May — June 2019 Western Tanager Trip Listings 

By Nick Freeman, Field Trip Chairman for Los Angeles Audubon Society 

Field trips often require more driving and time in the field than do LAAS bird walks. If you do not have convenient email to reserve a trip, you may always substitute a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) and provide your daytime phone number. We do not sell, trade, or re-use contact information; cell and email simply improve our chances of contacting you at home and in the field. No pets or unapproved small children (under 12), please. Bird walks are better-suited for most children. Contact information WILL BE released to others inquiring about carpooling unless requested otherwise. Envelopes for donations to support Los Angeles Audubon and its field trips will be distributed on some non-fee trips. Please support your LAAS field trips. Mail reservation fees to: L.A. Audubon–Field Trips, PO Box 411301, Los Angeles CA 90041. Send email reservation requests to: membership@laaudubon.org. For more information about LAAS field trips call: (323) 876-0202, and leave a voice message if there is no answer. When carpooling, remember to offer compensation for gas to your driver.

Saturday, May 11 (This Trip is Fully Booked)

Tejon Ranch

$20 FEE, MINORS FREE, MAX SIGN-UP OF 12, MIN 6

Leader: Louis Tucker. Visits to the Ranch are by special arrangement with escort only, as one could easily get lost on the web of gated dirt roads covering this huge working ranch. Hopefully the ranch will have dried out by May from the winter storms we've so desperately needed (and gotten!) This is spring bird migration peak time. This will be a great time to see various passerine species: warblers, flycatchers, bluebirds, and other songbirds. There are resident Red-tails, Burrowing Owls, Golden Eagles, and Prairie Falcons, which are all out there to be found. Even Swainson's Hawks may be nesting! California Condor is also a possibility if it's a bright sunny day. There also is a chance of catching sight of some Pronghorn Antelope. FRS radios and scopes useful.

 We will meet at Denny's in Sylmar. Take the Roxford Exit off of the 5 Fwy. Denny's can be seen on the east side of the Fwy. 12861 Encinitas Ave. Sylmar. Be prepared to carpool and leave from there at 7 a.m. to be at the 300 St. West Gate at 8 am. At the Tejon Ranch gate, we will transfer to ranch vehicles, for a number of reasons - first and foremost being safety - as roads on the ranch can be treacherous. Bring lunch, as we will be out most of the day. Any decision to cancel due to rain will be made at Denny's, in which case those in attendance will be sent refunds by Tejon Ranch.

LIMITED SIGN-UPS: 12 participants only. HOW TO SIGN-UP: Please pre-register by pulling up the Tejon Ranch website at: tejonconservancy.org / The Ranch / View All Events (bottom) / and click on May 11.  Pay $20 at this website with a credit card. Then, contact Susan by e-mail at membership@laaudubon.org and inform her that your party is paid up for the trip. If you receive a fairly prompt email confirmation, you have made the cut! (NO drop-ins.) Include the email address, cell phone number and Zip Code for each participant.  For more information call: (323) 876-0202.  

Friday, May 17

Small Owls of the San Gabriels #2 (Fully Booked – Wait-listed)

NO FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP

Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman. We will be looking for Flammulated, Saw-whet, Northern Pygmy and Western Screech-Owls. Sign up, and meet at 6:00 p.m. on the frontage road for Angeles Forest Hwy just north of the 210 Fwy. in La Canada. 

Sunday, May 19

Big Morongo Canyon

NO FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP OF 15

Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman. Meet at 8:00 AM in the preserve parking lot, or 7:00 AM at Covington Park next door. Breeding desert and oasis birds such as Brown-crested and Vermilion Flycatchers, Summer Tanager, Scott's and Hooded Orioles, Yellow-breasted Chat and late-migrating Empidonax flycatchers. To get there, take the 10 Fwy E about 17 miles past Banning to Hwy 62 N. Pass through the town of Morongo Valley, take a right on East Dr., then a left into the preserve (or straight to Covington Park). Bring lunch, water, sensible clothing and sun block. Yucca Valley and Desert Hot Springs offer nearby accommodations, or camp at Joshua Tree NP. LIMITED SIGN-UP OF 15. TO SIGN-UP: Send email to: membership@laaudubon.org, provide •names(s), •cell phone #’s and your •Zip Code. For more information call (323) 876-0202. Contact information WILL BE released to others inquiring about carpooling unless requested otherwise.  

Friday, June 21

Small Owls of the San Gabriels #3 (Fully Booked – Wait-listed)

NO FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP

Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman. We will be looking for Flammulated, Saw-whet, Northern Pygmy and Western Screech-Owls. Sign up, and meet at 6:00 p.m. on the frontage road for Angeles Forest Hwy just north of the 210 Fwy in La Canada. 

Thursday thru Sunday, July 4-7

Owls & other Birds of the Southern Sierra

$140 FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP: MAX 10, MIN 6.

Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman. We will be renting a different summer home this year, which should be just as nice as last years’. Flammulated and Spotted Owls have been seen in multiples almost every year. Saw-whet (adult & juv.) and Pygmy Owl are less reliable, but we will look hard! Saw-whet was very obliging last year! During days, we will search out Pileated Woodpecker, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and perhaps Goshawk, Dipper or Evening Grosbeak!

Meeting time and location in Ponderosa is still being firmed up. Couples will probably be prioritized, and singles in sleeping bags will be wait-listed until reservations open up on June 15. Coordinate your contribution for the Thursday potluck with Mary, mnfreeman@earthlink.net. LAAS will provide a weenie roast one other night, and we always have plenty of left overs for a third dinner! For more information send an email to: membership@laaudubon.org or call (323) 876-0202, and leave a voice message if no answer.

 Saturday, July 20

Big Bear Area

NO FEE, LIMITED SIGN-UP FOR DAY BIRDING AND / OR NIGHT OWLING

Leaders: Mary and Nick Freeman. Get a hotel room for July 20 (or wake up really early), and a room for July 21 if you plan to dine and owl with the Freemans. Target birds include Williamson’s
and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Calliope and Rufous Hummers, mountain finches, White-headed Woodpecker, and Mountain Quail. Meet in the Aspen Glen Picnic Area parking lot in Big Bear at 7:30 a.m. Take Hwy 18 or 38 to Big Bear Lake, then proceed about half way along the south side of the lake on Hwy 18 (Big Bear Blvd.) and turn south on Tulip Lane. The lot will be on the south side of this short street. Bring lunch for a full day, and a Forest Service Adventure Pass.

SIGN-UP: Email sign-up mandatory. Send email to: membership@laaudubon.org. Provide name(s) email addresses, & cell phone #s and wait for email confirmation.