BIRD SURVEYS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road. Except for vegetation clearing by maintenance crews in the west and south, the lake area was quiet and undisturbed. At several locations around the lake, numerous mature willows, along with surrounding cattail marsh, had been cut and removed sometime during the previous two weeks. The lake water level is relatively low, exposing 10 to 20 ft. of rock and mud shorelines.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Canada Goose (12), Red-breasted Merganser (1) and Golden-crowned Kinglet (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 12 initially seen flying nw over the lake; apparently the same flock found swimming together about an hour later, n-central.

American Wigeon calls n-central.

Mallard 3 (m,f) on shore, s.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (f) swimming near marsh in channel, s.

Green-winged Teal 3 (f) flying over channel, s.

Canvasback 2 (m,f) fem. in nw; male with LESC , n-central.

Lesser Scaup 20 (m,f) diving in cohesive flocks, sw, n-central.

Bufflehead 20 (m,f) diving in loose flocks throughout.

Red-breasted Merganser 1 (f) swimming near shore, sw.

Ruddy Duck 120 (m,f) most resting in cohesive flocks around the lake.

Common Loon 3 diving in separate areas of the lake, nw, central, e.

Pied-billed Grebe 30 ubiquitous in loose flocks, esp. s channel.

Horned Grebe 5 diving in pairs and a loose flock, n-central.

Eared Grebe 20 diving singly and in pairs around the lake.

Western Grebe 80 vocal; ubiquitous in loose flocks and singles.

Clark's Grebe 20 continuing to be less numerous than WEGR; edges of the lake in pairs and singles.

Double-crested Cormorant 70 one flock of 59 swimming and diving together, n-central.

Great Blue Heron 3 individuals separated on shore around the lake.

Great Egret 16 a loose flock moving around the lake; on shore and in willows,sw, s.

Black-crowned Night Heron 8 (ad, imm) in marsh and overhanging willows of channel, s.

Osprey 1 circling the marsh, nw; later seen in willows overhanging the channel, s.'

Cooper's Hawk 1 flushed from riparian-marsh, ne.

Red-shouldered Hawk vocal; in willows, nw.

Red-tailed Hawk 4 vocal; in trees and on utility poles;(1 ad, dark morph; 1 light morph imm), s, e.

American Coot 500 ubiquitous but less numerous than two previous surveys this month.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 on mudflats next to channel, s.

Least Sandpiper 5 a cohesive flock visiting mudflats around the lake.

Ring-billed Gull 20 (ad) resting in open water, central.

California Gull 160 (5 % imm.) most resting in open water, central.

Herring Gull 1 (C1) with CAGU, open water, central.

Mourning Dove 3 flying over riparian-marsh, nw, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 (m) juniper woodland and riparian, w, s.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, calls, sw, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 (m,f) all three staying together in a mature cottonwood; a pair on opposite sides of a tree trunk, interacting; vocal.

Northern (RS) Flicker 8 vocal; ubiquitous in cottonwoods.

Black Phoebe 3 vocal; low perch near water, w, nw, se.

Common Raven 30 a large, cohesive flock on the east side of the dam, ne.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, cottonwood, sw.

Bushtit 5-10 moving through subcanopy of cottonwoods, ne.

Bewick's Wren vocal, ubiquitous.

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 (possibly 2) vocal; moving through canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods with YRWA and RCKI, sw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10 vocal, ubiqutious; often in msf with YRWA.

Northern Mockingbird 2 vocal, n, s.

European Starling 4 on utility wire, n.

American Pipit 1 flushed from shore, ne.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 25 calls; ubiquitous; often foraging in pairs.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls; active at edge of marsh, sw, se.

Savannah Sparrow 5 calls when flushed from jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow 4 in willow-riparian at edge of marsh around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 12 loose flocks, vocal; brushy areas at edge of riparian, n; rabbibrush fields, s.

Western Meadowlark song (unseen) n.

Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) a vocal, cohesive flock in willow-marsh at edge of channel, s.

House Finch 10 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

House Sparrow 5 vocal; around picnic area and clubhouse, n.

15 November, 2013 (57 Species)

Weather: Fair; 53F to 61F; wind initially calm until about 1015 hrs, when sudden and steady WSW reached about 25 mph.

Time: 0702-1100 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior lakeshore road, except in the northwest section, where I used the road paralleling a concrete drainage culvert. Conditions were quiet around the lake. WSW winds suddently appeared at about 1015 hrs., turning the lake surface to white-caps.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Surf Scoter (1-cont.), Osprey (1), Bonaparte's Gull (3), Herring Gull (1), Phainopepla (2),

and Townsend's Warbler (1)

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) open water, n.

American Wigeon 8 (m,f) open water, n.

Mallard 4 (m,f) edge of lake, nw, ne.

Blue-winged Teal 1 (f) swimming in slough with female CITE, s.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (f) swimming with BWTE, s.

Northern Shoveler 1 (f) in slough next to marsh, s.

Green-winged Teal 12 dabbling in shallows next to mudflats, nw, se.

Canvasback 1 (f) sleeping in quiet cove, nw.

Ring-necked Duck 3 (m,f) swimming together near docks, w.

Lesser Scaup 10 (m,f) resting, open water, w, n.

Surf Scoter 1 imm (cont. see 8 Nov. 2013) swimming near jetty; possibly with an injured wing, (photo).

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) continuing, nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 15 Nov. 2013

Bufflehead 30 (m,f) scattered around the lake; diving in pairs and loose flocks.

Ruddy Duck 500 (m,f) scattered around the lake; many resting.

Common Loon 2 swimming in open water about 50 yards apart, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 30 at least 15 in the slough, s; others amongst coots around the lake.

Horned Grebe 1 diving, open water, central.

Eared Grebe 30 singles and small flocks, open water, central, w.

Western Grebe 80 calls; many resting near docks, w.

Clark's Grebe 60 calls; many resting near marsh and docks; also in open water; juvenile calls while swimming with adult.

Double-crested Cormorant 40 ubiquitous; most numerous in east-central; forming feeding flocks with gulls, central.

Great Blue Heron 3 on shorelines around the lake.

Great Egret 8 on shore and together in trees on se island.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) fly, calls, marsh next to slough, se.

Osprey 1 (ad) attempted fishing while flying low over marsh, nw (photo).

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 15 November 2013

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 calls; riparian, nw, sw.

Red-tailed Hawk 2 light and intermediate dark morphs; vocal, sw, s.

American Coot 1,500 ubiquitous.

Least Sandpiper 20 foraging in cohesive flocks on mudflats, nw, se.

Bonaparte's Gull 3 (ad, imm) immature caught 5" fish; adult dipping in slough; circling back several times over slough,s (photo).

Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 15 Nov 2013

Ring-billed Gull 40 resting in open water; flying around in feeding frenzy with DCCO, central.

California Gull 120 (9% ad; C1, C2 C3) resting in open water; feeding frenzy with DCCO, central.

Herring Gull 1 (C2) flying around with CAGU, central.

Mourning Dove 2 riparian, s.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, call, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m,f) calls; foraging on distantly separated cottonwoods, sw, s.

Northern (RS) Flicker 4 vocal; riparian, s, sw, se.

Say's Phoebe 1 on fence, e.

Common Raven 35 a large flock around dam, e; others flying over marsh, n.

Oak Titmouse calls, s.

Bushtit 20 a vocal, cohesive flock in willows and cottonwoods, sw.

Bewick's Wren 2 calls; foraging in small Joshua Tree, sw.

Marsh Wren 1 calls (unseen) dense cattails, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 18 vocal; foraging together and with YRWA in cottonwoods and willows throughout.

Northern Mockingbird 2 vocal, n, s.

European Starling 3 on utility wire, n.

American Pipit fly, call, shoreline, ne.

Phainopepla 2 (m,f) male calling; female arrived in same cottonwood with mistletoe, se (photo).

Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) female Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 15 Nov 2013

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 30 (m,f) calls; ubiquitous in a variety of vegetation and height levels.

Townsend's Warbler 1 (f) calls; noted lower white border of dark cheek; foraging in outer foliage of cottonwood, sw (photo).

Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi) female Lake Palmdale LACO CA 15 Nov 2013

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls, marsh-riparian, w.

Savannah Sparrow 2 calls; on jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow 2 calls, marsh-riparian, sw, se.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 vocal; ubiquitous in brushy areas.

Red-winged Blackbird 1 (m imm) in willow; GTGR nearby, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f) fly, calls, n; s.

House Finch 10 (m,f) foraging in clump of bull thistle, e.

House Sparrow 10 vocal; in picnic area and garden, n.

8 November, 2013 (66 Species)

Lake Palmdale, viewing (left to right) from the northeast and southeast corners, respectively. Note exposed shorelines 8 Nov. 2013

Weather: Fair; 50F to 70F; wind ENE 1-2 mph.

Time: 0714-1130 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the inner shoreline road, except in the northwestern section, where I used the road paralleling a concrete drainage canal. Except for maintenance workers removing vegetation in the northeast, there was little disturbance during my survey. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations. A few sets of duck decoys have been placed near the docks and blinds on the southwest and southeast sections of the lake. Although the aqueduct inlet was working this morning, the lake water level continues to recede, now exposing 10-20 ft. of mudflats and rocks around the lake. The southern channel is now very shallow and disconnected from the southeast section of the lake (photos).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Surf Scoter (1), Horned Grebe (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Wilson's Snipe (3), Bonaparte's Gull (1), Herring Gull (1), Rufous Hummingbird (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), and Verdin (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) open water, e-central.

American Wigeon 4 (m,f) with AMCO and LESC, e-central.

Northern Shoveler 8 (f) edges of the lake; one with GWTE, nw.

Green-winged Teal 6 (f) edge of the lake near mudflat, nw.

Canvasback 2 (f) resting amongst AMCO, nw.

Ring-necked Duck 12 (m,f) swimming together, w.

Lesser Scaup 12 (m,f) swimming together, central, e.

Surf Scoter 1 (imm) swimming near the jetty, nw (photo).

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) immature nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Bufflehead 50 (m,f) ubiquitous; usually in flocks of 5-10.

Ruddy Duck 800 (m,f) ubiquitous.

Common Loon 4 two pair swimming, peering, diving, n, nw.

Pied-billed Grebe 25 vocal, ubiquitous; especially in s channel.

Horned Grebe 1 diving, n-central.

Eared Grebe 30 individuals diving; one cohesive raft of about 15 individuals, n-central.

Western Grebe 80 vocal, ubiquitous. Noticably more abundant than CLGR and generally more abundant than in previous surveys this season.

Clark's Grebe 20 open water; singles. Noticably reduced in numbers compared with previous surveys this season.

Double-crested Cormorant 34 (ad, imm) one flock swimming together near the dam; others scattered over the lake; a few resting on stirring platforms and buoys.

Great Blue Heron 2 fly, call; shoreline and on docks around the lake.

Great Egret 9 a flock of five on the shore, nw; others in trees, se.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) flushed from marsh, s.

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (imm) in leafless willow, riparian-marsh, w (photo).

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Cooper's Hawk 1 flying, s.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from cottonwoods, sw.

Red-tailed Hawk 2 one dark morph adult on utility pole, ne.

American Coot 1,000 ubiquitous; on shore, swimming.

Killdeer 6 on mudflats and shorelines around the lake.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 flushed from rocky shore, n.

Least Sandpiper 18 flocks foraging on mudflats, se.

Wilson's Snipe 3 foraging rapidly in shallows like dowitchers, se (photo).

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Bonaparte's Gull 1 flying; surface plunging from the air; CAGU and RBGU nearby, open water, s.

Ring-billed Gull 20 (ad, imm) flying; resting in open water, s.

California Gull 30 (ad, C1, C2) flying; resting in open water, s.

Herring Gull 1 (C1) resting in open water; flying with CAGU, s.

Larus sp.? 1 features not clearly visible; overall pale grayish-white; unmarked primaries and tail; seen and photographed in flight at 200 yards +; s.

Larus sp. ? south Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 November 2013

Rock Pigeon 4 on utility line, n.

Mourning Dove 6 flying, n, w.

Rufous Hummingbird 1 (m) red tail; red and green back; white collar. Hovering above a cottonwood, s (photo).

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Belted Kingfisher 3 (m,f) fly call; shoreline, docks around the lake.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls; one male foraging in upper level of cottonwood, sw (photo).

Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttalli) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Hairy Woodpecker calls- loud, distinctive, repeated twice (unseen) riparian-marsh, w.

Northern (RS) Flicker 6 vocal; pairs and singles, riparian areas around the lake.

Black Phoebe 3 edge of marsh-riparian; shorelines around the lake.

Western Scrub-jay 1 perched in juniper, nw.

Common Raven 6 flying over riparian and edge of lake, n.

Oak Titmouse 2 calls; foraging in cottonwoods, sw.

Verdin 1 calls repeated in juniper, ne.

Bushtit 10 one flock in cottonwoods, w.

Cactus Wren 1 on fence, nw.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal, ubiquitous in brushy areas.

Marsh Wren 1 vocal; in dense cattails, nw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 foraging individually in cottonwoods around the lake.

Northern Mockingbird 2 vocal, n, s.

California Thrasher 1 vocal (unseen) juniper-sage, nw.

European Starling 10 vocal in cottonwoods, n, w s.

American Pipit 2 on shore; fly, calls, w, nw (photos).

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) same individual in both images Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Orange-crowned Warbler 2 calls; foraging in subcanopy of cottonwoods with YRWA, s.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 30 (m,f) calls; ubiquitous in a variety of vegetation types and levels.

Common Yellowthroat 20 vocal; dense cattails bordering riparian areas around the lake.

California Towhee 2 calls; active in juniper-sage, nw.

Savannah Sparrow 3 calls; foraging together in patches of weeds on jetty, nw (photo).

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

Song Sparrow 2 calls, dense cattails, w, s.

Lincoln's Sparrow calls (unseen) riparian edge, w.

White-crowned Sparrow 25 (ad, imm) vocal; ubiquitous in dense vegetation.

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f bsc. plmg.) vocal; flying; ubiquitous; foraging on shoreline.

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 8 Nov 2013

House Finch 12 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

House Sparrow 6 vocal; around clubhouse and picnic area, n.

25 October, 2013 (61 Species)

Weather: Fair; 54F to 72 F; no wind.

Time: 0712-1110 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the interior shoreline road except in the northwest corner, where I followed the road along a concrete drainage channel. Other than a few maintenance workers on the dam and two others working on a dock in the southern section, the lake area was quiet and undisturbed by human activities.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wood Duck (1), Common Loon (3), Horned Grebe (5) and Peregrine Falcon (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Wood Duck 1 (f) swam into cover in the marsh as I approached, se channel.

Gadwall 4 (m,f) swimming in open water, n.

American Wigeon 2 (f) open water, central.

Mallard 4 (m,f) flying over shore, w, s.

Northern Shoveler 4 (f) dabbling near the marsh, nw.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) swimming near the jetty, nw.

Ring-necked Duck 4 (m,f) swimming together near the docks, w.

Lesser Scaup 1 (m) resting in open water, central.

Bufflehead 10 (m,f) swimming together in a loose flock near jetty and docks, nw, w, s.

Ruddy Duck 120 (m,f) resting near shore and in open water throughout.

Common Loon 3 one pair staying close, and about the same size, swimming, peering and diving with another, smaller individual (photo), open water, ne.

Common Loon (Gavia immer) ne Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 25 October 2013

Pied-billed Grebe 15 vocal; loose flocks diving near shore and in open water throughout.

Horned Grebe 5 a fairly cohesive flock, diving in open water, n.

Eared Grebe 10 individuals scattered over the lake; diving, preening.

Western Grebe 30 vocal; near shore and open water throughout.

Clark's Grebe 75 vocal; ubiquitous; one pair with nearly full-grown young calling repeatedly; nw.

Double-crested Cormorant 15 (ad, imm) swimming, diving, perched on buoys and in trees overhanging lake, n.

Great Blue Heron 2 on shore, nw, s.

Great Egret 5 on shorelines throughout; fly, calls.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad) flushed from marsh, se channel.

Osprey 1 (imm) flying over shore and riparian, ne.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad) calls; flushed from riparian area, n; se.

Red-tailed Hawk 2 (ad) one diving on another perched atop a willow, se island.

Peregrine Falcon 1 (imm) perched on an exposed willow branch on se island (photo).

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) se Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 25 Oct 2013

American Coot 500 (conserv. est.) ubiquitous, esp.around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 foraging on the exposed mudflats on the w side of the jetty, nw

Least Sandpiper 15 foraging on the exposed mudfalts on the w side of the jetty, nw.

Ring-billed Gull 1 (C1) resting with CAGU, open water, central.

California Gull 40 (ad, C3; one C1), resting, open water, central.

Herring Gull 1 (C1) seen in flight; showing light markings in primaries, central.

Eurasian Collared Dove 1 calls (unseen) se.

Rock Pigeon 5 on utility pole and line, n.

Mourning Dove 10 perched on exposed willow branches, riparian, nw, w.

Great Horned Owl 1 flushed from riparian patch, ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 6 (m,f) riparian areas around the lake.

Belted Kingfisher 4 ubiquitous, vocal; individuals flying together over shorelines.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 5 (m,f) a vocal pair of females chasing; foraging on large cottonwood, s, se.

Northern (RS) Flicker 6 vocal, ubiquitous in riparian areas; foraging in cottonwoods and on bare ground.

Black Phoebe 5 vocal, ubiquitous near shore.

Western Scrub-jay 1 flying, calls, juniper-sage scrub, nw.

Common Raven 5 ubiquitous, vocal; flying over shore.

Verdin 1 repeated calle, mature cotonwood-sage, e.

Bushtit 30 vocal, ubiquitous in flocks, esp in cottonwoods.

Bewick's Wren 6 vocal, ubiquitous.

House Wren 1 scold calls, riparian along Palmdale Ditch inlet, se.

Marsh Wren 1 called briefly in dense cattails, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 vocal; foraging low in mature cottonwoods, w, sw, ne.

Northern Mockingbird 1 calls, picnic area with pyracantha on fence line, n.

European Starling 6 on utility line, n.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 calls (unseen) in small cottonwood, ne.

Yellow Warbler 1 (imm) foraging in subcanopy of a mature cottonwood, ne.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler (m,f) calls, ubiquitous in a variety of vegetation, esp. cottonwoods.

Common Yellowthroat 4 calls (unseen) dense cattails and riparian edge, nw, w, s, ne.

California Towhee 1 calls, sw.

Savannah Sparrow 1 flushed from edge of jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal in marsh-riparian patches around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 small, vocal flocks in brushy areas throughout.

Red-winged Blackbird calls (unseen) cattails at edge of riparian, n.

House Finch 10 vocal, cottonwoods, se.

House Sparrow calls, picnic area, n.

18 October, 2013 (63 Species)

Weather: Fair; 47F to 70F; wind WNW 1-2 mph.

Time: 0710- 1100 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the interior shoreline road. No fishermen were present (fishing season ended last week) and no boats were being operated on the lake during the survey. A few maintenance workers were present in the southeast and on the dam, otherwise the survey area was quiet with only four vehicles and minimal human disturbance. Duck hunting season begins tomorrow (Saturday, 19 October) and extends through January, 2014. The lake water level continues to decrease (perhaps by an additional 3 feet since my last survey); with about 10-20 feet of exposed shoreline occurring around the lake.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Surf Scoter (2), Blue-winged Teal (2), Common Loon (2), White Pelican (1), White-faced Ibis (2), and Long-billed Dowitcher (1). First of the season bird species found today included, Bufflehead (6), Canvasback (1) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 6 (m,f) swimming together with RUDU and other waterbirds, s.

American Wigeon 4 (m,f) calls; swimming together, s.

Mallard 4 (m,f) flighty; swimming, flying near shore, s.

Blue-winged Teal 2 (f) swimming a few feet apart in channel, s (photo).

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) south Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 18 October 2013

Cinnamon Teal 4 (m,f) resting together, open water, se.

Northern Shoveler 10 (m,f) resting together, open water, se.

Canvasback 1 (m) diving near dam, ne.

Redhead 3 (m,f) swimming together with AMCO, ne.

Ring-necked Duck 4 (m,f) resting together, open water, se.

Lesser Scaup 1 (imm m) resting with other ducks, se.

Surf Scoter 2 (f) swimming and diving alternately and together, open water with RUDU, s (photo).

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) females (same individual in both photos) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 18 Oct 2013

Bufflehead 6 (4 m, 2 f) swimming together near docks, w (photo)

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 18 October 2013

Ruddy Duck 250 (m,f) ubiquitous; most resting in open water and near shore.

California Quail 10 flushed from roadside, n.

Common Loon 2 swimming near shore, ne (photo).

Common Loon (Gavia immer) Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA 18 Oct 2013

Pied-billed Grebe 20 ubiquitous; calls; diving near shore.

Eared Grebe 15 ubiquitous; swimming together; diving near shore.

Western Grebe 30 vocal, ubiquitous.

Clark's Grebe 70 vocal, ubiquitous; two in "synchronized surface-running ballet" courtship; two juveniles, open water, central.

Double-crested Cormorant 20 (ad, imm) on buoys; swimming together; diving.

American White Pelican 1 on shore, ne.

Great Blue Heron 2 on shore, nw, w.

Great Egret 4 on shore; ubiquitous.

Black-crowned Night Heron 4 (ad, imm) in marsh, ne; 3 together in willow, se.

White-faced Ibis 2 (ad, imm) on jetty and ne shore (photo).

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) northeast Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA 18 Oct 2013

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 noted relatively small size and flying agility in subcanopy; riparian area, s (fos- LP).

Red-shouldered Hawk 1(imm) calls; flushed from cottonwoods, se.

Red-tailed Hawk 3 (2 ad; 1 imm) one dark morph flying over the dam, e.

American Coot 200 ubiquitous, though less abundant than in the previous survey; edges of the lake.

Killdeer 2 calls, se.

Least Sandpiper 15 foraging on the east edge of the jetty, nw (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher 1 (imm) noted unspotted breast, call; relatively dark tail markings in flight; long bill; foraging on the east edge of the jetty with LESA, nw (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) nw Lake Palmdale LACO CA 18 Oct 2013

Ring-billed Gull 2 open water with CAGU, central.

California Gull 30 (ad, imm) resting in open water and on jetty, nw.

Mourning Dove 8 in willows, nw, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 calls, pines, ne.

Belted Kingfisher 4 fly, call, ubiquitous around edges of the lake.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 call; in cottonwoods, s, se.

Northern Flicker 3 ubiquitous; calls; flying over riparian areas.

Black Phoebe 5 vocal; active near water and in riparian areas.

Western Scrub-jay calls (unseen) w.

Common Raven 4 fly, call, n, e.

Tree Swallow 5 flying over lake and marsh, s.

Verdin 2 vocal, juniper-riparian edge, w, ne.

Bushtit 30 vocal, ubiquitous in foraging flocks, cottonwoods and willows.

Bewick's Wren 4 vocal, brushy edge of riparian, s e.

Marsh Wren 1 vocal in dense cattails, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls, cottonwood, se.

Northern Mockingbird 1 fence line with fruiting pyracantha, n.

California Thrasher calls (unseen) nw.

European Starling 12 on utility line, n.

American Pipit on concrete boat ramp next to jetty; gave alarm call when flushed, nw (fos at LP- photo).

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) nw Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA 18 October 2013

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 25 vocal, ubiquitous.

Common Yellowthroat 6 vocal, ubiquitous in dense marsh-riparian areas.

Savannah Sparrow 1 on jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal; in marsh, sw, se, ne.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 calls; active in roadside shrubs, nw.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 vocal, ubiquitous in small flocks.

Red-winged Blackbird calls (unseen) cattails, nw.

Great-tailed Grackle 12 (m,f) males singing from top of willows, nw, s.

House Finch 10 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 in thistle drainage next to dam, e.

House Sparrow 10 vocal around clubhouse and picnic area.

2 October, 2013 (56 Species)

Weather: Fair; 62F to 79F; wind WSW 5-20 mph.

Time: 0729-1221 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the interior shoreline road except in the southeast section, where several fishermen were with their vehicles. Several fishermen were operating small motorboats on the lake. The jetty and western docks were unoccupied. Auto traffic on the shoreline road was light; conditions were good for detecting bird vocalizations until 1115 hrs. when wsw winds increased from 5 mph to 20 mph. The lake water level continues to decline, despite inflow from a southeast culvert (Palmdale Ditch), exposing about 10 ft. of shoreline around the lake. One settling pond was full to the lower edge of the sloped sides.

Historical Note: To my knowledge, the record for number of bird species (90) found during a survey of Lake Palmdale was obtained twenty-seven years ago on October 5, 1986. That survey was made by five observers, including Jon L. Dunn, Kimball Garrett and myself. The weather conditions for the survey were fair and human disturbance (e.g. fishing, auto traffic) was minimal. One rarity, Black and White Warbler, was found among the cottonwoods in the southern section. The remainder of the birds belonged to a diverse assemblage of migratory and resident species ordinarily occurring in Southern California.

During the 1980's and well into the 1990's, there were many more mature cottonwoods in the south and southeastern portion of LP than are present today. Vegetation removal and other habitat changes accompanied the development of the California Aqueduct inlet to LP, a concrete drainage channel, a housing tract on the southern border and a water treatment facility in the northern section of the property. Thus, it appears likely that the remarkable bird diversity record of ninety species documented at Lake Palmdale on the morning of October 5, 1986, shall remain unsurpassed. Significantly, that particular bird survey also ranks as one of the most species-rich for a single inland location in Los Angeles County.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Blue-winged Teal (3), Common Loon (1), Horned Grebe (2), possible Clark's Grebe x Western Grebe with young (3), and a possible Common Grackle (1).

BIRDS NOTED

American Wigeon 1 (m) swimming in open water, s.

Mallard 6 (m,f) swimming near shore, s, se.

Blue-winged Teal 3 (f) swimming together near the docks, sw (photo).

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) female sw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 2 October 2013

Ring-necked Duck 5 (m, f) swimming together in a cove, se (photo).

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) se Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 2 October 2013

Ruddy Duck 60 (m,f) loose flocks in open water around the edges of the lake.

California Quail 12 flushed from roadside rabbitbrush, w.

Common Loon 1 (alt.-bsc. trans. plumage) diving, preening, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 20 swimming in pairs and loose flocks near shore around the lake.

Horned Grebe 2 (possibly 5) swimming with EAGR, nw; ne (photos).

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) presumably two different birds; nw (left) and ne (right) Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA 2 Oct. 2013

Eared Grebe 10 swimming, diving in open water, n, and in a cove, se.

Western Grebe 30 vocal; pairs and singles in open water, especially near the marsh around the lake.

Clark's Grebe 70 vocal, pairs and singles in open water, esp. nw; four birds swimming together, 3 adults; one juvenile that was initially observed swimming alongside a WEGR type adult, then approaching and begging from CLGR type (photo (b)- left).

Noted relatively dark anterior orbit of an adult and juvenile (e.g. WEGR photo (a) - center right); more typical non-breeding CLGR orbital markings and bill color of adjacent adult (photo (a) - center). The juvenile (photo (a) far right) continued swimming and approached the CLGR (photo (a) -center), vocalizing with a begging posture. The adult grebe to the far left (photo (a)) stayed close to the others but did not interact with them No other allospecific pairs of Aechmophorus (or ambiguously marked Aechmophorus) were observed at Lake Palmdale today See relevant notes and photo from my August 7, 2013 survey of Lake Palmdale.

a) Aechmophorus sp. possible A. clarkii x A. occidentalis adults with F1 juvenile hybrid; nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 2 October 2013

(b) Same individuals shown above photo (a): Juvenile begging from an adult A. clarkii type after swimming with an adult A. occidentalis type; Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 2 Oct. 2013

Double-crested Cormorant 5 three perched on snags and in dead willows, ne; one diving, nw.

Great Blue Heron 2 on shore and docks, w, sw.

Great Egret 4 on shore; flying frequently to different locations around the lake.

Turkey Vulture 1 (ad) circling above Lake Una.

Osprey 1 (ad) in willow overhanging lake, ne.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad) vocal, flying over mature willows and cottonwoods, s, se.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from mature cottonwood, se.

American Coot 800 vocal, ubiquitous, especially in algal mats near shore.

Killdeer 1 on concrete boat ramp next to jetty, nw.

Ring-billed Gull 2 (ad) flying together, low over the lake, n.

California Gull 6 resting on the lake, n.

Mourning Dove 4 flying, riparian area, nw.

Anna's Hummingbird 5 (f) vocal; riparian areas; often together in willows and cottonwoods.

Belted Kingfisher 4 vocal; flying near shore around the lake.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 vocal, cottonwoods, sw, se.

Northern (RS) Flicker 4 vocal, chasing through riparian areas, se.

Black Phoebe 10 vocal, ubiquitous at edge of riparian areas.

Common Raven 20 vocal; flock on dam, then circling high above it, ne.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 flying low over open area, se.

Oak Titmouse 3 vocal; foraging in junipers and cottonwoods, sw, s.

Verdin 2 vocal, junipers at edge of riparian,w, se.

Bushtit 40 vocal, ubiquitous in flocks; using a variety of vegetation types and height levels.

Cactus Wren 2 foraging on concrete patio and bare ground in picnic area, n (photo).

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA 2 October 2013

Bewick's Wren 2 vocal, active in brushy undergrowth n, w.

House Wren 1 vocal (unseen) mature cottonwoods along inlet channel, se.

Marsh Wren 1 vocal (unseen) dense patch of cattails at ne corner of jetty, nw.

Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal; on fence at club house entrance, n.

California Thrasher 1 vocal in saltbush scrub next to rr tracks, e.

European Starling 3 vocal; canopy perch in cottonwoods, n, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 12 ubiquitous; calls; foraging in a variety of vegetation, mostly at lower levels.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 50 vocal, ubiquitous.

Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (f) foraging in outer foliage of a mature cottonwood, se.

Common Yellowthroat 8 calls; ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas.

Wilson's Warbler 20 ubiquitous, calls.

California Towhee 1 calls (unseen) junipers, sw.

Chipping Sparrow 2 calls; foraging on bare ground next to lawn in picnic area, n.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls (unseen) edge of cattail marsh and jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 (ad, imm) vocal, ubiquitous, esp. n.

Great-tailed Grackle 5 vocal; perched together in willows on peninsula, s; flying over shoreline, s.

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) ? 1 male: initially observed from a distance of about 20 yards, flying SSE at about 15-20 ft. agl, across open area with running water in a marshy inlet (Palmdale Ditch). The bird appeared to be flying from a nearby riparian channel with grassy border (several fishermen were present in this area at the time). In fairly good light (momentarily harsh) through a 10x42 binocular, I noted a medium-sized grackle with an overall black coloration, showing a contrasting metallic sheen on back; the bill appeared intermediate in size between BRBL (unrecorded at LP in recent years) and GTGR (common at LP in recent years and present today). The tail was broadly rounded, moderately wedge-shaped, proportionately shorter than a mature non-breeding male GTGR and comparatively longer and broader overall than a male BRBL. No vocalizations heard. The bird could not be relocated and no images of it were obtained. In the unlikely event this report is accepted (or even seriously considered) by CBRC, Common Grackle would be a new species record for Lake Palmdale and the Antelope Valley.

House Finch 20 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

Lesser Goldfinch calls (unseen) cottonwoods, se.

House Sparrow 15 vocal; foraging on ground in picnic area next to clubhouse, n.

25 September, 2013 (59 Species)

Weather: Fair; 58F to 75F; wind variable (0-5 mph) then increasing steadily to 35 mph by 1030 hrs.

Time: 0655-1235 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road, except in the southeast section where several fishermen and a maintenance crew (vegetation removal) were present. Only one boat was operating on the lake around 0900 hrs. High winds produced white-caps on the lake by 1030 hrs. A small craft advisory flag was displayed in the clubhouse parking area. Prior to the onset of high winds at around 1030 hrs., conditions were good for finding birds and identifying their vocalizations. The lake water level continues to decrease slowly, exposing a few feet of additional shoreline. Water continues to enter the southeast corner of the lake via a culvert (Palmdale Ditch). As usual, only one of the five settling ponds on the north boundary of LP had been filled to the lower edges of the sloped concrete sides (the settling ponds are routinely checked at the conclusion of my bird surveys).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Vaux's Swift (5), Downy Woodpecker (1), Northern (RS) Flicker (1), Phainopepla (1), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (3), Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco (1), and White-crowned Sparrow (4).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 8 (m,f) swimming together, se, ne.

Mallard 1 (m) flying over lake, n.

Ruddy Duck 35 (m,f) resting near docks and marsh, nw, w.

Pied-billed Grebe 3 near shore, n, w.

Eared Grebe 30 two cohesive flocks, open water in center of lake; two individuals diving near shore, n.

Western Grebe 20 noticably less abundant than CLGR; open water, in and near marsh; one on nest, nw.

Clark's Grebe 80 vocal, ubiquitous; one pair showing courtship behavior; several on nests at edge of marsh; one adult carrying young on back, nw.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 two in willows overhanging the lake; one swimming and diving, ne.

Great Blue Heron 1 on shore at edge of dam, e.

Great Egret 1 on shore, se; flew to the ne corner.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from cottonwood, sw, se.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole, ne.

Sora 1 calls, marsh and muddy shore, w.

American Coot 500 (conserv. est.) vocal, ubiquitous around margins of the lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, settling ponds, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 foraging at the water's edge in a settling pond, n.

Ring-billed Gull 2 (C2) resting in open water, n.

Larus sp. (c.f. L. canus) flying low, upwind in harsh, reflected light and with high winds over the lake; a single adult; light gray mantle (in harsh lighting appearing nearly pure white); clean white tail; long narrow wings with black markings suggesting MEGU (L. canus) rather than the expected RBGU (L. delawarensis). Head and bill not clearly visible, though the bill appeared smaller than RBGU. Note: This was another lesson regarding misidentification of gulls and other waterbirds seen at long range on or flying over Lake Palmdale. Calls into question several previous identifications made by off-site observers at Lake Palmdale (see eBird: Bar Graph data).

California Gull 16 (95% adult; one juvenile-C1). resting in open water; flying over lake, n.

Sterna sp. (c.f. S. hirundo and S. forsteri). A medium-sized, nearly all-white tern seen at long-range flying northwest over lake.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 vocal, in cottonwoods, w.

Mourning Dove 2 in dead willows, nw.

Vaux's Swift 5 flying low over open field next to juniper-sagebrush area, se.

Anna's Hummingbird 10 (m,f) in and around cottonwoods and willows throughout.

Belted Kingfisher 3 vocal, ubiquitous; flying over shore; perched on branches overhanging lake.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m,f) vocal; pair staying close while foraging in terminal dead branches of willows, w.

Downy Woodpecker 1 (f imm.) foraging alone, silently in terminal branches and foliage of cottonwoods, sw (photo).

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) immature female, sw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 25 Sept 2013

Northern (RS) Flicker 1 (possibly 2) calls; flying over riparian woods, nw, w.

Black Phoebe 6 vocal; edge of riparian around the lake.

Say's Phoebe 2 brushy roadside areas, nw, ne.

Warbling Vireo 1 foraging in canopy of cottonwood with YEWA and WIWA, nw.

Western Scrub-jay 3 vocal; edge of juniper fields, w, se.

Common Raven 8 pairs and singles flying over lake and dam.

Horned Lark calls, parking area and adjacent field, nw.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 flying with VASW, se; one flying low, back and forth over sheltered picnic area bordering the skeet range, ne.

Mountain Chickadee ? 1 calls (unseen) from tall willow riparian patch, nw.

Oak Titmouse 1 vocal; foraging low in cottonwoods, sw.

Verdin 3 vocal; active in creosote bush and junipers, nw, se.

Bushtit 40 vocal, ubiquitous flocks in riparian and juniper areas.

Bewick's Wren 8 vocal, ubiquitous.

Marsh Wren 2 vocal in dense patch of cattail, w, sw.'

Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal; junipers at edge of picnic area, n.

California Thrasher 3 vocal; junipers at edge of riparian, nw, w.

European Starling 2 vocal, cottonwoods and mulberry trees next to clubhouse, n.

Phainopepla 1 (m) flying w over riparian woods, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 3 calls; foraging in cottonwoods, nw, w, s.

Yellow Warbler 25 (m,f) calls; ubiquitous in mature willow and cottonwood.

Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (f) - cont. ? in mulberry trees, picnic area, n.

Common Yellowthroat 15 (m,f; imm) vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas.

Wilson's Warbler 30 (conserv. est.) calls; ubiquitous in riparian and bordering shrubs.

California Towhee 1 calls (unseen) juniper field, sw.

Song Sparrow 10 vocal, ubiquitous, though not as conspicuous as in previous survey.

White-crowned Sparrow 4 together in roadside rabbitbrush-saltbush, n; 1 (ad) foraging on ground beneath junipers, sw.

Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco 1 foraging on ground beneath junipers; WCSP nearby, sw (first of the season).

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (m,f) fly, call, marsh, n.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m,f) fly, call, s.

House Finch 20 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 streamside brush, se.

House Sparrow 5 vocal, picnic area, n.

18 September, 2013 (58 Species)

Weather: Fair; 57F to 75F; wind WSW 0 - 7 mph.

Time: 0623-1052 hrs.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Ring-necked Duck (1), Eared Grebe (35), Great Egret (7), and Yellow-breasted Chat (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 8 (m,f) swimming in a loose flock, ne.

Mallard 15 (m,f) notably scarce; edges of the lake.

Northern Shoveler 3 (f) swimming together near the docks, w.

Ring-necked Duck 1 (m) swimming with AMCO near the docks, w (photo)..

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 18 September 2013

Ruddy Duck 20 (m,f) resting near the docks, w.

Pied-billed Grebe 5 calls; swimming near the marsh around the lake.

Eared Grebe 35 a flock of about 25 birds swimming together in the middle of the lake; another smaller flock near the jetty, nw (photo).

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 18 September 2013

Western Grebe 20 notably scarce; possibly nesting in concealed areas of the marsh.

Clark's Grebe 70 vocal; ubiquitous; singles and pairs; several on nests at edge of marsh, nw, w.

Double-crested Cormorant 4 swimming near shore; perched in willows overhanging water, ne.

Great Egret 7 a loose flock perched in willows, se.

Green Heron 1 (ad) flushed from marsh next to docks, w.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) at edge of marsh, nw.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 circling over Lake Una, e.

American Kestrel 1 calls; flying with a large insect in talons, s.

Sora 2 vocal; walking on mudflat in marsh, w (photo).

Sora (Porzana carolina) west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 18 Septermber 2013

American Coot 500 vocal, ubiquitous, esp. near shore.

Killdeer 2 calls; sw, n.

Greater Yellowlegs 1? (unseen) called in flight, w.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 1 foraging on west edge of jetty, nw; 1 on edge of the only settling pond with water, n.

Ring-billed Gull 1 resting in open water; CAGU nearby, ne.

California Gull 8 (C3; ad) flock resting in open water; some flying nw, ne.

Caspian Tern 3 calls; flying around edge of lake.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls; cottonwoods, sw.

Rock Pigeon 1 flushed from dock, sw.

Mourning Dove 3 perched in willows, nw.

Anna's Hummingbird 8 vocal, ubiquitous; in and around willows and cottonwoods.

Selasphorus sp. (probably S, rufus) 1 (f) hovering at edge of willows, w.

Belted Kingfisher 4 vocal, ubiquitous; chasing.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 vocal; foraging in willows, w, sw, ne (photo).

Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttalli) male w Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 18 September 2013

Black Phoebe 6 vocal, ubiquitous.

Say's Phoebe 1 on roadside fence, e.

Western Scrub-jay 1 calls, junipers, w.

Common Raven 6 soaring on thermals, n.

Oak Titmouse 3 vocal, active in cottonwoods, sw, se.

Verdin 1 repeated calls, juniper-cottonwood edge, sw.

Bushtit 30 vocal, ubiquitous in fast-moving flocks.

Bewick's Wren 6 vocal, ubiquitous.

Marsh Wren 2 vocal in dense cattails, w, sw.

California Thrasher 2 song; junipers, nw, w.

European Starling 2 vocal, cottonwoods with dead branches, sw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 60 calls; ubiquitous, esp. cottonwoods.

Yellow Warbler 30 calls; ubiquitous, esp. cottonwoods and willows.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 1 calls, junipers next to clubhouse, n.

Black-throated Greay Warbler 2 calls; canopy of fruitless mulberry; creosote bushes,n.

Common Yellowthroat 20 (m,f, imm) calls; ubiquitous in dense, shady marsh-riparian areas (photo).

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) immature west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 18 September 2013

Wilson's Warbler 6 (m,f) foraging in cottonwoods and willows, w, s, ne.

Yellow-breasted Chat 2 one in dense marsh-riparian, w; staying low in willows; one in subcanopy of mature cottonwood, s.

California Towhee 1 foraging beneath cottonwoods and junipers with SOSP, sw.

Song Sparrow 20 vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian and ruderal edge.

White-crowned Sparrow 1 called once (unseen) from roadside saltbush-rabbitbrush field on fence line, e.

Western Tanager 2 (f) calls in mulberry trees next to picnic area, n; in canopy of cottonwood, sw.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (f) valls; in willow canopy, nw.

Red-winged Blackbird 60 vocal in cattails, n; flying over, nw.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (ad, imm) one vocal immature female (molting)calling from street light next to park n ride, n (photo).

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) immature female n Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 18 September 2013

House Finch 30 vocal, ubiquitous.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 calls, cottonwoods, se.

House Sparrow 5 vocal, picnic area, n..

11 September, 2013 (57 Species)

Weather: Fair; 74F to 84F; wind WSW 5 -15 mph.

Time: 0639-1041 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road, except in the northwest and southeast sections. A few fishermen were on the shore in the southeastern section; two or three motorboats with fishermen were moving slowly around the lake. Auto traffic on the shoreline road was very light. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations until the wind increased to about 15 mph around 0830 hrs. The lake water level was slightly lower (perhaps 2 ft) than during the previous survey; the aqueduct inlet pump on the south side continues to be shut down, allowing water to evaporate slowly from the lake in preparation for the removal of vegetation on the south slough island..

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Redhead (1), Eared Grebe (20), Great Egret (1), Northern Harrier (1), Willet (1), Marbled Godwit (1 - a new record for LP), Spotted Sandpiper (2), Belted Kingfisher (4 - cont.), Downy Woodpecker (1), Cedar Waxwing (10) and Northern Parula (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (f) swimming at east end of channel, se.

Mallard 60 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Cinnamon Teal 6 (m,f) a cohesive flock flushed from east end of channel, se.

Northern Shoveler 2 (f) flushed from open water near docks, sw.

Redhead 1 (m) swimming with mallards and coots near the dam, se.

Ruddy Duck 16 (m,f) a fairly cohesive flock resting near the docks, sw.

Pied-billed Grebe 3 diving, open water, n, w, se.

Eared Grebe 20 two cohesive flocks swimming, diving in open water in the middle of the lake; one diving near shore, n.

Western Grebe 30 pairs and singles around the edges of the lake, esp. nw.

Clark's Grebe 70 at least five nests on the edges of the marsh, esp. ne; calls; courtship in open water in the middle of the lake.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 in willows overhanging a cove, ne.

Great Blue Heron 1 flushed from marsh, se.

Great Egret 1 flying to willow at e end of channel, se.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) at edge of marsh, nw.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over the marsh and docks, sw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from cottonwoods, se.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from cottonwoods, s.

Virginia Rail 1? seen briefly as it flew into a dense patch of marsh, w.

Sora 1 foraging at base of dam on exposed shoreline with a patches of marsh, se.

American Coot 350 ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, sw.

Willet 1 (imm) noted overall brown dorsal coloration and contrasting scapulars, on the concrete shore of the boat ramp next to the jetty, nw (photo).

Willet (Tringa semipalmata) immature. nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 11 September 2013

Spotted Sandpiper 2 (bsc. plmg.) one on the jetty, nw; one at the edge of a settling pond, n.

Least Sandpiper 2 (one imm) foraging on the west edge of the jetty, nw.

Marbled Godwit 1 (trans. plmg.) flushed from the southeast end of the jetty; first record for Lake Palmdale (photo).

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 11 September 2013

Ring-billed Gull 1 (ad) open water near jetty, nw.

California Gull 1 (C3) flying over lake, nw.

Eurasian Collared Dove 3 calls; flying over riparian, n, sw.

Mourning Dove 5 flying over riparian; in willows.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 (f, imm) chasing around cottonwoods, n.

Belted Kingfisher 4 (2 pair -cont.) fly, call; chasing; opposite sides of the lake n, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 call; flying between cottonwoods, sw.

Downy Woodpecker 1 distintive high-pitched call (unseen) riparian woodland, w.

Black Phoebe 10 vocal, ubiquitous near and distant from the lake.

Western Scrub-jay 1 calls, sw.

Common Raven 6 fly, call, w, se, e.

Barn Swallow calls (unseen), lakeside of the marsh, ne.

Oak Titmouse 2 repeated song, cottonwoods, sw, s.

Verdin 1 repeated calls, juniper-riparian, sw.

Bushtit 50 vocal, ubiquitous; one flock of about 30 birds moving through the riparian woodland, sw; frequently associated with OCWA and YEWA.

Bewick's Wren 3 song, n, w, se.

Northern Mockingbird 1 song, picnic area, n.

California Thrasher 2 calls, juniper woodland, w; repeated song from atop saltbush next to RR tracks, e (photo - through a chain-link fence).

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) east Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA 11 September 2013

European Starling 1 in a patch of cattails with RWBL, n.

Cedar Waxwing 10 a vocal, cohesive flock briefly seen in a California Juniper, sw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 30 vocal, ubiquitous in riparian areas.

Northern Parula 1 (m) seen briefly in a large cottonwood subcanopy (west side of dock #18) near previous sighting on 28 August. Not sure if this was the same bird, sw.

Yellow Warbler 7 calls; active in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 12 (m,f) calls; ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas; staying within 5 ft. of the ground.

Wilson's Warbler 1 calls in canopy of cottowood with OCWA.

Song Sparrow 10 vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 calls; canopy of large willow, nw.

Red-winged Blackbird 60 vocal in a patch of cattails, n; flying over shore, n.

Tricolored Blackbird 1 (m) in cattails with RWBL, n.

Great-tailed Blackbird 18 (m,f) vocal, flying over riparian and marsh, n.

House Finch 30 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 vocal; roadside thistle and arroyo willow patch on e side of dam.

House Sparrow 4 vocal; active around picnic area and garden, n.

4 September, 2013 (53 Species)

Weather: Fair; 72F to 90F; wind WSW 2 -5 mph.

Time: 0618-1033 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road, except in the southeast section. A few fishermen were around the lake; two motorboats with fishermen were on the lake. Auto traffic around the lake was light and conditions were very good for identifying bird vocalizations. At the conclusion of my survey this morning, a representative of the Fin & Feather club informed me that the southern peninsula (a heavily vegetated marsh-riparian island), is scheduled for clearing (by burning) sometime before December 31, 2013. The lake water level will be lowered by nine feet in preparation for the work. The lake water level today was relatively high (as it has been for the past several months), with very little exposed shoreline.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Double-crested Cormorant (4 - cont.), Great Egret (5), Green Heron (1), Sora (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Caspian Tern (22), Selasphorus sp. (1), Belted Kingfisher (3), Pacific Slope Flycatcher (1), Verdin (2), Nashville Warbler (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), and Lincoln's Sparrow (1)..

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 7 (m,f) together in channel with AMCO, s.

Mallard 80 (m,f) ubiquitous around the margins of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 5 (m) resting in open water near the docks, sw.

California Quail 10 flushed from RV storage area, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 3 vocal; swimming near the marsh, w, s, n.

Western Grebe 30 vocal; pairs and individuals on nests at the edge of the marsh around the lake; many swimming in open water.

Clark's Grebe 50 vocal; at least 10 individuals on nests of floating platforms of tules, cattail and algae; one pair constructing a nest next to an orange buoy, w (photo).

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 4 September 2013

Double-crested Cormorant 5 in willows; swimming in open water, n, e.

Great Blue Heron 1 flying low over the lake, s.

Great Egret 5 individuals scattered around the lake in trees and in the marsh; one dipped into the lake briefly, apparently fishing, s.

Green Heron 1 (ad) in full early-morning sun at the edge of the marsh, nw (photo).

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) nw Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County, CA 4 Sept. 2013

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) in willows at edge of marsh, nw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flew into willows overhanging the marsh, nw.

Sora 1 calls (unseen) dense marsh next to the jetty, nw.

American Coot 200 (conserv. est.) ubiquitous around the edges and in the middle of the lake.

Killdeer calls, settling ponds, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 (bsc. plmg.) flushed from the side of the jetty, nw.

California Gull 5 (ad, C2) resting in open water, n.

Caspian Tern 22 a vocal, loose flock flying low, one was dipping into the lake; a large, cohesive flock later circling high above the lake (500 ft.) calling repeatedly, s.

Mourning Dove 10 pairs and individuals in riparian areas around the lake.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 4 (f) in cottonwoods and willows around the lake (photo).

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) female w Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 4 Sept 2013

Anna's Hummingbird 8 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous; hovering around cottonwoods.

Selasphorus sp. 1 (imm - female) noted white post orbital crescent, blue-green dorsal feathering; tail broadly tipped with white; buffy underparts The bird was hovering and aerial-insect hawking at the outer edge of a willow, w (photos).

Selasphorus sp. (same individual in both photos) west lake Palmdale Los Angeles County, CA 4 September 2013

Belted Kingfisher 2-3 (m,f) 0630 hrs. a pair chasing, vocalizing; landing on bare branches of a cottonwood, n. Later (0830 hrs.) another sighting (possibly of a bird seen earlier), fly, call, sw.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m,f) a vocal pair foraging on separate cottonwoods, sw.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1 hawking insects in the middle and upper subcanopy levels of a cottonwood, se.

Black Phoebe 10 vocal, ubiquitous near water.

Warbling Vireo 1 foraging in the canopy of a cottonwood, se.

Western Scrub-jay 5 calls, adjacent juniper fields, w, sw, se.

Common Raven 8 vocal, ubiquitous.

Oak Titmouse 2 vocal; active in middle layer of mature cottonwoods, sw.

Verdin 2 repeated calls; juniper-cottonwood edge, sw, se.

Bushtit 50 vocal, large (20 +) active flocks at various heights and in a variety of shrubs and trees.

Bewick's Wren 12 vocal, ubiquitous in a variety of habitats.

House Wren 2 vocal; active in lower branches of cottonwoods, sw.

Marsh Wren 2 vocal in dense cattails, nw, w.

Northern Mockingbird 1 calls, n.

California Thrasher 3 vocal, riparian, juniper edge, nw, w, n.

European Starling 8 vocal; active in canopy of cottonwoods, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 20 calls; ubiquitous in cottonwoods and willows.

Nashville Warbler 1 (m) foraging in canopy of a mature cottonwood, sw (photo).

Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) sw Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County, CA 4 September 2013

Yellow Warbler 8 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous in cottonwoods; often with OCWA.

Common Yellowthroat 12 vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas.

Wilson's Warbler 6 calls; often with YEWA and OCWA, foraging in canopy and lower levels of cottonwoods and willows around the lake.

California Towhee 3 vocal; on ground and in shrubs, nw, sw.

Savannah Sparrow 2 calls (unseen) patch of tall grass, roadside, w.

Song Sparrow 20 vocal; ubiquitous in marsh, riparian, fields and roadways (photo).

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) s Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 4 September 2013

Lincoln's Sparrow 1-2 (unseen) distinctive call notes repeated from roadside grass and shrubs bordering riparian woodland, w.

Western Tanager 2 (imm. f) vocal; canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods, nw, s (photo).

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) immature west Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA 4 September 2013

Red-winged Blackbird 80 (m,f) vocal; loose flocks flying north (0700 hrs.) over riparian areas, w; several foraging on bare ground, w.

Great-tailed Grackle 16 (m,f) several small, vocal flocks; one on jetty, nw.

House Finch 30 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous; foraging on roadside tumble mustard seeds, w.

House Sparrow 4 vocal; around entry road and clubhouse, n.

28 August, 2013 (56 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 70F to 87F; wind WNW 0-1 mph. rain and some flooding in the western Antelope Valley yesterday.

Time: 0650-1045 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, using the shoreline perimeter road, except in the

southeast. Several fishermen were around the lake; at least four in motorboats moving across the lake. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Double-crested Cormorant (5), Great Egret (3), Green Heron (2), Osprey (1), Phalaropus sp. (9), Caspian Tern (10),

Belted Kingfisher (2), Downy Woodpecker (1), Verdin (1), Marsh Wren (1), Nashville Warbler (1), Northern Parula (1), and Savannah Sparrow (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 1 (f) swimming near shore, ne.

Mallard 65 (m,f) ubiquitous near shore.

Ruddy Duck 6 resting near docks, w.

California Quail 10 flushed from shrubs next to caretaker's house, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 10 ubiquitous near shore.

Western Grebe 30 vocal; at least five nests of floating tule/cattail with one bird each, around the lake, esp,.nw.

Clark's Grebe 50 vocal; at least four active nests; two in nw but well apart from nesting WEGR.

Double-crested Cormorant 5 in willows; diving, n.

Great Blue Heron 2 (ad, imm) in trees above marsh, nw, ne.

Great Egret 3 a pair flushed from trees over marsh, se; one in tree, ne (photo).

Great Egret (Ardea alba) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 28 August 2013

Green Heron 2 (ad) both flushed from marsh, w, ne.

Osprey 1 (imm) flushed from top of willow, se; then circling the east side of the lake (photo).

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) immature Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 28 August 2013

American Coot 150 ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 3 on mudflats in settling pond, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 flying low over lake near shore, n.

Calidris sp. (probably WESA) 2 foraging on mudflats near puddle in settling pond; too distant for pos. ID.

Phalaropus sp. (probably RNPH) 9 a cohesive flock flying e over the lake surface.

California Gull 3 (ad; C3) flying e and w over the lake, n.

Caspian Tern 10 (ad, imm) vocal; a loose flock flying around the lake (photo).

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 28 August 2013

Mourning Dove 4 riparian and settling pond, n, w.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 4 (f) vocal; around cottonwoods, w, sw, ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 6 (m,f) vocal; riparian areas around the lake.

Belted Kingfisher 2 (m,f) vocal; flushed from leafless willow branches over the marsh, w, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 5 (m,f) pairs maintaining vocal contact in riparian areas, w, sw.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, riparian, w.

Willow Flycatcher 1 sallying from middle level of mature cottonwood, se.

Black Phobe 8 low perches at edge of marsh around the lake.

Common Raven 8 on dam; fly, call, e.

Horned Lark calling in flight, nw.

Tree Swallow 3 flying low, back and forth over the lake, early AM, n.

Cliff Swallow 2 flying about 15-25 ft. over the lake, n, early AM, n.

Barn Swallow 3 flying low over the lake near the marsh, n.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls from mature cottonwood-juniper edge, w.

Verdin 1 calls from mature cottonwood-juniper edge, sw.

Bushtit 25 ubiquitous; at least three separate, vocal flocks forraging quickly in canopy and subcanopy of mature cottonwoods.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal; active in lower strata of junipers, cottonwoods and other vegetation around the lake.

House Wren 1 repeated scolding calls with BEWR nearby; cottonwoods, sw.

Marsh Wren 1 calls from dense cattails, nw.

California Thrasher 1 song from top of juniper, w.

European Starling 5 vocal; around clubhouse, nand cottonwoods, sw,

Orange-crowned Warbler 10 vocal, ubiquitous in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods and mulberriy trees.

Nashville Warbler 1 (f or imm m) in canopy of cottonwood, w.

Northern Parula 1 (imm male) Noted prominent wing bars, white eye crescents; yellow throat and breast and rusty borders; foraging in subcanopy of cottonwood; COBU, WIWA, OCWA nearby, sw (photos).

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) same individual in both photos; sw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 28 August 2013

Yellow Warbler 4 (m,f) vocal; active in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 6 (m,f) vocal; active in lower strata of marsh and overhanging willows around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 12 (m,f) vocal; ubiquitous in riparian areas; foraging in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods.

California Towhee 3 calls; pair in saltbush hillside next to park-n-ride, n,

Savannah Sparrow 2 calls; edge of marsh-riparian, nw, se.

Song Sparrow 12 calls; ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas; foraging on ground and in low shrubs,w (photo).

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) sw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 28 August 2013

Red-winged Blackbird 30 (m,f) small, vocal flocks in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Great-tailed Grackle 6 (m,f) vocal; on jetty and adjacent marsh-riparian, nw.

Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (f; imm) in willows over marsh, w.

Bullock's Oriole 1 repeated calls, riparian-marsh, w.

House Finch 20 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous in clearings, on fence lines and riparian areas.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 in dense arroyo willow patch next to dam, e.

House Sparrow 6 around gardens and picnic area, n.

21 August, 2013 (46 Species)

Weather: Fair with scattered high clouds; 74F to 95F; wind WSW 2 mph.

Time: 0708-1044 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake on the interior shoreline road. Three boats with fishermen were on the lake; about five fishermen were on the docks and shoreline. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds Noted:

Gadwall 2 (f) swimming, s, ne.

Mallard 80 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 7 (m) swimming together near the docks, sw.

Pied-billed Grebe 8 vocal; ubiquitous.

Western Grebe 30 vocal, ubiquiotus; all conspecific pairs; four pair on nests made of floating vegetation (e.g. tules and cattails) around the lake.

Clark's Grebe 40 vocal, ubiquitous, esp. nw. all conspecific pairs; singles swimming near nests; two pairs nesting in same area as WEGR, nw

Double-crested Cormorant 7 (ad, imm) flying together, low across lake; a pair standing on floating tules in channel, s.

Great Blue Heron 2 (ad, imm) on shore at edge of marsh, nw, s.

Great Egret 2 a pair flying together, low over the lake; one seen later alone on end of dock, sw, se.

Green Heron 1 (ad) flushed from marsh, ne.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) perched in willows overhanging lake, nw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad) calls; flying low through woodland; another circling high above se riparian area, sw.

American Coot 100 ubiquitous, vocal; edges and middle of lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 (bsc. plmg.) foraging on edge of jetty, nw (photo).

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 21 August 2013

Caspian Tern 2 fly, calls, w.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls; flying through riparian woodland, w.

Mourning Dove 8 (ad, imm) riparian areas around the lake.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 4 (f) calls; hovering around creosote bush and the canopy of tall cottonwoods around the lake.

Anna's Hummingbird 6 (m,f) vocal; low perches in riparian areas around the lake.

Belted Kingfisher 2 (1 m ) vocal; flying near shore, w, sw.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 4 (m,f) vocal; pairs staying close; active in cottonwoods and willows, w, sw. female molting several primaries and secondaries.

Black Phoebe 6 vocal; ubiquitous; low perch near shore; one on fence, e.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 seen briefly in dense riparian woodland-marsh, w.

Western Kingbird 1 flew to bare branch of cottonwood, ne (photo).

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) ne Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 21 August 2013

Common Raven 4 calls; perched in cottonwood canopy, w, nw.

Tree Swallow 2 flying at about 50 ft. with BASW nearby, nw.

Barn Swallow 4 mostly low and fast over open fields and riparian areas, nw.

Bushtit 15 two or three separate, vocal flocks in riparian areas around the lake.

Bewick's Wren 5 vocal; active in cottonwoods and adjacent junipers around the lake.

Marsh Wren 3 calls and partial song in dense marsh, nw, w, sw.

Northern Mockingbird 1 (imm) on fence in picnic area, n.

California Thrasher 1 song, juniper-sage scrub, nw.

Phainopepla calls, dense riparian woodland, w.

Yellow Warbler 5 (f) vocal; active in canopy and subcanopy of willows and cottonwoods around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 8 vocal; active in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 16 (m,f) vocal; active mostly in lower and middle level foliage of cottonwoods and willows around the lake (photo).

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 21 August 2013

Song Sparrow 6 calls; singles and pairs in riparian-marsh, roadside and ruderal edge (photo)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) same individual in both photos; w Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 21 August 2013

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 calls from canopy of willow, sw.

Red-winged Blackbird 24 (m) loose flocks flying e, n.

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f) vocal; found only in one location today; a riparian-marsh peninsula next to slough, s.

Brown-headed Cowbird 2 (imm) begging calls at edge of marsh with COYE nearby, w.

Bullock's Oriole 1 (f) in subcanopy of cottonwoods, ne.

House Finch 10 (m,f) foraging in willows and other vegetation around the lake.

Lesser Goldfich 5 (ad, imm) in dense arroyo willow patch next to dam, e.

House Sparrow 2 on fence at entrance, n.

7 August, 2013 (43 Species)

Allospecific pairing of Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) (left) and Clark's Grebe (A. clarkii) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 7 August, 2013

Weather : Fair; 71F to 82F; wind WSW 5 -30 mph.

Time: 0710-1019 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the interior shoreline road except in the southeast. A few fishermen were around the lake; two motorboats were on the lake. Increasing winds and chop on the lake made observations difficult.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Gadwall (1), Double-crested Cormorant (7), Warbling Vireo (1), Verdin (1), Orange-crowned Warbler (5), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), and American Goldfinch (3). Rarely seen at Lake Palmdale and of considerable systematic interest, was an allospecific pair of Aechmophorus occidentalis and A. clarkii (photo).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 1 (m) flushed from se corner of the lake.

Mallard 80 (m,f) ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 7 (m) resting on the water near the docks, sw.

Pied-billed Grebe 3 vocal, edge of the lake, nw, w, ne.

Western Grebe 30 vocal; singles and pairs around the edges of the lake; one female evidently paired with a male Clark's Grebe near the jetty, nw (photo).

Clark's Grebe 50 occasionally vocal; mostly pairs around the edges and in the middle of the lake; one male swimming with a female WEGR, nw (photo).

Double-crested Cormorant 7 (ad, imm) in willows, ne; diving at the entrance to the southern channel, s.

Great Blue Heron 2 flying together near the jetty, nw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from dense riparian woodland near shore, sw.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flying over riparian-marsh area, nw.

American Coot 100 (conserv. est.) ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 1 at the edge of a partially filled settling pond, n.

Least Sandpiper 1 (imm) on the windward (w) side of the jetty, nw.

California Gull 2 (ad) together flying and swimming in open water, nw.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 flying low in cottonwood riparian, sw.

Morning Dove 6 (ad, imm) in cottonwoods, w, sw.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 4 (f) subcanopy and understory of riparian-marsh, ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 15 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous; conspecific interactions around cottonwoods and willows near shore.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, riparian, w, s.

Downy Woodpecker ? 1 (unseen) audible light tapping on small diameter willow branches in dense riparian-marsh, ne.

Black Phoebe 12 vocal, ubiquitous near water and in picnic area, n.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 (ad) sallying from low branch in a creosote bush, n.

Western Kingbird 1 (imm) on outer dead willow branch overhanging lake, w.

Warbling Vireo 1 foraging in outer canopy of fruitless mulberry in picnic area, n.

Common Raven 6 vocal; riparian, w, se.

Tree Swallow 2 (ad, imm) flying together, low, back and forth over the roadway next to fruitless mulberry trees, n.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 flying low, back and forth over roadway with TRSW, n.

Barn Swallow 4 flying low over open areas and marsh, n, e.

Verdin 1 repeated calls from dense arroyo willow patch, e.

Bushtit 15 two small, vocal flocks in riparian and edge, n, w.

Bewick's Wren 1 foraging near the ground in riparian-marsh area, ne.

Marsh Wren 5 vocal, ubiquitous in dense cattail patches.

Orange-crowned Warbler 5 calls; in cottowoods and willows around the lake, esp. ne.

Common Yellowthroat 10 ubiquitous; calls, rarely full song, riparian-marsh areas.

Song Sparrow 6 calls; patches of marsh-riparian around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 16 (m,f; imm) two small, vocal flocks over riparian-marsh, nw.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 (m) flying from marsh across lake, ne.

Great-tailed Grackle 6 (m,f) vocal, riparian, n, w.

Bullock's Oriole 1 (f) in California juniper then in adjacent cottonwood-willow woodland, ne.

House Finch 10 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous in riparian and ruderal areas.

Lesser Goldfinch 5 vocal; foraging on bull thistle with AMGO on east side of dam (photo).

Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 7 August 2013

American Goldfinch 3 foraging on bull thistle with LEGO, east side of dam (photo).

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 7 August 2013

House Sparrow 2 vocal, around clubhouse, n.