Birds of the Season- February 2022

By Jon Fisher

Western Tanager, March-April 2022, Volume 88 Number 4

Birders are used to many types of change. Migration, increasing and decreasing bird populations, loss and gain of habitat, and varying access to favored birding locations are all familiar ones. Climate change adds an element that is transforming the distribution and habitats of birds, with the effects becoming more apparent every year.

In southern California and most of the west, climate change has been making a long-term drought much worse and accelerating the transformation of our environment. After a most welcome rainy December, it seemed we might be on the right track for some relief. Optimism was short-lived however, as January- typically our wettest month- turned out to be the driest on record. February looked no better. There are still a couple of months left to compensate, but no guarantees.

The drought was likely a major factor contributing to the lower numbers of birds that observers encountered this winter. Christmas Bird Count results and anecdotal reports from count participants also tended to confirm the trend. Birds go where they can find food to sustain themselves, and for many that wasn’t in Los Angeles County.

Despite the lower numbers of some species, there are always plenty of birds to observe. Vagrants continued and new ones were found through the period. As expected, Christmas Bird Counts turned up a number of previously unknown rarities.

Adding to the mix of resident and wintering native birds, the numbers of exotic species in Los Angeles County seem to be perpetually increasing. Their general preference for human altered habitats makes the coastal slope of county very attractive. Undesirable though they may be, they are here to stay.

Here’s a look at what birders recorded over the last two months…

Three Tundra Swans were at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on December 21 (Jim Moore, Judy Matsuoka). A Long-tailed Duck continued off Dockweiler State Beach in El Segundo through January 3 and three were at the Ballona Creek mouth on January 2 (Michael Pazzini).

A Common Ground Dove was at Legg Lake in South El Monte from January 28-31 (Darren Dowell) and a White-winged Dove was at Victoria Park in Carson on December 31 (Calvin Bonn).

Red-necked Grebes were recorded off Malibu on December 18 (Becky Turley) and farther east along the coast at Malibu Lagoon on January 8 (Marky Mutchler).

American Oystercatchers were at the Los Angeles Harbor on February 6 (Mark Wilson) and at Royal Palms Beach on February 11 (Gregg McClain).

The continuing Pacific Golden-Plover along lower Ballona Creek was seen through February 17. Mountain Plovers, though declining, are still reliable in small numbers in the Antelope Valley. Up to three dozen continued at the A&G Sod Farm in the Antelope Valley near Palmdale through January 31 and two were in the east valley at Ave. I and 110th Street East on January 25 (Joseph Dunn).

Solitary Sandpipers, unusual in winter, continued at Hansen Dam through December 18 and along the Los Angeles River in Van Nuys through February 18. A Red Knot, a species only rarely found in the county, was at Dockweiler State Beach on January 18 (Ken Burgdorff).

A Laughing Gull was at the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera from December 27-January 7 (Chris Dean).

A Lesser Black-backed Gull continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through January 15 and one was at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles off and on from December 28-January 15 (Richard Barth). Two were along the Los Angeles River in Slauson on January 16 (Ted Keyel, Andrew Birch), with one of those reported there through February 17 (Derek Hameister). Lastly, one was at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds from February 7-9 (Chris Dean). It should be noted that some of these reports may represent multiple sightings of the same birds.

A very rare Slaty-backed Gull initially found at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on February 5 (Steven Kurniawidjaja) was later along the Los Angeles River in Maywood and reported there through February 11. Also of note here was a Glaucous Gull observed from February 17-18 (Naresh Satyan).

Rare in county waters was a Short-tailed Shearwater over Redondo Canyon off Redondo Beach on February 6 (Naresh Satyan, Mark Scheel).

A Neotropic Cormorant was on the San Gabriel River in South El Monte from December 18-January 9 and what was likely the same bird was at Legg Lake from January 14-31. Another was at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on February 17 (Avo Stilt) and surprisingly four were present the following day (Keith Condon).

American Bitterns were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas from January 16-February 8 (Keith Condon) and at the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach on February 13 (Joyce Brady).

Zone-tailed Hawks continued to be reported through the period, with at least several individuals present. They have mostly been encountered in and adjacent to the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. A Rough-legged Hawk, a species recorded less than annually in the county, continued at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB through February 19.

Amid a moderate irruption this fall and winter, one Lewis’s Woodpecker was on Santa Catalina Island from January 14-February 14 (Laura Vandezande). Nearly two dozen were at Malibu Creek State Park and smaller numbers were scattered elsewhere, mainly in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains.

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach on December 26 (Tom Miko, Christine Jacobs, Anne Jacobs) and one was at Veteran’s Park in Sylmar from January 1-16 with two present on January 5 (Nathan Barkley).

Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flickers were in Pasadena on December 28 (Darren Dowell) and at the California Botanic Garden- formerly Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden- on January 18 (Chuck Burt).

A pale “Prairie” Merlin was at Valley Plaza Park in North Hollywood on December 18 (Richard Barth) and a much darker and thus appropriately named “Black” Merlin was in Pasadena on January 8 (Darren Dowell).

Wintering Ash-throated Flycatchers were at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood from December 18-January 22 (Joyce Brady), in the Sepulveda Basin in Van Nuys through February 4, in Rolling Hills on January 8 (Alejandra Cedillo, Manuel Duran) and at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach through February 3.

More unusual was a Brown-crested Flycatcher apparently back for a third winter at the South Coast Botanic Garden. Though it was undoubtedly present for some time prior, it wasn’t detected until February 2 and was reported there through February 13 (Randy Harwood).

Tropical Kingbirds continued at Entradero Park in Torrance through January 19 and at El Dorado Park in Long Beach through February 5. New birds were found along lower Ballona Creek on December 31 (Kevin Lapp) and at Golden Shore Marine Reserve in Long Beach on February 4 (Manuel Duran, Alejandra Cedillo). Still rather rare in winter, was a Western Kingbird at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh from January 8-11 (Don Sterba, Neysa Frechette).

The Greater Pewee that spent the last four winters in Pacific Palisades returned for its fifth year, but it was not detected until January 1 (Naresh Satyan). It also went unreported after January 2; understandably so since it has been difficult to detect in the past.

Quite rare was a Least Flycatcher at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood from February 9-19 (Tom Wurster).

Five wintering Hammond’s Flycatchers were detected during the period, while less expected Dusky Flycatchers continued at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia through December 22 and in Zuma Canyon near Malibu through January 15. A above average eleven Pacific-slope Flycatchers were detected on the coastal slope.

The Eastern Phoebe at the Bette Davis Picnic Area in Glendale continued through February 14 and another was at Lake Lindero in Agoura Hills from December 19-January 11 (Mark & Janet Scheel).

Remarkably rare in winter, a Bell’s Vireo was at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino from January 31-February 10 (Dorian Charnis). An apparent early spring migrant was at Rio de Los Angeles Park on February 14 (Marcus England).

Cassin’s Vireos were at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood from December 18-February 10 (Joyce Brady), continuing at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia through January 10, and at the San Gabriel River Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds through January 5.

Rare in winter was a Cliff Swallow at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh on January 8 (Don Sterba, Neysa Frechette). Two at the Sepulveda Basin in Van Nuys on January 29 (Brady Goldman) were likely early spring migrants.

A Varied Thrush was at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes Estates on December 21 (Merryl Edelstein). This species has been very scarce this fall and winter, but inevitably there will be a big irruption year at some point.

Always a nice find in the county was a Gray Catbird in Glendora on January 12 (Kelly Schmoker). The Asian japonicus subspecies American Pipit continued at the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale through February 1.

A Clay-colored Sparrow continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway in Lakewood through January 30. Swamp Sparrows were at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on January 22 (Mickey Dyke, Sona Conlin) and on February 19 (Kimball Garrett) and at Castaic Lagoon on January 14 (Jon Feenstra).

Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Juncos continued at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena through January 30- with two present on that date- at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through February 12 and at Chavez Ravine in Elysian Park through January 13. Another was in Monrovia from January 17-February 15 (Holly & David Coates). A Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco was at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through February 4.

A rare Harris’s Sparrow was in Monrovia from December 24-January 9 (Holly Coates) and a half dozen or so White-throated Sparrows were encountered.

Green-tailed Towhees continued in Signal Hill through January 17 and at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through February 18. Others were at the Piute Ponds on January 6 (Becky Turley) and in Culver City on February 12 (Don Sterba).

A young male Orchard Oriole was on San Clemente Island on February 11 (Greyson Poutas). Hooded Orioles were in Panorama City on December 18 (Rebecca Marschall), at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino from December 18-February 7 (Jon Fisher, Sarah Ngo) and at Sand Dune Park in Manhattan Beach from December 29-31 (Ken Feng). Scott’s Orioles were in Llano through February 18 and in Bel Air from January 15-22 (Jared Diamond).

Nine Black-and-white Warblers were present during the period. Lucy’s Warblers were at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino from December 20-January 16 (Mayer Otto, Omar Alvi) and at Maywood Riverfront Park from February 15-17 (Jon Feenstra). An above average dozen Nashville Warblers were present this winter.

American Redstarts were at El Dorado Park in Long Beach from December 24-27 (Nancy Salem) and continuing in the Sepulveda Basin through February 16.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler continued at Wardlow Park in Long Beach through December 22 and a Palm Warbler was at Col. Leon H. Washington Park in Los Angeles on January 10 (Chris Dean).

A Black-throated Green Warbler was at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino from December 18-January 9 (Jon Fisher, Sarah Ngo) and another continued in Long Beach through February 6.

The returning wintering Painted Redstart continued at Inglewood Park Cemetery through February 6.

About average were the five Summer Tanagers detected during the period.

Rare in winter, Black-headed Grosbeaks were in Rolling Hills on December 26 (Jim Aichele, Cathy Nichols), in Pasadena on February 9 (Frank & Susan Gilliland), and in the east Antelope Valley from February 1-18 (Joseph Dunn). Rare at any time was a Painted Bunting on San Clemente Island on December 22 (Justyn Stahl, Nicole Desnoyers).

Though some species have been on the move for weeks and swallows are already arriving in numbers, as we head into March spring passerine migration will really pick up. The usual early arrivals- Western Kingbirds, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles- will start to appear, to be followed by many others. From there through May it’s simply a great time to be in the field.

Seawatching can be good in spring, with brants, scoters and loons heading north along the coast and always the possibility of a surprise. The Ballona Creek mouth, the lower Los Angeles River, Malibu Lagoon will be good for shorebirds showing their more colorful alternate plumages.

In addition to hoping for rain, we’ll wish for a better passerine vagrant season than the spring of 2021, which was notable for its banality. But that aside, we can expect large numbers of migrants to be passing through. Almost any place can be productive, but recently discovered Bear Divide in the western San Gabriel Mountains will undoubtedly be the best location to observe the greatest numbers of birds.

Enjoyable as Bear Divide may be, migrants can be found almost anywhere and birding off the beaten path has its own rewards. Birders have already been checking other passes and saddles in the San Gabriels and elsewhere and had success observing the passage of migrants.

As well-covered as Los Angeles County continues to be, it occupies over 4,700 square miles. There is still much to be learned, plenty of exploring to do and many, many good birds to be found.