BIRD SURVEYS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

                           LAKE PALMDALE, Los Angeles County, CA

                                                    Winter 2013/14

                                                    © Callyn Yorke

 

 Lake Palmdale List of 242 Bird Species  

                                         

 LINKS TO PREVIOUS LP BIRD SURVEYS 

 2013c          FALL

 2013b          SPRING, SUMMER

 2012b - 2013a  SUMMER, FALL, WINTER

 2011-2012a  WINTER, SPRING

 2010- 2011a WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, FALL

 2009-2010a  FALL, WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER, FALL

       

See Previous Surveys for Habitat Descriptions

                          

 

                       Zenaida sp. (c.f.  Z. auriculata)  Lake Palmdale, CA   December. 10, 2011  (see Dec. 10, 2011 notes)

                                         

                                                                                           © 2011 Callyn Yorke

 

Lake Palmdale, viewing south.  March 12, 2007.         © 2007 Callyn Yorke

Lake Palmdale is 2.7 miles in circumference, 234 acres, and holds 4,129 acre-feet of water when full. Maximum Depth (NW) = 39 ft.

 

 

RECENT SURVEYS

February 22, 2014

February 7, 2014

January 28, 2014

January 17, 2014

December 27, 2013

December 20, 2013

December 13, 2013

December 6, 2013

 

FEBRUARY 22, 2014 (48 Species)

 

The jetty in the northwestern corner of Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA   22 February 2014

                                                                                                                                       © 2014 Callyn Yorke

 

Weather: Fair; 50F to 61F; wind WNW 0-5 mph.

Time: 0730- 1015 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake using the outside perimeter road. Large crowds of fishermen were present during the survey, including many on the jetty, docks and in motorboats on the lake. I was unable to survey most of the marsh-riparian zone and nearshore waters in the south and western sections due to occupation of those areas by people fishing (photo). Dust from automobile traffic on the interior shoreline road was also an issue this morning. Relatively few undisturbed areas were available to ducks and other waterbirds on the lake.

 

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Horned Grebe (5), White Pelican (3) Tree Swallow (20) and Cactus Wren (2).

 

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard  6 (m,f) edges of the lake.

Canvasback 1 (f) continuing in same area of slough, s.

Lesser Scaup  1 (m)  se.

Bufflehead  60  (m,f) scattered over the lake; many diving; some courtship displays.

Ruddy Duck  130  (m,f) mostly in the south slough; edges of the lake.

California Quail  8  foraging beneath olive trees at the caretaker's house, n.

Pied-billed Grebe   6  edges of the lake.

Horned Grebe  5  diving in pairs and singles, central, n.

Eared Grebe  18  diving in small flocks of 6 -10 birds, central, n.

Western Grebe  3; 1 swimming with a CLGR, n-central.

Clark's Grebe  6  swimming in pairs and singles, n-central.

American White Pelican  3 (alt. plmg.) swimming and interacting with DCCO diving near marsh, nw; later flying over the lake (photo).

 

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 22 Feb 2014

                                                                                            © 2014 Callyn Yorke

 

.

Double-crested Cormorant   50 (ad, imm) diving; resting on buoys and in trees around the lake.

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

Red-shouldered Hawk  1 fly, calls, se.

Red-tailed Hawk  5  (ad, imm) in trees and adjacent utility poles around the lake.

Cooper's Hawk  1 flushed from large cottonwood, sw.

American Coot  150  ubiquitous around the edge of the lake.

Killdeer 5   3 foraging on mudflats in settling pond, n; 2 on dam, e.

Least Sandpiper   12  foraging on mudflats and in shallows of a settling pond, n.

Ring-billed Gull  1 (ad) flying over dam, e.

California Gull   60  (90% ad) resting in middle of lake; commuting to and from landfill, nw.

Mourning Dove   8  riparian areas around the lake.

Great-horned Owl  1 (ad) continuing on nest surrounded by parked vehicles; no young seen, w.

Anna's Hummingbird  2 (m) calls, displays, s, w.

Nuttall's Woodpecker   2  fly, call, cottonwoods, se, sw.

Northern (RS) Flicker  8  ubiquitous in and around cottonwoods.

Black Phoebe  5  vocal; edge of riparian-marsh areas around the lake.

Say's Phoebe  calls (unseen) field next to skeet range, ne.

Western Scrub-jay  2  calls; on utility line, e;  calls, junipers, w.

Common Raven  8  calls; on and around dam, e.

Tree Swallow  20  vocal; two flocks circling willows, w, nw.

Oak Titmouse   3  calls; s, sw, nw.

Bushtit  5  vocal;a loose flock in sage and junipers, nw.

Cactus Wren  2    a pair on and around a dead Joshua Tree at the edge of the RV parking area, n (photo).

 

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 22 Feb 2014

                                                                                          © 2014 Callyn Yorke

 

 

 

 

Bewick's Wren  5  vocal, conspicuous; in brushy areas around the lake.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2  calls; foraging in newly leaved cottonwoods, s, w.

Northern Mockingbird  2  vocal; pyracantha at entrance, n; song, adjacent yards, s.

California Thrasher  2  vocal; sage and juniper fields, e, nw.

European Starling  25  flocks in trees next to the caretaker's house, n; pairs in cottonwoods, s, sw.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler  50  calls; ubiquitous in loose flocks.

Common Yellowthroat  1  song, marsh-riparian, ne.

Song Sparrow   5  song; ubiquitous in burned and unburned marsh-riparian.

White-crowned Sparrow  30  (ad, imm)  vocal; ubiquitous flocks in brushy areas.

Red-winged Blackbird  80 (m,f) vocal; marsh riparian (burned and unburned) around the lake.

Great-tailed Grackle  20 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas

House Finch  40 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

House Sparrow  10 picnic area and clubhouse; foraging under olive trees, n..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 7, 2014 (49 Species)

 

Weather: Partly cloudy; 44F to 54F; wind WNW  0 -3 mph.

Time: 0730-1027 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, using the outer perimeter road in the south and west sections due to the large crowds of fishermen on and around the docks, including auto traffic on the interior shoreline road. Several small motorboats were being operated on the lake during my survey. The lake water level continues to be at the maximum level, resulting in little or no exposed shoreline. Waterbird populations were generally low (California Gull and Ruddy Duck being the exceptions) in and around the lake this morning.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Common Merganser (3), Horned Grebe (2), Herring Gull (1), Tree Swallow (15) and Rough-winged Swallow (1).

BIRDS NOTED

 

Mallard   3  (m,f) swimming near shore, s, n.

Canvasback  1 (f) resting among RUDU, s.

Bufflehead  25  (m,f) scattered over the lake in loose flocks.

Common Merganser 3 (1 m, 2 f) flying together, low over the lake, w.

Ruddy Duck  120  scattered over the lake, esp. s.

California Quail   8  in sage brush field, w.

Common Loon 1  diving, open water, central.

Pied-billed Grebe  5  swimming around the edges of the lake.

Horned Grebe  2  diving near shore, n (photo).

 

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA  7 February 2014

                                                                                             © 2014 Callyn Yorke

 

Western Grebe  4  calls; open water, n.

Clark's Grebe  5  pairs engaged in head-turning and bobbing courtship behavior, n.

Double-crested Cormorant  50  scattered over the lake; several diving, central.

Great Blue Heron  3  on shore; flying around lake.

Black-crowned Night Heron  1 (imm) in the usual roosting area - cattails at the edge of the s slough.

Red-shouldered Hawk  1 fly, calls, s.

Red-tailed Hawk  4   ad; imm.   (incl. one dark morph - cont. s) in trees and on utility poles around the lake.

American Coot   150  ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Least Sandpiper  12  a cohesive flock foraging in shallows of settling ponds, n.

California Gull  80  (95 % ad)  resting in open water; commuting to and from the Palmdale landfill to the nw.

Herring Gull 1 (C2) on buoy, ne.

Eurasian Collared Dove  1  calls, n.

Mourning Dove  8  riparian areas around the lake.

Great Horned Owl 1-cont.  on nest in roadside cottonwood, w.

Anna's Hummingbird  1 (f) in cottonwood, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  1 (f) loud, harsh calls suggesting HAWO; typical female with a mostly black face foraging in cottonwoods, se.

Northern (RS) Flicker  8  loose flocks in cottonwoods around the lake.

Black Phoebe  6   ubiquitous, vocal; sallying from low perch at edge of lake and marsh.

Western Scrub-jay  calls (unseen) e of dam.

Common Raven  12   cohesive flocks on the dam near groundsquirrel poison stations; pairs engaged in vocal and head posture (extended throat hackles) courtship.

Tree Swallow  15  flying back and forth over the dam and adjacent lake, e.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  1  flying low over the s slough; perched for a few minutes in adjacent willow,s.

Oak Titmouse  4  vocal; riparian area, se, s.'

Bushtit  10  a vocal, cohesive flock in juniper-sage, w.

Cactus Wren  repeated calls (unseen) from Joshua tree-juniper area next to entrance road, n.

Bewick's Wren  6  vocal; shrubby areas around the lake.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  6  calls; foraging in cottonwoods around the lake; often amongst YRWA.

Hermit Thrush 1 flushed from juniper-sage drainage ditch on fence line roadway, nw.

Northern Mockingbird  3  a pair on fence with fruiting pyracantha shrubs, n.

California Thrasher  4   vocal;  a pair staying several yards apart, with one vocalizing from exposed juniper perch, w; ne.

European Starling 16  vocal; flocks in cottonwoods and on utility poles, n.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler  25  calls; ubiquitous in a variety of vegetation types and heights.

Common Yellowthroat  1  calls; marsh, s.

Song Sparrow  10  vocal; marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow  20   two or three flocks feeding on roadside and in silted concrete culvert, s.

Red-winged Blackbird  30 (m) establishing territories in burned and unburned riparian and marsh around the lake.

Great-tailed Grackle  5  (m,f) vocal; in marsh and on shore, s.

House Finch  5  vocal; brushy areas bordering riparian woodland, s.

Lesser Goldfinch  1  in canopy of budding cottonwood, s.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY 28, 2014 (51 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 49F to 65F; wind calm.

Time: 0806- 1125 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 road. The lake water level has continued to rise and appears to be at its maximum. Little or no shoreline is exposed around the lake. The survey area was largely quiet and undisturbed by human activities except for a maintenance crew removing vegetation on the northeast shore and two workers in a small motorboat towing a floating mass of cattails across the lake.

 

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included,  Common Goldeneye (1), Hooded Merganser  (2), a posssible hybrid Ladder-backed x Nuttall's Woodpecker (1) and Yellow-headed Blackbird (1).

 

BIRDS NOTED

 

Gadwall  1 (m) swimming in open water, central.

Amercan Wigeon  1 (f) swimming with other ducks, n-central.

Mallard  4 (m,f)  two pair near shore, s, n.

Green-winged Teal  1 (m) in channel, s.

Lesser Scaup  60 (m,f) scattered over the lake in mostly open water.

Bufflehead  80 (m,f) scattered over the lake; many diving; open water and near the marsh.

Common Goldeneye 1 (m) open water, central.

Hooded Merganser 2 (m,f)  a pair diving near the shore of the dam, e.

Ruddy Duck  140  (m,f) scattered on the lake in small, restive flocks.

Pied-billed Grebe  12  scattered around the edges of the lake.

Eared Grebe   30   two tight flocks swimming in open water; individuals diving around the lake.

Horned Grebe  2  swimming amongst gulls, coots and ducks, central.

Western Grebe  1  swimming amongst gulls, coots and ducks, central.

Clark's Grebe  20  pairs and individuals scattered around the lake; this species is continuing to outnumber WEGR.

Double-crested Cormorant  40  scattered over the lake; many individuals diving, resting on buoys.

Great Blue Heron  on shore and docks, s, se.

Black-crowned Night Heron  2 (imm) flushed from usual roosting area on the in channel riparian-marsh, s.

Cooper's hawk  1  (ad) in canopy of cottonwood, sw.

Red-tailed Hawk  3  in cottonwoods around the lake, s, se, ne.

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

American Coot  120  ubiquitous, esp. around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer  1 calls, on edge of dam, se.

California Gull  80  (95% adult); most resting in open water, n-centra; a few commuting to and from the Palmdale landfill to the nw.

Eurasian Collared Dove  2  calls from a utility pole next to the clubhouse, n.

Mourning Dove  8  flushed from riparian areas, nw, w.

Anna's Hummingbird  2 (m) calls; atop junipers and cottonwoods, w, s.

Belted Kingfisher  1  call, fly; perched on tall snag overhanging the lake,se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  3  (m,f) calls; foraging separately in nearby cottonwoods, w, sw, s.

Ladder-backed x Nuttall's Woodpecker ? 1 (f) possibly a continuing bird; face with more white than usual for NUWO; wide white supercilium; buffy base of bill; whitish-buff underparts with streaks and spots on sides; calls intermediate in quality and duration (photos).

 

Possible hybrid female Ladder-backed x Nuttall's Woodpecker (same individual in both images)   sw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA  28 January 2014

                              

                                                                                             © 2014 Callyn Yorke

                                     

Northern (RS) Flicker  4  flushed from riparian woodlands around the lake.

Black Phoebe  8  sallying from low perches near shore around the lake, esp. w and s.

Say's Phoebe  1  perched on a large saltbush next to the skeet range, ne.

Common Raven   10  most on or flying around the dam in the vicnity of ground-squirrel poison stations.

Oak Titmouse  2  song; riparian woodland, sw, s.

Common Bushtit  15  two vocal flocks foraging among branches of cottonwoods with infloresecences.

Bewick's Wren   2  song, brushy areas outside of riparian woodlands, s, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  4  calls; foraging in cottowoods with YRWA around the lake.

Northern Mockingbird  1  calls; in fruiting pyracantha hedge next to the clubhouse entry road, n.

California Thrasher  2  one on chain link fence, ne; one on another fence, n.

European Starling  16  in mulberry trees and cottonwoods around the clubhouse; foraging on lawn in picnic area, n.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler  50  (m,f)  ubiquitous; often in small flocks foraging in cottonwoods with inflorescences.

Common Yellowthroat  4  calls; active in burned and unburned cattails around the lake.

Savannah Sparrow  3  in weedy area on jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow   10  vocal; active in burned and unburned marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow  10  calls; brushy areas around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird  40  vocal; males establishing territories in burned and unburned marsh around the lake, esp. n, w.

Great-tailed Grackle   15  (m,f) vocal, active in burned and unburned marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Yellow-headed Blackbird  1  (m)   distinctive, repeated song (unseen) the usual location for one or two early arrivals in spring;  concealed in a patch of unburned cattails and small cottonwoods at the base of a cliff, nw

House Finch  10  vocal; active at edge of ruderal fields and riparian woodland, ne.

American Goldfinch  5  (bsc. plmg.) a cohesive, quiet flock foraging on inflorescences of cottonwoods, w. (photo)

 

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) west Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA  28 Jan 2014

                                                                                          © 2014 Callyn Yorke

 

 

House Sparrow 12  vocal; active in and around the clubhouse garden and picnic area.

 

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JANUARY 17, 2014 (54 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 46F to 59F. wind calm.

Time: 0745-1115 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. The lake water level has risen to nearly maximum height, following several months of lowered levels.  Riparian shoreline and cattail marshes are inundated and almost no shoreline is currently exposed around the lake. Maintenance workers and heavy equipment were present during my survey today, causing some dust and noise disturbance in the western and southern shoreline areas.

 

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Horned Grebe (6), Common Loon (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Tree Swallow (1) and Fox Sparrow (1).

 

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard  2 (m,f) together near jetty, nw.

Green-winged Teal  4 (m,f)  inundated cut and burned riparian marsh, ne.

Canvasback  3 (m,f) resting near marsh, nw.

Redhead 1 (m) swimming near marsh, nw.

Ring-necked Duck  1 (m imm) swimming near docks, w.

Lesser Scaup  60 (m,f)  ubiquitous; diving; swimming in loose flocks.

Bufflehead  30  (m,f)  ubiquitous; diving; flying low over the lake.

Ruddy Duck  150  (m,f)  ubiquitous; mostly resting; swimming near docks and marsh.

Common Loon  1  diving near dam, e.

Pied-billed Grebe  20  vocal; ubiquitous, near shore.

Horned Grebe  6  diving together and individually, e.

Eared Grebe  25  ubiquitous; often in pairs near shore.

Western Grebe  20   ubiquitous; often with nearby CLGR.

Clark's Grebe  30  ubiquitous; often with nearby WEGR.

Double-crested Cormorant  40   ubiquitous; resting on buoys; flying low over the lake;diving no foraging flocks seen..

Great Blue Heron  2  flying near shore, w, se.

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

Red-tailed Hawk  3  (ad, imm)  in cottonwoods, willows and on utility poles, s, se, ne.

American Coot  120   ubiquitous; most near shore; flighty.

Killdeer  3  in field of broken clay projectiles, skeet range, ne.

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

Least Sandpiper  4   foraging on mudflats and shallows of a settling pond, n.

California Gull  80  (90% ad) resting in open water, w-central.

Herring Gull  1 (C2) swimming alone n-central.

Eurasian Collared Dove  2  calls, riparian-marsh, w.

Anna's Hummingbird  2 (m) vocal, active in cottonwoods, s, se.

Belted Kingfisher  2  fly, call, w, sw.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  calls, ne.

Northern (RS) Flicker   3  foraging ground and on willow trunks in cut/burned marsh-riparian, ne.

Black Phoebe  10   ubiquitous; active low, near water

Say's Phoebe  2  perched on fences and shrubs at edge of open areas, s, ne.

Common Raven  15   several investigating a ground squirrel poison bait station on the dam, e.

Tree Swallow  1  (ad) perched on tall willow snag at edge of burned marsh near jetty, nw.

Oak Titmouse  2  calls, cottonwoods, sw.

Verdin  1  active in salt bush and California Juniper, ne.

Bushtit   calls, cottonwoods, w.

Bewick's Wren  3  vocal; active in shrubby areas, w, s, e.

Marsh Wren  1   repeated song; edge of inundated burned marsh near jetty, nw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3  vocal; cottonwoods, w, s, se.

Northern Mockingbird  2  one foraging on ground by raising and lowering its wings. ne.

California Thrasher  1  subsong; on Calif. juniper, w; a pair foraging in leaf litter beneath a large Calif. Juniper next to the picnic area; one bird chasing starlings away as they attempted to forage nearby, n.

European Starling  40  a large, vocal flock foraging on ground in picnic area; using adjacent mulberry trees as a roost, n.

American Pipit  1  foraging in short grass in picnic area, n.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler  50  vocal, ubiquitous; many foraging together on ground and lawn in picnic area, n.

Common Yellowthroat 1 (f) foraging on floating mat of dead vegetation at edge of burned marsh next to jetty, nw.

Savannah Sparrow  4  two pair foraging on jetty in weedy spots, nw.

Fox Sparrow  1  edge of picnic area; CATH nearby; same place as found during the previous survey of Dec. 27; looked like the same bird, n.

Song Sparrow  5  vocal; marsh-riparian areas, burned and unburned around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 calls (unseen) , marsh-riparian edge, w.

White-crowned Sparrow  10  brushy areas, n, s.

Red-winged Blackbird  5 (m)  vocal in marsh, single and flock of four; burned and unburned, nw, w.

Great-tailed Grackle  2  calls, marsh-riparian island, s.

House Finch  20  vocal, ubiquitous.

House Sparrow  15  active around the clubhouse and picnic area, n.

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 27, 2013 (53 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 37F to 50F; wind NNE 0-5 mph.

Time: 0728-1121 hrs.

Area CoveredAfter scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road. The survey area was largely quiet and undisturbed by human activities.  A few vehicles were present on the shoreline road and one motorboat was being operated on the lake; several people were working around the western docks.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Common Merganser (2), White Pelican (15), Rock Wren (2) and Fox Sparrow (1).

 

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4  (m,f) flying around the eastern portion of the lake.

American Wigeon  1 (f) swimming with LESC and other ducks, ne.

Mallard  1 (f) on mudflat, s.

Northern Shoveler 1 (f) dabbling in shallows near mudflats, s.

Green-winged Teal  2 (m) swimming with AMWE, LESC and other ducks, ne.

Canvasback  2  (f) swimming with other ducks, ne, sw.

Lesser Scaup  120 (m,f)  ubiquitous; diving in loose flocks around the lake.

Bufflehead   30  (m,f) diving in pairs and singles around the lake.

Common Merganser 2 (f) swimming and resting together, n-central, e-central (photo).

 

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) Lake Palmdale Los Angeles County CA  27 December 2013

                                                                                                          © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Ruddy Duck 350 (conserv. est.) (m,f) ubiquitous in loose flocks,  most resting, a few diving.

Common Loon  1  diving, preening, open water, central.

Pied-billed Grebe  10  diving in pairs and singles throughout.

Horned Grebe  10  diving in pairs and loose flocks, n, ne.

Western Grebe  50  ubiquitous in pairs and singles.

Clark's Grebe  30  in pairs and singles; often with WEGR nearby; around edges of the lake.

Double-crested Cormorant  60 (ad; imm)   diving in loose flocks, central; several resting on buoys and solar-powered stirring platforms.

American White Pelican  15 (ad, imm) swimming together in a cohesive flock; flushed by a someone driving toward them in a motorboat; flew south; not returning to LP.

Great Blue Heron 1  on shore, marsh, s.

Black-crowned Night Heron  4  (ad) separated by 50 yards or more at the edge of the marsh and slough, s.

Red-shouldered Hawk  calls, se.

Red-tailed Hawk  5 (including 2 dark morphs); one pair (light and dark morph) together in willow; flushed as I approached, calls, nw.

American Coot  60  local poplulation declining throughout the month; most swimming around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer  6  on shore around the lake; calls.

Spotted Sandpiper  1  flew to shore, ne.

Least Sandpiper  5   a small, mobile flock foraging on mudflats, se.

Ring-billed Gull 1 (ad) flying low over  a flock of CAGU, n.

California Gull  800   a large, loose flock (90% adult) in open water across the lake; many commuting to and from Palmdale landfill nw of LP.

Herring Gull  1 C2 resting on a buouy, ne.

Rock Pigeon  2  flying, adjacent area, n.

Anna's Hummingbird  1 flew to Aleppo Pine, ne.

Belted Kingfisher  2  fly, call, n, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  4  calls; riparian, ne, s.

Northern (RS) Flicker  12  foraging on the ground in loose flocks of 2-4 birds around the lake.

Black Phoebe  6  calls; ubiquitous, usually near water.

Common Raven  15  ubiquitous, especially on and around the dam, e.

Verdin  1  foraging with COBU and RCKI in saltbush and mulefat at fence line, nw.

Bushtit  5  foraging in a cohesive flock with RCKI and VERD, nw.

Rock Wren  2  vocal; on ground near large pile of gravel; another on dam around boulders, ne.

Marsh Wren  1  at edge of cattails and mudflat, w.

Northern Mockingbird  2  around fruiting pyracantha on fence line, n.

European Starling  50  vocal; cohesive flock foraging in picnic area, n.

American Pipit  1 on shore, w.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 20 (m,f; imm)   calls; ubiquitous; 1 YR Myrtle (f) foraging on lawn in picnic area, n.

Common Yellowthroat 1  calls; active in marshy drainage ditch, se.

Savannah Sparrow  1  calls, open field below dam, e.

Fox Sparrow  1   bill size undetermined; dorsal coloration slate-gray (c.f. P.i. schistacea);  very shy; foraging in leaf litter beneath Calif. juniper next to picnic area, n.

Song Sparrow   3  calls; marsh-riparian, s, w.

White-crowned Sparrow  20  (ad, imm) vocal; ubiquitous in ground-feeding flocks.

Dark-eyed Junco 1  calls, pines, ne.

Western Meadowlark  1  song, repeated; open area, n.

Great-tailed Grackle  6 (m, f) on shore, s. one male in alt. plmg. (long tail).

House Finch  18  vocal, ubiquitous in flocks on the ground and in trees.

House Sparrow  5  vocal; picnic area and gardens, n.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 20, 2013 (58 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 38F to 45F; wind WNW 0-2 mph.

Time: 0758-1140 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road. The entire survey area was quiet and undisturbed by human activities. The lake water level continues to be about 10 feet below normal, exposing 10-30 ft. of shoreline around the lake. No additional clearance of vegetation was apparent since the previous survey of Dec. 13, 2013.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Red-breasted Merganser (1), Surf Scoter (1), Common Goldeneye (2-cont.), Horned Grebe (7), White Pelican (4), Red-breasted Sapsucker (1-cont.). Verdin (1), Marsh Wren (1) and Cactus Wren (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall  2 (f) flying low over the lake, e.

Mallard  1  with a flock of LESC, se.

Northern Shoveler  2  (m,f) with other ducks, se.

Canvasback    1 (m) resting amongst other ducks, s.

Lesser Scaup  60 (m,f)  resting near the marsh and in open water around the lake.'

Surf Scoter 1 (f) noted squarish crown,sloped forehead;no white patch in secondaries; probably a continuing bird from last month; swimming close to LESC, se (photo).

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 20 Dec 2013

   

                                                                © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Bufflehead   50  (m,f) diving around the lake in loose flocks and singles.

Common Goldeneye  2 (m) diving near shoreline;  exposed mudflats and shore with many small clam shells (Corbicula ?), ne.

Red-breasted Merganser 1 (f) noted relatively thin bill;  indistinct posterior-lateral border of rufous head and neck;slight posterior head crest; possibly a continuing bird from last month; swimming with LESC and other ducks, se (photo).

 

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 20 Dec 2013

                                                                                  © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Ruddy Duck  350 (m,f) most resting around the edges of the lake.

California Quail   8  feeding on gravel and fallen olives on the roadway next to the caretaker's yard, n.

Common Loon  1  preening, open water, n-central.

Pied-billed Grebe  10  diving around the edges of the lake.

Horned Grebe  7 one flock of four swimming and diving together, s-central; another pair by the dam, e (photo).

 

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 20 Dec 2013

                                                                                                     © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

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

Western Grebe  60  in pairs and singles around the lake.

Clark's Grebe    10  usually in pairs; found only in the west and north sections of the lake today.

Double-crested Cormorant  50  resting on shore and buoys; a few swimming, diving, n-central.

American White Pelican  4  (2 adults in trans. alt plmg.) swimming (photo) and preening when all four were together; two flying s, ne

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 20 December 2013

                                                                                                        © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Great Blue Heron   3  on shore, s, w.

Great Egret  1  flying low, sw.

Black-crowned Night Heron   7  (ad, imm) in marsh next to slough, s.

Red-shouldered Hawk  1 (ad) flying over cottonwoods, sw.

Red-tailed Hawk  6  (5 ad; 1 imm; 1 dark morph), in cottonwoods and willows around the lake; aerial assault by ravens.

American Coot   120  scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer   7  calls, n;  5 foraging on rocky shore of dam, e.

Spotted Sandpiper  1  foraging on mudflats of inlet stream, se (photo).

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) Lake Palmdale LACO CA 20 December 2013

                                                                                  © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Least Sandpiper  5  foraging on rocky shoreline of dam, e.

Ring-billed Gull 1 (ad) flying low over lake, nw.

California Gull  1,200 (90% ad; 10 % C1, C2); most resting in open water, n-central; many commuting between lake and landfill to nw.

Herring Gull  3  (C1; C3) one C1 alone on mudflat, se (photos); others mixed in with CAGU, n-central.

 

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) C1 (same bird in both images)   Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA  20 December 2013

     

                                                                                                          © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Belted Kingfisher  2  fly, call; perched on willow overhanging lake, se.

Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 probably a continuing bird from the previous survey of 13 Dec. 2013; foraging on willows in burned riparian-marsh, ne.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  4  (m,f)  calls; foraging in burned riparian marsh area, ne.

Northern (RS) Flicker  15   in loose flocks; active in burned and unburned riparian areas around the lake.

Black Phoebe  8  two chasing, vocalizing, ne; low perches near edge of lake, throughout.

Say's Phoebe  1  in brushy field adjacent to skeet range, ne.

Western Scrub-jay  call, fly, adjacent yards with conifers, se.

Common Raven  20 vocal; ubiquitous; chasing RTHA, s.

Oak Titmouse  2  calls; riparian, s, sw.

Verdin  1  calls; active in cottonwoods and understory, se.

Bushtit   5  calls; active in cottonwoods, se.

Cactus Wren  1  on fence with fruiting pyracantha next to clubhouse, n.

Marsh Wren  1  active in burned cattails next to jetty, nw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2  calls; active in willows and cottonwoods, ne, s.

Northern Mockingbird  2  on fence with fruiting pyracantha next to clubhouse, n.

California Thrasher  1  on fence with fruiting pyracantha near entrance, n.

European Starling  10  vocal (including recognizable imitations of Western Meadowlark and several other resident birds); utility wires and adjacent trees, n.

American Pipit  4  on shore, ne, e, nw.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler  30  calls; ubiquitous.

Common Yellowthroat  4  vocal in marshy areas, s.

California Towhee  calls (unseen) brushy area under cottonwoods, w.

Savannah Sparrow  4  on jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow  20  vocal (calls and song) in riparian-marsh (including burned areas) around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow  10  on fence line, brushy areas, s.

Great-tailed Grackle  4 (m,f) fly; on mudflats and in marsh, s.

House Finch  12  vocal, ubiquitous in brushy areas.

House Sparrow  5  around clubhouse and caretaker's yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 13, 2013 (54 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 49F to 55F; wind ENE 5 mph.

Time: 0755-1120 hrs.

Area Covered:  After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road. Maintenance crews and other people were working in the southern and western shoreline areas. The lake water level continues to be about 10 feet below normal, exposing 10-30 ft. of shoreline around the lake. Clearance and burning of freshwater marsh around the lake continues.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included,  White-winged Scoter (1), Common Goldeneye (3), Horned Grebe (3),Red-breasted Sapsucker (1) Phainopepla (1) and Golden-crowned Kinglet (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Northern Shoveler 1 (m) open water with RUDU, e-central.

Green-winged Teal  1 (f) swimming in slough, s.

Canvasback   2  (m,f) open water with LESC and RUDU, e-central.

Lesser Scaup   60  (m,f) several cohesive flocks scattered around the lake.

White-winged Scoter 1 (imm)  At 200 yards, I noted grayish-black upperparts; gray head contrasting with darker mantle; head relatively rounded, white spots at base of bill and behind eye; large white patch in secondaries; swimming with BUHE nearby, open water; second record (cf. 27 Oct. 2012) for Lake Palmdale, ne (photo).

 

    White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) immature (same individual in all images)   Lake Palmdale LACO CA 13 Dec 2013

        

                                                                       © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Bufflehead   60  (m,f) scattered around the lake in open water.

Common Goldeneye  3  (2 m; 1 f)  a pair of males swimming together in open water, ne.

Ruddy Duck  250 (m,f) ubiquitous; most resting around the edges of the lake.

Common Loon  2  open water, n-central.

Pied-billed Grebe  10  diving, edge of the lake.

Horned Grebe  3  diving in a loose flock, n-central.

Eared Grebe  10  diving; resting in loose flocks, w, s.

Western Grebe  60  calls; ubiquitous.

Clark's Grebe  15  continuing to be less numerous than WEGR; most in west and south.

Double-crested Cormorant  60  scattered around the lake; many resting on buoys and shore.

Great Blue Heron  2  on shore, n, e.

Great Egret  5  on shorelines around the lake.

Black-crowned Night Heron (ad, imm) in marsh at edge of slough, s.

Cooper's Hawk  1 flushed from edge of marsh, w.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from willows, w.

Red-tailed Hawk  3 (ad) on utility poles and in willows around the lake.

American Coot  200 ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer  4  together on mudflats, ne.

Least Sandpiper  7  foraging together on mudflats.

Ring-billed Gull  2  flying low over the lake with CAGU.

California Gull  500  (ad, imm) scattered over the lake; mostly open water.

Herring Gull  1 (C1) flying around the lake with CAGU.

Mourning Dove  7  foraging on ground in burned marsh, ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (m) perched on Juniper, w.

Belted Kingfisher  2  flushed from edge of marsh, se, s.

Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (f) foraging in upper levels of a cottonwood, sw (photo).

 

Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber daggetti ) female  Lake Palmdale LACO CA 13 Dec 2013

                                                                                                        © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

Nuttall's Woodpecker   4 (m,f)  contact calls (one higher pitched than another in an adjacent tree) foraging in cottonwoods and willows, ne.

Northern Flicker   7  four individuals foraging in leaf litter on open ground in burned marsh, ne.

Black Phoebe  10  vocal; ubiquitous.

Western Scrub-jay  1  in tree top of adjacent yard, w.

Common Raven  10  flying; calls, n.

Verdin  1  repeated calls in olive trees and junipers next to caretaker's house, n.

Bushtit  8  vocal; a cohesive flock foraging in cottonwoods, nw.

Bewick's Wren 1 song, garden of caretaker's house, n.

Golden-crowned Kinglet  distinctive high calls (unseen) in cottonwoods and willows; same area where one was found last month.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1  calls; cottonwood-marsh edge, nw.

Northern Mockingbird  2  w, n.

European Starling  10  on utility line and around caretaker's garden, n.

American Pipit  3  on shore, n, ne.

Phainopepla  1 (m) flying low open area of parking lot,n.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler  20  vocal, active on ground and in trees throughout.

Savannah Sparrow  5  on jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow  6  in burned marsh, n.

White-crowned Sparrow  10  vocal, ubiquitous but less numerous than in recent surveys.

Western Meadowlark  1 song, n.

Great-tailed Grackle  10 (m,f) island adjacent to slough, s.

House Finch  8  calls; brushy areas; riparian, n.

Lesser Goldfinch  calls, cottonwood, ne.

House Sparrow  10  around garden, n.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER 6, 2013 (59 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 38F to 41F; wind WNW  2 - 7 mph.

Time: 0808-1130 hrs.

Area Covered:  After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, using the interior shoreline road. Except for some maintenance crews repairing docks and removing vegetation in the south, the survey area was quiet and undisturbed. Freshwater marsh - willow riparian areas in the northeast and northwest had been burned since my previous survey of November 30, 2013. This is evidently part of efforts to clear major portions of freshwater marsh-riparian habitat around the lake in order to increase the volume and efficiency of the reservoir.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Surf Scoter (1-cont.),  Cackling Goose (1 - a new record for LP), Common Goldeneye (1), White Pelican (5), Peregrine Falcon (1) and a presumed Ladder-backed  x Nuttall's Woodpecker (1).

 

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose  21  swimming in a tight flock near the dam, e.

Cackling Goose   1   observed and photographed at about 200 yards; noted relatively small head and bill; overall body size about 50% smaller than nearby Canada Geese; a new record for LP (photo)

 

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA  6 Dec 2013

                      

                                    © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

American Wigeon   4 (m,f)   resting, open water, e.

Northern Shoveler  1 (m) with LESC and RUDU, e-central.

Green-winged Teal  8 (m,f) swimming and flying together near edge of lake, se.

Canvasback  8 (m,f) swimming together, e-central.

Ring-necked Duck  1 (m) swimming together near edge of lake, se.

Lesser Scaup  30  several small flocks swimming together around the lake.

Surf Scoter 1 (f) - cont (see 15 Nov.)  swimming in open water, w.

Bufflehead  30  (m,f) in small, loose flocks around the lake.

Common Goldeneye  1 (m) swimming near RUDU and LESC, se.

Ruddy Duck  150  large flocks resting around the edges of the lake.

California Quail  3  ran across the road next to the caretaker's house, n.

Common Loon  4  swimming and diving together, s-central.

Pied-billed Grebe  12  scattered around the edges of the lake.

Horned Grebe   5   singles and pairs diving, n-central.

Eared Grebe  12   diving singly throughout.

Western Grebe  60  ubiquitous; loose flocks of pairs and single birds; many resting in open water.

Clark's Grebe  10    pairs near the marsh and in open water, sw, se, ne.

Double-crested Cormorant  60  a large foraging flock of about 25 swimming together, central; others resting on buoys.

American White Pelican  5  swimming together near the marsh, se; one swimming with a large flock of foraging DCCO.

Great Blue Heron  3  individuals on shore and in marsh around the lake.

Great Egret  10   individuals on shore and in marsh around the lake.

Black-crowned Night Heron   12  (8 imm; 4 ad)  in marsh along channel, s.

Osprey  1  flying over lake; chased by two adult CAGU, e.

Cooper's Hawk  1  flying through cottonwood area, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk  2  flushed from cottonwood, sw; calls, w.

Red-tailed Hawk  4 (3 ad. 1 imm)     calls; circling above the shore; perched in tall trees around the lake; one dark morph -cont. s.

Peregrine Falcon 1 perched in willow overhanging mudflat; allowed me to approach to within about 30 ft before flying a short distance to another exposed branch; circled back again, apparently reluctant to leave this area, se (photos).

 

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County CA  6 Dec 2013

                                                                                    © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

American Coot  120  scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer   9  several on mudflats and shorelines around the lake; calls, flying off together.

Spotted Sandpiper  1  on mudflats, se.

Least Sandpiper  5  foraging together on mudflats, se,

Ring-billed Gull  5  resting in open water, central.

California Gull  120 (98% ad)   most resting in open water; flying to and from Palmdale Landfill to nw.

Herring Gull 1 (C1) flying over CAGU, central.

Mourning Dove  1  on utility line, n.

Belted Kingfisher  2  fly, call, shoreline and marsh w, s.

 

Ladder-backed x Nuttall's Woodpecker - presumed 1 (immature male). I was initially drawn to distinctively raspy, single call notes (similar to Hairy Woodpecker, but harsher and louder than a typical Nuttall's); Noted the extensive white areas on face; white bars reaching to narrow black collar;small red patch on hind crown; patches of buff with predominantly white underparts; black-spotted breast and black-barred flanks, sides of belly and under tail coverts.; foraging near top of mature cottonwood, sw (photos).

 

Picoides scalaris x nuttallii (presumed) same individual in both images (see text); west Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 6 Dec 2013

 

                                                                                              © 2013 Callyn Yorke

 

 

Northern (RS) Flicker  7  loose flocks in cottonwoods around the lake.

Black Phoebe  10  calls; active in marsh-riparian and open areas around the lake.

Say's Phoebe  calls (unseen)  caretaker's yard, n.

Western Scrub-jay  1   on top of mature juniper, w.

Common Raven  10  pairs and loose flocks around the lake.

Bewick's Wren  2  song, garden and brushy areas, n.

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

Northern Mockingbird  1  on fenceline with pyracantha, n.

European Starling   20  on utility lines and in tall trees, n.

American Pipit   4  on rocky shore of dam, e, se.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler   2  calls; foraging in cottonwoods, sw.

Common Yellowthroat  5  calls; active at edge of marsh, s, sw.

Savannah Sparrow   5 a loose flock on the jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow  8  calls; active in cut cattails on shore, n, se., w.

White-crowned Sparrow  12  vocal; brushy areas, n,

Dark-eyed Junco  calls (unseen) garden of caretaker's house, n.

Western Meadowlark  song (unseen)  shoreline area, n.

Great-tailed Grackle  12  (m,f) loose flock on shore and in marsh, s.

House Finch    8  calls; edge of marsh-riparian,se; garden, n.

House Sparrow  10 around clubhouse and picnic area, n.