Birds Mentioned…

This is the Los Angeles Rare Bird Alert for December 18.

Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS and a continuing WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were on the lower Los Angeles River from south of Anaheim Street to the Pacific Coast Highway on December 15.

The PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER along lower Ballona Creek was seen through December 15. 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.

A few MOUNTAIN PLOVERS continued in the Antelope Valley at the A&G Sod Farm at Avenue N and 50th Street East through December 12. Most of the land in this area is private property; bird from the roadside only.

A first cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at Quail Lake near Gorman from December 13-16. A PACIFIC LOON continued here through December 14.

Another LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds on December 15.

A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was at Peck Road Water Conservation Park in Arcadia on December 12.

The immature LITTLE BLUE HERON at the Cabrillo Salt Marsh in San Pedro was present through December 15.

Seven CALIFORNIA CONDORS were along Piru Creek near Frenchman's Flat Campground on December 13.

The BROAD-WINGED HAWK at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rilling Hills Estates was seen through December 17. It has often been reported near the junction of Tram Road and the Arizona Crossing.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at Quail Lake near Gorman on December 13.

The YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Rolling Hills Estates was reported through December 11 near the intersection of Tram Road and the Arizona Crossing.

A "PRAIRIE" MERLIN (subspecies richardsonii) was by the lower parking area at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena on December 13.

A "BLACK" MERLIN (subspecies suckleyi) continued at the Bette Davis Picnic Area in Glendale through December 12.

The DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER at Heartwell Park in Long Beach was seen through December 18. It has been on the west side of Woodruff Ave. near the south side of the park. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was in this same area from December 12-16.

The TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued around the pond at Entradero Park in Torrance through December 16.

Another TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued at Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach through December 14.

The THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas was reported through December 13. 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 WESTERN KINGBIRD was at Madrona Marsh in Torrance from December 16-18.

Up to two PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS have been at the South Coast Botanic Garden through December 17.

Another PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER continued at the small park along the Los Angeles River south of Los Feliz in Glendale through December 17.

The EASTERN PHOEBE at the Bette Davis Picnic Area in Glendale was reported through December 11. 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 BELL'S VIREO was at the South Coast Botanic Gardens in Rolling Hills Estates on December 16 off Tram Road in the south part of the garden adjacent to the desert vegetation.

A RED-THROATED PIPIT has been seen at Heartwell Park in Long Beach through December 17. It moves around the park and associates with the pipit flock. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at the park on December 13.

A japonicus type AMERICAN PIPIT was at the Ferraro Soccer Fields in Glendale from December 16-18.

The LAPLAND LONGSPUR at Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach was seen through December 13. It has been on the golf course west of the bridge that crosses the lagoon and elsewhere on the golf course.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was at Vina Vieja Park in Pasadena on December 13.

Another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continued at Cheviot Hills Park near West Los Angeles from December 18.

A "RED" FOX SPARROW was at Griffith Park through December 13. It was in the Mineral Wells area on the north edge of the lower lawn, east of the road.

A DARK-EYED "PINK-SIDED" JUNCO was at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Baldwin Hills from December 11-16 on the lawn below the Japanese Garden.

DARK-EYED "GRAY-HEADED" JUNCOS were at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas (by the stop sign at the large square north shore parking lot) through December 16, at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena (around the lower west side parking lot) through December 17 and in San Dimas Canyon through December 13. Another continued at Pearblossom Park in the Antelope Valley through December 18. Also present there was a SCOTT'S ORIOLE on December 18.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS were at Horsethief Canyon Park in San Dimas (near the parking area and roundabout) through December 17, at Malibu Creek State Park on December 11, in Valley Village through December 17, in Rolling Hills Estates through December 14 and along Ballona Creek east of Centinela near Culver City High School on December 17.

A SWAMP SPARROW continued at Quail Lake near Gorman through December 13. It has been along the south shore west of the parking area.

GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES were at the south end of the Ballona Freshwater Marsh through December 11 and continuing at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through December 18.

A HOODED ORIOLE continued in the Desert Garden at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino through December 14.

A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continued at the South Coast Botanic Garden through December 18 in a Coral Tree at the entrance.

A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was at DeForest Park in Long Beach near the south end of the tennis courts on December 11. Another continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through December 14 as did one at Madrona Marsh in Torrance through December 16.

A PALM WARBLER continued at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera through December 12. It was last seen near the Mines Ave. entrance. and two individuals were present on that date. Another PALM WARBLER continued at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood through December 16.

A returning PAINTED REDSTART was at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood from December 12-17. It has been frequenting an oak tree by the south side of the Pinecrest section, south of the pond.

A SUMMER TANAGER continued at Wardlow Park in Long Beach south of the park buildings through December 12. Another continued at the Village Green Condominiums in Los Angeles through December 13.

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