BIRD SURVEYS OF THE WESTERN ANTELOPE VALLEY (Quail Lake, Holiday Lake, AVEK groundwater recharge fields, Lancaster City Park), Los Angeles County, CA

Areas Covered: 1) Quail Lake (QL): Beginning at the west parking lot, I cycled the south perimeter road to the California Aqueduct inlet on the north side; returning the same route. I included the main lake, cottonwood-willow riparian, freshwater marsh, adjacent chaparral hillsides and a brief survey of the east pond (EQL)and riparian habitat surrounding it. Jim Moore and I surveyed the inlet area and riparian patch together (QLI) using a scope. 2) Quail Lake Outlet (QLO): I observed birds in the aqueduct from the hilltop on West Fork Rd. (0947- 1010 hrs.). 3) HWY 138 adjacent to the National Cement Plant entrance road (NC: 0735-0745 hrs.) ): I scanned the fields with scattered taller shrubs in search of an immature Northern Shrike, reported in this general area by John Feenstra two days ago. This species (presumably the same individual) was initially reported at the southeast end of Quail Lake on Monday, February 25, by John Sterling. Later this morning (1015-1035 hrs.), Jim Moore and I searched this area again, briefly. One shrike was seen perched on a distant shrub about 200 yards northwest of the NC road, which appeared to be an adult Loggerhead Shrike (I had seen a LOSH in this same area earlier this morning). We were unable to confirm the presence of a NOSH in any of the areas we surveyed this morning. 4) Holiday Lake (HL: 1057-1138 hrs.). I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake from the clubhouse. The water level was very low (no more than 2-3 inches in depth) and confined to the centr al-eastern end. 5) HWY 138 - Lancaster Road (Avenue I): I counted birds of prey perched on utility poles as I drove by (138/ LR: 0700-0735 hrs; 1138- 1205 hrs.). Conditions were everywhere good for finding and identifying birds.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included: Long-tailed Duck (2-cont.), Bald Eagle (1); Ferruginous Hawk (2), Horned Grebe (1), and Western Grebe (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) EQL; 2 (m,f) HL.

Mallard 35 (m,f) flushed from a southern mudflat-pond, QL; 2 (m,f) HL.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (m,f) dabbling, HL.

Green-winged Teal 1 (m) EQL; 30 (m,f) foraging in mud, HL.

Lesser Scaup 50-60 (m,f) QL; 10 (m,f) QLO; 35 (m,f) Calif. Aqueduct, HL.

Bufflehead 120 (m,f) QL; 25 (m,f) QLO; 12 Calif. Aqueduct, HL.

Common Merganser 2 (m,f) one female resting on peninsula, QL.

Common Goldeneye 25 (m,f) swimming near shore and in open water throughout the lake, QL; 3 QLO; 1 CA HL.

Long-tailed Duck 2 -cont. preening, swimming together, then separately and amongst Bufflehead, COGO and LESC, QLO (photo).

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) Quail Lake Outlet, Los Angeles County, CA 28 February, 2013

Ruddy Duck 250 (conserv. est.) QL; 10 QLO.

Pied-billed Grebe 5 near shore around the lake, QL.

Horned Grebe 1 near south shore, QL.

Eared Grebe 50 diving, pairs and trios scattered around the edges of the lake, QL.

Western Grebe 1 resting near the south shore, QL.

Double-crested Cormorant 6 resting on the north shore, QL.

Bald Eagle 1 (ad) circling over foothills east of the lake, QL.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over foothills n of EQL.

Cooper's Hawk 1 (imm) flew to low perch in cottonwood, HL.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (imm) flying between trees, w HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 6 (ad) on utility poles, 138/LR.

Ferruginous Hawk 2 (ad) on utility poles facing the sun LR; 138.

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole, LR.

American Coot 60 around the edges of the lake, QL; 4 QLO; 10 HL.

Killdeer 2 fly, call QL; 6 on mudflats, HL.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, HL.

Northern (RS) Flicker 2 fly, EQL.

Black Phoebe 2 shoreline, QL; 1 HL.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 flying between tall shrubs, NC.

Western Scrub-jay 1 calls, s QL; 1 NC.

Common Raven 35 LR/138; 6 QL. 5 s of HL.

Tree Swallow 10 flying over aqueduct and hillsides, n QL.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, EQL.

Bewick's Wren 2 song, QLO.

Marsh Wren 1 song, EQL.

California Thasher 1 song atop cottonwood, s QL.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 EQL.

Lark Sparrow 3 NC.

Savannah Sparrow 5 in marsh, e HL.

Song Sparrow 2 song, s QL.

White-crowned Sparrow 35 ubiquitous around edges of QL; 10 NC; 5 HL.

Dark-eyed Junco 10 beneath and in pines, sw HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 15 (m) vocal in and above marsh, s QL.

Brewer's Blackbird 5 parking area, w QL.

House Finch 30 flocks in tall cottonwoods, EQL, QLI.

House Sparrow 3 calls, QL.

OCTOBER 28, 2012 Holiday Lake (46 Species)

Weather: Fair; 44F to 65F; winds WSW, ENE 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0753 - 1126 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise and clockwise route around the entire lake. Except for a locql family walking around the lake (0815-0845 hrs.), the survey area was undisturbed. Numerous shotgun blasts from north of the site were heard throughout the survey this morning. The lake water level continues to drop due to a broken inlet pipe, scheduled for repair allowing a refilling of the lake, according to a local authority.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Merlin (1), Mountain Chickadee (1), Red-breasted Nuthatch (3), and Swamp Sparrow (1 -cont.).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 6 (m,f) dabbling, w.

Green-winged Teal 10 (m,f) dabbling throughout the lake.

Ruddy Duck 1 (f) preening, w.

California Quail 5 calls, s.

Great Blue Heron 2 wading; resting together at edge of marsh.

Great Egret 2 one in trees; the other in the shallows, w.

Snowy Egret 1 wading at the edge of the marsh, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (imm) edge of marsh; fly, call.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over the lake; causing waterbirds to take flight, w.

Merlin 1 flying fast, low over the lake, s.

Virginia Rail 1 calls, nw.

Sora 3 calls; foraging on mudflats at edge of marsh, w, se (photo).

Sora (Porzana carolina) Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 28 Oct. 2012

American Coot 30 foraging on mudflats and in shallows around the lake.

Mourning Dove 1 flying w into adjacent fields, w.

Killdeer 6 foraging on mudflats around the lake.

Great Horned Owl 1 flushed from pines, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (f) calls; foraging in Arizona Cypress, sw.

Northern (RS) Flicker 1 calls; flushed from pine, sw.

Common Raven 6 fly, call, w, s.

Horned Lark 4 fly, call, adjacent fields, s.

Tree Swallow 6 a flock seen briefly flying low, dipping in lake, se.

Violet-green Swallow 1 flying low with TRSW.

Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 calls, active in pines around the lake.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 gave a single-syllable nasal, though slightly muffled, 'yank' call several times in pines; moving with MOCH, sw.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls, active in pines, sw.

Bewick's Wren 1 in Arizona Cypress, sw.

Marsh Wren 3 calls, song, dense cattails around the lake.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 25 ubiquitous, vocal, insect gleaning from foliage in cottonwoods and pines; often in msf including YRWA.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 gleaning foliage in subcanopy of a cottonwood, s.

Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 (f HY) insect gleaning acrobatically in outer clusters of pine needles, s (photo).

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) female HY Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 28 Oct 2012

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 35 (m,f) calls, ubiquitous at all height levels and a vegetation types.

Yellow-rumped (M) Warbler 1 (f) repeatedly gave distictively soft call note; active in pines, w.

Common Yellowthroat 1 calls, dense marsh, s.

Vesper Sparrow 10 on mudflats, drinking, in trees; calls, e (photo).

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 28 Oct. 2012

Lark Sparrow 20 calls and song (incl. subsong); ubiquitous; on mudflats, ground, in trees.

Savannah Sparrow 15 calls; mostly concealed in the marsh; appearing briefly at the edgee (photo).

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 28 oct. 2012

Swamp Sparrow 1 (cont.) Worn immature plumage suggests the same individual found here two weeks ago (Oct. 13); foraging quickly, silently on mudflats at edge of marsh. Picking up small items in its beak along with some mud (photo). Possibly two individuals present, as one was calling repeatedly and flying west at the edge of the marsh in the northwest corner a few minutes before another SWSP sighting was made on the eastern shore. Several reports of SWSP from the region this fall suggests a flight year for this species.

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) se Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 28 Oct. 2012

Song Sparrow 2 calls, staying concealed in marsh, n.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 calls, foraging on ground near marsh with WCSP, e, sw.

White-crowned Sparrow 40 ubiquitous, vocal, on ground and in trees,

Dark-eyed Junco 12 small flocks foraging beneath pines s, sw.

Western Meadowlark 1 song, adjacent field, se.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 calls, concealed in marsh, e.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (m) flying low over lake, e.

House Finch 15 (m,f) ubiquitous, vocal.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 calls, in cottonwoods and pines, s.

House Sparrow 12 vocal; on and around club house; also in cottonwoods and pines, sw.

OCTOBER 13, 2012 Holiday Lake (45 Species)

Weather: Fair; 50F to 68F; wind WSS 0 - 5 mph.

Time: 0759 - 1207 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a clockwise route first, followed by two counter-clockwise routes around the entire lake. Except for a group of children, the lake was quiet. Conditions were good for finding birds. The lake water level continues to decrease; extensive mudlats are on the south side; maximum water depth is about 4 inches, judging by length of the exposed hind limbs of wading birds. Mark and Janet Scheel arrived around 1130 hrs. We spent a few minutes in an unsuccessful effort to relocate a Swamp Sparrow that I found and photographed earlier this morning.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Great Egret (2), Red-shouldered Hawk (1), Red-breasted x Red-naped Sapsucker (1), Western Wood Pewee (1),Violet-green Swallow (10), Barn Swallow (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2), Mountain Chickadee (3), Red-breasted Nuthatch (3), Vesper Sparrow (6), and Swamp Sparrow (1).

Mallard 18 (m,f) dabbling as a tight flock, flushed as I approached from the northwest, e.

Northern Shoveler 1 (f) with the above flock of mallards, e.

Green-winged Teal 8 (m,f) dabbling; flushed with mallards, e.

Great Blue Heron 2 at the edge of the mudflats; one flying up to adjacent utility pole, n.

Great Egret 2 wading in shallows, w.

Snowy Egret 2 staying close at edge of lake, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) in tules at edge of lake, n ; flushed from pines, s.

Cooper's Hawk 1 (M & JS).

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 flew into willow near clubhouse, sw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (imm) flushed from cottonwood, s (photo).

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) immature Holiday lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Oct. 2012

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad; light morph) on utility pole, n.

Virginia Rail 1 calls (unseen) ne.

Sora 3 vocal in the marsh around the lake; two active on mudflat in late morning, e.

American Coot 15 vocal, foraging on mudflat and in shallows, w.

Killdeer 5 vocal, active on mudflats and shoreline around the lake.

Red-breasted x Red-naped Sapsucker (presumed) 1 Noted extensive black areas on face and throat; completely red crown; foraging in cottonwoods and willows, e (photo).

Presumed Red-breasted x Red-naped Sapsucker (Syraphicus ruber x nuchalis) Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Oct. 2012

Western Wood Pewee 1 (imm) sally-flycatching between trees and to the lawn next to the clubhouse, sw (photo).

Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) immature Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Oct. 2012

Black Phoebe 2 sallying low around the clubhouse and edge of lake, s.

Common Raven 10 vocal, soaring high on thermals, w.

Violet-green Swallow 10 flying back and forth 50 -100 ft. agl, w.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 flying back and forth together, low over the edge of the marsh; BASW nearby.

Barn Swallow 8 flying back and forth, low over the lake; a few flying 50 - 100 ft. agl amongst VGSW.

Mountain Chickadee 3 vocal, active in pines and other trees around the lake.

Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 a small, mixed species flock including WCSP and HOFU and MOCH;very active finding seeds and insects, vocal in Arizona cypress, sw (photo).

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Oct. 2012

Bewick's Wren 1 flew into lower branches of a small willow, e.

Marsh Wren 3-5 vocal in marsh, n.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 foraging quickly, largely silently in cottonwoods and willows around the lake.

European Starling 6 vocal, adjacent homestead and utility lines, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging with RCKI and WIWA in cottonwood, s.

Yellow-rumped (A)Warbler 20 (m,f) ubiquitous in a variety of vegetation types and on the mudflats.

Wilson's Warbler 1 (m) foraging in cottonwoods with YRWA, s.

Common Yellowthroat 1 (m) active, calls in the marsh and lower branches of a small willow, e.

Vesper Sparrow 6 drinking from puddle in mudflats; fly, call, s (photo).

Lark Sparrow 10 vocal in pines; drinking at edge of lake, s (photo).

Savannah Sparrow 8 calls, flushed from edge of marsh, s.

Song Sparrow 1 calls, dry marsh, se.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 foraging on mudflats, e (photo).

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Oct. 2012

Swamp Sparrow 1 (imm) calls (relatively loud "chink" repeated quickly several times); observed briefly at about 0830 hrs.; Noted worn tail feathers; active, though somewhat secretive at the edge of the marsh in a patch of green tule regrowth, se (photo).This represents the second record of SWSP at Holiday Lake within recent years.

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) se Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 October, 2012

White-crowned Sparrow 50 (ad, imm) vocal, ubiquitous; often in mixed species flocks with other sparrows (photo).

Left to right: Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 13 Oct. 2012

Dark-eyed Junco 6 vocal in pines; foraging beneath pines, s, w.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (m,f) fly, call; landing in marsh, w.

Tricolored Blackbird 4 (f, imm) calls, flying w over lake.

House Finch 25 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 vocal, active in canopy of cottonwoods, s.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active on roof and around the clubhouse, sw.

OCTOBER 6, 2012 Holiday Lake (22 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; wind WSW 25 mph; 63F.

Time: 0756 - 0840 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route once around the entire lake. High winds reduced the detectability of land-birds in particular and probably accounted for the relatively low bird species diversity found in this survey. One person was apparently walking around the lake repeatedly for exercise.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, White-faced Ibis (1) and Mountain Chickadee (2 -cont.).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 15 (m,f) dabbling at the west end of the lake.

Green-winged Teal 4 initially found dabbling near the southeast shore of the lake; flushed to the west side.

California Quail 4 running across the roadway, n.

Great Blue Heron 2 one at the edge of the marsh;w; another flying over an adjacent field, n.

Great Egret 2 in the shallows, w.

Snowy Egret 2 foraging in the shallows, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 8 (mostly immatures) at the edge of the marsh, w.

White-faced Ibis 1 (bsc. plmg.) foraging in the shallows, n.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) circling over the north edge of the lake.

Sora 1 calls, w.

American Coot 40 west end of the lake.

Killdeer 4 vocal, on shoreline and on mudflats, se, sw.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from pine tree, s.

Black Phoebe 1 calls, edge of lake, s.

Common Raven 8 adjacent fields and homesteads, s.

Horned Lark 2 fly, call, adjacent fields, s.

Mountain Chickadee 2 - cont. vocal, foraging on pine cones in trees, se.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls from pines, sw.

Yellow Warbler 1 calls, willows, w.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls, marsh, s, w.

Savannah Sparrow 4 fly, call, edge of lake, s.

White-crowned Sparrow 4 calls, s.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 Holiday Lake (49 Species)

Weather: Fair; 69F to 84F; wind WNW 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0814 - 1126 hrs.

Area Covered: I initially walked a counter-clockwise route around the lake, followed by an hour of observations from the car, then a clockwise walk around the lake before leaving. Only one other vehicle was present at the lake briefly during my survey. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Blue-winged Teal (1), Red-naped Sapsucker (1), Mountain Chickadee (4), White-breasted Nuthatch (1) and Tricolored Blackbird (4).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 4 (m,f) dabbling, w.

Blue-winged Teal 1 (f- noted relatively small bill) swimming separately from CITE, w.

Cinnamon Teal 4 (m,f) dabbling, w.

Ruddy Duck 2 (m,f) nw.

California Quail 12 (m,f) running across lawn at clubhouse, w.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming, w.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 flying low over the lake, e.

Great Blue Heron 1 (imm) wading in lake, w ; 1 (ad) on utility pole in adjacent field, n.

Great Egret 1 (ad) wading in lake, e.

Snowy Egret 1 (imm) wading in lake, se.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) vocal when flushed, pines and edge of marsh, sw.

Cooper's Hawk 1 followed a flock of RWBL into the marsh, w.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 circling above the adjacent fields, nw.

American Kestrel 1 (m) flushed from cottonwoods to a utility pole, e.

Virginia Rail 1 repeated calls, w.

Sora 2-3 repeated calls from the marsh around the lake.

American Coot 40 swimming, dabbling in the lake, w.

Killdeer 8 a flock flew in vocalizing; two landed on the shore, se.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls; on utility poles in adjacent field, nw.

Mourning Dove 1 flushed from cottonwoods, ne.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from a pine tree and into a willow thicket; many owl pellets below the pines,w.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 (f) vocal; aerial insect hawking from pines and ornamental trees near the clubhouse.

Selasphorus sp. 1 calls ( similar to Allen's Hummingbird and distinctively different from ANHU), in pines, w.

Red-naped Sapsucker 1 (subadult male) silent, foraging on upper trunk of an elm tree;flying to cottonwoods and out of view

Willow Flycatcher 1 flew from elm tree into marsh; tail flicking, nw.

Empidonax sp. (overall shape and yellowish underparts suggested E. difficilis rather than E. traillii); flew into canopy of a cottonwood; facial features not seen, sw.

Black Phoebe 1 sally-flycatching from ornamental tree next to clubhouse, sw.

American Crow calls heard from adjacent homestead, s.

Common Raven 2 flying over the lake, n.

Barn Swallow 2 briefly flying around the lake, se, then sw toward the aqueduct.

Mountain Chickadee 4 vocal in pines, n, ne.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, flew into crown of a pine, n.

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, active in willows and pines, n.

Marsh Wren 4 vocal in marsh, s, n.

European Starling 2 on utility pole, nw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 15 calls; foraging actively in cottonwoods around the lake.

Yellow Warbler 1 calls, foraging in a cottonwood with OCWA, n.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1(f) calls, foraging low in pines near the clubhouse, sw.

Common Yellowthroat 6 calls, active at edge of marsh around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 1 (f) calls, foraging with OCWA in a large cottonwood next to the clubhouse, sw.

Lark Sparrow 12 foraging on ground and vocal in leafless trees around the lake.

Savannah Sparrow 4 calls, active in and at the edge of the marsh, s, e, ne.

White-crowned Sparro (Gambel's) 25 (ad, imm) vocal, ubiquitous around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 (m,f) a flock of 10 (m,f) landed in marsh, then chased out by a COHA, sw.

Tricolored Blackbird 4 (m,f) possibly more; vocal, flew into (briefly) and out of the marsh near RWBL, sw.

Western Meadowlark 1 calls; flushed from edge of marsh, ne.

House Finch 20 (m,f) ubiquitous in trees and shrubs.

Lesser Goldfinch 8 in cottonwoods and pines around the lake.

House Sparrow 8 vocal, on and around the clubhouse.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 Holiday Lake (45 Species)

Weather: A thin, high overcast; 65F to 79F; wind W 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0800 - 1105 hrs.

Area Covered: Initially I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake (0800- 0913 hrs.), followed by an observation period from my vehicle at the clubhouse parking lot (0913 - 0959 hrs.). Before leaving HL, I walked around the lake again (clockwise, 0959 - 1100 hrs.). Several people were in the survey area during my first walk, including some noisy children throwing stones in the lake. The second walk was much quieter than the first; two cyclists on the main dirt road quickly circled the lake once. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations. Bird life was relatively abundant throughout the survey area.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Blue-winged Teal (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Vesper Sparrow (1) and Tricolored Blackbird (6).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 4 (m,f) w.

Blue-winged Teal 1 (f) good comparison when flying across lake with CITE, e, w.

Cinnamon Teal 4 (f) dabbling in shallows at east end; flushed by children; flew to west end of the lake.

California Quail 2 calls (unseen), nw.

Double-crested Cormorant 4 (ad, imm) swimming in shallows, w.

Great Blue Heron 2 (ad, imm) flying together to w end of lake; calls.

Great Egret 1 (ad) foraging in shallows, e.

Snowy Egret 1 (subad) foraging in shallows near GREG, e.

Black-crowned Night Heron 4 (1 ad) in south row of pines; flushed to north shallows of lake; calls.

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (imm) noted slim profile, thin tarsi. and white supercilium. Initally seen flushing a YEWA from a concealed perch within a large cottonwood next to the clubhouse; Subsequent to its failed capture, the SSHA flew to an exposed perch on a willow, sw (photo).

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) Holiday Lake, LACO CA 22 Sep 2012

Cooper's Hawk 1 (imm) noted relatively large overall size, tarsi and dark face; flushed from a cottonwood, flew into another tree nearby, se (photo).

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) imm. Holiday Lake, LACO CA 22 Sep 2012

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole in adjacent field, nw.

Buteo sp. (swainsoni?) 1 (imm) on a utility pole next to the Calif. Aqueduct (west side of bridge on entry road to HL); too distant to see more than its dark dorsal and white ventral coloration; long, narrow wings in flight.

American Kestrel 1 (f) calls, perched atop a leafless tree in adjacent yard, s.

Virginia Rail 1-2 (unseen) high pitched, loud calls from marsh e, w.

Sora 3-4 (unseen) calls repeated from several locations in the marsh around the lake.

American Coot 22 foraging together in large and small groups in shallows around the lake.

Killdeer 1 fly, call, s.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls; on utility pole in adjacent field, s.

Mourning Dove 1 flushed from clearing, n.

Barn Owl 1 (ad) flushed from large pine with scat and castings below, sw corner.

Anna's Hummingbird 3 (f; imm) calls, aerial insect hawking in and around pines.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, flying sw across lake.

Willow Flycatcher 1 calls, perched atop tules, s.

Black Phoebe 1 call, flying near shore, s.

Common Raven 8 fly, call, n, w.

Horned Lark 2 fly, call, adjacent field; s; several drinking in aqueduct.

Barn Swallow 1 flying low, back and forth over the lake, w.

Marsh Wren 6 vocal in marsh around the lake.

European Starling 4 vocal on utility pole, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 10 calls; ubiquitous in shrubs and trees around the lake.

Yellow Warbler 4 calls; foraging in pines and cottonwoods around the lake.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (f) calls; flying n across the lake

Common Yellowthroat 10 vocal, active in marsh and at edge around the lake.

Vesper Sparrow 1 in marsh then up to a cottonwood, e.

Lark Sparrow 5 calls and song; in pines, cottonwoods and on lawn at clubhouse, e, w

Savannah Sparrow 4 shoreline and adjacent brushy field, s.

White-crowned Sparrow 5 vocal; (ad, imm) in marsh and cottonwoods, s, n.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 (m,f) fly, call; w.

Tricolored Blackbird 6 (m,f) calls; wing patterns of males seen clearly; alighting in marsh, sw.

Western Meadowlark 2 song, adjacent fields, nw, se.

Brewer's Blackbird 6 fly, call; several at edge of aqueduct.

House Finch 20 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous in trees and shrubs.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 fly, call; cottonwoods, n.

House Sparrow 10 vocal; on and around the clubhouse

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012 Holiday Lake (44 Species)

Weather: Fair; 73F; wind WSW 2 - 5 mph.

Time: 0700 - 0945 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route then a clockwise route around the entire lake, spending about one hour between my two walking surveys observing from my vehicle parked in front of the clubhouse. Only one person (with a leashed dog) was briefly at the lake during the survey. Except for a few shotgun blasts in the adjacent fields to the north (dove hunters?), conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations. The lake water level continues to be relatively low (maximum depth about 5 inches), resulting in signficant areas of exposed shoreline, largely in the southeast and eastern sections.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Northern Pintail (2), White-faced Ibis (14), Sora (3), Virginia Rail (2), Nuttall's Woodpecker (1), Rufous Hummingbird (2), and Mountain Chickadee (2). In addition, an unidentified female oriole (possibly Orchard Oriole) was seen briefly near the clubhouse (see notes below).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 12 (m,f) dabbling at the west end of the lake.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (f) swimming near mallards, w.

Northern Pintail 2 (f) dabbling near mallards, w.

California Quail 12 flushed from edge of marsh, nw.

Great Blue Heron 1 on utility pole in adjacent field, se.

Black-crowned Night Heron 7 (ad. juv) vocal; flushed from pines, s.

White-faced Ibis 14 foraging together in shallows intially east; flew to west end of lake.

Virginia Rail 2 calling repeatedly, nw, s.

Sora 3 calling repeatedly, sw, se, ne.

American Coot 2 swimming with mallards, w.

Killdeer 2 on shore, vocal, se.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 foraging on separate sections of the shoreline, s, se.

Eurasian Collared Dove 6 vocal; flying, on utility poles in adjacent fields, s, nw.

Morning Dove 8 pairs and individuals flying fast across fields and lake.

Barn Owl 2 individuals flushed from different pine trees, s, sw.

Anna's Hummingbird 4 (m,f) vocal; aerial insect-hawking around cottonwoods, s, sw, e.

Rufous Hummingbird 2 (m) vocal (heard once) aerial insect-hawking at edge of cottonwood tree near clubhouse and e.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (f) foraging silently in pines and cottonwoods, n.

Empidonax sp. 1 possibly PSFL, tail pumping; staying well concealed in willow, n.

Black Phoebe 1 vocal, edge of marsh, s.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calls, adjacent field, w.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, adjacent field, w.

American Crow 2? calls from adjacent homesteads, s.

Common Raven 4 fly, call, e.

Horned Lark 15 drinking at shoreline, se.

Mountain Chickadee 2 -cont. calls from pines, s.

Bewick's Wren 2 vocal; edge of marsh-riparian and in pines, s, w.

Marsh Wren 4 vocal in marsh, w, s, n.

European Starling 6 (ad, imm) vocal on clubhouse roof, lawn, shrubs, sw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 5 calls; foraging actively in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods around the lake, esp. s.

Yellow Warbler 3 (m,f) calls, foraging actively in pines and cottonwoods around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 3 calls from marsh-riparian, s, nw, ne.

Lark Sparrow 5 (ad, imm) one foraging on lawn; others calling from pines around the lake.

Sage Sparrow 2 calls from adjacent field, n.

Song Sparrow 2 calls from marsh, s.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 calls from riparian-ruderal edge, e.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (m,f) vocal in marsh; flying, s.

Western Meadowlark 1 vocal in adjacent field, se.

Brewer's Blackbird 2 calls, flying over lake, s.

Icterus sp. 1 (f) (0830 hrs.) flew into canopy of cottonwood by the clubhouse. I observed the bird's oriole profile, yet relatively small, compact size, suggesting a heavily-built warbler; overall greenish-yellow coloration, slightly darker and duller coloration above and with two pale wingbars (c.f. I. spurius). The bird was silent and very active, jumping between branches, allowing brief glimpses then disappearing altogether before I could obtain a photo.

House Finch 15 (m,f) vocal, active in a variety of trees and shrubs around the lake.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 (m,f) vocal, together atop leafless branch of a willow, sw.

Lawrence's Goldfinch (m,f) vocal atop a cottonwood, se.

House Sparrow 10 vocal; on and around the clubhouse, sw.

AUGUST 23, 2012 Holiday Lake (35 Species)

Weather: Fair; 68F to 82F; no wind.

Time: 0725 - 0900 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake once. A woman was walking a leashed dog during part of my survey. At the outset, I spoke with the water district manager, Mark Crosby, who said that a new perimeter road adjacent to the marsh had been cleared recently. The result was rather more extensive than just a roadway; virtually all of the brushy understory next to the marsh is now gone. Mature trees (i.e.. cottonwood, willow and tamarisk) were left largely undisturbed.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest noted today included, Northern Shoveler (3), Red-shouldered Hawk (1), Nuttall's Woodpecker (1) and Mountain Chickadee (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 4 (m,f) dabbling in west-central section.

Northern Shoveler 3 (f) dabbling in west-central section (photo).

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 23 August, 2012

Cinnamon Teal 4 (f) dabbling in w-central section.

Ruddy Duck 2 (m,f) resting at northwest edge of lake.

California Quail 6 calls, fly; roadside scrub, se.

Great Blue Heron 2 one wading in shallows of w-central section; one perched on utility pole, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad - molting wing feathers; imm.) in pines and at nw edge of marsh.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying over lake and marsh; landed on shore (photos).

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) female Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 23 August, 2012

Red-shouldered Hawk (imm) flushed from edge of marsh, southwest side; flew then landed; allowed fairly close approach (photo) before flying a short distance and landing again. Mark Crosby said this bird had been here for the past two weeks or so, suggesting it is either semi-tame or suffering from an injury or disease.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) immature Holiday Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 23 August, 2012

American Coot 12 foraging around edges of the lake.

Killdeer 3 fly, call; landing on s shore.

Eurasian Collared Dove 3 calls; canopy of cottonwood, s.

Mourning Dove 6 in cottonwoods; flying over lake.

Barn Owl 2 flushed from two nearby pines, sw.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (f) calls; fly, perched low in cottonwoods and tamarisk near ANHU, n (photo)

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) female HL 23 Aug 2012

Anna's Hummingbird 6 (m,f) aerial insect hawking; low to medium high perch in cottonwoods, tamarisk around the lake.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (m) fly, call; pines, s.

Black Phoebe 1 low perch at shoreline; calls, se.

Western Kingbird 2 (imm) chasing over marsh, e (photo).

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) Holiday Lake, 23 Aug 2012

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, n.

Common Raven 2 fly, call.

Horned Lark 10 a flock coming to drink at the shore, s.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 flying back and forth over marsh and ruderal fields, e.

Barn Swallow 2 flying low, back and forth over the lake.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls, pines, sw.

Bewick's Wren 3 calls, song, edge of marsh, ruderal fields and riparian.

Marsh Wren 2 calls, marsh, n.

European Starling 1 in leafless tree next to clubhouse.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 calls, willow-cottonwoods, e.

Yellow Warbler 2 foraging in canopy of cottonwoods, w, sw (photo).

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) immature Holiday Lake, LACO 23 August, 2012

Common Yellowthroat 3 calls, inside marsh, e, s.

Lark Sparrow 4 atop leafless willow branches, sw.

Red-winged Blackbird 3 (m,f) calls in marsh, sw.

House Finch 15 (m,f) small, vocal flocks in trees around the lake.

House Sparrow 6 vocal, around clubhouse trees and shrubs.

AUGUST 14, 2012 Lancaster City Park @ 10th Street West, Avenue K-8 to K-12 (11 Species)

Weather: Fair, 85F to 93F; wind WNW 1 - 2 mph; the week-long heat wave producing daily temperatures reaching 108F, continues in the Antelope Valley and adjacent areas.

Time: 0820 - 0930 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked from the parking lot next to the YMCA, westward then southward in a counter-clockwise route through most of the park. The landscaping features many groves of mature (25-30 ft. tall) conifers (e.g. Aleppo Pine) and deciduous trees (e.g. Plantain, Fruitless Mulberry) surrounding sections of irrigated lawns, playing fields, parking lots, buildings and other permanent facilities. I visually and aurally covered an area of approximately 30 acres, walking slowly in the shady areas while listening for bird sounds in the tree canopies. Several sections of the park have closed-canopy groves of mixed conifer-deciduous plantings which may offer shelter and foraging opportunities for migratory landbirds. However, the constant noise from auto traffic on HWY 14 and 10th Street West, combined with maintenance activities (e.g. leaf-blowers and lawn mowers) probably renders the park rather unattractive to nesting birds. Also, the widespread lack of understory shrubs and cover further limits avian diversity in the park. Whereas LCP does not offer any standing bodies of water, a flush of green foliage stands in contrast with a combination of surrounding urbanization and arid land. Perhaps the best birding here is during the peak of fall and spring migration (September-October and April-May, respectively). Mid-August could produce a few migrants and an occasional extralimital species, hence my interest today in surveying this urban desert oasis.

Aside from an unexpected pair of Mountain Chickadees, no birds of special seasonal and/or distributional interest were found during my survey.

BIRDS NOTED

Rock Pigeon 2 flying west through the park.

Mourning Dove 2 flying to a tall tree, central.

Common Raven 4 foraging on some trash; flying through the park.

Horned Lark 1 calls; flying east through the park toward a vacant lot.

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls; foraging among branches with many mature pine cones, near the children's playground (rare in the AV before mid September).

European Starling 8 calls; foraging on lawns and playing fields with BRBL.

Orange-crowned Warbler 2 calls; seen briefly flying between plantain trees next to a parking area, e.

Yellow Warbler 1 (f) called once; seen foraging in subcanopy of plantain tree, s.

Brewer's Blackbird 40 (m,f) a cohesive flock foraging on lawns and playing fields.

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (f) foraging with BRBL.

House Sparrow 12 foraging on lawns near some trash, central.

JULY 29, 2012 AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields @ 140th Street West & Avenue B-8 -C (15 Species)

Weather: Fair; 75F; wind WSW 5 mph.

Time: 0705 - 0741 hrs.

Area Covered: I drove a clockwise and counter-clockwise route around the eastern flooded fields. A new pond bordering the west side of 140th St. West had a number of waterbirds; fewer were in the flooded fields and ponds on the east side. No peeps were found during the survey. The light was best when driving westward. One AVEK truck was moving through the southern section. Water was being discharged into the eastern fields.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest included, Black-crowned Night-heron (10), White-faced Ibis (3), and Barn Swallow (6).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 6 (f) swimming in w pond.

Mallard 4 (f) w pond.

Cinnamon Teal 3 (m,f) swimming in w pond.

Pied-billed Grebe 2 e pond.

Great Egret 1 flooded field, w.

Black-crowned Night Heron 10 (imm) flooded field with tall weeds, w.

White-faced Ibis 3 flying together, landing in flooded field, w.

California Gull 1 (C2) swimming in pond, w.

Common Raven 2 flying, e.

Horned Lark 50 on roads; flying low, e.

Cliff Swallow 1 flying at about 50 ft above flooded field, e.

Barn Swallow 6 flying low, back and forth over flooded fields, e.

Red-winged Blackbird 11 (f, imm) in weedy border of pond, e.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (f) with RWBL, e.

House Finch 6 (m,f) perched in sunflowers and tall shrubs, e.

MAY 27, 2012 Holiday Lake and AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields @ 140th Street West (37 Species)

Weather: Fair; 57F to 70F; winds variable, W, WSW 0-5 mph; cool, windy conditions ( 40F to 55F; W winds up to 40 mph) have prevailed in the Antelope Valley for the past two days.

Time: 0750 - 1145 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Holiday Lake (HL): I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake (0750 -0900 hrs.) then observed from my parked vehicle at the clubhouse (0900-0920). A loud pick-up truck circled the lake once during my survey; otherwise the lake was quiet and unoccupied. 2) I drove a counter-clockwise route around the AVEK groundwater recharge fields east of 140th St. West at about Avenue B-8, surveying flooded fields, earthen water empoundments, adjacent saltbush scrub and ruderal roadways, visually covering an area of about 200 acres (140W). No other people were present during my survey (0940 - 1010 hrs.). I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the surveys.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) 140W.

Mallard 3 (m,f) HL; 16 (m,f) 140W.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (m,f) HL; 2 (m,f) 140W.

Ruddy Duck 6 (m,f) HL.

California Quail 6 HL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 5 (ad, imm) flushed from pines, s HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole, 140W.

American Coot 8 pairs evidently nesting at edge of marsh, HL; 10 swimming, 140W.

Killdeer 2 shoreline and clubhouse lawn, HL.

Black-necked Stilt 2 foraging on opposite shores, e HL; 20 foraging in flooded fields, 140W.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 foraging on shore, e HL; 3 perched on bushes in flooded field, 140W.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 fly, calls, HL.

Rock Pigeon 1 flushed from pine, s HL.

Mourning Dove 5 flushed from riparian patches, HL.

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

Western Wood Pewee 1 low perch in willow, w HL.

Western Kingbird 1 flying across road, 140W.

Black Phoebe 1 calls, e HL.

Common Raven 2 calls from pines, s HL; 2 flying over fields, 140W.

Horned Lark 2 fly, call, e HL; 20 flying low over roads and dry fields, 140W.

European Starling 5 (ad, imm) foraging on lawn; in cottonwoods, w HL.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 active in cottonwood, e HL.

Yellow Warbler 1 (m) in cottonwood with OCWA, e HL.

Common Yellowthroat 2 singing repeatedly in marsh, s HL.

Wilson's Warbler 2 (m,f) vocal, active in cottonwood, s, e HL.

Lark Sparrow 1 flushed into cottonwood, e HL.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (f) in cottonwood, e HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 calls, w HL; 20 (m,f) edge of flooded fields, 140W.

Tricolored Blackbird 300 - conserv. est. many (females) concealed in marsh.Colony highly vocal; males conspicuous (females much less so) in marsh but unevenly distributed around the lake; in subcolonies of 12 to 30 birds, esp. n,s, se; individuals and flocks of 3 -5 birds flying to and from the colony in all four compass directions, HL (photo).

Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius troicolor) south Holiday Lake, LACO CA 27 May, 2012

Brewer's Blackbird 2 (m,f) at edge of flooded field, 140W.

Western Meadowlark 2 song, adjacent fields, e HL; 10 song, flying low over dry fields, 140W.

Great-tailed Grackle 25 (m,f) vocal, active, flying across the lake in all compass directions; residing mostly on the west side of marsh and trees, HL; 2(m) 140W.

Bullock's Oriole 1 flying across road near entrance, HL.

House Finch 6 (m,f) vocal, active in cottonwoods, HL.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 vocal, active in cottonwoods, e HL.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 3 (m,f) vocal, active in a variety of trees and shrubs at lakeside, e HL.

House Sparrow 10 on and around the clubhouse, w HL.

MAY 13, 2012 AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields @ 140th Street West (18 Species)

Weather: Fair, 74F; no wind.

Time: 0845 - 0945 hrs.

Area Covered: I drove a counter-clockwise route around the of the AVEK groundwater recharge ponds and flooded fields at about Avenue B-8, on the east side of 140th St. West, surveying an area of about 150 acres.Most birdlife was found in the southern and northeastern sections. I used a 10x40 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Cattle Egret (1) and Whimbrel (40).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 4 (m,f) edge of pond, s, ne.

Gadwall 4 (m,f) edge and middle of pond, ne.

Great Egret 1 flooded field, nw.

Snowy Egret 2 flooded field, nw.

Cattle Egret 1 (trans. alt. plmg.) flooded field, nw.

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

American Coot 34 flooded fields and ponds throughout.

Killdeer 4 calls, se, ne.

Spotted Sandpiper 7 (alt. plmg.)edge of flooded fields and ponds throughout.

Whimbrel 40 individuals foraging alone; flock of 25 foraging, preening, flying around together, se (photo).

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields, 140th St.W LACO, CA 13 May 2012

American Avocet 2 flooded field, ne.

Black-necked Stilt 4 two pair foraging about 10 yards apart in flooded field, ne.

Mourning Dove 1 flushed from roadside, e.

Common Raven 2 flying over fields.

Horned Lark 8 adjacent ruderal fields, s; dirt embankments, e.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (m,f) song; flooded field, central.

Brewer's Blackbird 4 (m,f) on embankments, e.

Western Meadowlark 5 on embankmens; dry fields, s, e, nw.

May 10, 2012 Holiday Lake (27 Species)

Weather: Fair; 78F; wind W 7-10 mph.

Time: 1804 - 1917 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying birds in all habitats. Several people were walking around the lake; one couple with two unleased dogs. Mildly windy conditions did not appear to affect bird activity or detectability. Relatively few migratory landbird species were found during my survey. A large breeding colony of about 300 Tricolored Blackbird appears to have become re-established at HL.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 2 (m,f) swimming at east end of lake; flighty.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (m) flew into marsh.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f; alt. plmg.) swimming, resting near edge of marsh, n, w.

California Quail 8 brushy areas next to the marsh, ne.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 resting in water at edge of marsh, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad) flushed from cottonwoods; no evidence of nesting found, s.

American Coot 3 swimming near the marsh, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 3 on shore; flighty, se.

Mourning Dove 8 drinking from shoreline, se.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 call, fly, sw.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (f) hovering above marsh, w.

Western Kingbird 1 flycatching above marsh, w.

Common Raven 4 flying over lake.

Horned Lark 3 drinking on shoreline, se.

European Starling 3 on shore; flying, se.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 flying from willows, calls, w.

Common Yellowthroat 3 singing in marsh, w, ne, s.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 (m) one drinking on shoreline; one in marsh with TCBL, se.'

Tricolored Blackbird 300 (est., m,f; alt. and trans. plmg.); many heard but not seen in marsh; flying to and from lake from surrounding fields; vocal, restless in marsh (photo). Males jockeying for high position; females and males in transitional alternate plumage generally on lower perches than males in full alternate plumage. Clusters of three to seven birds visible in most parts of the marsh around the lake. A few Yellow-headed Blackbirds (silent) intermixed with the TCBL colony. RWBL notably scarce at the lake. TCBL highly vocal both in flight and when stationary in the marsh. Flocks of 8 -12 birds flying into the lake mostly from the southwest and southeast; a few flocks leaving the marsh flying to the southeast and southwest; fewer flying north than south.

Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) (male) Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 10 May, 2012

Western Meadowlark 2 singing, adjacent fields, s, se.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 3-4 (m, f; imm. ad) in the middle of a cluster of TCBL (photo).

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) (immature male) HL, LACO, CA 10 May 2012

Brewer's Blackbird 2 (m,f) drinking on shoreline, se.

Great-tailed Grackle 30 (m,f) vocal in marsh; flying.

Bullock's Oriole 2 calls; on fence, flying into adjacent yard with deciduous trees, s.

House Finch 4 calls, song, riparian, w.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 (m,f) vocal; two pair; one on upper branches of willow (photo); two males drinking on shoreline, se

Lawrence's Goldfinch (Carduelis lawrencei) male HL, LACO, CA 10 May, 2012

House Sparrow 10 on and around clubhouse, sw.

APRIL 27, 2012 Western Antelope Valley: Holiday Lake, AVEK Groundwater RF @ 140th St. W; HWY 14 @ Avenue G-H. (40 Species)

Weather: Fair with increasing westerly winds, reaching 30 mph by late afternoon.

Time: 1255- 1344 hrs. (G-spot); 1724 - 1755 hrs. (AVEK); 1816 - 1850 hrs. (HL).

Areas Covered: 1) On the east side along HWY 14, between Avenue G and H (G-spot). I scoped the flooded catchment basin from outside a chain-link fence at the northwest corner and central-east side. Visibility of large flocks of gulls and peeps was fairly good, but only by using a scope. Three new day-list birds found here were,

Snowy Egret, Caspian Tern and Common Yellowthroat. Mudflats on the west and northwest corner of the site were frequented by about 150 shorebirds, mainly WESA and LESA.. 2) AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields at 140th Street West and Avenue B-8 (140W). I drove a clockwise route around the flooded fields on the perimeter road, stopping frequently to use a binocular. I focused mainly on the flooded fields nearest the roadway, covering about 50 acres. The entire AVEK area includes roughly 500 acres, most of which I have not surveyed due to difficult access on dirt (sometimes mud) roads. In addition, I was told by AVEK workers that driving on the main perimeter road was OK; side roads are generally off-limits. As usual, a number of new day-list birds were added here, including, Northern Pintail,

Cinnamon Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Northern Harrier and Western Meadowlark. 3) Holiday Lake: By the time I reached HL, westerlies had increased to about 30 mph, making birding difficult. I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, holding onto my hat. It seemed likely that many more bird species might have been found here in calm conditions. Nevertheless, three new day-list species were found, including, Green-winged Teal, White-faced Ibis and Turkey Vulture. The large Tricolored Blackbird colony found here during my previous survey (April 16, 2012) has apparently moved elsewhere; only a few TCBL were actually seen this afternoon (fewer than could be heard in the marsh). 4) I made a brief stop on the way home at the southeast corner of 120th St. West and Avenue I, looking for Burrowing Owl; none was found.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) swimming, n 140W.

Mallard 2 (m,f) near shore, G-spot.

Cinnamon Teal 5 (m,f) in pairs, swimming, n 140W.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) swimming toward CITE; dabbling. (photo)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) (f) 140W LACO, CA 27 April 2012

Green-winged Teal 2 (m,f) a pair swimming from shore as I approached, s HL.

Ruddy Duck 4 (m,f; alt. plmg.) swimming, n HL.

Snowy Egret 2 resting near shore, se G-spot.

White-faced Ibis 19 (most in alt. plmg.) foraging near shore, s HL (photo).

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) south Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 27 April, 2012

Turkey Vulture 3 flushed from pines with a Barn Owl, sw.

Red-tailed Hawk 2 (ad) on utility poles, Lancaster Rd W.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over flooded fields, central, 140W.

American Coot 20 scattered through flooded fields, 140W; 4 HL.

Semipalmated Plover 5 on mudflats, w G-spot; 6 edge of flooded field, 140W.

Killdeer 1 shoreline, G-spot. 3 in short grass at edge of flooded field, 140W.

American Avocet 2 vocal, nw G-spot.

Black-necked Stilt 2 in flooded field, 140W.

Greater Yellowlegs 32 a loose flock on one side of a flooded field, n 140W.

Western Sandpiper 100 + scattered flocks on the w mudflats, G-spot; 60 foraging on shallow edges of fields, 140W; 1 shore, e HL.

Least Sandpiper 120 scattered flocks with WESA, G-spot. 70 foraing in flooded short grass and on mudflats, 140W; 20 shore, e HL.

Dunlin 1 (alt. plmg.) on mudflats with WESA, LESA, w G-spot; 1 (alt. plmg.) in flooded field n 140W.

Long-billed Dowitcher 12 (bsc. plmg.) a tight flock foraging in shallows, n 140W.

Red-necked Phalarope 11 (alt. plmg.) in shallows, 140W.

Caspian Tern 2 (ad) resting on shore with CAGU, G-spot.

Rock Dove 1 in pine tree, s HL.

Mourning Dove 1, flying, G-spot; 3 flying across lake, HL.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from pines with TUVU, sw HL.

Western Kingbird 1 on fence, n G-spot.

Common Raven 50 + ubiquitous, especially near homesteads, e.g. HL.

Horned Lark 10 flushed from roadside, 140W.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4 flying back and forth over lake, HL.

Barn Swallow 8, flying low over fields, 140W. 10 flying low over lake, HL.

Northern Mockingbird 1 singing on fence near riparian area, G-spot.

Common Yellowthroat 1 flying near fence line, n G-spot.

Savannah Sparrow 10 flying from roadside ruderal areas, 140W.

Red-winged Blackbird 10, flying, vocal in tall grass, 140W; 20 (m,f) in marsh, flying, vocal, HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 10 (m, f) (seen; more heard in marsh), s HL.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 25 (m,f) a flock circling the marsh, then landing, s HL.

Western Meadowlark 8 vocal at edge of flooded fields, 140W.

Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) vocal, flying back and forth across the lake, HL.

House Finch 2 song, riparian-marsh, w HL.

APRIL 16, 2012 Western Antelope Valley, Holiday Lake and AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields @ 140th Street West(54 Species)

Weather: Fair; 63F to 71F; no wind. Snow from storm two days ago remains on the Tehachapi Mountains.

Time: 1040 - 1200 (HL); 1315-1400 hrs. 140W.

Areas Covered: Lancaster Road westbound, HWY 138 eastbound; 110th Street West southbound to and from Holiday Lake (HL) and the AVEK groundwater recharge fields (ca 300 acres) about 1.5 miles north of HWY 138 (Avenue D) and east of 140th Street West (140W). Minimal disturbance at HL, a tractor trailer backhoe delivery and someone on an ATV stopping on the south shore to throw stones in the lake. At 140W, I met Tom and Josh, two AVEK employees riding a tractor, who reported seeing a "flock of cranes" here about 2 weeks ago (no supporting details).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, American Bittern (1 HL), Cattle Egret (1 HL), Long-billed Dowitcher (1 - HL), Baird's Sandpiper (2 140W), Common Poorwill (1 HL), Semipalmated Plover (1 140W), Mountain Chickadee (2 HL) and Tricolored Blackbird (400 HL).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) HL.

Mallard 6 (m,f) HL.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (m) HL.

Bufflehead 2 (f) 140W.

Ruddy Duck 5 (m,f alt. plmg.) agression (chasing, diving) between males in alt. plmg. HL.

California Quail 2 brushy edge of lake, HL.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 calls, s HL.

American Bittern 1 flushed twicw from edge of cattails, s, HL.

Great Blue Heron 1 flying low, e HL.

Cattle Egret 1 ( trans, alt. plmg. ) preening in cattails, sw (photo).

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) southwest Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 16 April, 2012

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (imm) flushed from cattails, s; calls, HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (imm.in worn plumage) flew from its perch on a utility pole, n (photo); 8 on utility poles enroute..

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) immature north Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 16 April 2012

American Coot 6 HL; 40 140W.

Sora 1 calls, repeated, s HL.

Killdeer 6 shore and edge of marsh, HL.

Semipalmated Plover 1 (note relatively broad breast band) edge of flooded field with other peeps, 140W (photo).

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) 140W LACO CA 16 April 2012

Spotted Sandpiper 1 (alt. plmg.) se shore, HL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 1 (note: bsc. plmg with delayed molt; unspotted dark breast) foraging in shallows and on shore, se HL (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) southeast Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 16 April, 2012

Whimbrel 7 edge of flooded field; resting then flew east, 140W.

Greater Yellowlegs 1 (trans. alt. plmg.) foraging in shallows, 140W (photo).

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 140W, LACO, CA 16 April, 2012

Wilson's Snipe 1 foraging on shore and in shallows, se HL (photo).

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) southeast Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 16 April, 2012

Black-necked Stilt 40 foraging in shallows; flying between ponds, 140W (photo).

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 140W, LACO, CA 16 April, 2012

Western Sandpiper 12 foraging among many LESA, in flooded, grassy field, 140W.

Least Sandpiper 3 foraging on shore, se HL; 80 foraging in flooded fields, 140W.

Baird's Sandpiper 2 (warm buffy breast markings seen clearly, c.f. nearby WESA and LESA) foraging in open shallows and edge of flooded field with LESA and WESA, 140W. (no photos).

Mourning Dove 6 flushed from edge of marsh and riparian, HL.

Barn Owl 2 flushed from Aleppo pines, sw.

Common Poorwill 1 flushed three times from ground near edge of marsh; small size, large head, rusty wings, small white patches on tail (no photos) nw HL.. New record for HL.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 f, hovering around an Aleppo Pine, nw, HL.

Black Phoebe 3 edge of marsh, HL.

Say's Phoebe 1 calls, adjacent fields and yard, s HL.

Western Kingbird 2 sallying from utility line, 140W.

Common Raven 20 enroute; 4 HL; 2 flying over, 140W.

Tree Swallow 4 flying low over flooded field, 140W.

Mountain Chickadee 2 - continuing) calls, active in Aleppo pines, sw HL.

Marsh Wren 2 singing, edge of marsh, nw HL.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 active in pines, sw HL

European Starling 4 vocal, riparian edge of marsh, HL.

American Pipit 6 foraging in flooded field; on earthen embankments, 140W.

Yellow-rumped (A)Warbler 8 (m,f) active, vocal in cottonwoods, HL.

Common Yellowthroat 4 (m,f) active, vocal in marsh and edge, HL

Savannah Sparrow 25 a fairly cohesive flock at the east end of the lake in the cattails, HL; 50 roadside weeds, flooded fields, 140W.

White-crowned Sparrow 6 edge of marsh, HL; 10 weedy roadside areas, 140W.

Dark-eyed Junco 2 in and around pines, sw HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 6 (m,f) in cattails but usually apart from TRBL, HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 400 (conserv. est., many hidden in marsh); mostly males visible; a few females seen. By far the dominant species of bird at HL today; noisy, crowded in cattails mostly in eastern half of the lake; probably the largest TRBL colony in LACO (photo).

Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) south Holiday Lake, LACO, CA 16 April, 2012

Western Meadowlark 1 song, adjacent field, n HL; 5 song, foraging in flooded field, 140W.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 6 (m,f) calls, song; mixed in with TRBL, s HL.

Brewer's Blackbird 1 (m) with TRBL, e HL.

Great-tailed Grackle 6 (m) males displaying, calls in cottonwood, nw HL.

House Finch 6 song, flying, riparian, edge of marsh, HL.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 3 (m,f) song, active in conifers (photo).

Lawrence's Goldfinch (Carduelis lawrencei) male sw Holiday Lake, LACO, CA

Lesser Goldfinch 2 fly, call, w HL.

House Sparrow 6 around clubhouse, HL.

MARCH 10, 2012 Western Antelope Valley, AVEK Groundwater Recharge Fields, Holiday Lake (52 Species)

Weather: Fair; 31 to 70F; winds WNW 2 - 15 mph.

Time: 0730 - 1205 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) 110th Street West, northbound to LA/KERN County Line at Avenue A (A120W). West to about 120th Street West, where I walked into a ruderal roadside field observing and photographing Sage Thrasher ( photo) , reported here yesterday by Jean Brandt on the LACO Yahoo list server. 2) Driving west on Avenue A, I turned south on 140th Street West, stopping near the south side of Avenue B to observe birds in a flooded alfalfa field. 3) I continued south on 140th Street West and turned east onto the dirt perimeter road ("Ave. B-8") of the AVEK groundwater recharge fields (140W), stopping to scope flooded fields on the north side. The latter location produced a good variety of migratory waterbirds. 4) Holiday Lake: I walked around the entire lake once in a clockwise direction, surveying all habitats (e.g. ruderal fields, Aleppo pines, cattail and tule marsh, shoreline (minimal, and only on the southeast perimeter) and open water. No other people were present at HL during my survey. I also made two brief stops at the California Aqueduct crossing on 255th Street West (AQ). 5) Returning home via Lancaster Rd. (Avenue I), I stopped at the southeast corner of Avenue I and 120th Street West (120WI)to scope the adjacent fields for Burrowing Owl (none found). The latter location produced Mountain Bluebird and Sage Thrasher (photo).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Common Goldeneye (3), Ferruginous Hawk (1), Black-bellied Plover (5), Black-necked Stilt (1), Lesser Yellowlegs (3), Dowitcher sp.(6), Mountain Chickadee (1) and Sage Thrasher (9).

BIRDS NOTED

American Wigeon 30 (m,f) edge of northeast flooded field, 140W.

Mallard 120 (m,f) edge of northeast flooded field, 140W; 30 (m,f) flighty, east HL.

Cinnamon Teal 250 (m,f) northeast flooded field and central-east pond, 140W; 16 (m,f) flighty, HL

Green-winged Teal 35 (m,f) northeast flooded field, 140W. 18 (m,f) flighty, HL.

Lesser Scaup 20 (m,f) diving, west of bridge AQ.

Common Goldeneye 3 (m,f) diving, east side AQ.

Ruddy Duck 5 (m,f) dabbling, n HL.

Great Egret 5 flock flushed from nw lakeside; subsequently foraging in adjacent ruderal field, nw, HL.

Northern Harrier 1 (m) flying over ruderal field, n HL.

Cooper's Hawk 1 (imm) flushed from marsh, to adjacent cottonwood, w HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 3 on utility poles, 110th St. W.

Ferruginous Hawk 1 (worn plumage) on utility pole, 140W (photo).

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) 140th Street West and Avenue B, Los Angeles County, CA March 10, 2012

American Kestrel 3 utility poles and lines, Lancaster Rd.

Prairie Falcon 1 flying low, landing in ruderal field next to sheep pasture, A120W.

American Coot 500 flooded fields and margins, 140W; 12 HL.

Virginia Rail 1? calls from marsh (unseen) w HL.

Black-bellied Plover 5 (bsc. plmg.) foraging in flooded field, n 140W.

Killdeer 4 foraging in flooded field, n140W; 2 shoreline, calls, e HL.

Black-necked Stilt 1 edge of water impoundment with steep dirt embankment, e 140W.

Greater Yellowlegs 4 foraging together in flooded field; fly, calls, central, 140W.

Lesser Yellowlegs 3 resting next to CITE in flooded field, n 140W.

Tringa sp.(c.f.T. flavipes and T. stagnatilis) note needle-shaped bill, light underparts, dull yellowish green legs. This individual was photographed in a flooded field adjacent to a east-west running dirt road leading to a pump station, "Avenue B-8." At least one expert on Eurasian birds (Tony Prater) has judged the individual shown in my photo below as a Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis). Kimball Garrett (LACMNH) is credited for initially suggesting Marsh Sandpiper rather than Lesser Yellowlegs as a possibility. Another experienced reviewer (Paul Lehman) thought that the leg color, face pattern and light tones of the wings and scapular region in this bird resembled the more expected Lesser Yellowlegs (T. flavipes). If accepted by CBRC (presently very unlikely), this would be the first record of Marsh Sandpiper for California, to my knowledge (note that a juvenile MASA was reportedly found, photographed and reliably identified in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico in October, 2011).

Tringa sp. (T. stagnatilis ?) 140th Street West and Avenue B-8, LACO, CA 10 March, 2012

Dowitcher sp.(Limnodromus griseus?) (6) four foraging together in flooded field; another pair nearby. Note relatively short bills, pale upperparts and some evidence of late winter molt (photo) north 140W.

Dowitcher (Limnodromus sp. c.f. griseus) 140th St. West and Avenue B-8, Los Angeles County, CA 10 March, 2012

Barn Owl 1 (ad) flushed from mature pine tree adjacent to entry road and clubhouse; many castings under pines, s HL.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (m) hovering over tall grass beneath pine, nw HL.

Black Phoebe 2 edge of marsh-riparian, HL.

Say's Phoebe 1 farmyard fence; 1 adjacent yard, s HL.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 on tall shrub in open field, 110th W.

Common Raven 30 110th W; 60 roadsides, pasture, pairs on utility poles, LR.

Horned Lark 20 fly, call, Avenue B, 140th W; 20 flooded fields, 140W; 10 120WI.

Tree Swallow 14 flying back and forth over flooded fields, 140W.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls from pines, sw HL.

Marsh Wren 3 vocalizing in marsh, n HL.

Mountain Bluebird 20 flying low, foraging in field, 120WI.

Northern Mockingbird 1 on fence, adjacent yard, s HL.

Sage Thrasher 7 flying low, perched on low shrubs, fence posts, etc, A120 (see photo above); pairs and trios staying close; running on ground between shrubs; another pair flushed to fence line adjacent to ruderal field; calls, 120I (photo).

Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) Avenue I and 120th St. W, LACO, CA 10 Mar 2012

European Starling 60 in pastureland near sheep, A120W; farmyards, homesteads, HL, LR.

American Pipit 30 edge of flooded fields, foraging, perched on dirt embankments, 140W.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 (f) active in deciduous trees, s HL.

Vesper Sparrow 1 on dirt embankment, n 140W.

Lark Sparrow 3 on ground and on fence, AQ.

Savannah Sparrow 6 Ave B flooded field edge (photo); 40-60 edge of fields, 140W; 20 marsh, HL.

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) Avenue B and 140th St. West, LACO, CA 10 March, 2012

Song Sparrow 3 flying over marsh; secretive, non-vocal, HL.

White-crowned Sparrow 10 edge of flooded field, Ave B and 140th W; 40 edge of fields, 140W; 10 brushy areas, HL.

Dark-eyed Junco 6 foraging beneath pines, sw HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 20 vocal, flooded fields, foraging, perched in tall grass, 140W; calls, HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 4 flying w from lakeside, HL.

Brewer's Blackbird 60 (m,f) foraging in barnyards and pastures throughou survey area; t4 adjacent yard with ground feeder, s HL

Great-tailed Grackle 1 calls, marsh sw HL.

Western Meadowlark 5 vocal, on ground, flying over flooded fields, 140W.

House Finch 2 on fence, Avenue B and 140th W. 10 in brushy edges, 140W; 4 (m,f) riparian, HL.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 flying over adjacent yard, s HL.

House Sparrow 4 nesting under roof tiles of clubhouse, HL.