Los Angeles is one of only two counties in the state— indeed in the country— that span the breath of habitats from offshore waters to coastline to mountains to deserts. The other is San Diego County; geographically next door to us. This situation naturally translates to a high diversity of birds, with both counties being closely matched and both having recorded over 520 species. The layperson is unlikely to think of Los Angeles as a great birding destination, but it is certainly that. Every year and every season demonstrate that clearly.
As usual this winter there were plenty of vagrants to chase. The vast majority were continuing birds, but a good number of new finds were also made. An above average number of flycatchers and orioles were present, possibly a result of climate change making the coastal slope even more hospitable for these insectivores and frugivores, or perhaps this year was just an aberration. Time will tell, but the combination of an increasing army of birders finding more and more vagrants and climatological factors leads to the expectation that this trend will continue.
Christmas Bird Counts had all been completed as of January 5, that being the last day within the count period. These produced a handful additional records of vagrants in the process of filling count circles with birders. Though the pandemic forced some changes in the way these counts were conducted this winter, those that took place enjoyed ample success.
Aside from rare birds, there were many great opportunities to look for more expected resident and wintering birds throughout the county. Each season has its own “go to” places, but many of these can be worth visiting at any time of year. Often these locales can benefit from birder coverage in their “off” seasons.
As expected, La Niña conditions continued to offer little precipitation this winter. But whether there is a lot of rain or a little, it does not seem to dampen the discovery of vagrants much. One positive outcome, at least this year, is the fact that recent burn areas vulnerable to mudslides and erosion will have more time to recover.
Here is a look at what notable birds were around the county in January and February.
A “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal, most likely a returning bird, was back at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera from January 9-23 (Steven Kurniawidjaja).
A male Barrow’s Goldeneye was on the California Aqueduct in the Antelope Valley from January 9-February 14 (Lance Benner, Kathi Ellsworth). This species is still very rare in the county, but with reports increasing in the last few years.
A few Spotted Doves continue to hang on south of downtown Los Angeles, with two birds in Huntington Park from January 19-February 6 (Richard Barth). Another in North Hollywood on February 5 was less expected (Hans Spieker). The decline of this once common non-native on the coastal slope since the 1980s has been profound.
Up to two Inca Doves were in Lake Los Angeles- the town, not an actual body of water- from February 7-13. This spot continues as the only consistently reliable spot for this species in the county. Another small population of up to seven individuals appeared to have gained a foothold south of downtown Los Angeles from 2014-2018.
A White-winged Dove at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through January 5 was the only one reported during the period.
Eighteen Vaux’s Swifts were at Silver Lake Reservoir on January 3 (Ryan Terrill) and from up to five were spotted along the Los Angeles River in Glendale from January 24-February 19 (Andrew Birch).
In Pasadena, a rare Broad-billed Hummingbird continued at a residence there through February 15. Vagrant hummingbirds are almost always detected at feeders and are very rarely found “in the wild”.
American Oystercatchers were in Malibu on January 2 (Rhys Marsh), with up to two continuing at Royal Palms Beach in San Pedro through February 16 and at the Ballona Creek mouth from January 15-24 (Tom Miko). Another was along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach from February 14-19 (David Moody). Hybrid American x Black Oystercatchers were also seen at these sites, and even those identified as Americans are perhaps not the “purest.”
The Pacific Golden-Plover along lower Ballona Creek was reported through February 4. Up to sixty Mountain Plovers continued in the east Antelope Valley at the A&G Sod Farm through January 13. Up to a dozen were northeast of there at another reliable spot- Avenue I and 110th Street East- from January 25-February 21 (Joseph Dunn).
A Lesser Black-backed Gull continued to be seen at Quail Lake through December 30. Reports from the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera, involving at least two individuals, came from January 18-February 19 (Kimball Garrett, Naresh Satyan, Chris Dean). Lastly, one was at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles from January 23-February 12 (Andrew Birch).
Neotropic Cormorants are here to stay and increasing; and not just in the warmer months as one might conclude given the species’ name. No fewer than seventeen were recorded over the period, with the caveat that some of these records may represent the same individuals. Nonetheless, the range expansion of this species has been impressive. They were unrecorded in the county until 2016.
The Pacific Loon at Quail Lake was seen through January 2.
An American Bittern was at the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach on January 10 (Joyce Brady) and another continued at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB through February 2. The Little Blue Heron at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro was present through February 14. At least one Yellow-crowned Night-Heron continued in the Ballona area through February 11 and two were at the Alamitos Bay Marina from February 14-19 (Mark & Janet Scheel).
Up to three California Condors were seen off and on near Gorman and at Quail Lake from December 30-February 8 (Jon Fisher, Sarah Ngo, Andrew Howe, Mark & Janet Scheel).
The wintering Broad-winged Hawk at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates was reported regularly through February 11.
Swainson’s Hawks, rare in winter but becoming less so, were in the Antelope Valley on December 29 (Joseph Dunn), at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City on January 7 (Kevin Lapp), at Hopkins Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach on January 10 (Tom Miko), at Lacy Park on January 18 (Bob Schallman) and over Pasadena on January 28 (Darren Dowell).
A Zone-tailed Hawk that has been present in Monrovia for two years was reported through February 8 and a rare in the county “Harlan’s” Red-tailed Hawk remained at the Ballona Wetlands through January 19. The continuing Rough-legged Hawk near Gorman was reported through February 6.
Coastal slope Long-eared Owls were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on January 25 (Keith Condon) and in Marshall Canyon in La Verne on January 26 (Michael Morrison). A small number were also reported in the Antelope Valley where they are more expected.
Short-eared Owls were in the east Antelope Valley on January 2 (David & Tammy McQuade) and on February 7 (Chris Dean).
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker continued at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates through February 15 and another was at Ganesha Park in Pomona on January 7 (Doug Lithgow).
Lowland Williamson’s Sapsuckers are unusual, thus birds at Almansor Park in Alhambra on January 4 (Kathy Degner) and at Inglewood Park cemetery on January 6 (Larry Schmahl) were of interest.
Also of interest were at least eight Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flickers present during the period.
Among numerous expected columbarius Merlins was one of the pale subspecies richardsonii was at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights on February 7 (Brad Rumble).
The Dusky-capped Flycatcher at Heartwell Park in Long Beach was reported through February 13 and Ash-throated Flycatchers— similarly rare in winter— continued at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach through February 2 and at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through February 16.
Brown-crested Flycatchers continued at Michigan Park in Whittier through February 9 and at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates through February 15. Though this species breeds regularly not far outside the county, they remain very rare winter visitors for us.
Expected in small numbers as late fall and winter visitors, Tropical Kingbirds continued at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park through December 27, at Entradero Park in Torrance through February 12, at El Dorado Park in Long Beach through January 3 and at Madrona Marsh through January 19. Another was found at Milton Creek Park near Playa Vista on January 13 (Andy Klienhesselink).
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh in Playa Vista from January 14-February 5 (Celeste Jones, Dean Schaff) may well have been the same bird found in late November along the nearby Playa Vista Riparian Corridor.
Moving up on the rarity scale, the Thick-billed Kingbird at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas was observed through February 1. This is the eighth winter this bird has spent at this locale. More expected but still rare in winter was a Western Kingbird continuing at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through January 19.
The Greater Pewee at Rustic Canyon in Pacific Palisades was reported through January 2. Another was at Lacy Park in San Marino from January 8-February 19 (Jack Wickel). The latter bird was apparently first detected on December 19 when it was seen only briefly and tentatively identified as a pewee of some sort.
A Hammond’s Flycatcher remained at Carr Park in Glendale through January 2. Dusky Flycatchers were at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach from December 9-January 10 (Brad Dawson) and continuing at Stephen Sorenson Park in Lake Los Angeles through January 19. Two dozen Gray Flycatchers were recorded this winter, double the recent average for this species.
Pacific-slope Flycatchers continued at Peck Park in Arcadia through January 27, at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Rolling Hills Estates through February 11 and in Atwater Village through February 9. Another was at Lacy Park in San Marino on February 18 (Holly Coates).
Eastern Phoebes continued in Rolling Hills Estates through February 11 and along the Los Angeles River in Glendale through February 13. A new bird was found at Lake Lindero in Agoura Hills on January 24 (Dan Cooper).
Exceedingly rare in winter was a Bell’s Vireo that continued at the South Coast Botanic Gardens through January 24. Equally unusual was a Warbling Vireo at the Los Feliz Golf Course in Atwater Village on February 10 (Andrew Birch). Much more expected were the five Cassin’s Vireos present during the period.
Bank Swallows were at Santa Fe Dam on February 13 (Ken Burgdorff) and at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale on February 15 (Keith Condon).
A rare Siberian American Pipit of the subspecies japonicus continued at the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale through January 31.
A few Red Crossbills were detected over the period, with up to eighteen at Pearblossom Park in the Antelope Valley from January 4-31 (Chris Dean, Kimball Garrett) and six at Lacy Park in San Marino on January 11 (Tom Miko). Increased coverage of the San Gabriel Mountains in winter would no doubt add to these records.
Grasshopper Sparrows were at Triunfo Creek Park in Westlake Village through January 2 and at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds from January 6-February 19 (David Bell). Clay-colored Sparrows continued to be well represented this winter with over a dozen present on the coastal slope.
A “Red” Fox Sparrow, rarest of the four subspecies groups in our area, was on the Palos Verdes Peninsula from January 26-February 13 (Jim Aichele, Cathy Nichols).
At least nine Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Juncos were present this winter, while three Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Juncos were all continuing birds.
About eight White-throated Sparrows were reported from late December through February. Swamp Sparrows continued at Quail Lake through December 30 and along the Los Angeles River in Glendale through February 19. At least a half dozen Green-tailed Towhees were also present in the county during the period.
Rare in winter were two Yellow-headed Blackbirds at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh in Playa Vista from January 15-February 11 (Becky Turley).
Five Hooded Orioles were recorded during the period, while a Baltimore Oriole continued at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates through February 19. Wintering Scott’s Orioles included continuing birds in the Antelope Valley at Pearblossom Park through January 30 and in Llano through February 14 and a new bird at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino on January 9 (Marvin Nelson).
A Rusty Blackbird first detected on San Clemente Island on December 8 continued through February 4.
Eight Black-and-white Warblers were present this winter. A Lucy’s Warbler was at Bixby Marshland in Carson on December 27 (Tracy Drake).
An above average eight Nashville Warblers were present during the period and an American Redstart continued at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach through February 19.
Palm Warblers continued at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera continued through February 13, at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through February 15 and on San Clemente Island through December 29. A nice find was a Black-throated Green Warbler discovered in front of the Performing Arts Center in Long Beach on January 31 and seen through February 14 (Rebecca Barton).
The sharp-looking Painted Redstart at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood continued through February 14.
Over a half dozen Summer Tanagers were found in the county during the period.
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in Pacific Palisades from February 12-15 (Susan Huniu). Common in spring and summer but rare in winter was a Black-headed Grosbeak continuing in Pasadena through February 19. Others were found at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas on February 6 (Jane Stavert, Amy Worell) and in Glendora on February 18.
Perhaps apart from a few gull fanatics and devotees of waterfowl, it is safe to say that almost all birders are anticipating spring migration. Although this technically begins in January, it is passerines that are the headliner for most. These will not appear until March, and not in force until April. Swallows are the one exception and have already arrived in numbers. First of spring sightings are always fun and rewarding and in this time of a changing climate, these records take on added significance.
But spring migration involves much more than Neotropic migrant songbirds. Species that spend the winter locally will also be moving north, though these movements are typically less obvious than the appearance of “new” spring arrivals from the south.
A visit to one of our coastal promontories can be quite rewarding in spring, with Brant, Surf Scoters, Pacific Loons and others streaming north in varying and often impressive numbers. Shorebirds can be found in all the usual places, many sporting their breeding colors. In short, there will be something to satisfy practically any birding interest.