Birds of the Season- March 2025
Following the unprecedented disastrous fires of early January, the remainder of winter was downright calm. We were spoiled the past two winters by above average precipitation, but the 2024-2025 season had a very dry start.
At last we received measurable precipitation, with a handful of fronts passing through in late February and March. These alleviated extremely dry conditions in the region, though we are still well below normal and unlikely to catch up. As we enter April, we’re nearing the end of any significant chance of rain.
Nonetheless, the moisture we did receive will help spawn insects, arthropods and rodents that many birds thrive upon during migration and through the breeding season. It also imbues the county with an aesthetically pleasing green landscape; at least for a couple of months.
Though Los Angeles County is just a fifth the size of adjacent San Bernardino County, it boasts an even greater diversity of habitats. Add to that the large number of active birders roaming the county and it’s no surprise that the numbers of rare birds in any month are impressive.
There were plenty of continuing vagrants in late winter and early spring, along with a handful of new ones found. By February, ever increasing numbers of swallows were moving through the area along with a few other early passerine migrants. Other early spring arrivals included a few Western Kingbirds, Western Flycatchers and Bullock’s and Hooded Orioles.
Here's a breakdown of notable bird sightings in the county for February and March.
A Red-necked Grebe, potentially a continuing bird first found last December, was at Venice Beach from March 19-22 (Avery Sample, Preston Hinds).
Up to five Inca Doves were in Lake Los Angeles from March 1-4 where a small population of this species persists (Carolyn Willcox). White-winged Doves were at Helen Keller Park in Los Angeles from February 12-28 (Chris Dean) and in Whittier on March 1 (Caitlin Eldridge).
Rare in the county was a Sandhill Crane continuing in Palmdale through February 18.
Also continuing was a Pacific Golden-Plover reported through March 6 along lower Ballona Creek in Playa del Rey. Only a single Mountain Plover was reported during the period, that bird in Palmdale on January 25 (Sam Vincent). We’ve seen this species declining recently as a winter visitor.
Rare in winter were Solitary Sandpipers continuing at Hansen Dam in Lake View Terrace through February 17 and at El Dorado Park in Long Beach through March 10. Another was in Pico Rivera on March 20 (Mickey Long).
The highlight of the winter- and establishing a first county record- was a Swallow-tailed Gull at Zuma Beach on February 5 (Sean Wolfe). This “one day wonder” was seen by the fortunate few who were able to rush to the site the same day. A highly pelagic gull, this Southern Hemisphere species is found primarily off the west coast of South America. Only eight have been recorded in the state, with some of these likely representing the same individual.
Much more expected were a dozen or so Lesser Black-backed Gulls reported over the period. These are most often found at various locations along the Los Angeles River, which can be a magnet for a variety of gulls.
Unusual inland was a Red-throated Loon at Don Knabe Community Regional Park in Cerritos from March 7-8 (Jonathan Rowley), while even farther inland was a Pacific Loon continuing at Quail Lake near Gorman through March 10.
A Cocos Booby- recently split from Brown Booby- was in Santa Monica Bay on February 20 (Jon Feenstra), and another was south of Santa Catalina Island on February 23 (Naresh Satyan).
A half dozen Zone-tailed Hawks were reported, mainly along the southern foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
One to two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers continued at Veteran’s Park in Sylmar through February 17. Others were at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester through February 19 and at O’Melveny Park in Granda Hills from January 29-March 23 (Nathan Barkley).
Scarce in the county was a pale “Prairie” Merlin of the subspecies richardsoni was at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB on March 21 (Mickey Dyke, Karen Evans).
The returning wintering Dusky-capped Flycatcher at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel continued through March 24 and an Ash-throated Flycatcher continued at Hansen Dam in Lake View Terrace through March 16.
Two Tropical Kingbirds continued along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach through March 21 and another did so at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through March 23. The far rarer returning wintering Thick-billed Kingbird in Griffith Park was reported through March 8.
Notable Empidonax included a Least Flycatcher at Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills from February 14-March 2 (Christopher Hinkle) and more expected Hammond’s Flycatchers continuing at Tournament Park in Pasadena through February 6 and at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through March 13. Another Hammond’s was at Kenneth Hahn SRA from March 16-19 (Preston Hinds).
Eastern Phoebes included one continuing at Lake Lindero through January 27, one along the Los Angeles River in the Elysian Valley from January 24-February 3 (Jabz Palomino) and another at Little Harbor on Santa Catalina Island from February 1-10 (Laura Vandezande, Andrew Brown, Cressita Bowman).
Cassin’s Vireos were at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on January 22 (Dessi Sieburth) and at Walmerado Park in West Covina on January 29 (Chris Dean).
Rather early was a Cliff Swallow at the Piute Ponds on February 4 (Kimball Garrett).
Pacific Wrens were in San Antonio Canyon on March 9 (Becca Cockrum) at Buckhorn Campground in the San Gabriel Mountains on March 16 (Kori Sedmak).
Several Lapland Longspurs continued through February 16 and up to three Thick-billed Longspurs continued through March 10 at the A&G Sod Farms in Palmdale.
Up to two Clay-colored Sparrows continued at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through March 24 along with a Grasshopper Sparrow reported there through March 18.
Two Lark Buntings were in the Antelope Valley just west of Lancaster from March 5-23 (Peter Gaede). Another was just north of this area on March 21 (Luke Tiller, Ian Carlson). This species has been more regular than usual in winter in southern California in the last few years.
Several Sagebrush Sparrows continued at Saddleback Butte State Park in the east Antelope Valley through January 29 and up to a dozen were near Adobe Mountain in the east Antelope Valley from February 8-March 14 (Kimball Garrett). There was also a late report of one northwest of Lancaster on March 22 (Lynn Oldt, Michael Moss, Alistair Skinner).
A Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through March 13, while a Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco was at Victory Park in Pasadena on February 1 (David Bell).
A Swamp Sparrow continued at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas through February 9 and a Green-tailed Towhee continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through March 15.
An above average number of wintering Baltimore Orioles were present, with birds reported at the Veteran’s Administration Japanese Garden in West Los Angeles on February 1 (Dessi Sieburth), at Caesar Chaves Park in Long Beach on January 31 (Dessi Sieburth), in the San Rafael Hills on February 1 (E.J. Remson), at Kenneth Hahn SRA in Baldwin Hills from February 15-19, at Ladera Park from February 16-17 (Kevin Lapp and at El Nido Park in Redondo Beach on February 21 (Christopher Hinkle).
Unusual on the coastal slope was a Scott’s Oriole at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on January 25 (Michael San Miguel Jr.).
Miscellaneous warblers included a half dozen Black-and-white Warblers over the period, a Tennessee Warbler at Westchester Park on February 22 (Christopher Hinkle) and a Lucy’s Warbler continuing at the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance through January 31.
The returning wintering Cape May Warbler at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester continued through March 8 and a Northern Parula was at the South Coast Botanic Garden from March 3-23 (Manuel Duran). Also of note was a Blackburnian Warbler in West Covina from March 20-23 (Ken Burgdorff).
Palm Warblers were at the Dominguez Gap Wetlands on January 30 (Naresh Satyan) and in Long Beach from February 26-March 2 (Chris Dean, Joyce Brady). A Pine Warbler continued at Windermere Park in La Mirada through March 16 and a continuing Black-throated Green Warbler was reported at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel through March 24.
Painted Redstarts continued in Brentwood through March 24 and at San Dimas Canyon Park through March 19.
Hepatic Tanagers were in Griffith Park through March 2 and at La Mirada Community Park from February 6-March 27 (Jonathan Rowley). In addition, about ten Summer Tanagers were recorded.
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was at the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia from February 15-March 23 and Black-headed Grosbeaks were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas on January 25 (Keith Condon) and at the Griffith Park Bird Sanctuary on February 8.
Very rare in winter was a Lazuli Bunting at Victory Park in Pasadena from February 1-March 20 (David Bell).
As we head into April, Neotropical migrants will increase dramatically, with a peak around the end of the month. Almost any location can be good for observing the phenomenon of spring migration.
For those wanting to see the most impressive movements of spring songbirds, a few visits to Bear Divide will be a must. This innocuous looking saddle in the west San Gabriel Mountains concentrates the flow of migrants like few other locations in the state.
That said, there are plenty of other birding opportunities, and spring migration is not limited to passerines. Coastal locations and any wetland area will be good for loons, waterfowl and shorebirds.
Though the deserts are renowned for their spring passerines, a wide variety of birds can be seen passing through this area as they make their way north. Activity in the higher mountains will also pick up as the season progresses.
In short, it’s a great time to get out in the field and observe birds on the move regardless of where you go. Sadly, the show is over all too soon, but what a great few months they are.