on my Flickr page: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCN7TU
Good birding, Alexander Viduetsky Valley Village, CA
Date: 3/14/26 9:23 pm From: Naresh Satyan via groups.io <naresh.satyan...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Swainson's Hawks over the San Gabriel mountains today
Hi all,
I hiked up to Barley Flats in the San Gabriel mountains today (3/14) and had a group of 47 Swainson's Hawks fly over mid-afternoon at 3:15 pm.
My sense is that most Swainson's Hawk observations in our area are of birds that come down to roost overnight, and these birds are seen in the morning as they leave, particularly against the foothills on the coastal slope and on overcast days. But I think we miss the majority of birds that are migrating high overhead throughout the day, taking routes determined by weather and wind conditions on the day, and impossible to see against blue skies. Anyway, for those who are more interested in what I actually saw rather than idle speculation: this was a single group of 47 birds flying low above / on the north side of the ridge at Barley Flats, heading due west at 3:15 pm. This ridge (Barley Flats/Lawlor/Strawberry/Josephine) is the southern wall of Big Tujunga canyon, which runs east-west in the area. Winds were light to moderate from the west at Barley Flats. These birds were heading west into the wind, at the southern edge of a large area with stronger west winds (the entire western Antelope Valley). As seems to be typical for early season birds, the majority of the birds in the flock were dark(ish) birds.
On my way down from the hike, I had a flock of about 100 Cliff Swallows also heading west into the wind, but taking a line over the West Fork San Gabriel canyon between Barley Flats and Mt Wilson.
Otherwise, there was little sign of migrant activity apart from a couple of hummingbirds that flew over without stopping and perhaps a slightly-higher-than-expected number (16) of Audubon's Warblers at 5500'. Most singing birds in the area were residents, and Mountain Quail were particularly vocal. A California Thrasher was doing a perfect impression of an Olive-sided Flycatcher (https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/652807284).
This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for March 14, 2026.
A RED-THROATED LOON continued at the Earvin Magic Johnson Recreation Area in Willowbrook through March 7.
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER continued along the Coyote Creek Bikeway in La Mirada through March 11.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL continued at the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on March 13.
A BROWN PELICAN was briefly at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on March 9.
A SHORT-EARED OWL continued in the Antelope Valley through March 7 at 60th Street West and Avenue B.
A female WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKER continued in the pines below Brand Library at Brand Park in Glendale through March 8.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at Kenneth Hahn SRA through March 13 at the top of the park.
A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continued at Descanso Gardens in La Canada through March 11 and another was by Picnic Area 2 at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on March 11.
A GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued by Monte Verde Park in Lakewood through March 13.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at the Kenneth Hahn SRA through March 11 in the Japanese Garden area.
The OVENBIRD continued along the lower Los Angeles River near Willow Street through March 13. Google Maps 33.8064,-118.2043. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continues in the area as well.
The CAPE MAY WARBLER at Loyola Marymount University continued through March 7 here- 33.9688, -118.4167.
A PALM WARBLER continued at Belvedere Park in East Los Angeles through March 13 (south of the lake). A PINE WARBLER continued in the northeast part of the park through March 13.
A BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER was at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena from March 8-12 north of the dirt parking area north of the athletic fields (lower west side of the park).
A PAINTED REDSTART continued at San Dimas Canyon Park through March 8 near the east restrooms.
SUMMER TANAGERS were at Stearns Champions Park in Long Beach through March 7, in Griffith Park (Old Zoo Trails area) through March 12 and nearby along Mineral Wells Trail through March 13.
-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: 3/13/26 7:55 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Claremont Swainson's Hawks
HI Two adult dark morph birds just flew into Oak Par Cemetery, counterintuitively from the north, and I get the impression that they are roosting in the trees of the cemetery, proper (so you can be here with a camera tomorrow morning when they lift off). I am on cemetery property, but in the northern unkempt grassy area looking for Lawrence's Goldfinches. This morning in my neighborhood vaguely half a mile west of here I had what looked like an immature light morph bird also flying at rooftop level. I hate it when they are sneaky like that.
Tom Miko Claremont 91711 909.241.3300 "We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben Edwards
