Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the outer perimeter road in the west and southwest. About 60 fishermen were around the lake; several were in small motorboats on the lake. Auto traffic on the main lakeshore road was moderate to heavy.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Hooded Merganser (1), Horned Grebe (2), Western Grebe (2), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Rough-winged Swallow (1), Cliff Swallow (10) and Cactus Wren (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) swimming near the dam, e.

Mallard 12 (m,f) near shore around the lake.

Bufflehead 50 (m,f) in small flocks around the lake.

Hooded Merganser 1 (f) resting in a secluded corner of the lake near shore, se (photo).

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) se Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 25 Feb 2013

Ruddy Duck 60 scattered around the lake in small flocks; resting near the marsh, s.

Pied-billed Grebe 2 swimming in open water, s, e.

Horned Grebe 2 diving separately near the jetty (photo); a male Bufflehead followed some of the dives nw.

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 25 Feb 2013

Eared Grebe 16 diving around the edges of the lake.

Western Grebe 2 calls; swimming separately, nw.

Double-crested Cormorant 10 most resting on snags at the edge of the dam, e.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, se.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flew from sage scrub into cottonwood, nw; one adult soaring, e.

American Coot 40 around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 2 call, fly, e.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 (bsc. plmg.) on the edge of the jetty, nw (photo).

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 25 Feb 2013

California Gull 1,000 (95% ad.) most resting on lake; flying back and forth from Palmdale landfill.

Herring Gull 1 (C1) with CAGU on lake.

Mourning Dove 10 fly, n, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (m) perched atop a leafless branch, nw.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls in cottonwoods, se.

Northern (RS) Flicker 2 call, fly, nw, s.

Black Phoebe 2 low perch near water, nw, s.

Western (coastal) Scrub-jay 2 calls; perched atop a juniper, w (photo).

Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica superciliosa ) w Lake Palmdale, CA 25 Feb 2013

Common Raven 6 fly; in cottonwoods around the lake, n, e.

Tree Swallow 100 (consev. est.) ubiquitous; 0 - 100 ft. AGL; most flying low, dipping into surface, esp. around the edges of the lake.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 flying low, back and forth over the slough, s.

Cliff Swallow 10 flying low to medium high (80 ft.) over the marsh; not mixing with TRSW, nw.

Oak Titmouse 2 calls, cottonwoods, junipers, w, se.

Cactus Wren 2 calling alternately about 300m apart, n.

Bewick's Wren 4 scold calls as I approached, nw, s.

Northern Mockingbird 2 song, ne, n.

California Thrasher 2 song given atop a tall juniper; both singing but about 200 m apart, nw.

European Starling 30 vocal flocks foraging on lawns; recognizable imitations of Calif. Quail., n, w.

American Pipit 1 on edge of jetty, nw (photo).

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 25 Feb 2013

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 50 (m,f) vocal, active at all levels, ground to tree-tops.

Song Sparrow 5 song, riparian and marsh around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 50 (90% ad.) vocal, active on ground in brushy areas around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 20 (m) vocal from conspicuous perches over the marsh, nw, w.

Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) a vocal lek of 4 males in a small cottonwood, n.

House Finch 10 (m,f) vocal flocks in trees and brushy areas, w, s.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active in gardens and on lawns, n.

FEBRUARY 15, 2013 (37 Species)

Weather: Fair; 52F to 62 F; wind ENE 5 -25 mph.

Time: 0750 - 1030 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping to the outer perimeter road in the west and south. About 150 fishermen were around the lake; several motorboats were moving on the lake. Auto traffic on the interior lakeshore road was heavy. Increasing winds and traffic reduced my ability to find birds.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included Horned Grebe (2), Glaucous-winged Gull (1) and Herring Gull (4). At least 1,500 California Gulls were at the lake this morning; many commuting to and from the Palmdale landfill.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 1 (f) swimming near shore, n.

Mallard 2 (m,f) swimming near the dam, e.

Lesser Scaup 4 ((m,f) swimming with BUHE near the dam, se.

Bufflehead 50 (m,f) small flocks scattered around the edges of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 60 (m,f) around the edges of the lake.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 near shore, se.

Horned Grebe 2 diving near the jetty, nw.

Eared Grebe 12 pairs and singles scattered around the edges of the lake.

Double-crested Cormorant 2 flying low over the lake, nw, sw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 flying low into cottonwoods, se.

American Coot 25 around the edges of the lake.

Ring-billed Gull 6 flying low over the lake, sw, ne.

California Gull 1,500 (conserv. est.) (95% ad); most resting on the lake in a large flock; some flying to and from the Palmdale landfill.

Herring Gull 4 (C1, C2) flying over the lake and toward the landfill, sw.

Glaucous-winged Gull 1 (C1) relatively large size; broad wings with with pale primaries; flying low with several CAGU toward the middle of the lake.

Mourning Dove 25 scattered around the lake in willows over the marsh.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (m) perched in a creosote bush at roadside, nw.

Northern (RS) Flicker 2 calls; flushed from ground on the dam, ne.

Black Phoebe 1 hawking insects on the lawn next to the clubhouse.

Common Raven 25 one flock of about 12 circling over the dam, ne.

Horned Lark 2 calls, fly, se.

Tree Swallow 4 flying low over the marsh and lake; one in willow, nw.

Oak Titmouse 5 calls and song; brushy areas and woodland around the lake.

Verdin 1 repeated calls in saltbush scrub next to park n ride, nw.

Bushtit 3-6? calls, juniper scrub, w.

Bewick's Wren 2 scolding calls from chain-link fence as I approached, w.

California Thrasher 1 foraging on lawn next to clubhouse; singing from mulberry tree, n.

European Starling 20 foraging on lawn next to clubhouse; calls and song (with imitations of Western Meadowlark and Phainopepla), n.

American Pipit 1 flushed from edge of dam; called once, ne.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 4 (m,f) foraging on lawn next to clubhouse, n.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, edge of jetty, nw.

Song Sparrow 1 calls, marsh near jetty, nw.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 (ad) small flocks in brushy areas around the lake; foraging on lawn next to clubhouse, n.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 calls and song from willows in marsh, n, w.

Great-tailed Grackle 4 calls and song from tall perches over marsh, n.

House Finch 15 (m,f) calls and song; small flocks in riparian and juniper scrub around the lake.

House Sparrow 10 foraging on ground near clubhouse, n.

DECEMBER 22, 2012 (48 Species)

Weather: Fair; 40F to 60F; wind NNW 0 - 1 mph.

Time: 0830 - 1115 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, staying on the interior shoreline road in the western and southern sections. There was one mobile maintenance crew briefly in the south, and two people working on a western dock. Conditions were otherwise quiet and undisturbed on and around the lake.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Horned Grebe (2), Violet-green Swallow (1) and Cactus Wren (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 8 resting on the lake together, sec.

Gadwall 14 (m,f) pairs and single birds near shore, n, ne.

American Wigeon 10 (m,f) calls; swimming from shallows, ne.

Mallard 2 (f) swimming separately in open water, ne.

Northern Shoveler 8 (m,f) swimming in a tight flock, open water, ne.

Lesser Scaup 80 (m,f) loose flocks in open water around the lake.

Bufflehead 30 small flocks near shore and in open water around the lake; some intraspecific displays and aggression.

Ruddy Duck 150 (conserv. est). (m,f) loose flocks resting around the lake.

California Quail 10 flushed from brushy roadside, w.

Pied-billed Grebe 4 diving near shore and in open water around the lake.

Horned Grebe 2 one swimming and diving with four EAGR near the jetty, nw (photo).

Left: Horned Grebe(Podiceps auritus); Right: Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 22 Dec. 2012

Eared Grebe 8 swimming and diving, open water, n, nw (photo).

Western Grebe 2 swimming, open water, central.

Clark's Grebe 1 swimming, open water, west-central.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 dead and partially eviscerated on the south end of the jetty, nw.

Northern Harrier 1 (imm.) perched above marsh, flying over marsh, s (photo).

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) immature Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 22 Dec. 2012

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, ne.

Red-tailed Hawk 4 (3 ad; 1 imm); perched in trees around the lake; one ad. on a utility pole; immature dark phase (intermediate) flushed from a willow, s (photo).

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) immature intermediate dark phase; Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 22 Dec. 2012

American Coot 120 (conserv. est.) scattered flocks around the lake.

Killdeer 2 one on the jetty, in the nec of a flooded settling pond, n.

Least Sandpiper 2 foraging at the edge of the water in a settling pond, n.

California Gull 900 (conserv. est.) a large raft of about 95% adult CAGU in the middle of the lake; a few flying nw toward landfill.

Herring Gull 1 (possibly several more) C2 resting in the middle of the lake near a large flock of CAGU.

Rock Pigeon 10 flying in formation over the adjacent suburb, n.

Mourning Dove 6 one coming to the jetty to drink, nw.

Belted Kingfisher 2 flushed, calls, from riparian-marsh, s, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (m) calls; fly, foraging in a mature cottonwood, w

Northern (RS) Flicker 5 vocal, flying through riparian woods, w, s, se.

Black Phoebe 5 sallying from low perches at the edge of the marsh, nw, w, se.

Common Raven 5 fly, call, e.

Violet-green Swallow 1 flying low over the water and jetty, then higher over marsh, nw (photos). Very rare at this season in the Antelope Valley.

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) same individual in both photos; nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 22 Dec. 2012.

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls, active in pines and cottonwoods, ne.

Oak Titmouse 2 calls, in cottonwoods, se, ne.

Cactus Wren 1 calling repeatedly from a patch of Joshua Trees, ne.

Bewick's Wren 2 flushed from brushy roadside areas, w, se.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 vocal, active in deciduous trees at all levels, w, sw, se.

American Robin 2 calls; active in cottowood with parasitic mistletoe, se.

Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal, active around fruiting pyracantha near entrance, n.

European Starling 18 vocal, active in mulberry trees, n.

American Pipit 1 calls, fly, east side of dam, e.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 60 vocal, ubiquitous in all vegetation types; ground to canopy.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls from dense marsh-riparian, nw, w.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, weedy field next to RR tracks, e.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal, active in marsh-riparian and weedy areas around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 vocal, active in weedy roadside areas around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (m) calls from marsh; flying over dam, e.

House Finch 10 (m,f) foraging on roadway, e.

House Sparrow 10 foraging around picnic area and caretaker's garden, n.

DECEMBER 8, 2012 (47 Species)

Weather: Fair; 42F to 60F; wind WNW 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0734 - 1040 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping to the interior shoreline road in the west and south. Disturbance from human activities was localized to a leafblower in the picnic area next to the clubhouse, maintenance and light auto traffic in the west and south. The docks and shorelines were largely unoccupied and quiet; conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations. Duck hunting season continues through January on Wednesday, Sunday and federal holidays. Saturday seems to be optimal for bird surveys at Lake Palmdale. Many ducks were around the margins of the lake this morning, though most moved to open water (just beyond shotgun range) as I approached. Clusters of decoys, more or less representing several waterfowl species (some clearly unknown to science) were anchored near the docks on the west and south side; Ruddy Duck, Gadwall, Bufflehead and a few Lesser Scaup were observed swiming amongst the decoys, evidently having accepted the sympathetic imposters into their community.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Horned Grebe (4 - cont.) and Verdin (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 6 (m,f) swimming near shore, w, ne.

American Wigeon 8 (m,f) flushed from riparian edge of lake, ne.

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

Northern Shoveler 3 (f) swimming with RUDU, ne.

Canvasback 7 (m,f) resting near shore in loose flocks, nw, ne.

Ring-necked Duck 3 (m) swimming together, nw.

Lesser Scaup 40 (m,f) swimming in flocks near shore and in open water around the lake.

Bufflehead 25 (m,f) pairs and trios swimming, diving near shore around the lake.

Ruddy Duck 300 (m,f) most resting near shore; swimming in open water around the lake.

Pied-billed Grebe 10 diving near docks and marsh around the lake.

Horned Grebe 4 - cont. diving, open water and near the jetty, n (photo).

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) north Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 8 Dec. 2012

Eared Grebe 6 swimming, preening, diving, around the margins of the lake; some in center of lake.

Western Grebe 5 (ad) swimming, open water around the lake.

Clark's Grebe 1 swimming, s-central area.

Double-crested Cormorant 2 a pair diving in open water near the jetty, nw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 fly, call, cottonwoods, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 2 (ad) calls, cottonwoods, s, ne.

Americsn Coot 120 scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 1 on jetty, nw.

Least Sandpiper 9 foraging in a tight flock at the edge of the jetty and boat launch, nw.

California Gull 50 ( 85% ad; 15 % imm) resting on the lake; flying toward the dump, nw; one C2 (photo) staying on the jetty with a dead imm. CAGU, nw.

California Gull (Larus californicus) immature C2 (same individual) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 8 December, 2012

Rock Pigeon 12 flying over settling ponds, n.

Mourning Dove 8 scattered in willows, nw, w, sw.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, call, w, s.

Northern (RS) Flicker 6 fly, call; foraging in willows and cottonwoods around the lake.

Black Phoebe 5 calls; active from low perches around the lake.

Western Scrub-jay 1 calls, juniper-joshua field, se.

Common Raven 30 a loose flock on the dam, ne.

Verdin 2 calls, active in saltbush, nw, ne.

Bushtit 3 calls, active in riparian strip, ne.

Bewick's Wren 5 calls, song, edge of riparian around the lake.

Marsh Wren 1 calls, marsh next to dock, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 active, vocal; msf with YRWA in riparian areas around the lake.

Hermit Thrush 1 calls from willow perch, w (photo).

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) nw Lake Palmdale, CA 8 Dec. 2012

Northern Mockingbird 1 song, pyracantha shrubs lining entry road, n.

Toxostoma sp. 1 (relatively small size , pale dorsum, possibly T. lecontei) seen briefly flying and landing in dense rabbitbrush-sage field outside of fence, se.

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

American Pipit 1 (a relatively pale individual; imm.?) flushed from jetty and returning a few minutes later; calls, nw (photo).

American Pipit ( Anthus rubescens) nw Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 8 Dec. 2012

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 30 ubiquitous, vocal; all vegetation types.

Common Yellowthroat 4 calls, marsh, edge of jetty; riparian edge, nw, s, ne.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, edge of swampy saltbush field, nw.

Song Sparrow 5 calls, song, riparian and edge around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 small flocks; vocal, dry brushy fields and edge of riparian around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 6 (m) calls, in marsh; edge of slough, riparian, w, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 calls, near clubhouse, n.

House Finch 10 vocal; edge of riparian around the lake.

House Sparrow 10 active, vocal around the clubhouse and picnic area, n.

December 1, 2012 (45 Species)

Weather: Overcast to partly cloudy; 55F; wind WSW 15 - 25 mph. Whitecaps on the lake.

Time: 0815 - 1100 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping to the interior shoreline road in the west and south. Except for a maintenance crew near the clubhouse, the survey area was quiet and undistrubed by human activities. Increasing wsw winds reduced the dectectability of birds during the second half of the survey.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Canvasback (7), Horned Grebe (2) and Mountain Chickadee (10).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 6 (m,f) swimming in pairs near docks and shore, nw, w, s.

Mallard 2 (m,f) flushed from backwater lagoon, se.

Northern Shoveler 5 (m,f) flying over the lake, ne.

Canvasback 7 (m,f) swimming together near the jetty, nw.

Lesser Scaup 21 (m,f) swimming together, central.

Bufflehead 4 (m,f) swimming together in backwater lagoon, se.

Ruddy Duck 120 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

California Quail 6 (m,f) frunning across the entry road, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 2 swimming near the marsh, w, s.

Horned Grebe 2 diving near the jetty, n (photo).

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 1 Dec. 2012

©. 2012 Callyn Yorke

Eared Grebe 1 diving, nw.

Western Grebe 3 (ad) swimming; calls, nw, w.

Clark's Grebe 1 swimming, s-central.

Great Blue Heron 2 edge of marsh, sw, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad) flushed from cottonwoods, s, ne.

Red-tailed Hawk 3 (ad, imm) in cottonwoods; fly, call, w, s, ne.

American Kestrel 1 (m) flying low over the field behind the dam, e.

American Coot 60 around the edges of the lake.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 foraging on the west edge of the jetty, nw.

Least Sadpiper 4 two resting on a dock; two foraging on the west edge of the jetty, nw.

California Gull 25 (ad, imm) fly; swimming on lake, central.

Rock Pigeon 5 flying, adjacent suburbs, n.

Mourning Dove 2 flushed from willows, nw, w.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, call, w, s.

Northern Flicker 3 fly, call, riparian and joshua-juniper woodland, n, w, s.

Black Phoebe 6 calls, low perches around the edges of the lake.

Say's Phoebe 2 flying to low perch on the dam, se, e.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 on fence, e.

Common Raven 8 fly, call, e, ne.

Mountain Chickadee 10 active in small flocks of 2 -3 birds; vocal, riparian areas around the lake (photo).

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 1 Dec. 2012

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, cottonwood-juiper edge, w.

Verdin 2 calls, riparian woodland edge, n, sw.

Bushtit 6 calls, riparian edge, nw.

Bewick's Wren 1 scold calls, riparian-juniper, sw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 active in cottowoods and willows around the lake.

Northern Mockingbird 1 flew across the entrance road, n.

European Starling 12 vocal, perched on utility wire, n.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 25 active, vocal in a variety of vegetation types aroud the lake.

Song Sparrow 3 vocal, active in middle layer of riparian-marsh edge, w, sw, , ne.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 a flock of about 12 adults drinking from the drainage culvert, w.

Red-winged Blackbird 1 (m) flew to edge of dam, e.

Great-tailed Grackle 3 (m,f) flew to jetty from marsh, nw.

House Finch 6 (m,f) active in and around creosote bush, n.

Lesser Goldfinch 1 on fence, e.

House Sparrow 10 active around clubhouse, n.

NOVEMBER 24, 2012 (51 Species)

Weather: Fair; 51F to 63F; wind WSW 0 - 2 mph.

Time: 0747 - 1115 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping to the shoreline road in the west and south. A few people were doing carpentry on docks in the northwest and south. Otherwise, auto traffic was minimal and the survey area was undisturbed. Many ducks were around the margins of the lake; most flushed as I approached for observations. Hunting season continues on Wednesdays and Sundays. I used a 10x40 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey today.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Canada Goose (4), Canvasback (2), Common Merganser (1), Osprey (1) and Mountain Chickadee (3). Additionally, a duck appearing at a distance to be a male Eurasian Wigeon was noted.

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 4 swimming together, s-central.

Gadwall 12 (m,f) loose flock flushed from marsh, ne.

American Wigeon 10 (m,f) flushed with Gadwall, ne.

Eurasian Wigeon ? 1 m flushed with AMWI; noted all rusty-buff head; seen at a distance of about 40 - 100 yards swimming se with a male AMWI in harsh light. No photos.

Mallard 8 (m,f) flushed from marsh, ne.

Northern Shoveler 2 (m,f) swimming aout 30 yards apart, ne.

Canvasback 2 sleeping in quiet cove near the jetty, nw.

Ring-necked Duck 2 (m,f) swimming together near the jetty, nw.

Lesser Scaup 30 (m,f) loose flocks swimming, diving around the edges and in the middle of the lake.

Bufflehead 40 (m,f) swimming together in small flocks; diving; one m in small, marshy inlet channel, se.

Common Merganser 1 (f) preening, n-central.

Ruddy Duck 400 (conserv. est.) (m,f) ubiquitous; largest concentrations near shore.

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

Eared Grebe 10 diving in pairs around the edges of the lake.

Western Grebe 12 (ad, imm - 90% grown) calls; throughout the lake; definitely declining in numbers this fall.

Clark's Grebe 1 n-central. Declining since early fall.

Great Blue Heron 2 edge of lake, s; flying, ne.

Osprey 1 (subadult); flying with small fish, low over lake; plunging several times; flapping wings in water as if bathing., n.

Red-tailed Hawk 3 ad, imm. ( 2 light and one adult dark morph - photo), s, ne.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 adult dark morph (Buteo jamaicensis) south Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 24 Nov. 2012

Virginia Rail 1 called twice, marsh at edge of slough, s.

American Coot 150 ubiquitous though declining this fall.

Killdeer 2 calls, e; settling ponds, n.

Least Sandpiper 6 calls; flock flying in from the nw to southwest edge of jetty, nw.

Bonaparte's Gull 1 ad. flying low, turning sharply, dipping into lake surface, s.

Ring-billed Gull 2 (possibly more) resting on surface near CAGU, s-central.

California Gull 350 (90% ad); resting on lake in large flock; several chasing one bird with food, central.

Herring Gull 2 (C1) noted pale panel in primaries in flight; resting on lake with CAGU.

Mourning Dove 10 resting in leafless willows near the jetty, nw.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 m perched in a creosote bush near the roadway, nw.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls, s ,se.

Northern (RS) Flicker 5 calls; flying in riparian areas around the lake.

Black Phoebe 15 sally-flycatching in picnic area early AM, n; ubiquitous around the lake.

Western (Pacfic) Scrub-jay 3 calls; in cottonwoods, nw (photo).

Western (Pacific) Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica superciliosa) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 24 Nov. 2012

Common Raven 14 flock on the ground; fly, vocalizing, on and around the dam, ne.

Mountain Chickadee 4 calls, song (briefly), in deciduous and evergreen trees, n.

Oak Titmouse 2 calls, junipers and cottonwoods, w, s.

Verdin 1 foraging in a large Atriplex canescens shrub, nw.

Bushtit 20 two vocal flocks; riparian, nw, se.

Bewick's Wren 2 song, calls, nw, w.

Marsh Wren 2 calling alternately within a few meters of each other at edge of marsh, sw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 15 one showing ruby crown; vocal, active in msf with YRWA, COBU; riparian areas throughout.

Northern Mockingbird 2 calls, fly, nw; near clubhouse, n.

European Starling 4 imitative calls atop cottonwoods, n, nw.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 50 (conserv. est.) one call sounded like a Myrtle; ubiquitous, often in msf.

Common Yellowthroat 4 calls, marsh-riparian edge, nw, w, s.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal, active; riparian areas around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 8 foraging on ground beneath pyracantha, n.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 call, fly, marsh at edge of slough, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 m, calls, fly n.

House Finch 10 (m,f) riparian and ruderal areas around the lake.

House Sparrow 10 active, vocal around buildings and gardens, n.

NOVEMBER 10, 2012 (42 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 49F; wind WNW 7 - 15 mph.

Time: 0800 - 1107 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping mostly to the interior shoreline road on the west and south sides. Traffic was light; some maintenance workers were using a chainsaw in the northeast section. Increasing winds and cool temperatures reduced the activity and detectability of birds around the lake.

Birds of seasonal and/ or distributional interest found today included, Horned Grebe (1) and Bonapartte's Gull (7).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) flushed near the docks, w.

Canvasback 1 (m) near the docks, w.

Lesser Scaup 10 (m,f), w.

Bufflehead 25 (m,f) scattered around the w and s sections of the lake.

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

Pied-billed Grebe 20 scattered around the lake.

Horned Grebe 1 diving, n.

Eared Grebe 5 diving, n, w, s.

Western Grebe 60 (ad, imm) scattered over the entire lake.

Clark's Grebe 3 s-central.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 fly, perched in trees, s.

Great Blue Heron 1 flushed from shoreline, s.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) circling over cottonwoods, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flew to cottonwood, se (photo).

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) se Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 10 Nov. 2012

American Coot 200 scattered around the lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, settling ponds, n.

Least Sandpiper 7 foraging at the edge of the jetty, nw.

Bonaparte's Gull 7 (ad, imm) flying low, back and forth over the lake, skimming with feet (photo).

Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) ne Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 10 Nov. 2012

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

California Gull 150 (ad, imm) resting on the lake, central.

Herring Gull 1 (imm) flying around CAGU, central.

Mourning Dove 2 fly, call, nw.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, call, w, s.

Northern Flicker 1 fly, call, se.

Black Phoebe 5 calls, riparian and marsh edge around the lake.

Say's Phoebe 2 fly, call, sw, se.

Common Raven 15 soaring from the dam, ne.

Tree Swallow 10 flying low, back and forth over the lake, s.

Mountain Chickadee 1 flying between cottonwoods, s.

Verdin 1 calls, repeated, sw.

Bushtit 15 two small flocks, sw, se.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, flying, riparian, s.

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, sw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3 riparian, w, sw, s.

Northern Mockingbird 1 around pyracantha, calls, n.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 15 (m,f) ubiquitous in riparian areas.

Common Yellowthroat 5 calls, marsh-riparian, w, sw, se.

Song Sparrow 3 calls, forgaing on dock, s.

White-crowned Sparrow 3 calls, marsh-grassland, ne.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 calls, marsh, w.

House Finch 10 (m,f) fly, call, e.

House Sparrow 10 lawns and garden around clubhouse, n.

NOVEMBER 3, 2012 (54 Species)

Weather: Fair; 49F to 64F; wind WNW 0 - 1 mph.

Time: 0746 - 1123 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping mostly to the interior shoreline road in the west and south. Two other people were present on the docks; a few vehicles (including a CDFG wardern) sped by me on the west side. Otherwise the lake was quiet and undisturbed during my survey. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, White Pelican (1), Bonaparte's gull (10),, Hairy Woodpecker (1), Mountain Chickadee (4) and Brown Creeper (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 10 (m,f) swimming near shore, n, w.

Mallard 4 (m,f) resting on shore, se.

Canvasback 1 (m) swimming in slough, se.

Ring-necked Duck 15 (m,f) swimming in a tight flock near shore, n (photo).

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) north Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 3 Nov. 2012

Bufflehead 30 (m,f) swimming near shore and the docks,around the lake (photo)

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) (L, female; R, male) southeast Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 3 Nov. 2012

Ruddy Duck 200 (m,f) resting in loose flocks around the lake.

California Quail 10 flushed from brushy areas, n, s.

Pied-billed Grebe 3 swimming in open water, n, w.

Western Grebe 40 vocal, scattered over the entire lake.

Clark's Grebe 15 some vocalizations, north, nw.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 simming, diviing, central, s.

American White Pelican 1 flew to jetty; swam away as I approached; later seen soaring above the lake (photo).

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 3 Nov. 2012

Great Blue Heron 1 in marsh at edge of slough, s.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad, imm) vocal, flying low, sw,s.

Red-tailed hawk 4 (ad; imm) soaring high on thermals, se (photo)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) subadult, Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 3 Nov 2012

Virginia Rail 1 calls, marsh, w.

Sora 1 calls, se.

American Coot 120 scattered around the lake.

Least Sandpiper 2 foraging at edge of concrete settling pond, n.

Bonaparte's Gull 8 (ad, imm) flying low, dipping in lake; a few resting on the surface, n (photos).

Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 3 Nov 2012

Ring-billed Gull 2 (ad) resting on lake near CAGU, e-central.

California Gull 250 (ad, imm) flying in from the west; flock staying close on the water, central.

Herring Gull 1 (imm. C1) flying low around large flock of CAGU, n (photo).

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) C1 Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 3 Nov. 2012

Mourning Dove 15 resting in dead willow near jetty, nw.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, call, nw, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 fly, call; riparian, w, s.

Hairy Woodpecker 1 (m) calls; flying between dead willows, w.

Northern RS Flicker 4 fly, call, riparian areas around the lake.

Black Phoebe 10 vocal, ubiquitous around the lake.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 in top of willow; attacked (unsucessfully) a young MODO.

Western Scrub-jay 1 in leafless cottonwood next to skeet range, ne.

Common Raven 14 a small flock soaring around two RTHA; calls, e.

Mountain Chickadee 4 calls; active in deciduous and evergreen trees, s, ne.

Verdin 3 calls; active in saltbush, nw, ne (photo).

Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 3 Nov. 2012

Common Bushtit 20 small, vocal flocks in riparian areas, s, se.

Rock Wren 1 calling repeatedly in adjacent suburbs, s.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal, active in understory of riparian and edge around the lake.

Marsh Wren 2 calls, marsh, w, sw.

Brown Creeper 1 (cont.) moving upwards in a willow in a MSF consisting of COBU, YRWA, RCKI, MOCH, s.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 vocal, active in riparian areas around the lake.

Northern Mockingbird 2 Vocal, active in brushy areas, n, se.

California Thrasher 3 repeated song; establishing territories at edge of juniper shrubland, n, nw, w.

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 3 Nov. 2012

European Starling 4 song (including an excellent imitation of WEME), n, w.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 50 (m,f) call, active at all hetigh levels arournd the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 8 calls, pairs active in marsh and rriparian edge around the lake.

California Towhee 1 calls, nw.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, nw.

Song Sparrow 20 vocal, active in brushy edge and riparian around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 calls, swampy edge of marsh, w.

White-crowned Sparrow 50 ubiquitous, vocal.

Red-winged Blackbiird 5 (m,f) calls, in marhs at w entrance to slough, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 6 (m,f) calls; active in marsh on n side of slough, s.

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

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active in ornamental shrubs around the caretaker's house, n.

OCTOBER 27, 2012 (60 Species)

Weather: Fair; 55F to 72F; wind W, WSW, ENE 1 - 3mph.

Time: 0850 - 1300 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping mostly to the interior shoreline road in the west and south. No boats were on the lake (fishing season is closed; duck hunting season opened last week- Wed. & Sun). Two people were doing carpentry on a southern dock; a couple was walking two small,leashed dogs near the jetty. Conditions were otherwise undisturbed, quiet and excellent for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Bufflehead (27), White-winged Scoter (4 - a new LP sp), Lesser Scaup (3 - including one possible hybrid), Bufflehead (27), Common Loon (1), Brown Creeper (1 - a new LP sp.) and Mountain Bluebird (1 - a new LP sp.). The three new bird species for the LP list brings the total to 242.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) two pair, swimming near shore, n.

American Wigeon 6 (m,f) swimming together, open water, nw.

Mallard 4 two pair, flying, w, se.

Northern Shoveler 4 (f) swimming, resting in slough, se.

Redhead 3 (m,f) resting in open water, e.

Ring-necked Duck 5 (m,f) resting, nw, e.

Lesser Scaup 3 (m,f) resting near jetty, nw (fos).

Scaup sp. ( LESC hybrid?) 1 (m) showing broad white patches on wings, swimming near marsh, se (photo)

Scaup (Aythya sp. c.f. affinis x ?) note broad white patches on wings. se Lake Palmdale, LACO , CA 27 Oct. 2012

White-winged Scoter 10 (f, imm) swimming together in open water, nw (first documented record for LP - photo).

White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) northwest Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 27 Oct. 2012.

Bufflehead 27 (m,f) swimming in loose flocks, nw (fos).

Ruddy Duck 120 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Common Loon 1 (bsc. plmg.) flying low near jetty, nw (fos photo).

Common Loon (Gavia immer) nw Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 27 Oct. 2012

Pied-billed Grebe 4 swimming near shore, nw, w, s.

Eared Grebe 3 swimming together, n-central.

Western Grebe 45 (ad, imm) vocal; two nearly full-grown immatures begging from adult, nw, se.

Clark's Grebe 35 (ad, imm) vocal, singles and a parent with full-grown immature, nw, s, se.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 flying low over lake; perched in willows, n.

Great Blue Heron 1 fly, call, se.

Great Egret 2 perched in willows, se.

Cooper's Hawk 1 (imm) flushed from cottonwoods, ne.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad, imm) in cottonwoods; one imm flying slowly over tree canopy, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from canopy of cottonwood, s.

Virginia Rail 1 called loudly in marsh-riparian, w.

Sora 1 called repeatedly in marsh-riparian near VIRA, w.

American Coot 500 (conserv. est.) scattered around the edges of the lake.

California Gull 130 (ad, imm) resting together, n.

Ring-billed Gull 2 (possibly more) seen flying toward flock of CAGU, n.

Caspian Tern 1 fly, call, s.

Rock Pigeon 3 near entrance, n.

Belted Kingfisher 2 fly, call, w, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 fly, call, cottonwoods, w, s.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 (m - complete red crown) called twice (distinctive drawl at end); flew into willows at edge of creosote bush scrub, nw.

Northern Flicker 2 fly, call, n, s.

Black Phoebe 5 low perch, sallying, w, s, se, ne.

Say's Phoebe 1 perched on low fence, ne.

Common Raven 8 soaring over dam and adjacent field, e.

Horned Lark 3 fly, call, s.

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

Mountain Chickadee 4 -cont. active, vocal in msf with COBU, YRWA, WCSP, SOSP, cottonwoods, willows and tamarisk.

Common Bushtit 30 two or three flocks, vocal, foraging in cottonwoods and other trees; responded to my pshhing sounds, w, s,

Brown Creeper 1 moving up to subcanopy of a severely deformed cottonwood, s (first record for LP - photo).

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana c.f. zelotes ) s Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 27 Oct. 2012

Bewick's Wren 5 vocal, active in understory of riparian and adjacent shrubs around the lake.

House Wren 1 distinctive scold call, sw.

Marsh Wren 2 giving scold calls near dock workers, sw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8 vocal, active with YRWA in canopy of cottonwoods, around the lake.

Mountain Bluebird 1 (f) landed on concrete anchor on jetty (first record for LP - photo).

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) female nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 27 Oct. 2012

Northern Mockingbird 1 calls, flying near entrance, n.

California Thrasher 2 calls atop junipers, and in cottonwoods, nw, s.

Toxostoma sp. ( hybrid? i.e. redivivum x lecontei) 1 giving a consistent and prolonged song intermediate between T. redivivum and T. lecontei. but definitely distinct from other T. redivivum frequently heard singing at LP. Noted dark eyes, moderately thick, decurved bill; overall pale grayish upperparts with gray breast and buffy belly. Weak facial markings, suggesting T. redivivum (see CATH photo from LP). An individual found at LP on 29 August, 2012,tentatively assigned to T. redivivum, also shows similiar markings to today's bird (see Aug 29 species account).. Although LeConte's Thrasher and California Thrasher have recently been discovered to be sympatric at LP, the latter species is typically dark brown in color and readily distinguished from the paler LeConte's Thrasher (photo). Interestingly, the only definite records I have of LeConte's Thrasher at LP are from this particular section of creosote bush scrub adjacent to a marsh-riparian strip in the northwest corner of the lake (see Feb. 24 2012 and the first LETH record for LP on March 11, 2011).

Toxostoma sp. c.f. redivivum and lecontei. same individual in 3 photos; nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 27 Oct. 2012

European Starling 3 calls, in cottonwoods by clubhouse, n.

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

Common Yellowthroat 10 (m,f) calls, marsh-riparian areas around the lake, sometimes in adjacent dry brush.

Savannah Sparrow 3 calls (unseen) brushy edges of fields, nw, se, e.

Song Sparrow 10 vocal, marsh, riparian and edge around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 call, flying into riparian, w.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 ubiquitous, vocal, on ground and in shrubs and trees.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 calls, song (partial) marsh-riparian, nw, w.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (m) fly, call; landed in riparian strip at edge of slough, s.

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

Purple Finch 1 ? calls (unseen), well concealed in cottonwoods, s.

Lesser Goldfinch 5 call, fly; willow thicket along fence, e (photo).

Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria ) male east Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 27 Oct. 2012

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active around clubhouse garden, n.

OCTOBER 17, 2012 (51 Species)

Weather: Fair; 65F to 73F; wind W 2 - 5mph.

Time: 0810 - 1105 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping mostly to the interior shoreline roadway in the south and west. The lake has been closed to fishing for about two weeks and consequently there were no boats on the lake during the survey. A backhoe crew was working in the southeast corner; I did not survey all of that area today. Otherwise, auto traffic and disturbances were minimal during my survey. Conditions were very good for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Ring-necked Duck (4), Mountain Chickadee (2) LeConte's Thrasher (1) and Chipping Sparrow (4).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) swimming near shore, n, w.

Mallard 40 (m,f) swimming near shore around the lake.

Ring-necked Duck 4 (m,f) one pair swimming in open water near the dam, e; the other near the docks, w.

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

California Quail 6 calls, running through brushy area, nw.

Pied-billed Grebe 15 around the edges of the lake.

Western Grebe 50 (ad, imm) vocal (esp. young birds), ubiquitous.

Clark's Grebe 30 (ad, imm) mostly around the sw and w edges of the lake.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 swimming, n.

Great Blue Heron 2 flushed from the marsh, s, w.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flying low over the slough, s.

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

American Kestrel 1 (m) in the canopy of a leafless deciduous tree, ne.

American Coot 500 scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 5 on concrete embankment of settling ponds, n; vocal, skittish on jetty, nw.

Least Sandpiper 10 foraging on mudflats in settling pond, n.

California Gull 1 (C1) flying nw from lake toward the dump, nw.

Mourning Dove 5 perched in leafless trees at the edges of open fields, ne, w.

Belted Kingfisher 1 fly, call, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 aerial fly-catching around canopy of mulberry trees, n.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, ne.

Northern (RS) Flicker 5 fly, call, riparian areas around the lake.

Black Phoebe 15 ubiquitous around the lake.

Say's Phoebe 1 on cable fence line at the skeet range, ne.

Common Raven 10 fly, call, e, n.

Horned Lark 2 call, fly, rv lot, n.

Verdin 1 calls, creosote scrub, nw.

Bushtit 10 small, vocal flocks in riparian areas, w.

Mountain Chickadee 2 vocal, active in pines and riparian area, ne.

Cactus Wren 2 vocal, active in desert scrub, ne.

Bewick's Wren 3 vocal, active at edge of riparian, w, nw.

Marsh Wren 3 vocal in dense marsh, ne, s, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5 active, mostly silent, in riparian canopies, n, ne, w.

Thrush (Catharus sp. ) 1 noted large breast spots on buffy breast; wings held nearly level with tail; little contrast between tail and olive brown back coloration; foraging on muddy shoreline in tangled, shady riparian undergrowth, w (no photos).

Northern Mockingbird 2 calls, one attracted to a singing LeConte's Thrasher, nw.

California Thrasher 3 calls, sage scrub and edge of riparian, ne, n, w.

LeConte's Thrasher 1 singing in Creosote scrub; running accross the roadway into dense mixed shrubs; in the same area (nw) where this species was seen previously (second record for LP).

European Starling 5 vocal in trees around clubhouse, n.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 calls, foraging in California Juniper, ne.

Yellow-rumped (a) Warbler 20 (m,f) foraging in riparian areas, including on lawns and ornamental shrubs and trees, w, n.

Common Yellowthroat 5 calls, active in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Savannah Sparrow 2 calls, flying into dense brush, ne, nw.

Song Sparrow 20 vocal in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 (ad, imm) vocal; foraging on the ground in weedy areas and lawns (n) around the lake.

Chipping Sparrow 4 (ad, imm) foraging together on the ground in the shade of mulberry trees, n.

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 17 October, 2012

Dark-eyed Junco 2 foraging near CHSP under mulberry trees, n.

Red-winged Blackbird 4 (m,f) fly, call, landing in marsh, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m, imm) calls, fly; one landing on jetty, nw.

House Finch 20 (m,f) vocal, active at edge of fields in leafless trees and riparian, ne, w.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 fly, call, marshy bull-thistle field at base of the dam, e.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active around the clubhouse, n.

OCTOBER 10, 2012 (57 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 54F to 62F; winds W 7 -15 mph.The lake surface was choppy.

Time: 0700 - 1050 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping mostly to the interior shoreline road. The lake is currently closed to fishing and opens for duck hunting October 20 (Sunday and Wednesday only). Only one vehicle (PWD) was on the interior shoreline road during my survey; conditions were quiet and, except for winds in the western section, good for finding birds.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, White Pelican (1), Great Egret (40), Snowy Egret (60), American Bittern (1), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Verdin (3), Mountain Chickadee (2), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Cactus Wren (1), and Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (f) swimming near shore, ne.

Mallard 40 (m,f) edges of the lake; settling ponds, n.

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

Pied-billed Grebe 3 edges of the lake, s, w.

Eared Grebe 28 middle and edges of the lake; one large flock in middle.

Western Grebe 30 vocal, edges and middle of the lake; one adult carrying young near jetty, nw (photo).

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) adult with young, nw Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 10 Oct 2012

Clark's Grebe 25 (ad, imm) vocal; one adult with nearly full-grown young begging, se (photo).

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) southeast Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 10 Oct 2012

Double-crested Cormorant 1 flying low across the lake, sw.

American White Pelican 1 swimming toward the dam, e.

American Bittern 1 flushed from shady riparian-marsh area, s.

Great Blue Heron 2 flew into trees with egrets, se.

Great Egret 38-40 flying around trees with a large flock perched in trees, se (photo).

Snowy Egret 60 roosting in willows with GREG and GBHE, se (photo).

Great Egret (Ardea alba) and Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) mixed flock, se Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA Oct 10, 2012

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) joining egrets in willows, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole with medium-sized bird prey item, ne.

Virginia Rail 1 calls, marsh, s.

Sora 1 calls, fly, edge of marsh, sw.

American Coot 1,200 scattered around the lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, w.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 on jetty, nw.

Western Sandpiper 2 foraging on mudflats in settling pond, n.

Least Sandpiper 6 foraging with WESA on mudflats in settling pond, n.

California Gull 1 (ad) flying low over the lake, central.

Mourning Dove 10 (ad, imm) on utility lines; flying around lake.

Belted Kingfisher 2 (m, ?) fly, call, ne, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (m) vocal, foraging in willows, w.

Hairy Woodpecker 1 calls (loud, distinctive) from large cottonwood, se.

Northern Flicker 5 a pair foraging on ground at the base of the dam, ne; others flyiing, calls, s, w.

Black Phoebe 10 ubiquitous, vocal around the lake.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 on fence, se.

Common Raven 6 pairs and singles, calls, flying, n, ne.'

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls; foraging in cottonwoods, s, w.

Oak Titmouse 2 calls, active in cottonwoods, s, w.

Verdin 3 calls, active in sage scrub and edge of riparian, e, s.

Bushtit 25 threee flocks, vocal, understory and canopy of cottonwoods, s, w, n.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, following chickadee in cottonwoods, s.

Cactus Wren 1 vocal, in juniper, ne (photo).

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) ne Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 10 Oct. 2012

Bewick's Wren 3 vocal, brushy edge of riparian and sage, ne, s, w.

Marsh Wren 3 vocal in marsh, ne, s, w.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls, dense willows, ne.

Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal in junipers; on ground in picnic area, n.

California Thrasher 1 song, atop a juniper, nw.

European Starling 10 vocal, small flocks in tops of cottonwoods, n, sw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging in juniper, ne.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 30 (m,f) calls, small, loose flocks foraging in a variety of vegetation types around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 20 (m,f) calls, active in riparian-marsh areas around the lake.

California Towhee 3 calls, a pair chasing in undergrowth, sage, riparian edge, s, w.

Savannah Sparrow 2 calls, edge of ruderal fields, e, nw.

Song Sparrow 5 vocal, riparian-marsh, s, sw, ne.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 (ad, imm) vocal; foraging on lawn and ground in picnic area, n; brushy roadside, e.

Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco 2 calls; a pair staying close in mulberry trees and on the ground in picnic area, n.

Red-winged Blackbird 6 (m,f) vocal, flying, landing in pines, ne.

Great-tailed Grackle 5 (m,f) in willows, se; on jetty, nw (photo).

Great-tailed Grackle ( Quiscalus mexicanus) male, nw Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 10 Oct. 2012

House Finch 30 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous around the lake.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 vocal; foraging on dried sunflowers at base of dam, e.

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

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 (56 Species)

Weather: Fair; 65F to 82F; wind WNW 0 -2 mph.

Time: 0740 - 1100 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping mostly to the interior shoreline road. About thirty or so fishermen were around the lake; three in small motorboats on the lake. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Common Tern (1), Mountain Chickadee (2), Verdin (1), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), and Lawrence's Goldfinch (3).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 8 (m,f) swimming near shore, n, se.

Mallard 30 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 60 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake, esp. w, s.

California Quail 2 running at edge of skeet range, ne.

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

Eared Grebe 30 tight flocks of 12 -16 birds swimming in open water, s-central.

Western Grebe 50 (ad, imm) one pair swimming with a small chick, s (photo).

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) adult carrying a small chick, south Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 26 Sep 2012

Clark's Grebe 30-40 (ad, imm) scattered over the lake; one adult swimming with a half-grown chick, se.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 flying low over lake, central.

Great Blue Heron 1 resting at edge of marsh in slough, s.

Great Egret 1 (ad) flushed from shoreline; flew up to a tree perch, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flying through cottonwood area, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (subadult) on utility pole near dam, ne (photo).

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) subadult ne Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 26 Sep 2012

Sora 1 running along shore between clumps of marsh, w.

American Coot 2,000 (conserv. est.) ubiquitous on lake.

Killdeer 6 vocal; at edge of water in settling ponds;n; on jetty, nw.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 flushed from edge of jetty, nw.

Least Sandpiper 2 a pair foraging together at the water's edge of a settling pond, n.

Common Tern 1 (ad, moulting) circling and plunge-diving several times near dam, ne (photo).

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) ne Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 26 Sep 2012

Rock Pigeon 1 on edge of settling pond, n.

Mourning Dove 6 flying fast over fields, n, w.

Great Horned Owl 1 - cont. in willows at same location as in previous two surveys (see notes below), ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 5 (m,f ) calls, aerial insect hawking and foliage gleaning around cottonwoods, w, s, ne.

Belted Kingfisher 1 (f) fly, call, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, s.

Northern Flicker 1 calls, sw.

Pacific Slope Flycatcher 1 perched at 15 ft. agl in cottonwood, s (photo).

Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) s Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 26 Sep 2012

Black Phoebe 20 vocal, ubiquitous near water.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 (ad) repeated subsong; on utility wire near dam, ne.

Common Raven 6 fly, call; some perched in cottonwoods, around the lake.

Horned Lark 3 calls, fly, n.

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls, song in pines and cottonwoods, ne.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, s.

Verdin 1 calls, moving with COBU flock in saltbush scrub adjacent to skeet range, ne (photo).

Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) ne Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 26 Sep. 2012

Bushtit 40 (ad, imm) at least four separate, vocal flocks moving through shrubs and trees around the lake.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, cottonwoods, s.

Bewick's Wren 15 vocal, active in brushy and riparian areas around the lake.

Marsh Wren 2 song, marsh, sw.

California Thrasher 3 alternate singing in juniper-sage scrub, riparian edge, w.

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

Orange-crowned Warbler 10 calls, active in cottonwoods, willows and shrubs around the lake.

Yellow Warbler 3 calls, active in cottonwoods and willows ,w, nw.

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 1 probably a first fall female I noted the following features in the field: Conspicuous white wing bars; long, puffy, white under-tail coverts contrasting with yellow underparts with faint streaks on sides of breast; gray-green dorsum with dark streaks, grading to gray on rump and tail; white outer tail feathers; split eyering; gray on crown and nape; .staying low, the bird initially seen as it flew in drainage thicket to an isolated rabbitbrush at base of dam (photo). Subsequent reviews by two members of the CBRC independently concluded that this bird was most likely a Blackpoll Warbler, rather than an immature Orange-crowned Warbler (c.f. photo of an immature OCWA at LP on 17 July, 2013).

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) immature female se Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 26 Sep 2012

2012 Callyn Yorke

Common Yellowthroat 20 (m,f) vocal, active in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 10 (m,f) calls, active at all levels in riparian areas around the lake.

California Towhee 1 perched in leafless tree at edge of skeet range, ne.

Vesper Sparrow 2 on ground, flew up to chain-link fence at edge of skeet range, ne.

Savannah Sparrow 2 edge of ruderal field, ne, e.

Song Sparrow 10 vocal, active in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

White-crowned Sparrow 4 (ad) vocal, in ruderal fields and adjacent saltbush scrub, n, ne.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 vocal in marsh-riparian areas, w, sw.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 vocal in adjacent Lake Una, e.

House Finch 20 (m,f) a large, vocal flock foraging in ruderal fields at edge of skeet range, ne.

Lesser Goldfinch 5 (m,f) vocal, foraging on sunflowers at base of dam, e.

Lawrence's Goldfinch vocal (unseen) in willow thicket between rr tracks and chain-link fence, e.

House Sparrow 10 vocal, active around clubhouse and garden, n.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 (55 Species)

Weather: Fair; 60F to 89F; no wind.

Time: 0720 - 1103 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake. I stayed mostly on the inside perimeter road, frequently stopping to bird on foot. About 10 fishermen were around the lake; two in small motorboats on the lake; no one was on the jetty. Auto traffic around the lake was light. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included Clark's Grebe ( 50; one with two chicks), Western Grebe (30; two on nests) Great Egret (9), Common Tern (2) and Mountain Chickadee (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 10 (m,f) swimming near shore, nw, ne.

Mallard 40 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake.

Northern Shoveler 8 (f) swimming near docks, w.

Ruddy Duck 16 (m,f) resting on lake near docks, w.

California Quail 2 calls, w.

Pied-billed Grebe 10 swimming, diving around the edges and middle of the lake.

Eared Grebe 1 diving in a settling pond, n.

Western Grebe 30 vocal; two individuals on separate floating nests, nw and s.

Clark's Grebe 50 (ad, imm) two separate adults with chicks; one with two; one riding on its parent's back, the other adult with one., e.

Great Blue Heron 1 (ad) fly, call, se.

Great Egret 9 (ad) a cohesive flock flushed from shoreline in se; flew off together with five birds circling and landing in a willow, se.

Snowy Egret 3 flushed alongside GREG, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from riparian patch, ne.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flying over a large cottonwood, se.

Virginia Rail 1? (unseen); high-pitched, single note calls repeated every 2 seconds in dense marsh, sw.

Sora 1 calls from marsh (unseen) w.

American Coot 1,500 (conserv. est.) ubiquitous in cohesive, flighty flocks around the edges of the lake; one foraging on abandoned WEGR nest, nw.

Killdeer 1 calls, settling pond, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 (bsc. plmg.) foraging on concrete embankment at the water line in a settling pond, n.

Common Tern 2 (subadults) first seen flying together, low around the edge of the lake (photo). Later only one individual seen circling the lake.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 19 Sep 2012

Rock Pigeon 4 flying over adjacent land, n.

Mourning Dove 2 flying low, fast, w, e.

Great Horned Owl 1 (ad) same location where a GHOW was flushed during previous surveys this month. this one perched motionless, about 7 ft, from the ground in willow and did not fly when photographed from a distance of about 15 ft., ne (photo).

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) northeast Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 19 Sep 2012

Anna's Hummingbird 5 (m,f) vocal; some aerial insect hawking; riparian areas around the lake (photo).

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) male west Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 19 Sep 2012

Belted Kingfisher 3 (m,f) a vocal pair flying low around edge of lake; alternately diving (photo), nw.

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) nw Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 19 Sep 2012

Nuttall's Woodpecker 4 (m,f) vocal; foraging in willows and cottonwoods around the lake.

Downy Woodpecker 2 (ad, imm) vocal; briefly interacting and foraging together on same willow tree branch, w (photo)

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) female subadult w Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 19 Sep 2012

Black Phoebe 10 vocal, ubiquitous at ground-level and in subcanopy of tall cottonwoods.

Western Scrub-jay 2 calls, w, e.

Common Raven 4 fly, call, n, e.

Horned Lark 6 flying from boat parking lot, n.

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls from riparian area, nw; pines, ne.

Oak Titmouse 1 vocal in cottonwoods, se.

Verdin 3 vocal in understory shrubs beneath mature cottonwoods, sw, e.

Bushtit 30 vocal, three active flocks of 10-20 birds foraging quickly in canopy of cottonwoods and willows around the lake.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, n.

Bewick's Wren 10 ubiquitous, vocal; active in several habitat types, including marsh-riparian.

House Wren 1 calls, song (partial) willow riparian, nw.

Marsh Wren 3 calls, song, marsh, n, nw, s.

Northern Mockingbird 1 edge of mulberry picnic area, n.

California Thrasher 2 continuous singing in riparian, nw; calls, song, s.

European Starling 10 vocal atop tall cottonwoods, n, w, sw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 5 calls, foraging in riparian areas around the lake; often with other species (e.g. COBU, YEWA).

Yellow Warbler 12 (m,f) calls, foraging in riparian areas around the lake.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (f) foraging with COBU in canopy of a cottonwood, s.

Common Yellowthroat 20 calls; ubiquitous in understory of riparian-marsh habitats.

Wilson's Warbler 3 (m,f) calls; foraging with OCWA and YEWA in willows and subcanopy of cottonwoods, w, sw.

Song Sparrow 15 vocal; ubiquitous in riparian-marsh areas around the lake.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1? called once (a high-pitched, slightly muffled "sseepp") at edge of riparian-creosote hillside, nw.

Western Tanager 2 (f) foraging together in outer canopies of cottonwoods and willows, nw.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (m,f) vocal, active in and above marsh-riparian areas around the lake, esp. nw.

House Finch 10 (m,f) vocal, cohesive flocks in riparian areas, nw, w.

Lesser Goldfinch 6 fly, call, desert willow and adjacent cottonwoods, ne.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 fly, song, riparian, s.

House Sparrow 10 vocal around clubhouse and picnic area, n.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 (59 Species)

Weather: Fair; 63F to 85F; wind WSW 0 - 1 mph.

Time: 0711 - 1140 hrs.

Area Covered: After scanning the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, and obtaining an eye-level view of an adult Sabine's Gull flying northwest, I cycled around the lake in a counter-clockwise direction. I stayed mostly on the inside perimeter road, frequently stopping to bird on foot. About five fishermen were around the lake today; three on the jetty. Two groups were fishing in small motorboats at the east end of the lake. Auto traffic around the lake was minimal and conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, American Wigeon (10), Clark's and Western Grebe nesting (continuing); two separate pair of CLGR each with one chick. White Pelican (1 -cont.), Sabine's Gull (1), Caspian Tern (8); Sterna sp. (2), Black-chinned Hummingbird (1), Selasphorus sp. (2), Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), Downy Woodpecker (1), Western Wood Pewee (1), Willow Flycatcher (1), Mountain Chickadee (2), Verdin (3), White-breasted Nuthatch (2), Cactus Wren (2), Phainopepla (1), and Yellow-rumped Warbler (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 6 (m,f) swimming together in slough, s.

American Wigeon 10 (m,f) swimming together in open water, e.

Mallard 120 (m,f) scattered around the edges of the lake; a few in the middle.

Ruddy Duck 8 (m,f) edge of the lake near the docks, nw, w.

California Quail 2 in rabbitbrush at the roadside, s.

Eared Grebe 2 (bsc. plmg.) staying together; diving, w (photo).(fos).

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) west Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 12 Sep. 2012

Pied-billed Grebe 10 edges of the lake, esp, w, sw.

Western Grebe 35 two on/ at floating nest, attending, nw, s; elsewhere vocal individuals scattered around the lake; many in the middle.

Clark's Grebe 50 two pair, nw and n with one chick each following adults (photo); three other adults flanking them ; Two floating nests occupied, nw.

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) two adults with one young, north Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 12 Sep. 2012

Double-crested Cormorant 1 swimming in open water, west-central.

American White Pelican 1 - continuing. On the jetty then moving to the water when fishermen approached, nw.

Great Blue Heron 1 call, fly, sw.

Great Egret 1 on shore, ne.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) vocal; perched on low branch in cottonwood, se.

American Coot 1,200 (conserv. est.) scattered around the lake, especially nw and se.

Killdeer 3 at edge of settling pond with shallow water, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 with Killdeer noted above, n.

Least Sandpiper 2 foraging at water's edge in settling pond, n.

Sabine's Gull 1 (ad; alt. plmg.) flying nw about 15 feet over the shoreline (photo); the bird was subsequently re-found resting in open water in the nw portion of the lake, where it remained for at least 1.5 hrs. (photo). The bird was not relocated at 1130 hrs. This is the second fall record of an adult Sabine's Gull at Lake Palmdale (c.f. 8 September, 2010).

Sabine's Gull Xema sabini) adult same bird shown in flight and resting on the water. Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 12 Sep. 2012

Caspian Tern 8 (mostly adults; 1-2 imm.? ) vocal, flying around the lake 20- 100 ft agl, esp. se (photo).

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) LP CA 12 Sep 2012

Sterna sp. (probably S. hirundo) 2 too distant for ID; flying low, dipping in lake; acrobatic, buoyant flight, ne.

Mourning Dove 8 flyng low, fast through cottonwood riparian areas around the lake.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 (f) vocal; flying to and from low perch in cottonwood to cluster of red flowering shrubs, se.

Anna's Humminbird 10 (f; m- imm) vocal, active in riparian areas; one pair staying close in willows, w, s.

Selasphorus sp. (probably S. rufus - note white collar ). 2 (m - imm; f) foraging on flowering Castilleja, se (photos).

Selasphorus sp. photos show the same individual in southeast Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 12 Sep 2012

Belted Kingfisher 2 (m,f) fly, call, n, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 (m,f fly, call; foraging on terminal branches and foliage clusters of cottonwoods, sw, s, se.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 (m-showing much white in face and anterior red crown) fly, call (distinctive slurred note at end); foraging in upper sections of cottonwoods, sw.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls, cottonwood-willow riparian, sw.

Western Wood Pewee 1 in subcanopy of large cottonwood, sw.

Willow Flycatcher 1 pumping tail; flew into outer subcanopy of a cottonwood, s.

Black Phoebe 12 vocal, ubiquitous in riparian,marsh, ruderal edge.

Warbling Vireo 1 foraging in subcanopy of a cottonwood; briefly flew down to cattails, se.

Western Scrub-jay 2 calls, one perched atop a large Calif. juniper, w, e.

Common Raven 6 fly, call, n, e.

Horned Lark 2 flushed from shaded area under a trailer in the RV lot, n.

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls from cottonwoods, w; calls from Aleppo pines, ne.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls riparian, w.

Verdin 3 active; calls repeated in juniper-riparian, w; large cottonwood, e.

Bushtit 20 three vocal flocks foraging in cottonwoods and willows, n, w, se.

White-breasted Nuthatch 2 calling back and forth from cottonwoods near the clubhouse, n.

Cactus Wren calls from fence line near Juniper-Joshua tree field, n.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal, ubiquitous, active at all levels, including canopy of mature cottonwoods.

House Wren 1 vocal, active in lower levels of juniper-cottonwood area, sw.

Marsh Wren 3 vocal in cattails, w, sw.

California Thrasher 4 two active in subcanopy of cottonwood with mistletoe, se; one singing on fence, se; another singing in juniper-joshua field, n

European Starling 10 vocal, imitiating Western Meadowlark and other birds from canopy perch in cottonwood, n, w.

Phainopepla 1 calls repeated, tall cottonwoods with mistletoe, se.

Orange-crowned Warbler 2 vocal, active in understory of riparian woodland, w.

Yellow Warbler 2 (m,f) calls, foraging in subcanopy of cottonwoods, sw, s.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 1 (f) calls, active in creosote bushes at edge of willow riparian, nw (fos).

Common Yellowthroat 20 (m,f) highly vocal (calls only ) active at all levels in riparian-marsh areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 2 (m,f) calls; forgaging in understory of willow-riparian, w.

Song Sparrow 12 vocal (calls and song), active on ground and up to 10 ft. in riparian trees around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 fly, call, w.

Great-tailed Grackle 7 (m,f, imm) calls; several individuals molting tail and body feathers; perched in willow, s.

House Finch 20 (m,f) vocal, active in canopy of cottonwoods around the lake; two foraging on sunflowers with LEGO.

Lesser Goldfinch 10 vocal; foraging on sunflowers, se.

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

SEPTEMBER 7, 2012 (59 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 75F to 85F; wind WSW 0 - 7 mph.

Time: 0707 - 1055 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping to the interior shoreline road in the western and southern sections. About 20 fishermen were around the lake; two small motorboats were on the lake. The lake water level continues to be moderately high, resulting in little exposed shoreline. One of the settling ponds (nw) had water, attracting a few ducks and shorebirds. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations until the winds increased, beginning around 0930 hrs.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Western Grebe (2 nests - cont.), Clark's Grebe (3 nests - cont.), White Pelican (1), Sora (1), Common Tern (1), Downy Woodpecker (1), Verdin (3), White-breasted Nuthatch (1) and Lawrence's Goldfinch (3).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) edge of lake, n.

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

Northern Shoveler 2 dabbling near shore, ne.

Ruddy Duck 8 resting on lake near docks, sw.

California Quail 4 calls; foraging at edge of picnic area, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 8 edge of lake near docks, w, sw.

Western Grebe 35 adults scattered around the lake; begging calls from full-grown young, sw.; 2 attending to floating nests (nw, s); calls.

Clark's Grebe 50 adults single and pairs around the lake; 3 floating nests (nw and s), each attended by one or two adults; calls. No eggs or young found. At least three formerly occupied nests in the nw were missing and/or unoccupied.

American White Pelican 1 (bsc. plmg.) resting on s end of jetty; moved to water as I approached (photo), then back to the jetty, nw.

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorynchos) northwest Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 7 September, 2012

Great Blue Heron 1 flushed from lakeside riparian, nw.

Great Egret 1 standing in shallows at aqueduct inlet, sw.

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

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad) each flushed from riparian woodland, nw, sw.

Virginia Rail 1 (?) called loudly several times (unseen) from dense marsh near dock, w.

Sora 1 (ad) foraging quickly in shallows in a secluded lakeside riparian-marsh area , nw (photo).

Sora (Porzana carolina) northwest Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 7 Sept 2012

American Coot 200 scattered around the edges of the lake.

Killdeer 1 edge of settling pond, n.

Spotted Sandpiper 3 edge of settling pond, n; one on edge of jetty, nw.

Least Sandpiper 1 foraging at edge of settling pond, n.

California Gull 1 (ad) resting on jetty; flying around lake, nw.

Caspian Tern 1 flying back and forth over lake near FOTE, nw.

Forster's Tern 3 flying back and forth, occasionally dipping into the lake, nw.

Common Tern . 1 imm. (note eye patch extending onto nape and dark carpal bar, c.f. S. hirundo) ; flying alongside FOTE, nw (photos a,b).

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) immature; The same individual in flight sequence (left (a) to right (b)), northwest Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 7 September 2012

Mourning Dove 10 perched on shags, riparian, nw, w, s.

Great Horned Owl 1 flushed from riparian area where a GHOW was found during my previous survey (Aug 29), ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 3 (m,f) a pair staying together in shady riparian area; f flying up to my face as I was observing, nw.

Costa's Hummingbird 1 (?) seen briefly flying from a patch of creosote bush across the roadway, nw.

Belted Kingfisher 1-2 calls; flying around docks, nw, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 calls; m foraging in willows, nw, s.

Downy Woodpecker 1 calls (unseen) riparian, nw.

Black Phoebe 12 ubiquitous, vocal; one fledgling begging from an adult, w.

Western Scrub-jay 2 calls, nw; ne.

Common Raven 4 fly, call; one on dam, e; n.

Horned Lark 12 resting in the shade of trailer in RV park, n.

Barn Swallow 2 calls, flying around settling pond, n.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, mature cottonwoods, s.

Verdin 3 calls, active in shrubs and riparian areas, n, nw, s.

Bushtit 20 (ad, imm) three flocks around the lake; all vocal, foraging in shrubs and trees; one immature individual with a gray head and relatively large bill, suggesting interior subspecies, Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus , n; w, se. (photo).

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) north Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 7 Sept. 2012

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls (unseen) mature cottonwoods, s.

Cactus Wren 2 calls, fence line pyracantha and juniper-joshua area, n.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal, active in riparian and tall shrubs at edges around the lake.

Marsh Wren 1 calls, dense marsh, sw.

Northern Mockingbird 1 on fence, n.

California Thrasher 1 singing for several minutes in riparian edge, nw.

European Starling 10 vocal; foraging on ground in picnic area, n.

Phainopepla 1 calls (unseen) trees around caretaker's yard, n.

Yellow Warbler 5 calls, active in canopies and lower levels of mature deciduous trees, n, w.

Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 called (unseen) in fruitless mulberry trees around picnic area, n.

Common Yellowthroat 10 vocal, active in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 5 vocal, active in deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees around the lake.

Song Sparrow 12 vocal, active in marsh, riparian and ruderal edges around the lake (photo).

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) southwest Lake Palmdale, LACO, CA 7 Sept 2012

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 calls (unseen) ruderal field at edge of a riparian-marsh, nw.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 vocal, perched atop snags in riparian, nw, w, s.

Western Meadowlark 1 song (unseen) n.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (imm. m ) riparian strip next to slough, s.

House Finch 20 (m,f) ubiquitous in riparian and ruderal fields.

Lesser Goldfinch 5 vocal, around willows and sunflower patch, e.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 3 vocal, top of mature cottonwood, se.

House Sparrow 10 vocal around clubhouse and picnic area, n.

AUGUST 29, 2012 (52 Species)

Weather: Fair; 80F to 95F; no wind.

Time: 0725 - 1100 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake using the interior shoreline road on the west and south sides. About 10 fishermen were around the lake on docks (mostly sw and s sides); one was in a small boat on the lake in the eastern section. Auto traffic around the lake was minimal (2 - 3 vehicles) and conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.Midweek (i.e. Wednesday) appears to have relatively little recreational activity at the lake; most of the survey area is quiet and undisturbed. Nearshore areas everywhere had dense mats of algae; the lake water level remains relatively high resulting in very little exposed shoreline. Two north settling ponds had relatively little water which created exposed mudflats and marshy edges, yet these ponds continued to be nearly devoid of bird life.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Northern Shoveler (16), Western Grebe ( 2 nests- cont.), Clark's Grebe (8 nests - cont.), Great Egret (3), Forster's Tern (4), Great Horned Owl (1), Black-chinned Hummingbird (1), Belted Kingfisher (1), Downy Woodpecker (2), White-breasted Nuthatch (1), Cactus Wren (3), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 5 (m,f) swimming, open water, ne.

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

Northern Shoveler (m,f) 16 a tight flock swimming in open water, ne.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f) around the edges of the lake, w, e.

California Quail 3 in RV parking area, n.

Pied-billed Grebe 20 scattered over the entire lake; some diving.

Western Grebe 30 mostly singles; two on nests, nw and south slough (photo).

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) south Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 29 August, 2012

Clark's Grebe 40 vocal (though somewhat less frequently heard than WEGR), active (one pair doing a partial "rush" courtship display); some resting on floating nests; individuals and a few pairs swimming on the lake, mostly near shore; eight individual birds continued to sit on their nests, some accompanied by their mate, almost exclusively within a loose, mixed colony ( 7 CLGR, 1 WEGR) in the northwest corner (see previous survey notes); one individual was attending a nest in the south slough about 30m from a WEGR (see above photo). Nesting Clark's Grebe, in a variety of postures, including thermoregulative gaping, generally appeared reluctant to abandon their nests when I approached to within about 30m from the shore (photo). No eggs or young were seen.

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarki) south Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 29 August, 2012

Double-crested Cormorant 3 one (imm) perched atop leafless willow; others flying, swimming, ne, nw.

Great Blue Heron 2 flushed from trees near shore, s.

Great Egret 3 one on shore, n; two at edge of marsh and on dock, w, sw.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, se.

American Kestrel 1 (imm) in willow, sw.

American Coot 200 scattered around edges of the lake; foraging on alsga and submerged vegetation.

Killdeer 1 edge of settling pond, n.

California Gull 16 (ad; C1-C3) swimming on lake; joined by others in late morning, s-central.

Forster's Tern 4 flying low, dipping, alighting on lake; flock staying together, nw, w.

Mourning Dove 20 perched high in trees, riparian areas around the lake.

Great Horned Owl 1 flushed from willows, flew 50m into another tree, ne (photo).

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) ne Lake Palmdale, CA 29 Aug 2012

Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 (f) foraging on flowering paintbrush, se.

Anna's Humminbird 10 (m,f) territorial, vocal; aerial insect-hawking and foliage-gleaning; in riparian areas around the lake.

Belted Kingfisher 1 (possibly 2) calls; flushed from edge of willow-marsh, nw; another at edge of lake, ne.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 6 (m,f) vocal, foraging in willow mid to high levels on trunks and large branches, nw, w, s.

Downy Woodpecker 2 (m,f) a pair maintaining contact calls while foraging on terminal and subterminal willow branches, w.

Black Phoebe 20 vocal, around riparian areas, flycatching from low and high perches (including cottonwood subcanopy).

Western Scrub-jay 2 vocal, n; se.

Common Raven 4 fly, call, n, e.

Horned Lark 1 flight call, ne.

Cliff Swallow 1 flying over edge of lake, nw.

Barn Swallow 3 vocal, flying low, back and forth over lake, ne.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, n.

Verdin 1 calls, saltbush-creosote scrub, nw.

Bushtit 20 small, vocal flocks in riparian areas around the lake.

White-breasted Nuthatch 1 calls, mulberry trees near clubhouse, n.

Cactus Wren 3 a vocal pair staying close, juniper-joshua area near clubhouse, n; another calling from edge of parking area, nw.

Bewick's Wren 10 vocal, active in riparian and edge of marsh around the lake.

Marsh Wren 2 vocal; two alternate singing in marsh near dock, s.

Blue-gray gnatcatcher 1 (unseen) called (twice with distinctive nasal sound) in dense desert willow, e.

Northern Mockingbird 1 (imm) in Joshua tree below singing LETH.

California Thrasher 2 one dark brown individual flushed from riparian area (w) and another rather pale individual (note distinct eyebrow and ear coverts), initally suggesting to me LETH; singing repeatedly atop a Joshua Tree, n (photos).

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) same relatively pale-colored individual; north Lake Palmdale, CA 29 August, 2012

European Starling 4 vocal, active in large cottonwood, n, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging in subcanopy and middle layer of willow-riparian, w.

Yellow Warbler 10 vocal, active in canopy and subcanopy in riparian areas around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 10 (m,f) vocal, active in lower to middle level of riparian-marsh around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 1 (m) vocal, active in middle to lower levels of riparian woodland, w.

California Towhee 2 near entry road, n.

Song Sparrow 10 vocal, active in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 vocal, (imm) in riparian-marsh areas, w, sw.

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f) vocal in willows, riparian island at edge of slough, s.

House Finch 5 vocal, in pines and ruderal fields, ne.

Lesser Goldfinch 6 (m,f; imm; molting) feeding on bull thistle in ruderal field next to desert willow, e (photo).

Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) male east Lake Palmdale, CA 29 August, 2012

House Sparrow 6 vocal, active on ground around the clubhouse, n.

AUGUST 22, 2012 (44 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 71F to 83F; wind WNW, WSW 5 - 10 mph.

Time: 0700 - 1025 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin and Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, keeping largely to the inside shoreline road on the west and south side. About 10 fishermen were on docks around the lake; two were in a small motorboat on the lake. Conditions were fair for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest included, Clark's Grebe (7 nests), Western Grebe (2 nests), Great Egret (2), Northern Phalarope (4), Northern RS Flicker (1), Downy Woodpecker (1) and Mountain Chickadee (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 1 (m) flew from island shore, se.

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

Ruddy Duck 12 (m,f) edge of the lake, w.

California Quail 8 flushed from drainage ditch, sw.

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

Western Grebe 20 (ad) calls; several pairs; scattered around edges of the lake. Two floating nests; one nest amongst six CLGR nests, nw; one nest with two indviduals attending, nw, slough, se; no eggs or young seen with nests. (photo).

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) nesting northwest Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 22 August, 2012

Clark's Grebe 45 (ad) individuals and pairs scattered around edges and middle of the lake; seven individuals on separate floating nests; all but one nest in nw corner near marsh; one nest with two individuals attending in middle of the south slough, second bird leaving as I approached; no eggs or young seen with nests;, s (photo).

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) nesting south Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles County, CA 22 August 2012

Double-crested Cormorant 8 (imm) three perched in willows, ne; one flying; one swimming near island shore, se.

Great Blue Heron 3 flushed from shore, w, sw, se.

Great Egret 2 (1 trans. bsc. plmg.) flushed from island shore; perched on low branch, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 flushed from dense riparian, nw.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) soaring high with a raven, sw.

American Coot 150 scattered around the edges of the lake.

Least Sandpiper 3 landed on edge of jetty, nw.

Red-necked Phalarope 4 (bsc. plmg.) flying to central lake; swimming together.

California Gull 1 (ad) open water, s-central.

Mourning Dove 20 riparian areas around the lake.

Greater Roadrunner 2 (ad, imm) in ruderal field near jetty, nw.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 3 two chasing around clusters of flowering paintbrush; calls, se; ne.

Anna's Hummingbird 12 (m,f) riparian areas around the lake; calls; aerial flycatching.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 (m,f) fly, call; riparian, nw, sw, ne.

Downy Woodpecker 1 (m) foraging, calls, in canopy of cottonwood, se (photo).

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) male se Lake Palmdale, CA 22 Aug 2012

Northern Flicker 1 called once (distinctive call but unseen) ; cottonwoods, s.

Black Phoebe 15 (ad, imm) calls; individuals and one trio; low perch, sally-flycatching, riparian edge around the lake.

Western Scub-jay 2 calls (unseen), w; ae.

Common Raven 4 flying, n.

Horned Lark 1 calls (unseen) RV park, n.

Barn Swallow 3 calls; flying low over lake, w, ne.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls (distinctive but unseen) mature pines-riparian, ne.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, flying, cottonwoods, se.

Verdin 3 calls; low in junipers; individuals following Bushtits in cottonwoods, w, sw.

Bushtit 30 active, vocal flocks of 8 -12 birds in riparian and edge around the lake.

Bewick's Wren 15 calls and song; riparian and edge around the lake.

Northern Mockingbird 1 song, pyracantha hedge on fence, n.

European Starling 2 calls, song, cottonwoods, n.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1-2 foraging at mid-level in cottonwood canopy with YEWA, sw.

Yellow Warbler 12 (m,f) calls, song; individuals and pairs foraging in cottonwoods and willows around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat 5 calls, song; marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 1 song (distinctive but unseen) riparian with YEWA, w.

California Towhee 1 flushed from roadside scrub and into lower branch of cottonwood; calls, s.

Song Sparrow 10 calls, song marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

House Finch 20 several small flocks of 5 -8 birds; ruderal, riparian and edge around the lake.

Lesser Goldfinch 8 (ad, imm) young birds vocalizing in dense clump of desert willow, e.

House Sparrow 6 around clubhouse, n.

AUGUST 7, 2012 (44 Species)

Weather: Fair; 81F to 98F; wind ENE, WNW, 0 - 1mph.

Time: 0727 - 1115 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, principally on the interior shoreline road. About 10 fishermen were around the shoreline (n, w, s); no boats were being operated on the lake. Traffic and other disturbances were minimal. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest included, Cinnamon Teal (12), Redhead (5), Clark's Grebe (several nesting), and Caspian Tern (5).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (f) swimming, e.

Mallard 250 scattered around the edge of the lake.

Cinnamon Teal (12) (f, imm m) swimming in a tight flock, e-central.

Redhead 5 (m,f) swimming together, e-central.

Ruddy Duck 8 (m,f) resting near docks, sw.

Pied-billed Grebe 20 (ad, imm) scattered over most of the lake.

Western Grebe 30 calls, courtship preening, water dance, nw, w, s. None found nesting.

Clark's Grebe 50 courtship; one adult with nearly grown young following; six floating platforms of aquatic vegetation attended by adults; one with an egg, w, nw (photo).

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) floating nest with one egg, northwest Lake Palmdale, CA 7 August, 2012

Double-crested Cormorant 5 resting in trees; swimming, n, se.

Great Blue Heron 1 (ad) stretching its wings on the railing of a dock, w.

Great Egret 1 preening at edge of marsh, se.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 calls, se.

American Coot 50 scattered around edges of the laks.

Caspian Tern 5 flying low, back and forth over the lake; calls; ne, w.

Mourning Dove 20 riparian areas around the lake; calls.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 4(f) cottonwood-willow riparian, ne (photo).

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) female ne Lake Palmdale, CA 7 August 2012

Anna's Hummingbird 12 (f; imm m) riparian areas, esp. ne; flocks of 3 -5 hovering around canopy of cottonwoods and willows.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 (m,f) calls, n; foraging in mature willows, ne.

Black Phoebe 10 sally-flycatching from low perches around the lake; calls.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calls, n.

Western Kingbird 2 interacting in canopy of willow, w.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 (imm) dove into dense riparian veg; scolded by BEWR, ne; note relatively large bill (photo).

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) immature ne Lake Palmdale, CA 7 August 2012

Vireo sp. (possibly WAVI) 1 foraging in subcanopy of a mature willow, ne.

Common Raven 2 fly, call, n.

Horned Lark 20 on the ground in the shade of some parked RVs, n.

Cliff Swallow 10 flying back and forth over riparian and edge; calls, w.

Barn Swallow 8 flying back and forth low over lake and marsh; cals, w, se.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, ne.

Verdin 1 flew into riparian, calls, ne.

Bushtit 25 three or four vocal, active flocks of 8-10 birds foraging in cottonwoods and other small trees and shrubs; calls, nw, w, se.

Bewick's Wren 5 calls, song; one scolding an immature LOSH, ne.

Marsh Wren 2 calls, active in marsh, w, ne.

California Thrasher 1 flushed from roadside junipers, ne.

European Starling 2 calls, in trees next to clubhouse.

Phainopepla 1 calls, juniper-joshua tree scrub, se.

Yellow Warbler 4 (m,f) foraging in subcanopy of cottonwoods and willows; calls, w, ne.

Common Yellowthroat 10 (m,f) foraging in marsh, lower branches of willows around the lake; calls.

Wilson's Warbler 1 singing in cottowood-willow riparian, w.

Savannah Sparrow 1 high, thin calls from desert scrub next to roadway, ne.

Song Sparrow 12 (ad, imm) active, vocal in marsh-riparian areas around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 5 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh areas; calls, nw, se, ne.

Great-tailed Grackle 15 (m,f) mostly in southern marsh-riparian; calls.

House Finch 20 (m,f) riparian, edge, ruderal roadways around the lake; calls.

Lesser Goldfinch 8 vocal, active in cottowoods and sunflower patches, ne.

JULY 31, 2012 (41 Species)

Weather: Fair: 81F to 91F; wind NNW 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0751 - 1030 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake via the lakeshore roadway. Only about six fishermen were around the lake (three on the jetty); one group was in a small motorboat in the east-central part of the lake. Many ducks, grebes and coots were scattered over the entire lake. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird sounds, although relatively few species of landbird were vocalizing during the survey. The paucity of bird vocalizations likely skewed the survey results toward the low end for number of species (c.f. July 13, 2012). The lake water level continues to be high, resulting in very little to no exposed shoreline. The northwestern most settling pond now has a small amount of water, mudflats and a marshy perimeter but, except for one mallard, contained no waterbirds. The remaining settling ponds had a shallow, dry bed of sediment and contained no visible birdlife.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (f) swimming near the shore, s, ne.

Mallard 250 (m,f; imm) ubiquitous in the lake; one (f) dabbling in the settling pond, N.

Cinnamon Teal 3 (m,f) swimming together near the dam, ne.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f) alt. plmg. edges of the lake, w, se.

Pied-billed Grebe 20 edges of the lake; calls.

Western Grebe 50 edges and middle of the lake; calls.

Clark's Grebe 40 marshy edges and middle of the lake; calls.

Double-crested Cormorant 2 swimming, resting on stirring platform; fly, n.

Great Blue Heron 1 flushed from shore, sw.

Cooper's Hawk 1 flying low, cottonwoods, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flushed from large cottonwood, ne.

American Coot 150 ubiquitous around marshy edges of the lake.

Ring-billed Gull 1 (C2) on jetty (photo).

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) nw Lake Palmdale, July 31, 2012

California Gull 1 (C1) flying around lake and landing briefly on jetty, nw.

Caspian Tern 1 flying low near jetty and dam; dipping mandible in lake like a skimmer.

Rock Pigeon 4 flying around cottonwoods and adjacent suburban development, s.

Mourning Dove 20 (ad, imm) ubiquitous in riparian areas; frequent calls.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 (f, imm. m) aerial hawking of insects at edge of cottonwoods, nw; ne.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 riparian; frequent calls, nw, s, se.

Black Phoebe 12 low sallies from edge of riparian areas around the lake; calls.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 4 one in creosote bushes, n; two in cottonwoods, se; calls.

Common Raven 2 flying, e.

Horned Lark 50 a large flock resting in the shade of RV parking area, n.

Cliff Swallow 4 fly, call, 20 -120 ft., n, w.

Barn Swallow 10 flying back and forth, low over lake and edge of marsh; calls, n, e.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, cottonwoods, se.

Verdin 1 calls, creosote scrub, n.

Bushtit 20 four separate small flocks; highly vocal, shrubs and in low branches of cottonwoods and willows, n, w, se, ne.

Bewick's Wren 10 highly vocal with calls and song, riparian and sage scrub around the lake.

House Wren 1 calls, cottonwoods, s.

California Thrasher 1 perched in creosote scrub, calls, n.

Yellow Warbler 1 song, repeated in cottonwood canopy, ne.

Common Yellowthroat 10 (m,f) active, vocal in marshy areas around the lake.

California Towhee 1 calls, saltbush-creosote scrub, n.

Song Sparrow 10 calls, song, marsh and riparian edge around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 (m, imm) marsh-riparian edge; calls, ne.

Great-tailed Grackle 30 (m,f; imm) vocal groups of immatures perched on exposed snags in riparian areas around the lake.

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (imm) flushed from riparian area, n.

House Finch 20 (m,f) small, vocal flocks foraging on roadways; riparian, w, s, se.

Lesser Goldfinch 10 small, vocal flocks in cottonwoods, sw, sw, ne.

House Sparrow 10 in shrubs around clubhouse.

July 13, 2012 (51 Species)

Weather: Overcast; 80F; wind WSW 0 -5 mph.

Time: 0723 - 1015 hrs.

Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff next to the Fin & Feather clubhouse, I cycled a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats. A few fishermen were in small motorboats on the lake; about 15 others were on the shore and docks. Auto traffic around the lake was light; conditions were very good for finding and identifying birds.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wood Duck (2 imm.), California Gull (4) and Caspian Tern (7), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1 imm) and Tricolored Blackbird 4 (imm)..

BIRDS NOTED

Wood Duck 2 (imm) possibly hatched at LP, though no direct evidence of nesting; swimming in channel about 60 yards apart, s (photo).

Wood Duck (immature) south Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 13 July, 2012

Mallard 250-300 (m,f; imm) trans. plmg. ubiquitous; fem with several ducklings, nw.

Ruddy Duck 4 (m,f) edge of lake, nw, se.

California Quail 12 (ad, imm) flushed from roadside brushy area, s.

Pied-billed Grebe 6 (ad, imm) edges of lake; calls.

Western Grebe 25 mostly paired; calls; one sitting on floating mat of cattails, nw.

Clark's Grebe 12 pairs around edges and in middle of lake; calls.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 (imm) resting on buoy, ne.

Great Blue Heron 2 (ad, imm) edge of settling pond, n; flying, nw.

Red-tailed Hawk 2 (imm) on separate utility poles, ne.

American Kestrel 1 (imm) in tall cottonwood, nw.

American Coot 50 -60 (ad, imm) ubiquitous around edges of the lake.

Killdeer 1 calls, settling ponds, n.

Least Sandpiper 1 foraging at edge of jetty, nw (fos) (photo).

Least Sandpiper nw Lake Palmdale, LACO CA 13 July, 2012

California Gull 4 (ad) resting together on lake, s-central.

Caspian Tern 7 flying over the lake a few times, then flying east.

Eurasian Collared Dove 1 moulting tail feathers, se.

Mourning Dove 10 (ad, imm) riparian areas around the lake; calls.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 (m,f) riparian; calls. w, se.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 3 riparian areas, calls, w, s, se.

Black Phoebe 6 sally-flycatching from low perches, riparian areas around the lake; calls.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 low in cottonwood; calls, se.

Western Kingbird (ad, imm) 1 imm perched on emergent willow snag, nw; 6 (ad, imm) on fence line, e.

Western Scrub-jay 1 in cottonwood, ne.

Common Raven 4 (ad, imm) foraging on ground, nw; flying, w.

Horned Lark 1 on ground in RV parking area, n.

Tree Swallow 20 flying back and forth, low over lake.

Cliff Swallow 10 flying back and forth, low and >200 ft. above lake.

Barn Swallow 4 flying back and forth, low over lake, n.

Verdin 8 (ad, imm) three separate flocks; vocal, interacting in shrubs and low branches of cottonwoods with BUTI, n, se.

Bushtit 30 large, vocal flocks moving quickly through creosote bush and other shrubs, cottonwoods, etc. around the lake.

Cactus Wren 1 calls, repeated, chaparral scrub, n.

Bewick's Wren 4 -6 vocal in shrubs and in low cottonwood branches around the lake.

Marsh Wren 6 vocal, active in cattails, n, w, sw, ne.

American Robin 1 calls, mulberry picnic area next to clubhouse, n.

Northern Mockingbird 1 song, se.

California Thrasher 2 foraging 20-30 yards apart on ground in buckwheat field;contact calls by both, sw.

Yellow Warbler 4 (f, imm) vocal, active in cottonwoods, w.

Common Yellowthroat 10 (m,f, imm) vocal, active in marsh and riparian areas around the lake.

Wilson's Warbler 8 vocal, active in cottonwoods, w, sw.

California Towhee vocal, active on ground beneath shrubs, n, se.

Song Sparrow 10 vocal, active in riparian, all heights, around the lake.

Red-winged Blackbird 10-20 (f; imm) two immatures begging in cottonwood near female TCBL; calls, riparian-marsh around the lake.

Tricolored Blackbird 6 (3 imm; 2 fem). near where I found them during previous surveys -- marsh-riparian, ne.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 (imm) popped up in creosote scrub next to riparian-marsh, n.

Great-tailed Grackle 30 (ad, imm) ubiquitous around edges of the lake.

Brown-headed Cowbird 3 calls, subcanopy of cottonwoods and willows, w, sw.

Bullock's Oriole 2 (f) calls, cottonwoods and willows, w, sw.

House Finch 40 (m,f; imm) vocal flocks in open areas, n, ne.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 two pair in riparian, call, fly nw, e.

House Sparrow 10 garden of caretaker's house and adjacent picnic area.

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