Elizabeth Lake 2012

Areas Covered: 1) Northwest Elizabeth Lake (WEL): I walked along the shoreline and into the adjacent riparian woodland, surveying open water, mudflats, freshwater marsh, riparian woodland, chaparral and weedy roadside areas.

No other people wete present in the survey area at this time; conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations. 2) Northeast Elizabeth Lake (EEL). I walked the north and east shoreline from near the junction of Munz Ranch Road and Elizabeth Lake

Road, surveying open water, mudflats, freshwater marsh, riparian woodland and chaparral edge. A man with a large dog (unleashed) appeared near the end of my survey. Otherwise the area was quiet and undisturbed by human activity. The lake water level was low, continuing to recede with regionally dry weather conditions. Several shotgun blasts were heard in the riparian area immediately east of the lake.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Canvasback (120), Bufflehead (18), Long-billed Dowitcher (11), and Caspian Tern (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 55 (m,f) flighty, WEL, EEL.

Canvasback 1 WEL; 120 EEL; swimming together in open water; reluctant to fly as I approached.

Bufflehead 8 (m,f) WEL; 10 swimming together in open water, EEL

Ruddy Duck 250 (m,f) scattered over the entire lake.

California Quail 5 WEL; 15, (ad, imm) EEL.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming near shore, WEL.

Western Grebe 1 swimming near shore, WEL.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 swimming with CANV, EEL.

Great Blue Heron 2 flushed from the shoreline, WEL,. EEL.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole, EEL.

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole, EEL.

American Coot 500 scattered around the lake.

Killdeer 8 on shore, calls, EEL.

Least Sandpiper 8 foraging on shore, EEL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 11 ( ad, imm) resting, foraging on shore, EEL (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) East Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 31 Oct. 2012

California Gull 2 (ad, imm) resting in open water, EEL.

Caspian Tern 2 flying low, calls, EEL.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 calls, foraging in cottonwoods, WEL, EEL.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, riparian, WEL.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 in cottonwood, WEL.

Black Phoebe 1 shoreline WEL; 2 calls, shoreline, EEL.

Western Scrub-jay 2 calls, WEL; 1 calls, EEL.

American Crow 2 fly, call; one on utility pole, WEL.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 foraging on a cottonwood; calls (weak, nasal single note), WEL (photo).

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) northwest Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 31 Oct. 2012

Bewick's Wren 4 edge of marsh-riparian; calls, WEL; 3 edge of riparian, EEL.

Western Bluebird 4 (m,f) calls; in cottonwood, WEL.

European Starling 2 calls, riparian, WEL.

American Pipit 3 on shore, calls, EEL

Yellow-rumped Warbler 25 ubiquitous, all height levels, including shoreline.

Common Yellowthroat 1 calls, marsh, WEL; 1 calls, marsh, EEL.

California Towhee 2 calls, riparian edge, EEL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 8 edge of marsh and mudflat, WEL; 1 calls, EEL.

Song Sparrow 10 active, vocal at edge of marsh, WEL (photos); 12 active on mudflat at edge of marsh, EEL (photos).

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) showing variation in facial and breast markings in five individuals (top 3 from WEL; bottom 2 from EEL); Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 31 Oct. 2012

Savannah Sparrow 1 in marsh, WEL.

White-crowned Sparrow 4 in marsh WEL; 2 edge of marsh-riparian, EEL.

Dark-eyed Junco 10 foraging beneath cottonwood, WEL; 2 calls, EEL.

Red-winged Blackbird 1 calls in marsh, WEL.

Brewer's Blackbird 10 (m,f) fly, call, WEL; 6 on shore, EEL.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (m) with BRBL on mudflat, EEL.

House Finch 5 in cottonwood and on ground, WEL.

OCTOBER 11, 2012 (54 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 39F to 54F; wind W 5 - 12 mph.

Time: 0730 - 1140 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) The northwest corner of Elizabeth Lake (WEL): I walked along the shore (mud and sand), into the adjacent riparian woodland with a small pond, and to the edge of the foothill chaparral (0730-0835 hrs.).

2) The northeast and eastern shore of Elizabeth Lake (EEL). I walked along the northeast and eastern shore, surveying birds in chaparral edge, riparian woodland, freshwater marsh, mudflats and open water (0844-1000 hrs.).

3) The west edge of the Elizabeth Lake Golf course (ELG). I walked around the ruderal fields and patches of chaparral at the edge of the golf course and suburbs (1003 - 1038 hrs.). 4) Sandrock Drive (SD): I walked the fence line and both sides of the dam, surveying gardens, ruderal fields, riparian woodland, freshwater marsh, shoreline and open water (1043 - 1140 hrs.). A small group of fishermen were on the east shore of the dam; otherwise the survey area was quiet and disturbed only by passing automobiles. I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey today.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wood Duck (2), Canvasback (6), Wilson's Snipe (2), Vaux's Swift (1), Violet-green Swallow (200), Barn Swallow (10), Mountain Chickadee (3), and Golden-crowned Sparrow (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Wood Duck 2 (m,f) in shallows of small pond with NOSH; flushed as I approached (photo).

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) male northwest Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 October, 2012

Gadwall 2 swimming near shore, WEL.

Mallard 150 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Northern Shoveler 3 (m,f) swimming, dabbling near shore, WEL; 2 EEL

Northern Pintail 1 (f) with mallards near shore, EEL.

Green-winged Teal 8 (f) dabbling near shore, WEL; 5 in shallows, EEL.

Canvasback 6 (m) a loose flock swimming further offshore as I approached EEL (photo).

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) east Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 Oct. 2012

Ruddy Duck 250 (m,f) ubiquiotus, especially the east end.

California Quail 10 flushed from edge of riparian, WEL; 14 brushy area inside fence line, SD.

Eared Grebe 1 walked clumisly on shore; diving in shallows, WEL; 2 swimming near dam, SD.

Western Grebe 2 separated bu 50 yards, near shore, WEL.

Great Blue Heron 5 around the edge of the entire lake.

Great Egret 2 flushed from shore of small pond, WEL.

Snowy Egret 1 flushed from shore of small pond, WEL.

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (imm) flushed from roadside ditch; flew low into riparian woodland, ELG (photo).

Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) immature southeast Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 Oct. 2012

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, ELG.

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole, WEL.

American Coot 350 ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 20 vocal, active on shorelines around the lake.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 flushed from shoreline, EEL.

Wilson's Snipe 2 foraging together on mudflats with stubble, EEL (photo).

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) east Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 Oct. 2012

Vaux's Swift 1 flying back and forth among VGSW, SD.

Northern Flicker 1 calls, WEL; fly, call, ELG

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, WEL, SD.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, EEL.

Black Phoebe 20 ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Western Scrub-jay 2 calls, WEL; 2 calls, SD.

American Crow 30 vocal, ubiquitous.

Common Raven 1 soaring above adjacent hillsides, n.

Violet-green Swallow 200 a large flock flying back and forth over lake; some dipping into lake surface; 0 - 200 ft. (photo).

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 October 2012

Barn Swallow 10 flying low over the lake amongst VGSW, EEL.

Mountain Chickadee 3 vopcal, active in willows, SD (photo).

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) south Elizabeth lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 October, 2012

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, riparian woodland, EEL.

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, brushy area on dam, SD.

Marsh Wren 1 active, vocal in dry tules, WEL.

Western Bluebird 3 (m,f) on fence and adjacent weedy field, ELG.

Wrentit 2 singing alternately on chaparral hillside, WEL

California Thrasher 2 a contact calls between a pair foraging in an elderberry tree, SD.

European Starling 2 calls, riparian woodland, WEL; 8 calls, flying, SD.

American Pipit 2 on shore; calls, WEL, EEL (photo).

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) northeast Elizabeth lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 October, 2012

Yellow-rumped Warbler 45 (m,f) ubiquitous, often joined by other birds in mixed species flocks.

California Towhee 3 active in brushy areas at edge of suburbs and clearings in chaparral, WEL, EEL, SD.

Lark Sparrow 4 vocal in trees, ELG.

Song Sparrow 25 vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 vocal, edge of marsh-riparian area, WEL.

White-crowned Sparrow 60 (ad, imm) vocal, ubiquitous in small flocks around the lake.

Golden-crowned Sparrow 2 in brushy edge of marsh, WEL.

Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco 4 foraging on ground beneath a large shrub with WCSP, ELG.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 (m,f) foraging on mudflats with BRBL, EEL.

Brewer's Blackbird 50 (m,f) foraging on shorelines around the lake (photo).

Brewer's Blackbird ( Euphagus cyanocephalus) male Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 11 Oct. 2012

Great-tailed Grackle 5 (m,f) vocal, active in marsh at southwest corner of dam, SD.

House Finch 30 (m,f) ubiquitous; common around suburbs and edge of riparian woodlands.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 vocal, active in ruderal fields with dried bull thistle and sunflowers, ELG.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active in vacant lots around homes, ELG.

OCTOBER 3, 2012 Elizabeth Lake (50 Species)

Weather: Fair with a high, thin overcast; 59F to 72F; wind WSW 5 -15 mph.

Time: 0715 - 1100 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) The northeast corner of Elizabeth Lake (EEL). From the trailhead on Elizabeth Lake Rd. about 50 yards west of the intersection of Munz Ranch Rd., I walked eastward on the shoreline to the northeast corner and back, surveying open water, mud and sand shoreline, freshwater marsh, riparian and ruderal fields (0715 - 0830 hrs.). 2) The northwest corner of Elizabeth Lake (WEL). I surveyed part of the shoreline, freshwater marsh, riparian, a small pond, open fields and the edge of foothill chaparral (0849 - 1005 hrs.). 3) The west edge of the Elizabeth Lake Golf course (ELG). I surveyed ruderal fields and suburbs, the edge of the golf course, adjacent riparian and ruderal fields (1009 - 1035 hrs). 4) Sandrock Drive (SD). I surveyed adjacent suburbs, riparian, freshwater marsh, shoreline and open water from the earthen dam separating the two halves of Elizabeth Lake (1030 -1100 hrs). Except for passing autos and a jogger briefly in WEL, there was little human disturbance during my survey. Increasing winds reduced bird detectability and rendered identification of bird vocalizations difficult by 0930 hrs. I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, White-tailed Kite (1), Mountain Chickadee (1) and Vesper Sparrow (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) swimming near shore, EEL, SD

American Wigeon 10 (m,f) flying along the s shore, EEL; one resting with Mallards on shore, SD.

Northern Shoveler 40 (m,f) dabbling in the shallows of the extreme east end of the lake, EEL.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) with Mallards near shore, EEL.

Green-winged Teal 6 (m,f) foraging in shallows, EEL.

Ruddy Duck 60 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake, EEL, SD, WEL.

California Quail calls (unseen) , WEL.

Eared Grebe 5 swimming near the dam on both sides, SD.

Western Grebe 4 swimming in open water around the lake, EEL, SD.

Great Blue Heron 1 on south shore, EEL.

Snowy Egret 2 together on south shore, EEL.

Great Egret 2 together on shore of small pond, WEL.

Turkey Vulture 1 soaring over the shoreline, EEL.

White-tailed Kite 1 (ad) hovering over the riparian edge of an open field, WEL (photo).

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) adult northwest Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 3 October, 2012

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (imm) flying low in adjacent suburb, SD.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flying over riparian edge of lake, SD.

American Kestrel 1 (m) flying low over adjacent field then up to a utility pole at intersection of MRR and ELR, EEL.

American Coot 350 scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 12 on the shore around the lake, EEL, WEL, SD.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 foraging on the shore, EEL.

Least Sandpiper 4 foraging together on the shore, EEL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 18 (ad, imm) foraging in small groups within a larger flock on shore, EEL (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) northeast Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 3 Oct. 2012

Red-necked Phalarope 1 swimming near shore, EEL (photo).

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) north Elizabeth Lake, LACO CA 3 Oct. 2012

Anna's Hummingbird 1 on a feeder in the adjacent suburb, ELG.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, EEL, SD.

Northern Flicker 1 call, fly, ELG.

Black Phoebe 20 ubiquitous on and near shorelines.

Western Scrub-jay 5 call, fly, WEL, SD.

American Crow 12 fly, call, EEL, WEL, SD.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls, in large cedar at edge of suburb, SD.

Bushtit 25 ubiquituos, vocal in brushy riparian edge around the lake.

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, riparian edge, WEL.

Wrentit 1 song, adjacent chaparral hillside, WEL.

European Starling 1 flying over riparian edge of lake, SD.

Yellow-rumped (A)Warbler 4 calls, foraging in willows and cottonwoods, SD.

Common Yellowthroat 3 calls, marsh-riparian, EEL.

California Towhee 4 calls; active on shore and edge of riparian, EEL.

Vesper Sparrow 1 on shore, EEL (photo).

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) northeast Elizabeth Lake, LACO CA 3 Oct. 2012

Savannah Sparrow 1 flushed from edge of willow thicket on dam, SD.

Song Sparrow 15 edge of marsh and riparian around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 calls, edge of marsh-riparian on shore, EEL.

White-crowned Sparrow 35 (ad, imm) vocal, ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Western Tanager 1 calls, subcanopy of dense riparian woodland, SD.

Red-winged Blackbird 15 (m,f) vocal, active on shore, marsh and adjacent riparian, EEL.

Western Meadowlark 1 calls, perched atop flowering rabbitbrush, WEL.

Brewer's Blackbird 25 (m,f) on shorelines around the lake, esp. SD.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 calls, marsh next to the dam, SD.

House Finch 12 calls, riparian edge, WEL, ELG.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 vocal in dense willow thicket, WEL.

House Sparrow 5 vocal, brushy edge of suburbs, ELG.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 Elizabeth Lake (76 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy to fair; 56F to 75F; wind WSW 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0703 - 1135 hrs.

Areas Covered: I covered largely the same areas as described in the September 13, 2012 survey notes below. The only differences being a switch in the order of areas surveyed and amount of time spent in each area. 1) The northeast corner of Elizabeth Lake (EEL). From the trailhead on Elizabeth Lake Rd. west of the intersection of Munz Ranch Rd.,I walked the north shoreline to the northeast corner where soft mud and a stand of snags impeded furthter progress on foot. As for my previous survey of Sept. 13, 2012 (see preceeding survey notes) this area at the northeast corner of Elizabeth Lake yielded a remarkably large variety of birds (49 species) in a relatively short period of time (0703-0850 hrs.). 2) The northwest corner of Elizabeth Lake (WEL). I surveyed the same area as described previously for September 13 (0858 - 0951 hrs.). 3) The western margin of the Elizabeth Lake golf course (ELG). I covered the same area a in the previous survey of September 13 (1033-1135 hrs.). 4) Sandrock Drive (SD). I covered the riparian strip along the levee separating the two halves of the lake, spending about an hour here (1033 -1135), compared with only about 15 minutes on September 13 (see notes below).

All of the areas were quiet and largely unused by people this morning. Two fishermen were on the shore at WEL and a cyclist was briefly on the trail through the riparian woodland in this area. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations. There was almost no wind until 0930 hrs. and then only light breezes from the southwest.

The lake water level continues to be low, exposing a wide shoreline of mud and sand on the north side but somewhat narrower on the south side. These shorelines attracted numerous waterbirds. The lake surface remained calm throughout the survey. Swarms of insects occurred both on the shore and over the the lake surface near shore. I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Turkey vulture (9), White-tailed Kite (5), Long-billed Dowitcher (4), Wilson's Snipe (5), Herring Gull (1),

Vaux's Swift (20), Tree Swallow (4), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1), Phainopepla (1), Nashville Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1),

Rufous-crowned Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (10), and Lawrence's Goldfinch (3).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 8 (m,f) on and near shore, EEL, SD.

American Wigeon 2 (m,f) swimming near the southeast shore, EEL.

Mallard 300 (m,f) ubiquitous on and near shore.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (f) swimming with NOSH in open water, EEL.

Northern Shoveler 60 (m,f) dabbling near shore, EEL, WEL.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) swimming with other ducks, EEL.

Ruddy Duck 25 (m,f) resting, swimming near shore, EEL.

California Quail 1 calls (unseen), WEL.

Eared Grebe 8 swim, dive, open water and near shore, EEL, WEL, SD.

Western Grebe 1 swimming near shore, EEL.

Double-crested Cormorant 5 resting near shore; swimming, EEL.

Great Blue Heron 5 (ad, imm) on shore around lake.

Great Egret 1 on shore, EEL; foraging in pond, WEL.

Snowy Egret 1 on shore, EEL; foraging near GREG in pond, WEL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) flying along s shore; 1(imm) foraging in pond with GREG and SNEG, WEL.

Turkey Vulture 9 (ad, imm) together on shore, EEL.

White-tailed Kite 5 (possibly as many as 7; seen at a great distance only once at 1115 hrs.). in a cohesive flock, circling the east shoreline, alighting in dense, isolated riparian woodland amongst tall cottonwoods with bare branches nearby, EEL. I obtained only blurry photo images of at least five birds perched in trees.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, EEL; 1(ad) flying low from trees at edge of golf course, ELG.

American Coot 450 ubiquitous around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 12 ubiquitous, vocal, in singles and pairs on the shoreline around the lake.

Greater Yellowlegs 1 calls (unseen) EEL.

Spotted Sandpiper 2-3 seen singly and as a pair on the shore, EEL.

Least Sandpiper 2 on distant s shoreline, EEL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 4 - cont. foraging on mudflats in northeast corner of EEL.

Wilson's Snipe 5 a cohesive flock on the shore, sometimes separating to fly to another section of the shoreline, EEL (photo).

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) north Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 20 September, 2012

Red-necked Phalarope 8 - cont. singles and trios foraging on surface insects near shore (photo).

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) north Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 20 Sep 2012

Herring Gull 1 (imm. C1) initially on shore; flew to opposite shore as I approached, EEL (photo). An early arrival of this species in Los Angeles County.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) same individual in both photos: immature first cycle; north Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 20 September, 2012

Eurasian Collared Dove 3 on utility poles and adjacent trees on golf course, ELG.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from edge of riparian woodland next to fence line, SD.

Vaux's Swift 20 (est.) a cohesive flock appearing briefly at about 50 -200 ft. agl over the lake at 0945 hrs. WEL.

White-throated Swift 3-5 Briefly appearing flying over the lake with VASW.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 calls, edge of golf course with tall shrubs, ELG.

Selasphorus sp. 1 loud , distinctive call of Allen's/rufus hummingbird (unseen) edge of the golf course in a mature elderberry shrub.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 5 (m,f) ubiquitous, vocal in riparian areas around the lake.

Northern (RS) Flicker 1 calls, WEL; 1 (m) on utility pole, ELG.

Willow Flycatcher 1 inside middle level of a willow; tail flicking, no eye-ring. EEL.

Black Phoebe 25 vocal, ubiquitous on and near shore around the lake.

Say's Phoebe 1 salllying to weedy field from low fence around the baseball field, ELG.

Western Scrub-jay 12 ubiquitous in riparian, chaparral and suburban areas.

American Crow 20 ubiquitous, vocal, flying over the lake; a few foraging on shore.

Common Raven 2 a pair flying over the lake, WEL.

Tree Swallow 4 appearing briefly and dipping into lake surface, WEL.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls, in tall cottonwoods, WEL.

Oak Titmouse 4 calls; active in riparian areas and shrubs at edge of suburbs, EEL, WEL, ELG, SD.

Bushtit 30 small vocal flocks in riparian areas around the lake.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, mature riparian strip between the road and the lake, EEL.

Bewick's Wren 20 active, vocal, ubiquitous.

House Wren 1 calls, song, mature riparian, EEL; 1 song, WEL.

Marsh Wren 3 singing repeatedly in dense marsh near shoreline, EEL.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls, riparian woodland encircling a small pond, WEL.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 called as I approached, then disappeared in a dense thicket of sandbar willow on the levee, SD.

Western Bluebird 2 (m,f) calls, flying under cottonwoods at edge of golf course

Wrentit 1 song, repeated from hillside chaparral adjacent to lake, WEL.

California Thrasher 1 foraging on shore, then flew up to adjacent riparian area (photo).

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) n Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 20 Sep 2012

European Starling 35 vocal, ubiquitous in riparian areas.

Phainopepla 1 (f) calls, tall elderberry shrub at edge of golf course, ELG (photo).

Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) female west Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 20 Sep 2012

Orange-crowned Warbler 25 ubiquitous; calls, foraging in riparian areas around the lake.

Nashville Warbler 1 foraging in cottonwood near shore, EEL.

Yellow Warbler 10 (m,f) calls; foraging in cottonwoods around the lake.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1(f) calls, riparian edge, WEL.

Common Yellowthroat 20 (m,f) calls, active on ground and in trees; marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 6 calls; foraging with other warbler in cottonwoods and willows around the lake.

California Towhee 2 calls; undergrowth at edge of chaparral and riparian, EEL.

Song Sparrow 50 vocal, ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 7 calls; a cohesive flock of 3-5 individuals foaging at the edge of a weedy area near the shore with SOSP, EEL.

White-crowned (Gambel's) Sparrow 10 (ad; subad); calls; foraging with other sparrows and finches at the edge of riparian areas, EEL (photo), ELG.

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) north Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 20 Sep 2012

Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1 (ad) foraging at edge of herbaceous field between riparian woodland and lakeshore, EEL (photo). This is the first documented record of RCSP at Elizabeth Lake. To my knowledge the nearest breeding population of RCSP is located in San Francisquito Canyon approximately 5 miles south of Elizabeth Lake. However there appears suitable habitat for RCSP (steep rocky hillsides with sparse cover) elsewhere within a 2 mile radius of Elizabeth Lake. Migratory movements of RCSP are poorly known and this species is generally presumed to be sedentary. A record of RCSP at Lake Palmdale in the early 1990's (C. Yorke. unpublished field notes) and vagrants recorded elsewhere in the deserts of southern California, suggest some post-breeding dispersal occurs in the interior populations (Garrett and Dunn, Birds of Southern California. 1981. pp. 356-57).

Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps ssp. ) adult (all photos of the same individual) north Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 20 Sep 2012

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 calls repeated, cottonwoods, WEL.

Lazuli Bunting 1 calls (unseen) at edge of riparian and open field, WEL.

Red-winged Blackbird 60 (m,f) vocal flocks of 10 - 20 birds on shore, in cottonwoods around the lake.

Brewer's Blackbird 15 vocal; flying over lake; a few foraging on shorelines around the lake.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (m) without much of a tail, calls from marsh, WEL.

House Finch 25 active, vocal, shrubs at edge of suburbs and golf course, ELG.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 call, fly, riparian area around pond, WEL; 4 calls, shrubs at edge of golfcourse, ELG.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 3 song, repeated from within an elderberry shrub at the edge of the golf course, ELG.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active in gardens around homes, ELG.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 Elizabeth Lake (70 Species)

Weather: Fair; 57F to 82F; wind ENE 0 - 10 mph.

Time: 0736 - 1156 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Northwest Elizabeth Lake (WEL: 0736 - 0910 hrs). I walked along the north and west shoreline and into the adjacent riparian-fresh water marsh, including a small, secluded pond in the norhtwest corner. The area was quiet and conditions excellent for identifying bird vocalizations. 2) From the roadside on Elizabeth Lake Rd., adjacent to Munz Ranch Rd., I walked the eastern shoreline, surveying open water, a mature riparian strip between Elizabeth Lake Rd. and the lake, mudflats on the shoreline and adjacent patches of fresh water marsh (EEL: 0912 - 1041 hrs.). 3) The west end of the Elizabeth Lake Golf Course and adjacent ruderal fields (ELG: 1045 -1125 hrs.), 4) Sandrock Drive: I walked through the suburban area and onto a trail over the dam separating the east and west halves of Elizabeth Lake . This part of the survey includes suburban gardens, mature riparian (willow-cottonwood), freshwater marsh, shoreline and, open water (SD: 1143 - 1156 hrs.).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wood Duck (3), Eared Grebe (4), White-tailed Kite (2), Caspian Tern (2), Rough-winged Swallow (2), Mountain Chickadee (1), Virginia's Warbler (1), Nashville Warbler (2), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1), Black-headed Grosbeak (1), White-crowned Sparrow (1) and Lawrence's Goldfinch (10).

BIRDS NOTED

Wood Duck 3 (m imm..) swimming near shore, EEL (photo); a pair flying across dam, SD.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) male imm. Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sep 2012

Gadwall 6 shallows with other ducks, WEL, EEL.

Mallard 250 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Northern Pintail 2 (f) shoreline and shallows, EEL.

Cinnamon Teal 6 (f) edge of the lake; flushed as I approached from the shore, EEL.

Northern Shoveler 75 (m,f) flushed from shallows at extreme east end of the lake, EEL.

Ruddy Duck 1 (m) open water with other ducks, EEL.

Eared Grebe 4 (bsc. plmg.) one in shallows near shore, WEL; three swimming together near dam, SR (photo)

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) central Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sept. 2012

Double-crested Cormorant 8 on shore and perched on snags, extreme east end of lake, EEL.

Great Blue Heron 3 on shore, WEL, EEL.

Great Egret 2 on shore, WEL, EEL.

Snowy Egret 1 foraging in shallows of small pond, WEL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) on shore of small pond, WEL.

Turkey Vulture 2 circling above the shore, EEL.

White-tailed Kite 2 a pair flying northeast over the riparian area next to Sandrock Drive, SR.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, WEL; 2 calls, flying, EEL, ELG.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 calls, tall trees at s edge of golf course, ELG.

American Coot 650 scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 5 on shore, WEL; 8 on shore, EEL.

Greater Yellowlegs 1 vocal, flying and landing on shore of small pond (photo); 1 on w shore of main lake.

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) northwest Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sep 2012

Spotted Sandpiper 3 flushed from shoreline, EEL; 1 on shore, WEL.

Least Sandpiper 4 foraging on mudflat, WEL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 11 foraging together in shallows at extreme east end of lake, EEL (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) east Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sep 2012

Red-necked Phalarope 8 - continuting; foraging in shallows offshore, EEL.

Caspian Tern 2 fly, call, WEL.

Mourning Dove 1 calls from tall cottonwoods, EEL.

Anna's Hummingbird 6 ( m imm,f) vocal; riparian; edge of marsh, WEL, EEL.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 7 vocal; ubiquitous in riparian areas around the lake.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, riparian, WEL.

Northern (RS) Flicker 5 calls, riparian and edge around the lake.

Western Wood Pewee 1 calls, WEL.

Willow Flycatcher 1 flushed from patch of shoreline marsh with abundant aerial Diptera, EEL.

Black Phoebe 25 ubiquitous on and near the shore around the lake.

Western Scrub-jay 12 vocal; ubiquitous in riparian and ruderal edge around the lake.

American Crow 25 vocal; ubiquitous, esp. SD.

Common Raven 4 vocal, flying, WEL, EEL.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 flying low, back and forth over the lake, EEL.

Mountain Chickadee 1 vocal, active in cottonwoods, WEL.

Oak Titmouse 4 vocal, active in mature riparian areas and isolated trees, WEL, EEL, ELG.

Bushtit 8 vocal, active flock in mature cottonwood-willow riparian, EEL.

White-breasted Nuthatch 3 vocal; active in mature riparian and trees at edge of golf course, WEL, EEL, ELG.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal, riparian and ruderal fields around the lake.

House Wren 1 song, dense riparian, WEL.

Marsh Wren 3 vocal, marsh, WEL, EEL.

Catharus sp. 1 (uniform light brown dorsum; no other details seen) flying low, eastward over shoreline and marsh near dam, SR

Western Bluebird 4 (m,f) flying to ground from shade trees at edge of golf course, ELG.

Wrentit 2 vocal in adjacent chaparral hillsides, WEL.

California Thrasher 1 song, ruderal edge of golf course and brushy field, ELG.

European Starling 4 vocal atop cottonwood, WEL; 3 vocal in cottonwoods, EEL.

Phainopepla 1-2 calls (unseen) WEL, ELG.

Orange-crowned Warbler 10 calls, foraging in cottonwoods and willows with YEWA, WEL, EEL.

Nashville Warbler 2 (m; imm) foraging in young and mature cottonwoods with other warblers, WEL, EEL (photo).

Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) male east Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sep 2012

Virginia's Warbler 1 (m) 0940 hrs. an adult male showing white underparts with contrasting yellow undertail coverts; gray upperparts and eyering. Foraging with OCWA and COBU in sapling cottonwood near shore. Disappeared before I could obtain a photo. Second record for Elizabeth Lake (14 September, 2011).

Yellow Warbler 15 (m,f) calls; active in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods and willows throughout the north side of the lake, WEL, EEL.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 1 calls, mature riparian near pond, WEL.

Common Yellowthroat 15 (m,f) active, vocal in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 2 (m, f) (probably many more) vocal, active with other warblers in subcanopy and lower levels of willows and cottonwoods, WEL, EEL.

California Towhee 3 calls; active around gardens, SD.

Song Sparrow 30 active, vocal in marsh, riparian and ruderal edge around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1-2 calls, ruderal field at edge of shore, WEL.

White-crowned Sparrow 1 (gambeli) foraging on the ground near LAGO, ELG. (photo) fos.

White-crowned Sparrow ( Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sep 2012

Western Tanager 2 (f) in subcanopy of mature cottonwoods, EEL; another in a shade tree at edge of golf course, ELG.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 called several times (unseen) from canopy of mature cottonwood, EEL.

Red-winged Blackbird 35 (m,f) flying in small flocks around the lakes; landing in marsh and riparian areas.

Tricolored Blackbird 1 (imm m) with RWBL perched on a snag at the shoreline, EEL.

Brewer's Blackbird 40 (m,f) fly, call; mostly foraging on shorelines around the lake.

House Finch 15 foraging on ground; vocal in trees at edge of golf course, ELG.

Lesser Goldfinch 10 vocal, riparian canopies, WEL; cottonwoods, EEL.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 10 (m,f, imm) adults and young foraging together on ground in ruderal edge of golf course, ELG (photo).

Lawrence's Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei) adult and immature, east Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 13 Sept. 2012

House Sparrow 5-10 vocal in adjacent suburbs, ELG.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 Elizabeth Lake (52 Species)

Weather: Fair; 58F to 72F. Wind WSW 0 - 7 mph.

Time: 0650 - 0855 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Northwest Elizabeth Lake (WEL). I walked along the nw shore of the main (west) lake and on a footpath on the south side of the west pond, through the edge of a ruderal field and riparian woodland. No other people were present in the survey area; conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations (0650-0740 hrs.).

2) The northeast corner and eastern shoreline of Elizabeth Lake (EEL). From a roadside shoulder parking next to a partially collapsed chain-link fence on Elizabeth Lake Rd., west of the intersection of Munz Ranch Road, I walked the northeast shoreline, exposed mudflats, open water, riparian and ruderal edge habitat..My survey included the southand southeast portions of the lake but was limited by the use of only a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. Numerous ducks (Northern Shoveler and Mallard) were at the east end of the lake, which had not been clearly visible during my prior survey of August, 30, 2012 (see notes below). The relatively low water level of the lake had left a widely exposed shoreline around most of the north, south and eastern perimeter, attracting many waterbirds (0745 -0827). 3) Elizabeth Lake Golf Course and surrounding ruderal fields, suburbs and riparian woodland at the northwest corner of Elizabeth Lake Road and Ranch Club Road (ELG). I walked through the mature riparian woodland behind the abandoned home at the nwc and around to the bend in Ranch Club Road. I also surveyed the western edge of the golf course, playing fields and suburbs. Sand Rock Drive and the earthen dam separating the east and west sections of Elizabeth Lake were not surveyed today due to time constraints (0831 - 0855)..

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Northern Shoveler (88), Northern Pintail (2), Red-necked Phalarope (35), Caspian Tern (1), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), Phainopepla (1), Lincoln's Sparrow (2), Savannah Sparrow (2), Tricolored Blackbird (2), and Lawrence's Goldfinch (8).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 25 WEL; 150 around the edges of the lake, EEL.

Northern Shoveler 8 WEL; 80 flushed from east end of lake, EEL.

Northern Pintail 2 (f) on ne shore with mallards, EEL.

Cinnamon Teal 4 (f) individuals swimming togethe near shorer, EEL.

Ruddy Duck 8 (m,f) swimming, resting, se EEL.

California Quail 2 calls, WEL; 2 calls, ELG.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 perched on a snag in the shallows, EEL

Great Blue Heron 1 WEL; 3 on shore, EEL.

Great Egret 1 WEL; 2 on shore, EEL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) on shore of small pond, WEL; 2 (1 ad) fly, call EEL.

Turkey Vulture 1 (imm) on northeast shore, EEL.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad) fly, calls, WEL.

American Coot 4 WEL; 60, EEL.

Killdeer 1 WEL; 10 on shore, EEL.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 WEL; 8 EEL.

Red-necked Phalarope 35 swimming in small circles near ne shore, EEL.

California Gull 1 (C3) flying around east shore, EEL.

Caspian Tern 1 (ad) flying over lake, calls, EEL.

Belted Kingfisher 1 call, fly, WEL; 1 call, fly, EEL.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, WEL; 2 calls, EEL.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, WEL.

Northern Flicker 2 fly, call, ELG.

Black Phoebe 2 WEL; 3 vocal; perched on low snags on ahore EEL.

Say's Phoebe 1 sally-flycatching from wooden fence, ELG.

Western Scrub-jay 5 WEL; 8 EEL.

American Crow 4 WEL; 8 EEL; 6 ELG.

Common Raven 3 on roadkilled small mammal, WEL.

Cliff Swallow 8 circling high above residential hillside, ELG.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, WEL; 2 calls, EEL. 1 calls, ELG.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, riparian woodland, WEL; 1 calls, mature cottonwoods, ELG.

Bewick's Wren 1 climbing cottonwood, WEL; 2 calls, edge of riparian, EEL.

House Wren 1 song, cottonwoods at edge of marsh, WEL.

Wrentit 2 song, adjacent hillside chaparral, WEL.

California Thrasher 1 song, adjacent chaparral, WEL.

European Starling 5 riparian woodland, WEL; 10 riparian woodland and edge, ELG.

Phainopepla 1 calls, riparian edge of lake, WEL.

Yellow Warbler 2 calls, tall cottonwoods, WEL.

Common Yellowthroat 1 calls, marsh at edge of small pond, WEL. song, calls, riparian-marsh, EEL.

Wilson's Warbler 2 foraging in canopy and subcanopy of cottonwoods, WEL; 2 song, riparian woodland, EEL.

California Towhee 2 calls, chaparral-riparian, EEL.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, edge of ruderal field, WEL; 1 calls, edge of field and drainage ditch, ELG.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal, marsh, edge of riparian, WEL; 4 vocal, marsh-riparian edge, EEL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 foraging together on path through lakeside second-growth, WEL.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 calls in subcanopy of cottonwoods, WEL.

Lazuli Bunting 1 (f) flying over ruderal field, ELG.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 (m,f) vocal in flight WEL; 25 (m,f) vocal flock in cottonwoods and adjacent shoreline, EEL; 10 (m,f) on utility wires, ELG.

Tricolored Blackbird 2 (imm male) on utility line near RWBL, ELG.

Brewer's Blackbird 6 (m,f) on shore, EEL; 10 on playing field and adjacent ruderal fields, ELG.

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f) on shore, n EEL.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 foraging together on sunflowers with LAGO, ELG.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 foraging in canopy of cottonwoods, WEL; 5 foraging on sunflowers, ELG.

House Sparrow 10 vocal in adjacent suburbs.

AUGUST 30, 2012 Elizabeth Lake (48 Species)

Weather: Fair; 70F to 87F. Wind WSW 0 - 7 mph.

Time: 0704 - 1012 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Elizabeth Lake Golf Course (ELG). I walked through the course on the west side, surveying mature cottonwoods, fairways and three small ponds (one nearly completely dry). No other people were present on the golf course during my survey. The golf course has been closed to the public for about two years. I included the periperal suburbs on the east side of the course (mostly ruderal fields) and the east edge of the adjacent cottonwood area at the northwest corner of Ranch Club Drive and Elizabeth Lake Rd.(0704 -0746 hrs.). 2) Sandrock Drive (SD). I parked at the west end of Sandrock Drive and walked the fence line riparian strip, including the earthen dam separating east and west Elizabeth Lake. Habitats surveyed included, suburban gardens, ruderal fields, cottonwood-willow riparian, freshwater marsh, shoreline and open water. A few people were walking the fence line during the survey, some with leashed dogs. The lake water level was relatively low, exposing significant mudflats and sandy shores around the lake. Shorelines had numerous ducks (i,.e. mallards) and a few other waterbirds (e.g. Black-crowned Night Heron, Western and Baird's Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper). Relatively few waterbirds were in the central parts of the lake. 3) Northwest Elizabeth Lake (WEL): I walked along the nw shoreline, then through the mature riparian woodland to the edge of a chaparral-ruderal field ecotone on the south side. The small pond in the northwest corner had a relatively low water level that left a wide shoreline on the north side. Wilson Snipe was the only species found here that was new for the day-list. Except for auto traffic and increasing winds, conditions were fair during the survey for identifying bird vocalizations. I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Northern Shoveler (13), Wilson's Snipe (1), Baird's Sandpiper (1), Townsend's Warbler (1) and Tricolored Blackbird (10).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 200 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake SD..

Northern Shoveler 13 (f) a tight flock swimming near the dam, SD.

California Quail 6 ELG; 2 SD.

Western Grebe 5 a loose flock on the lake, ne SD.

Great Blue Heron 2 one flushed from pond ; others on shore, n, SD.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) vocal; one imm on shoreline; adult in trees, nw SD.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, SD.

American Kestrel 1 flying, calls, SD.

American Coot 40 scattered around edges of the lake, SD, WEL.

Killdeer 2 on fairway near pond, ELG; 3 on shore, SD.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 flushed from shoreline, nw, SD.

Western Sandpiper 1 (ad) foraging on shoreline near BASA, nw SD.

Baird's Sandpiper 1 (imm) foraging in slightly deeper water at shoreline near WESA, on northwest side of the dam (photo), SD.

Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) immature Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 30 August, 2012

Wilson's Snipe 1 on shore of small pond, nw WEL.

Eurasian Collared Dove 8 suburban utility wires and poles, ELG, SD.

Mourning Dove 1 calls, SD.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, ELG; 2 calls, SD; 1 (f) foraging at 15 ft. on trunk of mature cottonwood, WEL.

Northern Flicker 2 calls, ELG, SD.

Black Phoebe 20 ubiquitous , edges of ponds, lake, riparian; vocal.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calls, ELG.

Western Kingbird 1 low perch near shore, nw SD.

Western Scrub-jay 2 ELG; 2 calls, fly, riparian, SD.

American Crow 20 in fields and edge of suburbs, ELG, SD.

Common Raven 1 flying over, SD.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, SD.

Bushtit 2 vocal, SD; 8 moving through tangled undergrowth, WEL.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls from mature cottonwoods, ELG.

Bewick's Wren 1 vocal, riparian, SD.

House Wren 1 song, riparian near BEWR, SD.

Western Bluebird 2 vocal, ELG.

European Starling 80 ubiquitous, especially, ELG, SD.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 calls from garden trees, SD.

Yellow Warbler 2 (m) alternate singing while foraging in subcanopy of mature cottonwoods, SD.

Townsend's Warbler 1 song, foraging in subcanopy and lower middle level of cottonwoods, SD (photo).

Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi) south Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles County, CA 30 August, 2012

Wilson's Warbler 1 song (unseen) , mature riparian with YEWA, s SD.

California Towhee 2 calls, edge of riparian, SD.

Lark Sparrow 10 a vocal flock flying from ELG to SD.

Song Sparrow 12 vocal; ubiquitous in marsh-riparian areas.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (m) calls, flying through riparian woodland, ELG.

Lazuli Bunting 1 distinctive buzzy call from adjacent yard with sunflower garden and HOFI, SD.

Red-winged Blackbird 80 (m,f; imm) on utility lines, on fairways, in marsh, edge of ponds, lake, ELG, SD.

Tricolored Blackbird 10 (f, imm) mixed in with RWBL at edge of pond and on adjacent utility lines, ELG.

Brewer's Blackbird 60 (m,f) foraging on fairways, edge of pond and lake, ELG, SD.

Great-tailed Grackle 6 in marsh at sw edge of lake; vocal, SD.

Bullock's Oriole 1 calls (unseen) dense riparian (cottonwood-willow), SD.

House Finch 20 vocal, ubiquitous, ELG, SD, WEL.

Lesser Goldfinch 5 vocal, edge of garden and in adjacent riparian woods, SD.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, suburban gardens, SD.

JULY 8, 2012 Elizabeth Lake (33 Species)

Weather: Fair: 55F to 70F; no wind.

Time: 0800 - 1020 hrs.

Observers: Dan Byrne and I.

Areas Covered: 1) Elizabeth Lake Golf Course (ELG). We walked eastward across the course, surveying mature cottonwoods, fairways, two small ponds with marshy edges and adjacent ruderal fields (0800 - 0910 hrs.). 2) Sand Rock Drive (SR). We walked the fence line separating the riparian lake-side from the adjscent suburban gardens and ruderal fields. We also included the levee separating the lake into eastern and western portions. Habitats surveyed included open water, freshwater marsh, cottonwood-willow riparian, shoreline, ruderal fields and adjacent suburban gardens (0915 - 1008 hrs.). 3) Our last survey site today was the northwest corner of EL, including chaparral, riparian, a small, secluded pond, shoreline and open water (WEL: 1016 - 1030 hrs.)..A few fishermen were on the shoreline of the lake; some people were walking leashed dogs; one individual was riding a horse (SR). Conditions were good for finding and identifying birds.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included Gadwall (4), Green Heron (1) and Caspian Tern (3).

BIRDS NOTED:

Gadwall 4 (m,f) WEL.

Mallard 10 (m,f) SR; WEL.

California Quail 3 SR.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 SR.

Great Blue Heron 1 marsh, SR.

Green Heron 1 flushed flying, ELG.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) flushed from small pond, ELG.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad, imm) fly, call, ELG, SR.

American Coot 3 SR.

Caspian Tern 3 flying low around lake, SR.

Eurasian Collared Dove 8 ELG, SR.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 calls, SR.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, ELG, SR.

Black Phoebe 1 WEL.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calls, WEL.

Western Scrub-jay 3 calls, SR, WEL.

American Crow 30 ubiquitouslarge flock on golf course: ELG, SR, WEL.

Oak Titmouse 2 SR, WEL.

Bushtit 12 SR, WEL.

American Robin 2 ELG.

Western Bluebird 6 (m,f) ELG, SR, WEL.

European Starling 10 ELG, SR.

Phainopepla 1 (m) WEL.

Common Yellowthroat 2 small pond, ELG.

Lark Sparrow 10 feeding on ground, ELG.

Song Sparrow 1 dense riparian, SR.

Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (f, imm) riparian, SR.

Red-winged Blackbird 35 (m,f imm) ELG, SR.

Brewer's Blackbird 6 (m,f) ELG.

Great-tailed Grackle 3 ELG.

Brown-headed Cowbird 3 ELG, SR.

House Finch 2 SR.

Lesser Goldfinch 6 foraging on sunflowers, ELG-SR.

House Sparrow 6 in ruderal field, ELG.

MAY 26, 2012 Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes (60 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 46F to 52F. Winds W 7 - 15 mph.

Time: 0820 - 1304 hrs.

Observers: Dan Byrne and I.

Areas Covered: 1) Elizabeth Lake Golf Course and adjacent riparian woodland (ELG). We walked along the western margin of the golf course surveying fairways, mature cottonwoods, two small ponds with cattails and ruderal fields. Included was a patch of mature cottonwoods at the southwest corner of Ranch Club Drive and Elizabeth Lake Rd. (0820 - 1000 hrs.). 2) Sandorck Drive (SR). We walked along the eastern perimeter of the riparian strip on Sandrock Drive, including the levee-dam separating EL into east and west sections. We surveyed riparian, marsh, shorelines, open water and adjacent gardens and ruderal fields. Several fishermen were on the shores; people with leashed dogs were walking along Sandrock Drive (1008 - 1215 hrs.)

3) We birded the trail through a riparian patch at the northwest corner of EL, surveying open water, marsh, a small pond, chaparral and open field (WEL: 1226-1250 hrs.). 4) West Lake Hughes at Trail K and an overlook of the lake on Elizabeth Lake Rd. We surveyed adjacent pine-oak woodland, gardens, ruderal fields, open water and marsh from the vehicle (WLH: 1255 - 1304 hrs.).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wood Duck (3), White-throated Swift (10), Willow Flycatcher (1) and Tricolored Blackbird (12).

BIRDS NOTED .

Wood Duck 2 (m,f) at the edge of the nw pond with Mallards; flushed, flew west, ELG; 1 (m) dabbling in small pond, WEL (photo).

Wood Duck (male) West Elizabeth Lake, LACO CA 26 May 2012

Gadwall 4 (m,f) two pair at edge of nw pond and drainage ditch, ELG.

Mallard 10 (m,f) mostly paired, ELG; 20 SR; 5 WEL.

Ruddy Duck 10 middle and edges of lake, SR.

California Quail 5 ELG; 2 WEL.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming in pond, WEL.

Western Grebe 6 (3-4 nearly full-grown young with ad), se SR.

Green Heron 1 (ad, alt. plmg.) flushed from drainage ditch, ELG.

Great Blue Heron 2 edge of lake, s SR.

Turkey Vulture 2 soaring over edge of lake, SR, WEL.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 chased by crows, ELG.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 chased by a raven, n WEL.

American Coot 30 edge of lake, SR, WEL.

Killdeer 1 fly, call, ELG.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 shore, n SR.

Caspian Tern 4 (ad) flying w, low, n SR.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 WEL.

Mourning Dove 3 flying, riparian, WEL.

White-throated Swift 10 flying with CLSW over edge of lake and foothills, s, n SR.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (f) riparian edge, ELG.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 interior and edge of willow-cottonwood riparain, ELG.

Belted Kingfisher 1 calls (unseen) pond, WEL.

Acorn Woodpecker 2 calls (unseen) WLH.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, ELG; 1 (m) foraging on empty suet feeder in yard, WLH.

Hairy Woodpecker 1 calls (unseen) dense riparian woodland, ELG.

Northern Flicker 1 calls, riparian, ELG.

Western Wood Pewee 1 mid-understory, ELG; 1 on fence, SR.

Willow Flycatcher 1 active in middle to lower level of cottonwood-willow understory, ELG.

Black Phoebe 1 ELG.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calls, WEL.

Cassin's Vireo calls in subcanopy of cottonwood, ELG.

Western Scrub-jay 4 call, fly, ELG, SR.

American Crow 12 ELG, SR; 4 WEL.

Common Raven 1 chasing RTHA over hillside, nw SR.

Tree Swallow 4 flying over lake, SR, WEL.

Cliff Swallow 800 (conserv. est.) ubiquitous, SR, WEL; many resting in tules, WEL; Two nests remaining under eaves; both occupied, SR.

Bushtit 6 active in shrubs, ELG.

House Wren 4 calls, song, riparian, ELG; 2 WEL.

Marsh Wren 1 calls, song (briefly) s SR.

Swainson's Thrush 1 dense, shady understory, ELG.

American Robin 1 flushed from cottonwood, ELG.

Western Bluebird 4 (m,f) ELG; 2 SR.

European Starling 30 ELG; SR.

Yellow Warbler 2 (m,f) , riparian; repeated calls from lower limbs of cottonwood and willow, as if agitated by us, ELG, SR.

Common Yellowthroat 1 song, s SR.

Wilson's Warbler 5 (m,f) vocal, riparian, ELG; 3 SR; 1 WEL.

Spotted Towhee 1 calls, song, WEL.

California Towhee 1 calls, WEL.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal, active, riparian and edge, ELG; 3 SR; 2 WEL.

Western Tanager 2 (m,f) garden trees, SR.

Black-headed Grosbeak 2 calls, riparian, SR.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 in marsh around pond, ELG; 6 marsh at edge of lake, s SR.

Tricolored Blackbird 12 (m,f) foraging in ruderal field, ELG.

Brewer's Blackbird 4 (m,f) ELG; 4 SR.

Great-tailed Grackle 6 (m,f) ELG, SR;; 6 WEL.

Brown-headed Cowbird 4 (m,f) calls, fly, riparian, edge of lake, ELG, SR

Bullock's Oriole 3 (m,f) edge of riparian and gardens, SR.

House Finch 10 (m,f) ELG; 10 SR; 4 WEL.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 calls, active in cottonwood canopy, ELG, SR.

House Sparrow 20 gardens, ruderal fields, SR.

MAY 8, 2012 Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes (54 Species)

Weather: Fair; 48F to 65 F; wind ENE 2 mph.

Time: 0720 - 0925 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Elizabeth Lake golf course and adjacent riparian woodland (ELG). I walked along the western margin of the golf course, surveying fairways, cottonwood tree-rows, ruderal fields and an adjacent patch of mature cottonwoods at the southwest corner of Ranch Club Drive and Elizabeth Lake Rd (0720 - 0805 hrs.). 2) Sandrock Drive (SR) and walked along the fence line, then down to the levee-dam separating EL into east and west sections. Two fishermen were present during the survey (0812-0850 hrs). 3) I drove to the northwest corner of EL and parked, listening and watching for birds in the adjacent chaparral, riparian, freshwater marsh, shoreline and open water (WEL:: 0859 - 0914 hrs.). My last stop was at the south end of Trail K in Lake Hughes (LH: 0918 -0925 hrs.).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Tricolored Blackbird (6) and Lazuli Bunting (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) edge of lake, ne SR.

Mallard 6 (m,f) pairs in backwater areas, ELG; 8 near shore, SR.

Ruddy Duck 4 (alt. plmg,) sw edge of lake, SR.

California Quail 2 calls, ELG; 4 brushy edge of riparian, SR.

Eared Grebe 3 one pai (alt. & bsc. plmg.)r swimming and foraging (picking something off the lake surface), sw, SR (photo).

Eared Grebe southwest Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 8 May 2012

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calling, flying, subcanopy of tall cottonwoods, ELG; 1 calls, SR.

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole, Elizabeth Lake Rd., WEL.

American Coot 15 on golf course near pond, ELG; 25 swimming near edge of marsh, SR.

Killdeer 1 calls, ELG; 1 calls, SR.

Spotted Sandpiper 2 (alt. plmg.) shoreline, SR.

Mourning Dove 2 flying, ELG.

Eurasian Collared Dove 8 calls, flying, ELG; SR.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 calls, ELG; 1 calls, SR.

Northern Flicker 1 calls, cottonwoods, ELG.

Downy Woodpecker 1 (f) foraging in cottonwood, calls, ELG.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, drumming, cottonwoods, ELG, SR.

Acorn Woodpecker 2 calls, mixed woodland, LH.

Black Phoebe 2 edge of riparian, SR.

Western Scrub-jay 2 fly, call, SR; WEL.

American Crow 20 fly, calls; chasing a raven; foraging in fields, ELG, SR, WEL.

Common Raven 4 flying over lake, SR, WEL.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 foraging on cottonwood trunk, ELG.

Tree Swallow 4 flying low over lake, sw SR.

Barn Swallow 2 flying low over mowed field and drainage ditch, ELG.

Cliff Swallow 20 continuing to nest under eaves of home (see previous survey notes and photo).

Western Bluebird 4 (m,f) edge of riparian, ELG; SR.

American Robin 2 (m,f) apparently nesting in large cottonwood, ELG.

Catharus sp.? 1 olive brown, briefly in view, flying into dense undergrowth, WEL.

Oak Titmouse 2 calls, cottonwoods, ELG, SR.

Bushtit 4 calls, active in understory of cottonwoods, ELG.

Wrentit 1 song, riparian edge of chaparral, WEL.

Bewick's Wren 2 song, SR.

House Wren 4 song, active in understory of cottonwoods, ELG, SR, WEL.

California Thrasher 1 song, hillside chaparral, n WEL.

European Starling 30 foraging on lawns, fields; in cottonwoods, ELG, SR.

Vireo sp.? singing like Cassin's/Plumbeous in canopy of willow (unseen).

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (f) riparian, SR.

Yellow Warbler 4 song, riparian, ELG, SR.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 song, cottonwoods, ELG.

Wilson's Warbler 20 song, calls, riparian areas throughout.

Common Yellowthroat 1 song, edge of marsh-riparian, ELG.

Western Tanager 1 calls, canopy of cottonwoods, SR.

Song Sparrow 4 calls, song, riparian-marsh, ELG; 3 SR.

Bullock's Oriole 3 (m,f) cottonwoods, ELG, SR.

Red-winged Blackbird 30 marsh-riparian, song.ELG; SR; WEL.

Tricolored Blackbird 6 (m,f) flying toward residential area, ELG.

Brewer's Blackbird 20 (m,f) foraging in fields, ELG, SR.

Great-tailed Grackle 5 edge of riparian, ELG, SR.

Brown-headed Cowbird 6 fly, call, ELG, SR.

House Finch 4 calls, song, ELG; 2 SR.

Lazuli Bunting 1 (m) shoreline, n SR.

Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (f) in cottonwood, ELG; 2 song, cottonwoods, SR.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 (m,f) in ornamental conifer, calls, SR.

House Sparrow 4 yards, gardens and riparian edge of lake, ELG,SR.

APRIL 23, 2012 Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes (62 Species)

Weather: Mostly fair with a heavy marine fog layer on surrounding foothills; 63F. WSW winds increasing to 20 mph.

Time: 0845 - 1220 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Elizabeth Lake golf course and adjacent riparian woodland (ELG: 0845-1004 hrs.). I walked on the west perimeter of the golf course, which has been closed for several months, but has regular watering and maintenance. I included a surevey of the adjacent cottonwood riparian woodland (about 10 acres on the southwest corner of Ranch Club Drive and Elizabeth Lake Rd.), which has been recently made accessible by a bulldozed clearing along a drainage ditch on the south side. This secluded riparian woodland has many 50-60 ft. cottonwoods with a closed canopy and sparse understory, and is highly attractive to woodpeckers (Nuttall's, Downy, Hairy and Northern Flicker). 2) Sandrock Drive (SR: 1010-1058 hrs.). I walked along Sandrock Drive at the west end, including the dam separating Elizabeth Lake into west and eastern sections. A few people were present in this area during my survey, including a woman with an aggressive, unleashed dog, walkers and a fisherman on the dam. 3) Southwest Elizabeth Lake (WEL: 1108- 1150 hrs.): I surveyed riparian, ruderal fields, shoreline, open water, freshwater marsh and hillside chaparral by walking trails through this area. A few fishermen were on the shore during my survey. 4) Lake Hughes from Trail K to the west edge of the lake (LH: 1155-1220 hrs). I walked on the side of roadways, surveying pine -oak woodland, gardens ruderal fields, fresh water marsh and open water. Auto traffic was moderate during my survey. Conditions were generally good everywhere for finding and identifying birds by their vocalizations. I used a 10x40 binocular and DSLR camera and canister of dog repellent.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Gadwall (6), American Wigeon (2), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Vaux Swift (1), Ash-throated Flycatcher (1), Golden-crowned Sparrow (1), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1) Tricolored Blackbird (25), Western Tanager (1) and Lawrence's Goldfinch (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) in drainage ditch ELG; 4 edge of marsh and in small pond (m,f) WEL.

American Wigeon 2 (m,f) on lawn at edge of pond, ELG.

Mallard 30 (m,f) ubiquitous; mostly in pairs.

Cinnamon Teal 6 edge of marsh, SR.

Ruddy Duck 20 (m,f; alt. plmg,) resting on lake near marsh, SR.

California Quail 4 ELG; 2 SR; 2 WEL.

Eared Grebe 6 (one pair in alt. plmg.) open water near dam, SR (photo).

Eared Grebe (alternate plumage) Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April, 2012

Western/Clark's Grebe 1 (head markings not visible) resting on the lake, LH

Double-crested Cormorant 1 flying, LH.

Turkey Vulture 2 soaring over adjacent hillsides, WEL.

Cooper's Hawk 1 flying by CLSW colony and followed by them, SR.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 calls, flying, ELG, SR.

American Kestrel 1 hovering over open field, WEL.

American Coot 300 ubiquitous near and in water.

Killdeer 1 on edge of fairway, ELG.

Mourning Dove 1 flying, ELG.

Eurasian Collared Dove 4 fly, call, ELG, SR.

Rock Pigeon 6 flying, SR.

Vaux's Swift 1 flying amongst CLSW, SR.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 fly, call, perched in cottonwood understory, ELG.

Acorn Woodpecker 3 fly, call; on utility pole, LH.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 6 fly, call, drumming, ELG, SR.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, cottonwoods, ELG.

Hairy Woodpecker 1 calls, fly, cottonwoods, ELG.

Northern Flicker 3 fly, calls, cottonwoods, ELG; WEL.

Black Phoebe 1 sally-flycatching at edge of pond, WEL.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calling from hillside chaparral, WEL.

Western Kingbird 2 fly, calls, atop trees at edge of field, WEL.

Western Scrub-jay 1 SR; 2 WEL.

American Crow 8 EL; SR; 2 WEL; 4 LH.

Common Raven 3 soaring over adjacent hills, SR.

Tree Swallow 5 flying over lake, SR; 2 WEL.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 on utility wire, SR.

Cliff Swallow 50 nesting under eaves of home at the southwest corner of Lesina and Sandrock Dr., SR; a female HOSP also trying to use the same nest site (photo).

Cliff Swallow nesting colony, swc of Lesina and Sandrock Dr., Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April, 2012

Barn Swallow 2 flying near dam, SR.

Western Bluebird 4 (m,f) ELG; 3 SR; 2 WEL (photo).

Western Bluebird (female) Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April 2012

Oak Titmouse 2 calls, riparian, ELG; 2 calls, SR; 1 calls, riparian understory, WEL.

Bushtit 2 calls, edge of riparian, WEL.

Wrentit 1 song, chaparral hillside, WEL

Bewick's Wren 1 singing in understory of cottonwoods near HOWR, ELG.

House Wren 3 (ad, 1 imm. showing cinnamon upperparts) active, vocal in understory of dead branches, ELG (photo); 2 song, calls, WEL.

House Wren (prealternate molt?) Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April, 2012

Northern Mockingbird 1 song, LH.

California Thrasher 1 song, hillside chaparral, WEL.

European Starling 4 ELG; 2 WEL; 4 LH.

Common Yellowthroat 1 song, ELG.

Wilson's Warbler 2 song, ELG; 1 SR; 1 WEL.

Western Tanager 1 (m) subcanopy of riparian woods, WEL (photo).

Western Tanager (male) west Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April 2012

California Towhee 1 calls, WEL.

Spotted Towhee 3 calls, song, WEL.

Song Sparrow 3 ELG (photo); 2 SR; 2 WEL.

Song Sparrow Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April, 2012

Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 song in garden at edge of woodland, Trail K, LH.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 song, fly, marsh-riparian edge, ELG; 20 marsh, SR; 5, WEL; 4 LH.

Tricolored Blackbird 25 (mostly males) vocal, flying in tight flock from utility wire to nearby tree, ELG (photo).

Tricolored Blackbird (male) Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 23 April, 2012

Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 repeated song, marsh-riparian edge, ELG.

Brewer's Blackbird 20 (m,f) on fairways, lawns, bare ground, ELG; SR.

Great-tailed Grackle 4 fly, call, marsh-riparian, ELG; 2 fly, call, marsh, SR.

Brown-headed Cowbird 4 calls, fly, ELG; 2 WEL; 2 LH.

Bullock's Oriole 2 (m) vocal, active in canopy of cottonwoods, SR; calls, edge of chaparral, WEL.

House Finch 4 (m,f) vocal, fly, ELG; 10 in gardens, fields, riparian, SR.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 fly, call, cottonwood canopy, ELG; 2 SR; 2 LH.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 song, cottonwoods in garden, LH.

House Sparrow 2 marsh at edge of cleared drainage ditch, ELG; 4 SR; 5 LH.

MARCH 9, 2012 Elizabeth Lake and Lake Hughes (56 Species)

Weather: Fair; 39F to 61F. Wind ENE 0 - 8 mph.

Time: 0731 -1111 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Elizabeth Lake Golf Course (ELG). I walked around the west side of the golf course, surveying cottonwood-willow riparian, ruderal fields and ditches, fairways and small ponds. A few pieces of earth moving equipment was parked at the edge of the golf course. 2) Sandrock Road (SR). I walked on the south border of Elizabeth Lake, from the east end of Sandrock Road to the western end, surveying riparian, gardens, ruderal fields, fresh water marsh, shoreline and open water. A few people were walking (one with an unleashed Rotweiler) through this area during my survey. 3) Northwest Elizabeth Lake (WEL): I surveyed a small pond, riparian, marsh, shoreline and open water in the northwest corner of Elizabeth Lake. A few fishermen were present on shore; the survey area was otherwise quiet and undisturbed during my visit. 4) Lake Hughes (LH). I made a brief stop on Trail K and another about 0.1 mile west of the Rock Inn on Elizabeth Lake Rd., surveying riparian, pine-oak woodland, gardens, marsh and open water.

I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey today. Conditions were everywhere good for identifying bird vocalizations, despite moderately heavy traffic on local streets. Several residents in Elizabeth Lake stopped to tell me about three bald eagles residing in the area.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Bald Eagle (2) and Mountain Chickadee (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) swimming in pond with NOSH, WEL.

American Wigeon 40 (m,f) foraging on grass at edge of pond, ELG.

Mallard 20 (m,f) edges of the lake, SR; WEL.

Northern Shoveler 8 (m,f) dabbling in pond, WEL.

Canvasback 16 (m,f) resting, swimming, southeast lake, SR.

Bufflehead 6 (m,f) diving, open water, SR; 2 LH.

Ruddy Duck 350 (m,f a few in trans. alt.plmg.) edges of lake, SR, WEL.

California Quail 4 calls, ELG.

Double-crested Cormorant 60 many peerched on low snags at east end of lake, SR; a few diving, WEL.

Great Blue Heron 1 edge of marsh, SR.

Great Egret 1 north shore, SR.

Turkey Vulture 2 soaring over east end of lake, SR.

Bald Eagle 2 (ad) one perched in tall cottonwood, se shore, SR; another flying east over lake. Residents reported three individuals here this week.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over field, w (photo).

Northern Harrier (female) southwest Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 9 March, 2012

Cooper's Hawk 1 (f) flying through woods, near pond, WEL.

Red-shouldered Hawk 3 (ad) fly; on utility pole, calsl, ELG, WEL.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) soaring over hillside, WEL.

American Coot 120 shore and shallows throughout the area.

Killdeer 1 edge of fairway, ELG.

California Gull 10 (ad) one with a fish on lake surface, SR; others flying low over lake.

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

Eurasian Collared Dove 6 fly, call; on utility lines, ELG, SR.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 (m) perched atop tall shrubs (e.g. elderberry) and on utility line, SR.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 4 (m,f) male drumming on utility pole; another responding on dead willow trunk, SR.

Northern Flicker 4 calls, foraging on willow trunks, SR.

Black Phoebe 4 edge of riparian and marsh, SR, WEL, LH.

Western Scrub-jay 6 fly, calls, yards and riparian, SR.

American Crow 12 fly, call; one gathering sticks for nesting material, SR.

Common Raven 6 fly, call; a pair harrassing a BAEA atop a large cottonwood, SR.

Tree Swallow 6 fly, call; a pair exiting a nest cavity in a dead willow; another pair interacting on a branch, riparian, SR (photo).

Tree Swallow (mated pair? ) Southern Elizabeth Lake , Los Angeles County, CA 9 March, 2012

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls from riparian edge and cypress tree in yard, SR.

Oak Titmouse 6 calls, song, riparian, SR, WEL.

Bushtit 10 active, foraging on new buds and willow catkins, SR.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 visiting suet feeder in yard, LH.

Bewick's Wren 2 active, calls, song, edge of riparian, LH.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls, active in willows, SR.

American Robin 2 calls, fly, riparian, SR.

Western Bluebird 4 pair stripping willow bark for nest material (photo), SR.

Western Bluebird (female) south Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 9 March, 2012

Wrentit 1 calls, chaparral hillside, WEL.

Northern Mockingbird 1 singing, SR.

European Starling 60 active on ground, in willows, vocal; one in willow nest cavity above foraging NUWO, ELG, SR, WEL.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 12 (m,f) active, vocal in riparian, SR.

Spotted Towhee 1 brushy edge of field, ELG; 1, song, riparian thickets, WEL.

California Towhee 2 foraging beneath hedge, SR.

Song Sparrow 20 song, active, riparian, marsh, edge; gardens, SR (photo), WEL, LH.

Song Sparrow south Elizabeth Lake, LACO, CA 9 March, 2012

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 calls, undergrowth in willow riparian, SR.

White-crowned Sparrow 35 (ad, imm) open fields, edge, gardens, riparian, SR, WEL.

Dark-eyed Junco 1 riparian edge, SR; 2, riparian trail side, WEL.

Red-winged Blackbird 50 (m,f) vocal in marsh, riparian edge, south side of lake, SR, WEL, LH.

Tricolored Blackbird 3 (f) staying close in marsh; flying off together, SR.

Western Meadowlark 1 song, SR.

Brewer's Blackbird 40 (m,f) on golf course, in fields, shoreline, ELG, SR.

Great-tailed Grackle 4 (m) calls, marsh-riparian, SR.

House Finch 16 (m,f) vocal, riparian, gardens, fields, SR, WEL.

Lesser Goldfinch 8 vocal, tops of willows and cottonwoods, SR.

House Sparrow 5 around homes, ELG, SR.