Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Other side of the country birding
I was in LA last week, from Thursday to Saturday and it was my second time there this year. I probably had more time to bird last time [in July], but the weather was better this time, and I was actually able to make it to Playa del Rey, but more on that later. Earlier this year, I didn't get too adventurous with where I went, and since I was staying in Hollywood, I went to Griffith Park twice. I figured that was easiest -- it was two subway stops away and an easy walk. I was able to pick up a few lifers including Band-tailed Pigeon, California Towhee and Hutton's Vireo. There were others, but I don't remember the others off the top of my head.
My intention was to try new places this time, and go further out into the city. Friday morning I woke up at 4 am, and I was out the door at 4:30, arriving at Ernest Debs Park around 5:30, but unfortunately it was still dark, something I should have checked on before I left, but whatever, I played Pac Man at a laundromat until it started to get light. Overall, this wasn't the best day for me. Things were really quiet, as the highlights only include a large flock of Bushtits, Merlin, California Townee and Western Scrub Jay. All are common birds, but since I rarely get to see them, it was quite a thrill. The one lifer I did pick up was a Townsend's Warbler, two of which I saw in the same large pine tree being occupied by the Bushtits.
Saturday morning was better, but it could have turned out much worse due to improper planning from me. I decided that it would be a good idea to wake up later because I had overshot dawn so much, but I didn't take into account that I was travelling so much farther today -- going to Playa del Rey [PdR] near LAX. It took me close to 2.5 hours to get there, as I had to go from the red line to blue line to green line to airport shuttle to a cab that took me to PdR. I left at 5:30 am and arrived at 8 am, so yeah, bad planning on my part. I called a cab for 9:15 am, grabbed my binocs and ran down to the beach so I could get as much birding in as possible.
I immediately saw Royal Terns, Western Grebe, Surf Scoters and my first lifer, two Wandering Tattlers. As I walked down the beach toward the jetties, I picked up California Gulls, Western Gulls and Heermann's Gulls, about 50 of them. As soon as I saw them, I realized that Peterson's wasn't lying -- these are the easiest western gulls to identify, as they have a remarkable red/orange beak.
The day got like ten times better as I started walking towards the closest jetty and I noticed a birding group there, most likely looking for the extralimital Rock Sandpiper [which I didn't see], and they were nice enough to help me out and point out some of the PdR specialties, like Pelagic Cormorant, Surfbird, Black Turnstone, Whimbrel and Black Oystercatcher, as well as Brown Pelican and a number of other species. When I was walking out, I passed a pond filled with American Coots, American Wigeon, Mallards and others. I thought I saw a group of Greater White-fronted Geese, but I was in a rush and forgot to look at their feet, so I couldn't make a 100% call on them, as they were most likely escaped domestics. In retrospect, I should have stayed later since instead of taking the cab back to LAX, I just took it back to Hollywood. It was $50, but it was worth it, and I got to spend some time at Griffith Park as well, picking up a Bewick's Wren [lifer], W. Scrub Jay and Hutton's Vireo. I have a feeling I would have seen more at PdR, but whatever, it was a good time.
Later that afternoon, I drove up to PCH into Ventura Country, picking up Brown Pelicans, Surf Scoters, Western Gulls and another lifer, two Marbled Godwits which were found on the beach at the bottom of a very shitty staircase just over the country line. I may have seen two Pacific Loons, but they may have been Commons. Anyway, good trip and looking forward to visiting next year.
My intention was to try new places this time, and go further out into the city. Friday morning I woke up at 4 am, and I was out the door at 4:30, arriving at Ernest Debs Park around 5:30, but unfortunately it was still dark, something I should have checked on before I left, but whatever, I played Pac Man at a laundromat until it started to get light. Overall, this wasn't the best day for me. Things were really quiet, as the highlights only include a large flock of Bushtits, Merlin, California Townee and Western Scrub Jay. All are common birds, but since I rarely get to see them, it was quite a thrill. The one lifer I did pick up was a Townsend's Warbler, two of which I saw in the same large pine tree being occupied by the Bushtits.
Saturday morning was better, but it could have turned out much worse due to improper planning from me. I decided that it would be a good idea to wake up later because I had overshot dawn so much, but I didn't take into account that I was travelling so much farther today -- going to Playa del Rey [PdR] near LAX. It took me close to 2.5 hours to get there, as I had to go from the red line to blue line to green line to airport shuttle to a cab that took me to PdR. I left at 5:30 am and arrived at 8 am, so yeah, bad planning on my part. I called a cab for 9:15 am, grabbed my binocs and ran down to the beach so I could get as much birding in as possible.
I immediately saw Royal Terns, Western Grebe, Surf Scoters and my first lifer, two Wandering Tattlers. As I walked down the beach toward the jetties, I picked up California Gulls, Western Gulls and Heermann's Gulls, about 50 of them. As soon as I saw them, I realized that Peterson's wasn't lying -- these are the easiest western gulls to identify, as they have a remarkable red/orange beak.
The day got like ten times better as I started walking towards the closest jetty and I noticed a birding group there, most likely looking for the extralimital Rock Sandpiper [which I didn't see], and they were nice enough to help me out and point out some of the PdR specialties, like Pelagic Cormorant, Surfbird, Black Turnstone, Whimbrel and Black Oystercatcher, as well as Brown Pelican and a number of other species. When I was walking out, I passed a pond filled with American Coots, American Wigeon, Mallards and others. I thought I saw a group of Greater White-fronted Geese, but I was in a rush and forgot to look at their feet, so I couldn't make a 100% call on them, as they were most likely escaped domestics. In retrospect, I should have stayed later since instead of taking the cab back to LAX, I just took it back to Hollywood. It was $50, but it was worth it, and I got to spend some time at Griffith Park as well, picking up a Bewick's Wren [lifer], W. Scrub Jay and Hutton's Vireo. I have a feeling I would have seen more at PdR, but whatever, it was a good time.
Later that afternoon, I drove up to PCH into Ventura Country, picking up Brown Pelicans, Surf Scoters, Western Gulls and another lifer, two Marbled Godwits which were found on the beach at the bottom of a very shitty staircase just over the country line. I may have seen two Pacific Loons, but they may have been Commons. Anyway, good trip and looking forward to visiting next year.
# posted by Dany @ 11:20 
