Birds Mentioned:

This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for December 11.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was at the Ballona Creek mouth in Playa del Rey on December 8.

The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER along lower Ballona Creek was seen through December 10. Park at the end of Pacific Ave in Playa del Rey and head north over the bridge to the far side of the channel. Walk upstream and watch for the bird at or near the UCLA boat ramp.

Up to five MOUNTAIN PLOVERS continued in the Antelope Valley at the A&G Sod Farm at Avenue N and 50th Street East on December 9. Most of the land in this area is private property; bird from the roadside only.

A first cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a PACIFIC LOON were at Quail Lake near Gorman on December 6. A SWAMP SPARROW was also at this locale on the south side of the lake about 200 yards east of the parking area also on December 6.

A second cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera on December 9. Easiest access is from the east end of Mines Ave.

An AMERICAN BITTERN continued at the Piute Ponds on Edwards AFB through December 4. A letter of permission is required for entry.

The immature LITTLE BLUE HERON at the Cabrillo Salt Marsh in San Pedro was present through December 6.

A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON continued on the breakwater beyond the Ballona Creek mouth through December 8.

A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rilling Hills Estates from December 4-10. It was last reported near the junction of Tram Road and the Arizona Crossing.

A SWAINSON'S HAWK was at Wheeler Park in Claremont on December 10.

A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia on December 5 north of the Queen Anne Cottage.

Another YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates through December 5 near the intersection of Tram Road and the Arizona Crossing.

A DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER has returned for a second winter to Heartwell Park in Long Beach as of December 9. It was seen near Woodruff Ave. A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was in the same area also on December 9.

An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE were at Willow Springs Park in Long Beach on December 9.

Another ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER continued at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through December 10.

The TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued around the pond at Entradero Park in Torrance through December 7.

The THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD that spent the past five winters at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas was back as of December 8 and reported through December 10. It ranges around the general area and may be around the dog park, along the ravine to the west or in the neighborhoods to the west and south of here. A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen briefly by the dog park on December 10.

A HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER continued at Pan American Park in Lakewood through December 4.

A DUSKY FLYCATCHER continued at Stephen Sorenson Park in Lake Los Angeles through December 8. It has been just outside the northwest park of the park.

PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS were at the South Coast Botanic Garden (around the dry pond) through December 10 and at the Village Green Condominiums in Los Angeles (private property, but birders are welcome) on December 6

The EASTERN PHOEBE at the Bette Davis Picnic Area in Glendale was reported through December 10. It is being seen on the north side of the Los Angeles River, usually just east of the Riverside Drive crossing. It may be seen in the park area proper or between there and the island east of Riverside. A SWAMP SPARROW was in the riverbed here east of Riverside and near the 134 Freeway crossing through December 8.

The EASTERN PHOEBE at the Rolling Hills landfill loop north of the South Coast Botanic Garden continued through December 9around the equestrian center.

CASSIN'S VIREOS were at the South Coast Botanic Garden on December 4, at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera (on the west side, north of the Mines Ave. entrance) on December 6, at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through December 7

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was at the Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach on December 11. It was on the golf course west of the bridge that crosses the lagoon.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS included two continuing at Griffith Manor Park in Glendale through December 4, one at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera (near Mines Ave.) through December 6, one at Cheviot Hills Park near West Los Angeles from December 8-9, one at Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Park in West Hills on December 10 and one at Apollo Park near Lancaster through December 10.

A "RED" FOX SPARROW was at Griffith Park on December 11. It was in the Mineral Wells area on the north edge of the lower lawn, east of the road.

DARK-EYED "GRAY-HEADED" JUNCOS were at College Park in Claremont through December 5, at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas (by the stop sign at the large square north shore parking lot) through December 10, two at Mt. Wilson (currently closed to the public) through December 3 and at El Dorado Park in Long Beach (Area 2 by the archery range north fence) on December 9.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were in Winnetka from December 3-4, at the Rolling Hills landfill loop on December 9, at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas (near the parking area and roundabout) from December 7-9, and at Orcutt Ranch in West Hills, the South Coast Botanic Garden and in Valley Village all on December 10.

At least one GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through December 11 as did a PALM WARBLER (near Carson Street) also through December 11.

Other GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES was at the Deforest Wetlands in Long Beach (just south of DeForest Park proper) on December 5, at Sims Bio Pond in Long Beach on December 6.

A HOODED ORIOLE was in the Desert Garden at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino on December 7.

A SCOTT'S ORIOLE was in La Canada on December 6.

A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was at Lacy Park in San Marino on December 4 along the south edge of the sports field. Another was at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through December 8.

A PALM WARBLER continued at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through December 10. It was last seen near the Mines Ave. entrance.

Another PALM WARBLER and a HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER were in Area 2 of El Dorado Park in Long Beach on December 9. Both were along the west fence line.

Another PALM WARBLER was on San Clemente Island on December 11.

A SUMMER TANAGER continued at Wardlow Park in Long Beach south of the park buildings through December 4.

A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was at a residence in Pasadena through December 7.

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

For all events, field trips and announcements, please see our website at http://www.laaudubon.org

California Bird Records Committee (report rarities as appropriate on the rare bird report form): http://www.californiabirds.org/

Enter your bird sightings on eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird