holidaylakespring2011

Areas Covered: 1) Holiday Lake (HL): I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying birds in all habitats. The lake water level was medium-high with exposed mudflats in the southwestern section and shoreline in the southeast. I was alone during the survey except for someone in a pickup truck who slowly circled the lake once. Winds depressed landbird activity; waterbirds were fairly abundant and visible (0930-1046 hrs). 2) California Aqueduct (CA) at the bridge on 255th Street West. I stopped briefly to scan a short segment of the aqueduct using a 10x42 binocular (1050-1055 hrs.). 3) AVEK groundwater recharge fields on the east side of 140th Street West (140W) about 1.5 miles north of HWY 138 (Ave. D). I drove slowly in a clockwise direction on the perimeter road, stopping frequently to scan fields with a binocular. Water was being discharged from irrigation pipes along the northern perimeter; severa flooded fields held flocks of coots, ducks and other water birds. An AVEK truck arrived on the southern perimeter road during my survey (1112 - 1157 hrs.).

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Ross's Goose (1), Turkey Vulture (1), Ferruginous Hawk (1), Prairie Falcon (2), Greater Yellowlegs (4), Tree Swallow (30) and Vesper Sparrow (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Ross's Goose 1 with a flock of AMWI and CITE (140W).

Gadwall 1 (f) swimming, mid-lake, (HL).

American Wigeon 60 (m,f) northeast flooded field (140W).

Mallard 120 (m,f) flighty (HL); 20 (140W).

Cinnamon Teal 6 (m,f) dabbling in shallows, (HL); 8 with flock of AMWI, (140W).

Northern Shoveler 4 (m,f) dabbling in shallows, w (HL).

Northern Pintail 8 (m,f) in ne flooded field, (140W).

Green-winged Teal 25 (m,f) dabbling at edges of lake (HL).

Lesser Scaup 8 (m,f) swimming in aqueduct, (CA).

Common Goldeneye 2 (m,f) in aqueduct, (CA).

Bufflehead 1 (f) diving in aqueduct, (CA).

Ruddy Duck 4 (m,f) diving, (HL).

Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming , (HL).

Great Blue Heron 1 foraging at edge of lake, (HL).

Black-crowned Night Heron (ad, imm) in leafless cottonwood, n (HL).

Turkey Vulture 1 flying low over lake, (HL).

Northern Harrier 1 (m) flying low over fields, (140W).

Cooper's Hawk 1 (imm) flushed from trees, w, (HL).

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (imm) in willow, w (HL).

Ferruginous Hawk 1 flying low over dry field, (140W).

American Kestrel 1 flying low over dry field, (140W).

Prairie Falcon 2 (m,f) chasing each other, low over flooded field, ne, (140W).

American Coot 4 (HL); 150 (140W).

Killdeer 3 (HL); 2 (140W).

Greater Yellowlegs 4 foraging in flooded field, ne (140W).

Eurasian Collared Dove 10 a flock in a tree, adjacent yard, s (HL).

Common Raven 4 pairs flying low; soaring, (HL); 2 soaring, (140W).

Horned Lark 5 flying low over flooded field, (140W).

Tree Swallow 50 flying low, back and forth over flooded fields, ne (140W).

Marsh Wren 2 deep in marsh; song, (HL); 1 flooded field, (140W)

European Starling 30 foraging in flooded fields, ne (140W).

American Pipit 100 + foraging in flooded fields, ne (140W).

Vesper Sparrow 1 roadside berm with SASP, s (140W).

Savannah Sparrow 30 in marsh, edge, (HL); 20 (140W).

Song Sparrow 2 foraging in flooded field, n (140W).

White-crowned Sparrow 12 calls, song, edge of marsh, (HL).

Dark-eyed Junco 1 in leafless deciduous tree next to clubhouse, (HL).

Western Meadowlark 10 fly, calls, flooded fields, (140W).

Brewer's Blackbird 20 (m,f) foraging in flooded field, ne (140W).

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m,f) fly, calls, adjacent yard, n (HL).

House Finch 10 calls, song, adjacent fields, yards, (HL)

House Sparrow 8 foraging in adjacent yard, s (HL).

JANUARY 3, 2012 Quail Lake and Gorman Post Road (37 Species)

Weather: Fair; 51F. Winds ENE 2 mph.

Time: 0841 - 1050 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Quail Lake Outlet to the California Aqueduct; West Fork Road overlook (QLO). I surveyed the first 0.25 miles of the California Aqueduct from HWY 138 southwest, using a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. Took several photos of an immature White-winged Scoter at this location (see below) but failed to locate a Rough-legged Hawk that was reported from this general vicinity on January 1, 2012. 2) Quail Lake (QL): I surveyed Quail Lake from the access road running around the south, east and north-central margins to the aqueduct inlet. I also surveyed the small channel of the aqueduct immediately adjacent to the west parking area. I cycled the access road, stopping frequently to scan the lake with a scope. Distant but identifiable photos of a female Barrow's Goldeneye, last reported here January 1, 2012 by Mark and Janet Scheel, were obtained during this part of my survey (see below). The lake surface was relatively calm until affected by increasing ENE winds beginning around 1000 hrs. Water level was relatively hign resulting in no shoreline or mudflats exposed on the southern margin; this was in sharp contrast to conditions found during my previous survey of December 24, 2011 (see notes below). Conditions for finding and identifying birds were good throughout the survey. No fishermen or other people were present in the survey area, except those stopping in the west parking lot to use the porta-potty. 3) Gorman Post Road (GPR). From HWY 138, I drove slowly for about 2.5 miles north on Gorman Post Road, surveying surrounding hillsides, riparian gullies and a small pond, in search of birds of prey, particularly Rough-legged Hawk, which had been initially reported here about one week earlier. Relatively few birds of any kind were found during my casual, drive-through survey of this area.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 6 (m,f) marsh edge of lake; flighty, s.

Northern Shoveler 3 (m, f) edge of pond, EQL.

Lesser Scaup 600 (conserv. est.) (m,f) scattered flocks over most of the lake.

Greater Scaup 3 (m,f) oen water, s-central QL. Most of the large flocks of scaup were checked for this species, which was notably scarce despite a recent report of more than 200 individuals on the lake (John Garrett). Another birder (Mark Scheel) reported seeing about 20 GRSC here on January 1, 2012. Although GRSC appears regular at Quail Lake in winter, I suspect that many Lesser Scaup are misidentified as GRSC due to the similar appearance of both species combined with relatively long viewing distances.

White-winged Scoter 1 ( f imm.) swimming upstream and downstream in the aqueduct; preening; not seen diving (photo).

White-winged Scoter ( immature female) Quail Lake Outlet, LACO, CA January 3, 2012

Bufflehead 4 (m,f) diving, QLO; 35 (m,f) scattered over the lake, QL.

Common Goldeneye 1 (f) resting on concrete embankment, QLO; 25 (m,f) swimming, diving, QLO; 4 (m,f pairs) east outlet channel (photo).

Common Goldeneye (m, f) west Quail Lake, outlet to aqueduct, LACO, CA January 3, 2012

Barrow's Goldeneye 1 (f) alone; swimming, diving, south edge of central QL (photo). First reported here about 1 week earlier, then again on January 1, 2012 (Mark Scheel). This is apparently the second documented record of BAGO for Los Angeles County.

Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) (female): Note yellow bill and steep angle of forehead. South-central Quail Lake, LACO, CA.

Common Merganser 10 (m,f) scattered over lake, central, QL.

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

California Quail 10 running across West Fork Road, QLO.

Pied-billed Grebe 20 scattered over lake, QL.

Eared Grebe 12 edge and open water, QL.

Western Grebe 80 mostly in northern portion of QL.

Double-crested Cormorant 2 flying over lake, QL.

Great Blue Heron 1 edge of pond, east quail lake (EQL).

Snowy Egret 1 flying low over aqueduct, QLO.

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

Red-tailed Hawk 1 flying over hills, w QL; 2 (ad, imm) on utility poles, GPR (photo).

Red-tailed Hawk (adult) south Gorman Post Road, LACO, CA January 3, 2012

American Coot 40 s edge of lake/marsh, QL.

Black Phoebe 1 roadside levee, EQL.

Common Raven 12 large flock on aqueduct levee; 4 flying over, QL.

Western Scrub-jay 1 calls, adjacent brushy slope, s QL.

Horned Lark 10 fly, call, NE QL.

Marsh Wren 1 calls, marsh, s QL.

California Thrasher 1 song, in field of rabbitbrush on n side of aqueduct, QLO.

American Pipit 1 fly, call, w QL.

California Towhee 1 calls from adjacent brushy slope, s QL.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 brushy edges of lake and hillsides, QL.

Lark Sparrow 8 song, riparian, n QL.

Savannah Sparrow 3 calls, marsh; roadside ruderal, QL.

Song Sparrow 4 calls, marsh, s QL.

Western Meadowlark 3 fly, call, hillsides, QL.

Red-winged Blackbird 20 (m,f) marsh, riparian, s QL.

Brewer's Blackbird 12 (m,f) edge of roadway, s QL.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (m) parking area, w QL.

House Finch 30 small flocks, marsh, riparian, QL

DECEMBER 24, 2011 Quail Lake, Holiday Lake and 140th Street West (59 Species)

Weather: Fair; 48F to 58F; winds ENE 0 - 2mph.

Time: 0900 - 1400 hrs.

Areas Covered: I drove directly to Quail Lake from Munz Ranch Rd. and Elizabeth Lake Rd. north and west on Lancaster Rd., HWY 138, casually observing birds of prey on utility poles and birds flying across the roadways (LR). Quail Lake Outlet (QLO) at the West Fork Rd. overlook. I scoped the aqueduct from the intersection of HWY 138, southwest about 0.5 miles (0930-0945 hrs.). I then drove across HWY 138 and parked in the lot of west Quail Lake (WQL), scoping the western portions of the lake from the hillside next to the parking lot. Continuing for about 0.75 mi. on foot along the southern paved access path, I scoped the remainder of Quail Lake (QL) at several places, including the small eastern impoundment ( 1000 - 1205 hrs.). A few fishermen were on the shorelines around the lake; conditions were good for identifying distant waterbirds on the lake.

Holiday Lake (HL): I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats. The margins of the lake were still covered with ice, forcing most of the waterbirds into the deeper middle sections (1230-1315 hrs.). 140th Street West, about 1.3 mi. north of Avenue D (HWY 138) at the AVEK groundwater recharge fields (140W). I drove a clockwise route around the main recharge ponds and flooded fields, stopping frequently to observe birds. No other people were seen in the area during my survey (1340-1400 hrs.). I returned home via Avenue A and 60th St. W, checking (unsuccessfully) the fields of GB sage adjacent to the Nebeker Ranch for SATH (reported here last week).

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 1 swimming with LESC, SE QL.

Snow Goose 4 flying over flooded field, 140W.

Gadwall 2 (m,f) HL.

American Wigeon 4 swimming with LESC, south-central QL; 50 in flooded field with GWTE, 140W.

Mallard 25 (m,f) edge of lake, QL; 60 swimming; flighty, HL.

Northern Shoveler 1 (f) dabbling, HL.

Northern Pintail 2 (m,f) HL.

Green-winged Teal 5 (m,f) HL; 150 (m,f) flooded field, 140W.

Greater Scaup 1 (f) note, large, rounded head and bill; swimming with LESC, WQL (photo).

Greater Scaup ( female center - right) with four LESC, west Quail Lake, LACO, CA Dec. 24, 2011

Lesser Scaup 500 (conservative estimate) ubiquitous; most resting, some diving, QL.

Bufflehead 120 QLO; QL. Diving; usually with LESC.

Common Goldeneye 8 (m,f) diving, QLO; 5 (m,f) QL.

Common Merganser 10 (m,f) swimming with LESC, QL.

Ruddy Duck 250 scattered in small flocks on the lake, QL; 2 HL.

Pied-billed Grebe 10 WQL; 1 HL.

Horned Grebe 3 swimming, diving together, WQL.

Eared Grebe 25 diving, WQL.

Western Grebe 100 scattered in large, loose flocks, n QL.

Double-crested Cormorant 8 resting on island; swimming, QL.

Great Blue Heron 1 north edge of lake in cattails, HL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) north edge of lake in cattails, HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 8 (ad) on utility poles, LR; 1(ad) circling, HL. 1 dark morph, utility pole, 140W.

Ferruginous Hawk 1 on utility pole, LR.

Golden Eagle 1 (ad) flushed from utility pole, 140W.

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole, LR.

Prairie Falcon 1 on utility pole, LR; 1 chasing RTHA from its perch on a utility pole, 140W.

American Coot 50 edges of lake, QL; 4 HL.

Killdeer 2 shoreline, QL; 5 flooded field, 140W.

California Gull 5 (ad) resting on lake, QL.

Mourning Dove 2 LR.

Eurasian Collared Dove 30 flying over agricultural field at 80th St. W and Avenue A (LACO).

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (f) foraging in pines; calls, HL.

Black Phoebe 2 fly, call, 140W.

Say's Phoebe 1 calls, WQL; 1 calls, HL.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, adjacent fields, n HL.

Common Raven 60 LR; 10, QL; 4 140W.

Horned Lark 20 flying over flooded field, 140W.

Mountain Chickadee 5 foraging in pines, calls, HL.

Bewick's Wren 2 calls, adjacent chaparral, s QL.

Marsh Wren 1 calls, fly, marsh, WQL; 1 calls, s HL.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls from pines, HL.

European Starling 5 fly, adjacent fields, HL; 50 flooded fields and utility lines, 140W.

American Pipit 2 shore, QL; 6 fly, call, 140W.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 fly, call, EQL.

Common Yellowthroat 2 s QL; 1 calls, HL.

California Towhee 1 calls, adjacent chaparral, s QL.

Lark Sparrow 30 roadside, LR; 10 HL.

Savannah Sparrow 10 calls, WQL; s QL; 15 HL; 30 140W.

Song Sparrow 5 calls, marsh, s QL; 3 calls, 140W.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 (ad, imm) ruderal edges of lake, QL; 50 brushy areas and marsh, HL; 10 roadside flooded ditches, 140W.

Dark-eyed Junco 5 calls, pines and on gravel road, HL.

Western Meadowlark 3 fly, 140W.

Red-winged Blackbird 4 calls, marsh, s QL; 4 e HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 2 (f) calls, marsh, e HL.

Brewer's Blackbird 5 ruderal roadside, s QL; 250 flooded fields, 140W.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 m parking lot, WQL.

House Finch 10 riparian, QL; 15 HL; 30 140W.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 fly, call, QL.

House Sparrow 5 around clubhouse, HL.

NOVEMBER 16, 2011 Quail Lake, Holiday Lake and 140th Street West (67 Species)

Weather: Fair; 56F to 64F; winds ENE 5 - 7 mph.

Time: 0851 -1218 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) The west Quail Lake Outlet (QLO) to the California Aqueduct, viewing with a scope from the West Fork Rd. overlook (0851-0912 hrs.). 2) Quail Lake (QL). After scoping the western portion of Quail Lake and the QLO from the hill by the west parking lot, I cycled east on the access road to the levee separating a smaller lake (EQL) and continued to the northern inlet of the California aqueduct. I also surveyed the eastern portion of EQL by using a narrow foot path along the northern shore. Habitats surveyed included, open fields, ruderal roadsides, fresh water marsh, shoreline (much exposed due to a relatively low water level), open water and riparian patches. Only one fisherman was on the shore (north), who mentioned that he had not caught any fish today. Waterbirds were distributed throughout the lake. I used a 10x42 binocular and a hand-held DSLR camera with a 80-400 mm lens (0915-1105 hrs). 3) Holiday Lake (HL): I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake once, surveying all habitats (see previous survey notes for habitat descriptions). One couple was walking around the lake when I arrived. Otherwise the lake was undisturbed by human activities during my survey. 4) The AVEK groundwater recharge fields at 140th St. West, between 1.3 and 1.5 miles north of HWY 138 (Avenue D) on the east side (140W). I drove the perimeter road once in a clockwise direction, stopping frequently to observe birds in the flooded fields and ponds. Two AVEK workers were in the area during my survey (1125-1218 hrs.) 5) En route, I covered Munz Ranch Road, Lancaster Rd (Avenue I), HWY 138 (Avenue D), 110th Street West and Avenue K west. I made casual observations while driving, watching for raptors on utility poles and wires (ER).

Birds of seasonal and/ or distributional interest found today included, Common Merganser (1), Hooded Merganser (1), Common Goldeneye (1), Greater Scaup (2),Common Loon (3), Horned Grebe (3), White-faced Ibis (10), Bonaparte's Gull (1), and a possible Common Grackle (Quiscalus sp. 1).

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 12 resting in the middle of the lake, HL.

Gadwall 1 (f) swimming alone in the middle of the lake, HL.

Mallard 10 (m,f) edge of the lake and marsh, QL; 6 (m,f) (flighty), HL.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) swimming with Mallards, HL.

Lesser Scaup 80 (m,f) flocks of 10 -20 birds scattered over the lake, QL.

Greater Scaup 2 (m,f) noted male's low, rounded head profile with green gloss; female GRSC nearby with LESC for comparisons, w QL.

Bufflehead 120 (m,f) scattered over lake, QL, EQL; 10 QLO

Common Goldeneye 1 (m) alone; diving frequently in aqueduct, QLO (fos).

Common Merganser 1 (f) flushed from side pond on north side of lake with many AMCO, QL (fos).

Hooded Merganser 1 (f) swimming close to the south edge of EQL.

Ruddy Duck 2 (m,f) QLO; 250 (m,f) mostly resting, QL; 1 HL.

California Quail 15 calls, two coveys; active in brushy ruderal fields, QLO; QL.

Common Loon 3 a pair diving together, se QL (photo); one in central-eastern QL.

Common Loon southeast Quail Lake, November 16, 2011

Pied-billed Grebe 1 EQL.

Horned Grebe 3 diving, eastern and central-eastern QL (photo).

Horned Grebe eastern Quail Lake, November 16, 2011

Eared Grebe 30 diving in pairs and alone, throughout, QL (photo).

Eared Grebe southeast Quail Lake, November 16, 2011

Western Grebe 150 scattered on the lake; some in pairs, QL.

Clark's Grebe 3 north-eastern QL.

Double-crested Cormorant 3 resting on snags, EQL - flushed to island, n-central QL.

Great Blue Heron 2 n and s marsh, QL; 1 edge of marsh, HL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 7 (ad, imm) flushed from n marsh and trees, HL.

White-faced Ibis 10 foraging in flooded field, ne.

Northern Harrier 1 flying low, landing in flooded field, w-central, 140W.

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 flushed from trees, EQL.

Cooper's Hawk 1 flushed from riparian area, w HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 10 on utility poles(ER); 2 (imm, ad (dark morph) 140W.

Ferruginous Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole (ER).

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole (ER).

Merlin 1 flying over field at intersection of Elizabeth Lake Rd. and Munz Ranch Rd (ER).

Prairie Falcon 1 (ad) flying low over flooded fields; dove on and missed a WFIB..

Sora 1 calls, sw marsh, QL; 2 calls, marsh, HL.

American Coot 300 (consev. est.) QL; 8 HL; 50 140W.

KIlldeer 2 shoreline, s QL.

Bonaparte's Gull 1 (C1) appeared to have some pathology on legs and feet; resting on concrete levee, se QL (photo).

Bonaparte's Gull (first cycle) se Quail Lake, November 16, 2011

Ring-billed Gull 1 (ad) flying low, northward, QL.

California Gull 30 (ad, imm) mostly resting in n-central lake, QL.

Herring Gull 1 (C1) flying back and forth, low over lake, s QL.

Eurasian Collared Dove 10 farmyard at cormer of Munz Ranch Rd. and Lancaster Rd. (ER).

Mourning Dove 4 flushed from elms and cottonwoods, e HL

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls (unseen) w HL.

Black Phoebe 3 edge of marsh, s QL; 1 HL.

Say's Phoebe 1 n QL; 1 HL.

Common Raven 4 QLO; 10 QL; 3 HL; 100 + ER.

Horned Lark 2 calls, QLO; 2 fly, call n QL; 20 feeding in flooded fieid, 140W.

Mountain Chickadee 1 calls in pines, w HL.

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, brushy border of field, QLO.

Marsh Wren 1 calls, marsh, s QL; 2 calls, marsh, HL.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls in pines, w HL.

European Starling 1 flying over adjacent field, s HL; 20 flying over flooded fields, 140W.

American Pipit 2 fly, call, e QL; 20 in flooded and dry fields; dirt levees, 140W.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 calls; foraging in marsh, on ground and in tules; in pines, HL.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls, marsh, s QL.

Lark Sparrow 10 song, calls, riparian and pines, w HL.

Savannah Sparrow 20 roadside ruderal areas, 140W.

Song Sparrow 2 calls, marsh, QL; 2 HL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 edge of riparian, s HL.

White-crowned Sparrow 10 brushy roadside, QLO; 30 marsh, riparian, ruderal, QL; 10 marsh, riparian, HL; 3 roadside brushy areas, 140W.

Dark-eyed Junco (J. h. thurberi) 10 calls; on ground beneath pines, w HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 (f) in marsh, e HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 30 (f, imm) in marsh, n, e HL.

Western Meadowlark 1 song, field, n QL; 20 calls, song, flooded and dry fields, 140W.

Brewer's Blacbird 20 roadside and parking area, QL; 50 flying; foraging in flooded fields, 140W. One apparent immature individual with unusual plumage features

Brewer's Blackbird? (imm. female) Note small, thin bill, orange cheeks and throat; white supercilium and malar stripe; large scapulars and buffy edges of upper wing feathers. Two reviewers judged this individual to be Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), however I have yet to find another example of BRBL showing features more characteristic of Agelaius spp. (2 photos of the same individual). Nov. 16, 2011, 140th St. West, LACO, CA.

Great-tailed Grackle 5 roadside, marsh and ruderal edges, w QL.

Great-tailed Grackle ? 1 (m) calls unlike GTGR -- scratchy, discordant, more like COGR, which initially drew my attention. Perched on barbed wire fence in west QL parking lot (photo); this bird appeared short-winged, short-tailed (tail molting); overall size appeared considerably smaller than most GTGR. Back coloration not seen clearly, but appeared to be glossy-blue - black (photo).

Probable Great-tailed Grackle (m) molting tail feathers. Nov. 16, 2011, Quail Lake, CA

House Finch 20 (m,f) riparian, marsh, pines, HL; 100 + (m,f) brushy fields bordering flooded fields, 140W.

Lesser Goldfinch 6 (m,f) riparian and pines, e HL.

House Sparrow 2 around clubhouse, w HL.

NOVEMBER 9, 2011 140th Street West, north of HWY 138 (13 Species)

Weather: Fair. 24F, no wind.

Time: 0650 - 0730 hrs.

Area Covered: I drove from the 1.5 mile marker on 140th Street West, north of HWY 138 (Ave. D) east, south and west, around the perimeter of the 0.1 m2 AVEK groundwater recharge fields and ponds. Piped water was being delivered to the fields and ponds, which were already partially flooded when I arrived (c.f. dry condition of November 4, 2011). However, a relatively low diversity of waterbirds was observed this morning in comparison with previous surveys, e.g. October 30, 2011 - see notes below). Two AVEK maintenance workers were present in the area during my survey this morning.

BIRDS NOTED

Northern Pintail 8 (perhaps a few more were hidden from view), m,f; central-north flooded area.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 flying e over fields.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) feeding on a small animal in the central-eastern field.

American Coot 100 around the edges of ponds; flooded fields.

Common Raven 2 flying over.

Horned Lark 50 flocks flying low, landing in dry and wet fields (photo).

Horned Lark se corner of AVEK groundwater recharge fields, LACO November 9, 2011

European Starling 30 foraging in flooded field, n.

American Pipit 25 flock moving around in flooded fields, e.

Savannah Sparrow 60 brushy ditches and edges of flooded fields, n.

White-crowned Sparrow 5 brushy edge of ditch, w.

Western Meadowlark 20 dry fields, central.

Brewer's Blackbird 120 (m,f) flocks feeding in flooded fields everywhere.

House Finch 20 (m,f) brushy ditches bordering fields, n.

NOVEMBER 4, 2011 Quail Lake, Holiday Lake and 140th Street West, north of HWY 138 (42 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy with intermittent showers; 43F to 47F; winds WNW 10 mph. High winds and rain last night from a Pacific Northwest cold front (fos).

Time: 1005 - 1315 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) West Quail Lake Outlet of the California Aqueduct, viewed from West Fork Rd. (QLO) (1005-1010 hrs). 2) West Quail Lake, including part of the outlet channel to the aqueduct (WQL). I scoped the western section of Quail Lake from a small hilltop next to the parking lot. Steady, cold nw winds hampered my observations of distant (east) portions of the lake (1015-1051 hrs.). 3) Holiday Lake (HL). I walked a counter-clockwise route once around the entire lake, surveying all habitats; relatively little birdlife evident here this morning (1113-1157 hrs.). 4) 140th Street West, 1.5 miles north of HWY 138 (Ave. D) on the east side (140W). The fields and water recharge ponds were nearly dry. Two AVEK Water Dept. workers, Mike and Tom, told me that this area was established about a year ago as an experimental groundwater recharge and agricultural project. Water is piped intermittently to the fields and earth-walled recharge basins. The next scheduled water delivery to this area is this weekend. The relatively dry conditions here today produced very few waterbirds; no ducks were observed. 5) Western AV roadways between Elizabeth Lake and Quail Lake, including Lancaster Rd., HWY 138 and 110th Street West. While driving, I watched utility poles and adjacent fields for birds of prey. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Greater Scaup (3), White-faced Ibis (8), Ferruginous Hawk (3), Merlin (1) and Bonaparte's Gull (2).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 2 (m,f) edge of aqueduct, QLO; 15 (m,f) flighty, HL.

Northern Pintail 9 (f) dabbling in center of lake, HL.

Green-winged Teal 4 (f) dabbling at edges of lake, HL.

Lesser Scaup 22 (m,f) resting, swimming, central-w WQL.

Greater Scaup 3 (m, f) one female swimming with female LESC, which provided a good size and shape comparison. Also noted a relatively large white wing stripe of f GRSC. This particular bird appears to be the same one I photographed here previously (October 26, 2011: see notes below). A more distant male and female GRSC was seen with several LESC; the comparatively large, rounded, low head of GRSC was observed with the scope.

Bufflehead 10 (m,f) diving, QLO; 4 diving, WQL.

Ruddy Duck 80 rafts of about 20 birds were resting in open water, WQL; 1 HL.

Common Loon 4 three diving in outlet channel (photo); one in open water, WQL.

Common Loon West Quail Lake, November 4, 2011

Eared Grebe 10 diving, open water and near shore, WQL.

Western Grebe 80 open water, WQL.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 open water, WQL.

Great Blue Heron 1 edge of marsh-lake, n HL; 1 on shore, nw WQL.

White-faced Ibis 8 eastern fields; flighty, 140th W.

Red-tailed Hawk 12 on utility poles between Elizabeth Lake and Quail Lake; 1 landed in field, 140th W.

Ferruginous Hawk 3 (ad) on utility poles, 160th W and Lancaster Rd.; 190th West, Lancaster Rd.; in field, 110th St W, Avenue G.

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole with prey item, HL; flying over field, 140th W.

Merlin 1 -cotinuing- perched on earth embankment at edge of dry recharge pond (almost same place where I photographed one on Oct. 24, 2011), 140W.

Sora 1 calls, w HL.

American Coot 100 (conserv est.) around edges of lake, WQL; 6 swimming near marsh, HL.

Killdeer 10 in fields with small amounts of standing water, e 140W.

Bonaparte's Gull 2 (ad bsc. plmg.) flying together over lake and shore, sw WQL.

California Gull 1 (imm C1) on edge of aqueduct, QLO; 5 (ad, imm) on s shore, WQL.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 flying over farm, corner of Munz Ranch Rd. and Lancaster Rd.

Mourning Dove 6 in cottonwoods; flighty, e HL.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 on top of tree in adjacent yard, s HL.

Common Raven 6 fly, call, WQL; 4 fly, s HL. 50 in fields along roadways.

Mountain Chickadee 2 - continuing - active, vocal in pines, s HL.

Marsh Wren 2 calls, song, dense marsh, nw, s HL.

European Starling 200 (est.) foraging in large flocks in short-grass fields, 140W.

American Pipit 40 foraging in muddy fields near Killdeer, sw, 140W; one with very white wingbars, dark tarsi and a dark chin streak (photo).

American Pipit (subsp?) 140th St. W, LACO, CA Nov. 4, 2011

Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 active, vocal in pines and cottonwoods, s HL.

Savannah Sparrow 50 brushy ditches alongside road, 140W.

Song Sparrow 1 calls, marsh, s HL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 10 brushy ditches alongside road with SASP, 140W.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 edge of marsh, riparian, ruderal fields, QLO, WQL; 10 HL.

Dark-eyed Junco (J.h. thurberi) 2 in pines, sw HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 6 (f) in marsh, e HL; 20 in fields, nw 140W.

Tricolored Blackbird 8 (f) flying together over marshy area, nw 140W.

Western Meadowlark 50 a large flock in dry field, e 140W.

Brewer's Blackbird 1 edge of QLO; 4 (m,f) on shore, WQL; 30 in fields, nw 140W.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 fly, call, WQL.

House Finch 10 HL; 30 brushy fields and ditches, 140W (photo).

House Finch (female) 140th St. West, LACO, CA November 4, 2011

OCTOBER 30, 2011 Holiday Lake and 140th Street West, north of HWY 138 (57 Species)

Weather: Fair; 58F to 74F; winds NE 0-2 mph.

Time: 0855- 1220 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Lancaster Road West (LR): I drove the outgoing segment (0810-0845), 35-45 mph from Elizabeth Lake on Munz Ranch Rd, turning west onto Lancaster Rd (Avenue I) and continuing to the intersection of HWY 138 (Avenue D). I stopped several times to identify and/or photograph raptors on utility poles. 2) Holiday Lake (HL). I walked a clockwise route once around the entire lake, surveying ruderal fields, pines, riparian, marsh, shoreline (minimal in the eastern and southeastern sections) and open water (maximum depth about 5 inches). No one else was in the survey area during my visit, however a brief series of shotgun blasts were heard from adjacent fields to the northeast. Conditions were good for identifying birds by their vocalizations. Most of the bird species noted here in my previous survey were found again today. 3) Flooded fields and catchment basins east of 140th Street West, 1.3 to 1.5 miles north of HWY 138 (140W). I drove slowly on the perimeter dirt road beginning at mile marker 1.5 on 140th Street West and ending at about 1.3 miles north of HWY 138, covering an area of about 0.1 square mile. Aside from a maintenance worker for AVEK Water District (evidently controlling the water distribution on this land), I was alone during the survey. Most of the waterbirds were found in the eastern fields and ponds; ducks and other waterbirds were flighty as I approached with my vehicle. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, White-faced Ibis (50), Long-billed Dowitcher (40), Long-billed Curlew (1), Greater Yellowlegs (18), Ferruginous Hawk (2), Merilin (1) and Vesper Sparrow (4).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) HL; 1 (f) 140W.

Mallard 18 (m,f) HL.

Cinnamon Teal 2 flying, 140W.

Northern Shoveler 30 flying, dabbling in e ponds, 140W.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) resting on levee, 140W.

Ruddy Duck 1 (m) HL.

California Quail 20 flushed from dense cover in marsh, HL.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming, e pond, 140W.

Great Blue Heron 1 in cottonwood, flew to lake, calls, HL.

Great Egret 2 in flooded field, ne, 140W.

Snowy Egret 1 flying over flooded field, ne, 140W.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) at edge of lake in marsh, HL

White-faced Ibis 50 (conserv. est.) scattered in small flocks, foraging in ponds and flooded fields, e 140W (photo).

White-faced Ibis 140th St. West, LACO, October 30, 2011

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

Red-tailed Hawk 8 (ad, imm) on utility poles along Lancaster Rd. (photo).

Red-tailed Hawk Lancaster Rd. and 160th St. W., LACO, October 30, 2011

Ferruginous Hawk 1 on utility pole, LR (photo a); one in grassy field, 140th W (photo b); in same area where I found an unidentified Buteo on 24 October, 2011(several reviewers believed it was a FEHA). However, today's bird was much lighter in coloration than the one I observed and photographed here on 24 October, and if the previous Buteo was indeed a FEHA, it was definitely a different individual, showing a completely different upper wing and tail pattern.

a) FEHA Lancaster Rd. near 150th St. West, LACO, Oct. 30, 2011

American Kestrel 1 (f) on utlilty pole, 140W.

Merlin 1-continuing- perched on overturned Russian thistle at side of pond, e, 140W.

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

Sora 3-4 calling repeatedly around the lake (unseen), HL.

American Coot 8 swimming near the tules, n HL; 200 in ponds and flooded fields, e, 140W.

Killdeer 2 on shore, e, HL; one in flight, 140W.

Greater Yellowlegs 18 -continuing- foraging at edge of ponds and flooded fields, e 140W (photo).

Greater Yellowlegs 140th St. W, LACO, October 30, 2011

Long-billed Dowitcher 40 - continuing - foraging at edge of flooded fields, e, 140W.

Long-billed Curlew 1 in a relatively tall-grass field next to a pond, e, 140W.

Mourning Dove 6 on utility wires, HL.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 calls, around pines, s HL.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m? and f) foraging in cottonwoods on opposite side of lake, HL.

Black Phoebe 1 sally-flycatching over mudflat at edge of marsh, s HL.

Common Raven 10 fly, call, HL. 40 + around farms, LR.

Horned Lark 2 flying across road, LR.

Tree Swallow 4 flying low, back and forth over flooded field, ne 140W.

Mountain Chickadee 5 - continuing, and increasing in number; foraging in pines around lake; calls, HL (photo)

Mountain Chickadee south Holiday Lake, October 30, 2011

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, active at edge of marsh in riparian, s HL.

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

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 active, vocal in pines, s HL.

American Robin 1 flushed from cottonwood, s HL.

Northern Mockingbird 1 song, adjacent homestead, s, HL.

European Starling 2 call, fly, s HL; 30 flooded fields and utility lines, 140W.

American Pipit 20 edge of ponds, e, 140W.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging in cottonwood foliage near YRWA, n HL.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 40 (m,f) foraging in trees, shrubs, marsh; calls, HL.

Common Yellowthroat 3 (m,f) calls, active at edge of marsh in mudflat, s HL.

Vesper Sparrow 4 on shore and in cottonwoods, s HL (photo).

Vesper Sparrow, se Holiday Lake, October 30, 2011

Lark Sparrow 30 vocal (song, calls) in pines; drinking at shoreline, s HL.

Savannah Sparrow 20 in marsh, riparian, ruderal fields, HL; 100+ roadside ruderal ditches and flooded fields, 140W.

Song Sparrow 2 calls, edge of marsh, nw, n HL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 in marsh, s HL; 1 edge of flooded field, 140W.

White-crowned Sparrow 60 ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats, HL; 20 roadside ditches with dense cover, 140W.

Dark-eyed Junco 2 calls from pines (unseen) s HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 12 (f, imm) in marsh, e HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 30 (f) in marsh around lake, often with RWBL

Brewer's Blackbird 80 (m,f) in flooded fields and edges of ponds, 140W.

Western Meadowlark 6 drinking, bathing; songse HL; 40 dry fields; evaporative cooling; song, 140W (photo).

Western Meadowlark 140 St. W, LACO, October 30, 2011

House Finch 30 (m,f) ubiquitous; calls, song, HL.

Lesser Goldfinch 6 feeding on dry sunflower bushes; calls, song, HL.

House Sparrow 5 on and around clubhouse, HL.

OCTOBER 26, 2011 West Quail Lake, Holiday Lake and 140th Street West, north of HWY 138 (66 Species)

Weather: Fair; 53F to 67F; winds variable, w 2-5 mph.

Time: 0815 - 1233 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Quail Lake Outlet to the California Aqueduct (QLO). I drove to the overlook on West Fork Rd. and surveyed a section of the aqueduct. Relatively few birds were found in the aqueduct ( 0815-0825 hrs.). 2) West Quail Lake (WQL). I surveyed a portion of the aqueduct and adjacent open water, shoreline and riparian-marsh habitat on the western border of Quail Lake next to the parking area (0826-0842 hrs.). 3) I surveyed Holiday Lake (HL) by walking around the perimeter 1.5 times, first counter-clockwise (half way around) then clockwise (full circuit). The water level continues to be relatively high, though a few inches lower than the previous survey of Oct. 23. (0903-1134 hrs.). 4) 140th Street West (140W). I drove the perimeter road around flooded fields, marsh and water catchment basins, beginning 1.5 miles north of HWY 138 on 140th Street West, stopping to bird on foot in flooded fields to the north of the mile 1.5 perimeter road. All surveys today were done with a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Canada Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, White-faced Ibis, Long-billed Dowitcher, Prairie Falcon and Vesper Sparrow.

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 2 in flooded field, n 140W (photo).

Canada Geese north flooded field, mile 1.5 east of 140th St. West, LACO, CA Oct. 26, 2011

Greater White-fronted Goose 2 with imm SNGO in flooded field about 200 yards east of CAGO (photo)

Greater White-fronted Goose (immatures) 140th Street West, LACO, CA Oct. 26, 2011

Snow Goose 1 (imm) with GWFG in flooded field n of mile 1.5 perimeter road, 140th Street West (photo).

Snow Goose (immature - far right) in flooded field with GWFG (above), 140th St. West, LACO, October 26, 2011

Gadwall 3 (m,f) in catchment basin; flew when approached by my vehicle, 140W.

Mallard 5 s edge of WQL; 20 (m,f) QL.

Cinnamon Teal 8 (f) edge of catchment basin, se, 140W.

Northern Shoveler 30 dabbling in se catchment basin, 140W.

Northern Pintail 2 (m,f) HL; 25 (m,f) se catchment basin, 140W.

Green-winged Teal 1 (f) HL; 3 (f) se catchment basin, 140W.

Lesser Scaup 3 (f) swimming, resting, WQL.

Greater Scaup 3 (f) swimming, resting, WQL (photo).

Greater Scaup (female) West Quail Lake, October 26, 2011

Bufflehead 8 (m,f) flying over se catchment basin; one female swimming, 140W.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f) resting, WQL; 1 swimming, QL; 1 se catchment basin, 140W

California Quail 10 HL.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 in aqueduct outlet, WQL.

Eared Grebe 6 se catchment basin, 140W.

Western Grebe 6 WQL; 1 HL.; 1 se catchment basin, 140W.

Great Blue Heron 1 wading, w HL.

Great Egret 2 resting in shallows, se, HL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) marsh and cottonwoods, n HL.

White-faced Ibis 30 flooded field, southwest, 140W.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over fields, QLO; 1 (m) flying very low and fast over flooded fields, 140W.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) on utility pole, 140W; about 6 RTHA on utility poles from Lancaster Rd W to Quail Lake.

American Kestrel 1 flying low over field, 140W.

Prairie Falcon 1 (imm) on utility pole, e HL (photo).

Prairie Falcon (immature) east Holiday Lake, LACO , CA October 26, 2011

Virginia Rail 2 calls (unseen) in marsh, e, w HL.

Sora 3-4 calls (unseen) marsh around entire lake, HL.

American Coot 2 QLO; 8 WQL; 6 HL; 100+ 140W.

Killdeer 2 edge of aqueduct, QLO. 2 HL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 20 flying over flooded field, ne.

California Gull 6 (ad, imm) WQL; 1 (C2) HL.

Eurasian Collared Dove 1-2 calls, s HL.

Mourning Dove 2 HL.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from pines, s HL.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (m) aerial hawking, e HL.

Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (m) in cottonwoods; shy when approached, e HL.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 (f) in pines; calls, s HL.

Black Phoebe 1 marsh-riparian, WQL; 1 marsh, HL.

Say's Phoebe 1 in adjacent field, n HL.

Loggerhead Shrike 2 calls, adjacent fields, n, e, HL.

Western Scrub-jay calls (unseen) adjacent homesteads with tall trees, s HL.

American Crow ? calls (unseen) adjacent homestead, s HL.

Common Raven 2 flying over, WQL; 2 HL; 100+ in plowed field north of HWY 138 and 200th St. West;; 6 in fields and edge of marsh, 140W.

Barn Swallow 1-2 flying over HL briefly.

Mountain Chickadee 2 (cont.) in pines, calls, s HL.

Bewick's Wren 2 calls, adjacent fields and pines, s, sw HL.

Marsh Wren 6 calls and song; active in marsh (photos).

Marsh Wren (2 photos of thesame individual) south Holiday Lake, October 26, 2011

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 foraging quickly among smaller branches in Aleppo pines; calls, sw HL.

European Starling 2 on utility wires, 140W.

American Pipit 10 fly, call, 140W.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 riparian edge, WQL; 4 cottonwoods and pines, HL.

Common Yellowthroat 3 marsh, s HL.

Vesper Sparrow 2 shore and cottonwoods, s HL (photo).

Vesper Sparrow, south Holiday Lake, LACO, Oct. 26, 2011

Lark Sparrow 30 ubiquitous in trees and on shore, HL.

Savannah Sparrow 25 in marsh and riparian, HL; 100+ roadside ditches, marsh, flooded fields, 140W.

Song Sparrow 2 in marsh, s HL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 in marsh, sw HL.

White-crowned Sparrow 20 fields, QLO; 10 riparian, WQL; 50 (ad, imm) all terrestrial habitats; calls and song, HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 10 (f) intermixed with TRBL in marsh, HL (photo).

Tricolored Blackbird 35-50 (f) in most parts of the marsh; some with RWBL (photo).

Tricolored Blackbird (female - right) and Red-winged Blackbird (female - left) east HL, Oct. 26, 2011

Western Meadowlark 2 song, dry adjacent fields, e HL; 20 flooded and dry fields, 140W (photo).

Western Meadowlark 140th St. W, LACO, CA Oct. 26, 2011

Brewer's Blackbird 6 parking lot and roadside, WQL.

Great-tailed Grackle 3 parking lot and shoreline, WQL; flying into marsh, HL.

House Finch 20 fields with dry sunflowers, QLO; 30 in all terrestrial habitats, HL; 50 fields, dry and flooded, 140W.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 in dry sunflower bush, QLO; 3 fly, call, in cottonwoods and dry sunflower bushes, HL.

House Sparrow 5 around clubhouse, HL.

OCTOBER 24 140th Street West, north of Highway 138 (Avenue D) (37 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 55F to 61F; no wind.

Time: 0807 - 1010 hrs.; 1530-1600 hrs.

Area Covered: 1) 1.2 miles north of HWY 138 (Ave. D) on 140th Street West: I surveyed, using a 10x42 binocular, scope and DSLR camera, flooded fields and shallow irrigation ponds on the east side of the paved street. Irrigation pipes carry water from adjacent alfalfa fields (west of 140th St. W) into unused fields and earthen catchment areas. This area (about 0.1 square miles) appears to be of recent origin due to irrigation run-off. Small patches of early successional marsh and wetland here has attracted abundant birdlife. 2) My next stop along 140th Street West was at the 1.4 mile mark (measuring by odometer from HWY 138). Similar wetland habitat occurs here, with perhaps more extensive early marsh vegetation (e.g. tules and cattails). 3) Turning right onto a dirt road at the 1.5 mile mark, I parked and walked along the edge of the roadway and adjacent marsh; here best developed of the three places I stopped. 4) Continuing east on the dirt road through the flooded fields, I turned south at the first intersection on another dirt road (passable with 2WD when dry), which afforded excellent views of the above-mentioned catchment ponds and fields. This road continues west and rejoins 140th Street West. Thus, I was able to survey the entire perimeter of the flooded fields and catchment basins (unfenced private property) mostly from existing roadways. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found here this morning included, White-faced Ibis, Buteo sp. (see discussion below) , Merlin, Dunlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher and American Pipit (fos). I returned to the site in an effort to refind the RLHA but without success. Several additional species were found during my afternoon visit: Mallard, Great Egret, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel and Prairie Falcon.

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 2 landed in flooded field.

Mallard 5 (m,f) edge of se pond.

Northern Shoveler 85 (f) dabbling in catchment basins; flighty.

Northern Pintail 8 (m,f) edge of southeast catchment basin.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (f) edge of catchment basin, se.

Green-winged Teal 6 dabbling in w catchment basin.

Ruddy Duck 1 (f) in se catchment basin.

Eared Grebe 9 swimming together in se catchment basin.

Great Egret 3 foraging in a flooded field, n.

Snowy Egret 4 foraging in flooded field with WFIB.

White-faced Ibis 56 foraging with SNEG in flooded field.

Northern Harrier 1 (f) flying low over flooded fields.

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

Buteo sp. 1 flushed from flooded field, sw corner. Initially, I saw this bird while driving west; I stopped and exited the vehicle, and using a 10x42 binocular, observed the bird emerging from a flooded field about 80 feet away in good light. I clearly saw its variegated gray and white, long, broad wings; long white tail with wide terminal black band - partially visible in the photos - (ruling out an immature Ferruginous Hawk, in my view); streaked underparts without a conspicuous black belly patch. Wingstrokes near the ground appeared labored, suggesting an eagle. The bird flew west gradually gaining altitude, then descending to 50 ft. near a large power standard (photos taken after about 2 minutes out of view of the bird while I prepared my camera). I relocated and photographed what I was reasonably sure was the same bird at about 0.2 miles to the east, using a Nikon D3X and 80-400mm lens). Formerly an uncommon though regular winter visitant in the Antelope Valley (c.f. Grass Mountain CBC 1972-1995), RLHA has become quite scarce in the region. This is the first sighting of a possible RLHA I have made in the Antelope Valley in more than a decade. Because of the rarity of RLHA in this region, this sighting record has come under close scrutiny by other experienced birders.

Appraisals of my photos (below) by other birders concluded this is probably not a Rough-legged Hawk, and appears most similar to Ferruginous Hawk. At least two reviewers based their conclusions on missing diagnostic features of RLHA, such as black wrist bands, black belly patch, white streaks (not patches) at the base of the primaries and a relatively small head and bill. Taken together, one reviewer concluded the missing features are more characteristic of FEHA than RLHA. One reviewer mentioned briefly that the relatively pointed wings are more characteristic of FEHA than RLHA. The latter "point" is potentially more reliable than arguments based on missing plumage features, which is doubtless subject to considerable variation. An important issue is individual variation of RLHA. Anyone who is regular birder would agree that coloration and other plumage characters are highly variable within the genus Buteo. Although I am certainly not an expert on Buteos, I would expect there is considerable intraspecific variation in RLHA. Reviewers have thusfar failed to address this highly relevant topic. Additionally, no reviewer could convincingly explain the broad black (not buffy or brown) terminal tail band (somewhat obscured in my photos) on a very conspicuous, long white tail. As a scientist and educator, I have grown to appreciate the necessity of a thorough, unbiased analyses. Such an analysis should consider a number of factors, including observer bias, field experience, accuracy of the account, viewing conditions, etc..

Admittedly, I find my two photos below suggest FEHA more strongly than RLHA. Lacking supporting details, I probably would agree that the photos do not appear to be of a RLHA. But photos, particularly ones taken at great distance, can be misleading. My close-up views, by comparison, were made within 100 feet, in good light and with good quality optics (B&L 10x42 binocular). Notes made shortly thereafter were based largely on my empirical, close-up views in the field. Indeed, since my camera equipment had already been stowed away and out of reach, I would not have considered making such long-distance and predictably poor quality photos, had I not been convinced of the rarity of this particular bird and the importance of proper documentation.

Following my two distant and thus relatively poor photos, are close-up unambiguous photos of a Rough-legged Hawk and an immature Ferruginous Hawk that may provide a useful comparison. Note that although photo resolution and lighting are substantially different, the two sets of photos show both specific and generic similarities.

Buteo sp. 140th Street West, 1.3 mi north of HWY 138 (Avenue D), LACO, CA October 24, 2011

Photos Below: Rough-legged Hawk (L) and Immature Ferruginous Hawk (R) (no date or location provided) Note a) distance, angle and thus lighting can change exposure and contrast of the underwing and b) similarity of contrasting white tail with terminal dark band between the RLHA photo below and the two photos above. Note also the predominately dark variegation on the upper wing of the RLHA photo, including whitish at the base of the primaries; both features are subject to contrast differences due to photo quality factors. Other features of RLHA, e.g. body and wing proportions, and to a much lesser extent, head and bill size, are comparable with the bird in my photos..

Ferruginous Hawk immatures may show a similar variegation of the upper wings (below right), with a white base of the tail and a broad, buff to light brown (definitely not black) wide terminal band. But note the predominantly light brownish tones on the upperparts of the immature FEHA, with large, conspicuous white patches in the primaries. The latter features were not apparent on the bird I observed and photographed above. Also, aside from the differences in photo angles, the forward projection of a large head and bill of the immature Ferruginous Hawk has a distinctly different profile than the bird shown in my two photos above.

Merlin 1-2 resting on berm next to flooded field; flying to adjacent field, se (photo). Another, apparently darker individual was found in the afternoon on the edge of the northeast catchment basin.

Merlin 140th Street West, 1.3 mi north of HWY 138, LACO, CA Oct. 24, 2011

American Kestrel 1 on utility line; flying over dry field, ne.

Prairie Falcon 1 flying low, fast over marsh, e.

American Coot 20 in catchment basins and edges of flooded fields.

Killdeer 30 edge of catchment basin, se.

Greater Yellowlegs 6 foraging at edge of catchment basin and flooded field; calls, se.

Dunlin 2 foraging with LBDO at edge of flooded field and catchment basin, se.

Long-billed Dowitcher 52 foraging at edge of flooded field and catchment basin, se.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 marsh at edge of 140th St. W.

Common Raven 4 flying over alfalfa fields to west.

Horned Lark 4 fly, call.

Marsh Wren 6 song, calls, marsh at edge of flooded fields.

European Starling 6 foraging in flooded field next to marsh.

American Pipit 10 fly, call; on berm next to catchment basin (photo).

American Pipit 140th Street West, 1.3 mi. north of HWY 138, LACO, CA October 24, 2011

Common Yellowthroat 1 (f) marsh next to roadway, se.

Savannah Sparrow 100 + ubiquitous; especially abundant in brushy ditches.

Song Sparrow 3 marsh next to 140th St. W.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 with SASP in dried sunflowers, roadside marsh.

Red-winged Blackbird 35 (m,f; imm) foraging in flooded fields next to marsh.

Western Meadowlark 8 songs, calls, dry fields next to roadway.

Brewer's Blackbird 20 in flooded fields and on utility lines.

House Finch 100 + (m,f) in brushy borders of marsh and flooded fields; on utility lines

American Goldfinch 3 foraging in dry sunflower shrubs, edge of marsh.

October 23, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (50 species)

Weather: Fair 58F to 75F; winds increasing slightly by late morning, ENE 5 mph.

Time: 0820 - 1130 hrs (HL); 1140 - 1200 hrs (LRW & MRR).

Observers: Clayton and I (second circuit around HL).

Areas Covered: 1) I walked a counterclockwise route twice around the lake; the second circuit accompanied by another birder doing a 'Big Year.' Conditions were quiet and very good for identifying bird vocalizations. The lake water level is now nearly full; very little shoreline exposed. 2) Afterwards, I drove back to Green Valley on Lancaster Rd. West (Avenue I) and Munz Ranch Rd., noting birds of prey on utility poles. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found at HL included, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Mountain Chickadee (continuing) and Tricolored Blackbird (continuing). A dark morph Red-tailed Hawk and several light to medium morphs were found on utility poles along Lancaster Rd. West. only one additional species for the day-list was found here, Prairie Falcon.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 22 (m,f) edges of the lake; flighty.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (m, f) edge of lake, nw.

Northern Shoveler 3 (f) edge of the lake, central, nw.

Green-winged Teal 2 (f) dabbling at edge of lake, central n, w.

Ruddy Duck 2 edge of lake, nw.

California Quail 20 in marsh, e.

Great Blue Heron 1 edge of marsh and in trees, e, w.

Great Egret 1 flushed from marsh, ne.

Black-crowned Night Heron 6 (ad, imm) edge of marsh; fly, call, n.

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

Cooper's Hawk 1 (imm) a failed dive on blackbirds in marsh, e.

Red-tailed Hawk 12 (ad) 1 on utility pole, n HL; 11 on utility poles along LRW and MRR. One dark morph with black bill, light feet (photos).

RETH (dark morph) West Lancaster Rd, 2 mi w of Munz Ranch Rd. (3 photos). Note gray bill and feet; buff- reddish tail October 23, 2011

RTHA (dark morph) Lancaster Rd., LACO, CA October 23, 2011

American Kestrel 1 on utility line, HL; 1 diving on dark morph RETH (above).

Prairie Falcon 1 on utility pole on Munz Ranch Rd. near intersection of Elizabeth Lake Rd.

Virginia Rail 2 calls (unseen) marsh, n, nw.

Sora 4 calls (unseen) marsh around lake.

American Coot 4 swimming at edge of lake, n.

Killdeer 1 on shore, e.

Mourning Dove 1 in Chinese Elm, e.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 flying; landing in cottonwood.

Barn Owl 2 flushed from pines, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (f) drinking at shoreline, e.

Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 (m) noted red behind eye and extensive red on throat. Foraging in a cottonwood. Not refound.

Red-breasted Sapsucker (m) east HL, 23 Oct. 2011

Black Phoebe 2 sally-flycatching from low perch at edge of marsh, e, w.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, adjacent field, n.

Common Raven 10 flying, calls, sw.

Tree Swallow 1 flying low over lake with BASW, w-central.

Barn Swallow 2 flying low over lake, back and forth, w-central.

Mountain Chickadee 2 calls, active in pines, s.

Marsh Wren 5 song, densest marsh around the lake.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls, pines, se.

Northern Mockingbird 1 flying n across lake.

European Starling 10 in yards, s.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 10 in cottonwoods and pines throughout.

Common Yellowthroat 3 calls in marsh, s, n.

Vesper Sparrow 2 in small trees with SASP; shoreline, e.

Lark Sparrow 20 vocal, active in pines and deciduous trees; on shore, e.

Savannah Sparrow 40 ubiquitous in trees, shrubs, marsh, shoreline, etc. (photo).

Savannah Sparrow east HL, October 23, 2011

Song Sparrow 3 in marsh; foraging in mud; calls, e.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 flushed from marsh into small tree, w.

White-crowned Sparrow 60 ubiquitous.

Red-winged Blackbird 3 (f) in marsh, e (photo).

Red-winged Blackbird (female) east HL, October 23, 2011

Tricolored Blackbird 25 (f, imm) flying around marsh, landing; calls, ne, sw

Western Meadowlark 1 song, adjacent field, e.

Brewer's Blackbird 1 (m) in tree with MODO.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m) in marsh; n; flying north, calls.

House Finch 30 (m,f) ubiquitous in trees, shrubs and marsh.

Lesser Goldfinch 3 in top of cottonwood; calls, se.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2-3 calls, song, in pines (unseen), sw.

American Goldfinch 1? called briefly from pines (unseen), ne.

House Sparrow 5 adjacent yard; calls, s.

OCTOBER 15, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (47 Species)

Weather: Fair, 63F to 90F; winds WSW 0-2mph.

Time: 0745 - 1200 hrs.

Observers: Dan Byrne and I.

Area Covered: We walked around the entire lake twice in both directions. The lake water level was very low, exposing large areas of shoreline and mudflats around the lake. A relatively large number of migratory wading birds were foraging in the shallows. Except for two vehicles briefly circling the lake, we were alone during the survey. Distant shotgun blasts were heard in the fields to the southeast of the lake. Conditions at the lake were otherwise calm, quiet and good for identifying birds by their vocalizations. We used bincoculars and a DSLR camera for the survey.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 40 (m,f) around the edges of the lake in the shallows; flighty.

Cinnamon Teal 3 (m,f) dabbling in shallows, w.

California Quail 10 brushy border of the lake, ne.

Great Blue Heron 1 (ad) wading in the shallows.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) in marsh and cottonwoods (photo).

Black-crowned Night Heron (adult -left, immature - right) north Holiday Lake, October 15, 2011

Cooper's Hawk 1 flying around pines, s.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (imm) flushed from pines; calls, w.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) circling over adjacent field, n.

American Kestrel 1 (m) on utility line in adjacent field, n.

Virginia Rail 4 (ad) foraging in shallows and on mudflats, e, ne, sw (photo).

Virginia Rail east Holiday Lake, October 15, 2011

Sora 6 foraging on mudflats around the lake; calls.

American Coot 4 (ad) foraging in shallows, nw.

Killdeer 12 foraging on shore, mudflats and in shallows around the lake; calls.

Greater Yellowlegs 12 foraging in shallows around the lake.

Pectoral Sandpiper 2 (ad, imm) foraging in shallows with GRYL and LBDO.

Pectoral Sandpiper (juvenile) central Holiday Lake, October 15, 2011

Calidris sp. 1 This bird appeared slightly more slender and with a more decurved bill than Dunlin; diagnostic white rump not seen; Three independent appraisals of one photo (below, left) by experienced birders (Kimball Garrett, Jon Feenstra and Guy McCaskie) ruled out Curlew Sandpiper ( Calidris ferruginea) and concluded this bird is a Dunlin (Calidris alpina), based on the brownish coloration of the head and back; No other birds like it were found at HL this morning; foraging with LBDO (photos).

Calidris sp. 2 photos, central HL, October, 15, 2011

Long-billed Dowitcher 45 foraging and resting in shallows.

Eurasian Collared Dove 4 flying over; in cottonwoods, s, n.

Mourning Dove 6 flying over the lake.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from pines, n, se.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 in and around pines; calls, n.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 fly, call, s.

Hairy Woodpecker 1 called twice (unseen), e.

Northern Flicker 1 called twice (unseen), s.

Black Phoebe 2 low perch at edge of marsh-riparian, s.

Say's Phoebe 1 calls, adjacent yard, s.

Loggerhead Shrike 2 calls, adjacent fields, n, s.

Common Raven 4 flying over.

Horned Lark 6 flying around lake, s.

Mountain Chickadee 3 (continuing) vocal, active in pines, s.

House Wren 1 calls, exotic tree in clubhouse yard.

Marsh Wren 4 calls and song (brief) in marsh around the lake.

Northern Mockingbird 1 calls, shrubs and trees around clubhouse.

European Starling 4 fly, call, s.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 in elms and cottonwoods, e.

Common Yellowthroat 1 calls, marsh, s.

Vesper Sparrow 1 in elm, e.

Lark Sparrow 20 in pines and other trees; on shore around the lake.

Savannah Sparrow 18 in marsh and on mudflats around the lake, calls.

Song Sparrow 4 in marsh and on mudflats, e.

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

White-crowned Sparrow 30 in all habitats around the lake; calls and song.

Tricolored Blackbird 20 (f, imm) in marsh, circling lake, ne.

Western Meadowlark 10 on mudflats; adjacent fields, vocal, e, se.

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

Lawrence's Goldfinch 3 (m,f) in exotic tree next to clubhouse, vocal, sw.

House Sparrow 5 around clubhouse, vocal.

OCTOBER 6, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (36 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; winds WSW 20-30 mph. 46F; the first big storm of the season hit the AV yesterday; has moved northeast.

Time: 0711 - 0850 hrs.

Observers: Loch Kirkpatrick and I.

Area Covered: I walked around the lake twice, first a counter-clocwise then clockwise route, surveying all habitats. The lake water level continues to be relatively low, exposing muddy shorelines in the southeast and eastern sections. Maximum depth appeared to be about 5 inches. I met another birder, who was visiting from Parker, Colorado (Loch Kirkpatrick), had been birding HL since late yesterday afternoon. We walked separate routes around the lake, then joined up in the southwestern section. Loch reported finding at least five species I had not seen this morning: Black-crowned Night Heron, White-faced Ibis, Vaus's Swift, American Goldfinch and Brewer's Blackbird. Otherwise, HL contained a regular assemblage of resident and migrant species this morning. Except for a couple of West Valley Water Dept. personnel inside the clubhouse, we were the only people in the survey area this morning. Windy conditions probably caused us to miss a few species, e.g. warblers and sparrows. No vagrants or other unusual bird species were found.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 30 (m,f) dabbling, warily along the edges of the lake.

Northern Shoveler 4 (f) swimming with mallards.

Northern Pintail 1 (f) middle of lake, e.

Cinnamon Teal 3 (f) dabbling at edge of lake, nw.

Ruddy Duck 2 dabbling at edge of lake, nw.

California Quail 25 flushed from marsh, n.

Great Blue Heron 2 in middle of lake, w, e; flying together.

Great Egret 1 edge of lake, se.

Cooper's Hawk 1 ad flushed from cottonwoods, se.

Sora 3 calls in marsh around the lake (unseen).

Virginia Rail 1 calling in marsh, n (unseen).

American Coot 4 edge of lake, n.

Killdeer 3 on shore, se.

Long-billed Dowitcher 7 foraging in a tight flock, sw.

Eurasian Collared Dove 10 flying; landing in cottonwoods around the lake.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from willows, sw.

Anna's Hummingbird 2 calls, in willow and pines, sw, s.

Black Phoebe 1 calls, low perch at edge of marsh, s.

Willow Flycatcher 1 foraging in and around tules, sw (photo).

Willow Flycatcher sw Holiday Lake, October 6, 2011

Common Raven 4 flying over; calls.

Horned Lark 10 flying over adjacent field, s.

Tree Swallow 2 flying low, back and forth over lake.

Violet Green Swallow 1 flying over lake, then northward.

Cliff Swallow 3 flying low, back and forth over lake with other swallows.

Barn Swallow 2 flying low over lake with other swallows.

Mountain Chickadee 3 vocal, active in pines, s.

Marsh Wren 3 calls and song in marsh, s, n.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls, marsh, s, n.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, n.

White-crowned Sparrow 2 edge of marsh and fields, nw.

Red-winged Blackbird 1 fly, call in marsh, w.

Tricolored Blackbird 5 staying low in marsh; two flying, calls.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m,f) flying over lake.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 in willow and marsh, sw.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 calls, pines, n.

House Finch 20 (m,f) ubiquitous.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (39 species)

Weather: Fair with some high clouds; 68F to 80F. Winds WSW 0 - 2 mph.

Time: 0750-1041 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-cockwise route from the clubhouse around the entire lake once, then to the eastern end and back. Aside from a person walking a couple of leashed dogs and a few water department workers in and around the clubhouse (including the District Manager, Mark Crosby), the survey area was quiet. The lake water level continues to be relatively low; maximum depth only a few inches. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Long-billed Dowitcher (1) , Mountain Chickadee (6) and Vesper Sparrow (10).

BIRDS NOTED

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

Cinnamon Teal 2 (f) flying low over the lake.

Ruddy Duck 6 (m,f) resting and swimming, w.

California Quail 20 calls, n.

Great Blue Heron 3 (ad, imm) edge of lake, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) marsh, n.

Sora 2 calls, w, se.

American Coot 8 (ad, imm) swimming, edge of lake, n.

Killdeer 3 shoreline, se; calls.

Long-billed Dowitcher 1 foraging in shallows; fly (photo).

Long-billed Dowitcher east Holiday Lake, September 30, 2011

Eurasian Collared Dove 15 riparian, s, e, ne.

Mourning Dove 8 riparian, s, e.

Anna's Hummingbird 4 (f) hawking aerial insects around pines, sw, e.

Black Phoebe 2 fly, call, low perch, s.

Western Kingbird 1 flying low over lake, n.

Common Raven 2 fly, call.

Horned Lark 5 shoreline, e.

Mountain Chickadee 6 - continuing - much more numerous than previous surveys; vocal, active in pines (photo).

Mountain Chickadee south Holiday Lake, Sept. 30, 2011

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, sw.

Marsh Wren 4 calls, song, marsh and edge, s, se, n.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 calls, pines, s.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, adjacent field, n.

Northern Mockingbird 1 ajdacent yard, s.

European Starling 2 calls, pines, sw.

Orange-crowned Warbler 2 calls, pines and cottonwoods, s.

Yellow Warbler 4 (m,f) foraging in cottonwoods, calls, s.

Common Yellowthroat 3 calls, marsh, s, n.

Vesper Sparrow 10 on mudflats, shoreline, in trees around lake, se, e (photo).

Vesper Sparrow east Holiday Lake, September 30, 2011

Lark Sparrow 20 small flocks (4 -6 ) on clubhouse lawn (photo) in pines and cottonwoods around the lake; calls and song.

Lark Sparrow southwest Holiday Lake, September 30, 2011

Savannah Sparrow 3 active, vocal, edge of marsh, riparian, sw, se (photo).

Savannah Sparrow east Holiday Lake, September 30, 2011

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 edge of marsh and on clubhouse lawn (photo); calls.

Lincoln's Sparrow southwest Holiday Lake, September 30, 2011

White-crowned Sparrow 15 edge of marsh, riparian, around the lake; calls, song; foraging on clubhouse lawn (photo).

White-crowned Sparrow sw Holiday Lake, September 30, 2011

Tricolored Blackbird 13 (m,f) in cattails, ne; flock (12) flying around marsh, sw.

Brewer's Blackbird 3 fly, call; adjacent yards, s.

Western Meadowlark 3 call, song, shoreline and adjacent fields, se.

House Finch 25 (m,f) pines, riparian, shoreline, around the lake; vocal.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 fly, call, pines, ne.

Lawrence's Goldfinch song, in pines, cottonwoods, e, ne.

House Sparrow 10 on and around clubhouse roof.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (43 Species)

Weather: Fair; 70F to 85F; winds WSW 2-5 mph.

Time: 0726-0930 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked around the entire lake twice, first counter-clockwise, then clockwise, surveying all habitats. The lake water level continues to be moderately low (maximum depth is about 8 inches); a narrow shoreline is exposed in the southeast and eastern sections. The regrown marsh habitat (Scirpus, Typha) is dense and from 2 -30 feet wide. Except for water department personnel in the clubhouse, and two vehicles entering and leaving the property, the survey area was quiet. Conditions were good for finding and identifying birds. Notable species found today included, Red-necked Phalarope (1), Black-chinned Hummingbird (1) and Mountain Chickadee (1-continuing).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 3 (m,f) swimming, mid-lake.

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

Northern Shoveler 2 (f) swimming, mid-lake.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (f) dabbling, w lake.

Ruddy Duck 2 (f, imm) dabbling, w lake.

California Quail 20 flushed from edge of lake.

Great Blue Heron 1 (imm) wading to the center of the lake.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad ) flushed from marsh.

Cooper's Hawk 1 chasing or chased by a RSHA into a cottonwood.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (imm) flying around the lake.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (imm) flying around a utility pole, ne.

Virginia Rail 1 ? a short series of high-pitched calls (unlike those of a Sora) from marsh (unseen), w.

Sora 2-3 distintive "whinny" calls, w, s, se.

American Coot 6 (ad, imm) swimming at edges of marsh.

Killdeer 4 on shore; fly, call, se.

Red-necked Phalarope 1 spinning, mid-lake w; flying to east side of lake..

Eurasian Collared Dove 10 flushed from cottonwoods, n.

Mourning Dove 4 riparian, flying.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from mature pine, sw.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 (f) perched on leafless branch, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 5 (m,f) aerial hawking; calls, chasing other ANHU.

Black Phoebe 2 shore and edge of riparian; lawn in front of clubhouse.

Loggerhead Shrike 2 calls, open fields, n, s.

Common Raven 12 adjacent yards, n.

Horned Lark 15 fly, call; drinking on shore, se.

Mountain Chickadee 1 - continuing in pines, calls, s.

Bewick's Wren 1 in cottonwoods, s.

Marsh Wren 4 calls and song, dense marsh around the lake.

European Starling 1 flying over, s.

Yellow Warbler 2 (m,f) foraging in cottonwood, calls, s.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls from edge of marsh, s, se.

Wilson's Warbler 2 (m,f) foraging in cottonwood near YEWA, s.

Lark Sparrow 10 in pines and on lawn; calls, s.

Song Sparrow 3 in marsh; calls, s.

Lincoln's Sparrow 1 edge of marsh-riparian, s.

Red-winged Blackbird 4 fly, call; landing in marsh, ne.

Tricolored Blackbird 10 flying, landing in marsh, se.

Brewer's Blackbird 3 fly, call, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m) calls, perched in marsh, se.

House Finch 30 ubiquitous, riparian.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 fly, call, riparian, s.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 fly, call, s.

House Sparrow 8 on clubhouse roof.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (47 Species)

Weather: Fair; 74F to 84F; winds WSW 2 - 5mph.

Time: 0728 - 1002 hrs.

Area Covered: From the clubhouse, I walked twice around the lake, first clockwise then counterclockwise, surveying all habitats. Except for people arriving by car to the clubhouse, the survey area was quiet and undisturbed this morning. The lake water level continues to be medium low (about 8 inches maximum depth, judging by a Great Egret wading out to the center of the lake). A narrow shoreline of mud and pebbles occurs on the southeast and eastern border of the lake. Mature cottonwoods and regenerating willow provided foraging opportunities for migrant landbirds, of which relatively few individuals were found. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wilson's Snipe (1) and Mountain Chickadee (1 - continuing) and Tricolored Blackbird (6).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 3 (m,f) swimming, e-central.

Mallard 60 (m,f) dabbling around the edges of the lake; flighty.

Northern Shoveler 2 (f) flushed from the e side of the lake.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (f) dabbling in the west section of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 8 (m,f, imm) swimming at the edge of the marsh, n.

California Quail 30 three coveys in brushy borders of the lake, including the marsh.

Great Blue Heron 4 two in flight, se; two at edge of lake, central-north, north-east.

Great Egret 1 in cottonwood, then down to the lake.

Black-crowned Night Heron 6 (3 ad, 3 imm) in cottonwoods and pines; fly, call.

Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (imm) chased by raven, w.

Sora 3 calling back and forth, s, se.

American Coot 6 (ad, imm) foraging at edge of lake.

Killdeer 3 foraging on the shoreline, se.

Wilson's Snipe 1 flushed from marsh, w; calls, circling lake (FOS).

Eurasian Collared Dove 15 a flock of 12 in a yard near the entrance; others in trees around lake; calls.

Mourning Dove 6 in cottonwoods around lake.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from mature pine, sw.

Anna's Hummingbird 8 (f, imm) aerial hawking around pines and cottonwoods; calls, chasing.

Black Phoebe 2 low perches at edge of lake, s, n.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, ne.

Warbling Vireo 1 foraging in exotic tree next to clubhouse; calls.

Common Raven 6 flying around entrance and adjacent yards, s.

Horned Lark 30 fly, call, drinking at edge of lake, se.

Tree Swallow 2 flying low over lake; dipping.

Barn Swallow 2 flying low over lake, calls.

Mountain Chickadee 1 - continuing - calls, active in pines, w.

Marsh Wren 4 song, calls, marsh, w, s, ne.

Bewick's Wren 1 scold calls, brushy area next to pines, nw.

House Wren 1 scold calls near clubhouse, w.

Northern Mockingbird 1 flying over lake, s.

European Starling 1 flying n.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging in willow, w.

Yellow Warbler 1 (f) foraging in cottonwood next to clubhouse, sw, calls.

Wilson's Warbler 1 (imm) foraging in cottonwood, calls, se.

Common Yellowthroat 3 calls in marsh-riparian edge, sw, s.

Lark Sparrow 16 in trees and on lawn at clubhouse; drinking at edge of lake, w, se.

Song Sparrow 2 calls in marsh, s.

Tricolored Blackbird 6 (f, imm) landed briefly in view in marsh, se.

Brewer's Blackbird 3 (m,f) flying over lake, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 1 (m) flying into marsh, s.

Western Meadowlark 12 drinking at edge of lake; calls and song, se.

Bullock's Oriole 1 (f) flying over lake, s.

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 calls, se.

House Finch 30 (m,f) ubiquitous

Lesser Goldfinch 2 in leafless branches of cottonwood, ne.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 (m,f) active in pines, n; sw, calls and song.

House Sparrow 10 on and around clubhouse roof.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (46 Species)

Weather: Fair; 58F to 77F; no wind.

Time: 0628 - 0900 hrs.

Area Covered: From the Holiday Lake clubhouse, I walked first a clockwise then counterclockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats. The lake water level was medium low, leaving a narrow shoreline exposed in the southeast and eastern perimeter. No other people were present in the survey area, except for water department personnel in the clubhouse. Adjacent homes had a few barking dogs early in the survey. After about 30 minutes the dogs quieted; a rapid series of shotgun blasts occurred once in the adjacent fields to the west. Conditions were otherwise good for finding and identifying birds by their vocalizations. Abundant swarms of small insects (Diptera) were everywhere and increasing in proportion with air temperature. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Red-necked Phalarope (2), Long-billed Dowitcher (1), Nuttall's Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher (2), Cassin's Kingbird (1), Mountain Chickadee (1) and Tricolored Blackbird (120).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 45 (m,f) swimming, dabbling throughout the lake; flighty.

Northern Shoveler 1 (f) swimming with mallards.

Ruddy Duck 18 (m,f, imm) at least 12 young birds staying close to the tules, nw.

California Quail 20 brushy areas around the lake.

Great Blue Heron 2 (ad, imm) edge of lake.

Great Egret 5 four in a cottonwood tree, se; one at edge of lake, n.

Snowy Egret 3 staying close in shallows, n.

Black-crowned Night Heron 5 (ad, imm) edge of marsh, lake and perched in cottonwoods.

American Kestrel 1 (f) perched in tree, adjacent yard, w.

Sora 2 calling from separate sections of the marsh, nw, ne.

American Coot 5 (ad, imm) swimming at the edge of the lake, nw.

Killdeer 3 foraging on the rocky-muddy shorelines, ne, e.

Long-billed Dowitcher 1 (imm. ) showing relatively long bill; foraging in shallows, e.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 foraging on mud-rock shoreline, e.

Red-necked Phalarope 2 a pair foraging together in the middle of the lake, e.

California Gull 1 (ad) swimming alone in the middle of the lake.

Mourning Dove 3 flying, n, nw.

Eurasian Collared Dove 3 flying, perched in willow; calls.

Barn Owl 3 flushed from dense riparian-marsh, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 4 (m,f) perched in pines, cottonwoods around the lake; aerial hawking.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls repeated, pines, s.

Willow Flycatcher 2 sally-flycatching from low branches out over tules, s,

Black Phoebe 1 sally-flycatching from low perch, s.

Cassin's Kingbird 1 flew into willow, then low over edge of marsh,s.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 (ad, imm; molting) sally-flycatching from low perch in willow and pines, s (photo).

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls from low perch in pines, ne.

Common Raven 4 flying over, w.

Horned Lark 30 drinking from shore, se.

Mountain Chickadee 1 active in pines, calls, responded to pshing, w.

Marsh Wren 3 singing in marsh, s, sw, w.

European Starling 2 flying over, s.

Northern Mockingbird 1 flew into willow near clubhouse, s.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foliage-gleaning in cottonwoods, s.

Yellow Warbler 3 foraging, calls, canopy of cottonwood, s.

Common Yellowthroat 2 calls, marsh, s.

Lark Sparrow 12 (ad, imm) in trees and on shore, n, s.

Song Sparrow 1 calls, brushy edge of riparian, n.

Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (m, f) flying over, s.

Tricolored Blackbird 120 (imm - m, f) noisy, restless, flighty in sw marsh until around 0700 hrs. Entire flock dispersed into smaller groups of 6 -12 birds, flying around the lake briefly, then leaving the lake without returning during my survey, presumably flying sw into adjacent fields.

Western Meadowlark 10 singing in adjacent fields; on shore.

Brewer's Blackbird 1 (m) on shore, e,

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 calls, se.

Bullock's Oriole 2 flying over; calls from riparian, nw.

House Finch 25 (m,f) ubiquitous, willows, marsh, fields.

Lesser Goldfinch 4 fly, call, riparian, e.

House Sparrow 6 on roof of clubhouse.

Two additional species seen en route: Prairie Falcon (1) on utility pole, Lancaster Rd near Hurley Farms; Northern Harrier (1) flying low over open field, Munz Ranch Road.

AUGUST 27, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (32 Species)

Weather: Fair. 75F to 95F (daytime highs around 103F in the AV the past few days). Winds WSW 0 -1 2 mph.

Time: 0805 - 0950 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route once around the entire lake, surveying fresh water marsh, shoreline, open (shallow) water, ruderal roadsides and adjacent alfalfa farmland, ruderal fields, mature Aleppo pines and patchy riparian habitat. The lake water level was relatively low, exposing a wide shoreline of mud and pebbles on the southeast and east border. No other people were present during the survey; conditions were good for locating birds by their vocalizations.No Tricolored, Red-winged or Yellow-headed Blackbirds were found during the survey, though the newly regenerated marsh habitat (Typha, Scirpus) appeared to be in nearly pristine condition. Willows and other trees around the shore that were severely trimmed earlier this year, are now partially regrown, offering improved (still patchy compared with previous years) habitat for migratory landbirds.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 60 (m,f) crowded at the edges of the lake, esp. w.

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

Ruddy Duck 20 (m,f; imm) dabbling in the w-central section.

California Quail 30 active in the adjacent brushy fields, n.

Great Blue Heron 2 (ad, imm) edge of lake; perched in tree; fly, call, w.

Great Egret 3 perched together in cottonwood, w; a pair flew off together.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (1 ad) n edge of lake, calls.

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

American Coot 3 (ad, imm) edge of lake, n.

Killdeer 3 shoreline and marsh, se, n.

Mourning Dove 12 flying, perched in riparian around the lake.

Eurasian Collared Dove 20 pairs and small flocks in riparian areas around the lake; much vocalizing.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 (f) fly, call, perched in riparian, w.

Anna's Hummingbird 6 (f, imm) fly, call, hovering, riparian and pines around the lake.

Black Phoebe 1 edge of marsh-riparian, n.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 calls, adjacent fields, n.

Common Raven 4 adjacent yards, s.

Horned Lark 25 shoreline, drinking, fly, calls, s.

Marsh Wren 3 vocalizing in marsh, s, ne, n.

Bewick's Wren 1 calls, brushy edge of riparian, n.

House Wren 1 scold calls, pines and edge of marsh near clubhouse, s.

American Robin 1 (imm) foraging on clubhouse lawn.

European Starling 4 flying, calls, adjacent yards, w.

Common Yellowthroat 1 calls, marsh near clubhouse.

Lark Sparrow 5 (ad, imm) foraging on clubhouse lawn, calls.

Great-tailed Grackle 3 1 (f) on shore with WEME, se.

Western Meadowlark 13 (ad, imm) drinking from shoreline; calls and song, se.

Bullock's Oriole 1 (f) flushed from riparian edge, calls, nw.

House Finch 30 ubiquitous, flying over, calls, riparian, shoreline.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 calls, song (brief), pines, sw,

Lesser Goldfinch 4 fly, call, pines and ruderal fields, s.

House Sparrow 8 on clubhouse roof.

JULY 20, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (24 Species)

Weather: Fair; 71F; winds WSW 10-20 mph.

Time: 0711- 0810 hrs.

Area Covered: From the HL clubhouse, I walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, suveying all habitats. A relatively dense growth of tules has now encircled the lake; high water level leaving only a narrow rocky shoreline in the eastern section. Two small mudflats occurred on the southeast and eatern shore. Except for someone riding an ATV once around the lake, I was alone for the survey.

BIRDS NOTED

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

Cinnamon Teal 3 (f) swimming at the s edge of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 15 (m,f) edges of the lake.

Califronia Quail 30 entered tules at nw edge of lake.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) edge of lake and in trees.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 on utility pole in adjacent field, n.

American Coot 20 (ad, imm) edges of the lake.

Rock Pigeon 1 flying, landing on utility pole, e.

Eurasian Collared Dove 3 in cottonwoods, n, s.

Mourning Dove 6 in cottonwoods, n, se.

Barn Owl 1 flushed from willows, w.

Greater Roadrunner 1 on entry road (255th St. West).

Black Phoebe 2 sally-gleaning at edge of lake, s, se.

Western Kingbird 3 flying over fields; 1 flying over edge of lake.

Loggerhead Shrike 1 perched in elm tree; calls, nw.

Common Raven 4 flying over fields, s.

Horned Lark 30 entry road and flelds, s;n.

Marsh Wren 4 singing in marsh, w, se.

European Starling 2 fly, call, s.

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

Tricolored Blackbird 60 (mostly f and imm) vocal in tules; many hidden from my view.

Brewer's Blackbird 2 adjacent fields, s.

Great-tailed Grackle 4 fly, call, w.

House Finch 10 in cottonwoods, n, e.

JUNE 5, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (27 Species)

Weather: Overcast. 53F; winds WSW 5 mph.

Time: 0708 - 0850 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.

Area Covered: Beginning in the clubhouse parking area, we walked a clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats. Conditions were fair for finding and identifying birds, despite the overnight arrival of a cold front from the northwest. No other people were present during our survey this morning. The water level in the lake remains relatively high with only a narrow, rocky shoreline exposed in the southeast. The burned marsh has almost completely recovered and continues to support a large colony of Tricolored Blackbird. No Yellow-headed Blackbirds were found during our survey this morning despite close observations in the southwestern section where at least 30 indviduals had been seen during the previous survey of 28 May, 2011.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 6 (m,f) taking flight from the se shore as we approached.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (m) swimming along the n edge of the lake.

Ruddy Duck 6 (m) displaying along the n edge of the lake.

California Quail 2 flushed from the e edge.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 calls, s.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 on utility pole in adjacent field, n.

American Coot 6 swimming along the edge of the lake, n, se.

Killdeer 3 highly vocal, shoreline and edge of marsh, se, n.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls, fly, sw.

Mourning Dove 4 riparian edge, s, ne.

Barn Owl 2-3 flushed from pines, s, sw.

Western Wood Pewee 2 sally-flycatching from a fence and bare branches of a willow, s, sw.

Willow Flycatcher 1 small, indistinct eyering; medium bill dark above, pale below. sally-flycatching in and around the marsh; flicked tail downward several times; staying 2 -10 ft above the ground, nw (photo).

Black Phoebe 1 flying around clubhouse; calls.

Say's Phoebe 1 calls from adjacent fields, s.

Common Raven 6 calls, flying around pines.

Horned Lark 2 adjacent yards, s.

Northern Mockingbird 1 flying over adjacent yard, s.

European Starling 2 adjacent yard, s.

Common Yellowthroat 1 singing, marsh-riparian, sw.

Wilson's Warbler 3 (m,f) in willows and pines, s,sw.

Red-winged Blackbird 2-3 marsh-riparian, w.

Tricolored Blackbird 200 (conserv. est.) m,f, imm; new-growth marsh around lake, esp. ne side (photo); commuting to foraging areas in adjacent fields; females holding insects in beak..

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f) vocal and active in and around marsh, w.

House Finch 8 (m,f) vocal in tall trees and shrubs around the lake.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 in pines, n.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 6 (m,f) a vocal flock moving through canopy of pines and Cottonwoods (photo).

House Sparrow 8 (m,f) around clubhouse and in pines and Cottonwoods.

MAY 28, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (27 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 50F; winds WSW 30-40 mph.]

Time: 0723 - 0855 hrs.

Observers: Ethan Yorke and I.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route once around the entire lake, surveying all habitats. Ethan stayed in the car. Strong WSW winds kept most birds hidden from view. A single male Canvasback (continuing) was the only unusual species found here today.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 25 (m,f) a tight flock swimming at the east end; wary.

Cinnamon Teal 4 (m,f) swimming, flying, n, ne.

Canvasback 1 (m) - continuing - swimming, e.

Ruddy Duck 6 (alt. plmg.) swimming along the n edge of the lake.

California Quail 2 brushy edge, ne.

White-faced Ibis 12 flying over the lake.

American Coot 2 swimming along edge of lake, n.

Killdeer 8 vocal, broken-wing display on shore; on lawn at clubhouse.

Spotted Sandpiper 4 (alt. pmg.) foraging along shore, flying short distance out and back (photos); one showing a wing-raised territorial display as another approached.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls, pines, sw.

Mourning Dove 6 flushed from trees, e, ne.

Barn Owl 1 (ad) resting in plain view on ground in marsh at edge of Willow patch, w (photo).

Common Raven 6 a pair vocalizing in a Cottonwood as I approached.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 flying low, back and forth between marsh and ruderal roadside.

Barn Swallow 1 flying over lake.

Marsh Wren 1 singing at edge of marsh, sw.

European Starling 6 (ad, imm) on roof of clubhouse.

Common Yellowthroat 3 song, flying in marsh-riparian, w.

Song Sparrow 1 called, edge of marsh, s.

Red-winged Blackbird 2 (m) flew from marsh into Willow, w.

Tricolored Blackbird 200 (m,f) a vocal, active, commuting, breeding colony, mostly in the eastern half of the marsh fire-regrowth (photos).

Western Meadowlark 2 singing in adjacent field, n.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 40 scattered around the lake in new and old-growth, but mostly in the western half; vocal.

Brewer's Blackbird 1 (f) on shore, e.

Great-tailed Grackle 30 (m,f) in the marsh and riparian edge, mostly at the west end of the lake.

House Finch 6 song, pines and riparian edge, s, sw.

House Sparrow 10 around clubhouse, sw.

MAY 22, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (30 Species)

Weather: Fair; 62F to 66F; winds WSW 25-35 mph.

Time: 0746 - 0934 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.

Area Covered: We walked once around the lake in a clockwise direction and then drove slowly around the lake in a counter-clockwise direction before leaving the area. All habitats were surveyed (see previous survey notes) using binoculars and a DSLR camera. Water level continues to be relatively high; a narrow, rocky shoreline exposed only in the s and se. No other people were present during our survey. Strong, steady WSW winds made observations of landbirds difficult. Most birds were staying low in dense cover. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Green-winged Teal and Canvasback (continuing). The large, continuing Tricolored Blackbird colony appeared to be thriving in the peripheral marsh; except where an adult Black-crowned Night Heron was disturbing it in the north-central section.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 12 (m,f) swimming and resting on the shore; flighty.

Cinnamon Teal 3 (2m 1 f) resting on shore; dabbling near the edge of the marsh.

Green-winged Teal 4 (m) staying together and swimming near shore, s, se.

Canvasback 1 (m) - continuing - resting on the se shore; swimming away as we approached.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f) pairs and singles, swimming, diving, n, nw.

California Quail 4 flushed from roadside shrubs, sw.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 diving near edge of marsh, nw.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 flushed from Cottonwood, s; one adult disturbing a dense portion of TCBL nesting colony; about 20 birds passively, though quite vocal, watched it go deep into the marsh; no actual predation observed, n-central.

White-faced Ibis 1 (ad) alt. plmg. flushed from shoreline, s; flew to marsh regrowth, then flushed again, nw.

American Coot 4 swimming along edge of marsh; one in tule -regrowth area, s.

Killdeer 4 vocal, active along shoreline, s, se.

Spotted Sandpiper 6 (alt. plmg.) foraging along rocky shoreline (photos); individuals chasing and displaying, s ,se.

Mourning Dove 12 pairs and small flocks flushed from brushy edge of lake.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 calls, w.

Common Raven 4 flying around pines, w.

European Starling 4 on lawn at clubhouse; flying s.

Common Yellowthroat 2 singing; calls, flying in marsh; landed in Rabbitbrush scrub outside of fence line, s..

Wilson's Warbler 1 (f) drinking at edge of lake, s.

Lark Sparrow 2 drinking at edge of lake, se.

Red-winged Blackbird 4 edge of marsh and shore; calls and song, se.

Tricolored Blackbird 150 nesting in marsh, s, se, e, ne; vocal and active; f with nest material; flocks commuting to adj. fields.

Western Meadowlark 2 singing in adjacent fields, s.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 40 (m,f) a vocal, active nesting colony confined largely to the western marsh areas of the lake.

Great-tailed Grackle 20 (m,f) a vocal, active colony, also confined largely to the western marsh areas of the lake.

Brewer's Blackbird 2 (m) in field of adjacent homestead, s.

Bullock's Oriole 1 (m) landed on fence, s.

House Finch 6 (m,f) pairs foraging on lawn and gravel roadside near clubhouse; calls and song.

Pine Siskin 1 foraging on gravel roadside with HOFI.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 singing in tall shrub in ruderal roadside area, n.

House Sparrow 6 on roof and around clubhouse.

MAY 18, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (28 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy with intermittent light showers; 45F; winds W 5 -25 mph.

Time: 0746 - 0830 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counterclockwise route around the entire lake, surveying Aleppo Pines, adjacent fields, yards and homesteads, ruderal roadsides, freshwater marsh (almost complete recovery after the recent burn), shoreline (little exposed due to high water level) and open water. Windy conditions hampered observations of landbirds and probably caused several species to be overlooked. Migratory birds were generally scarce; Canvasback was the only unexpected species found today.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 12 (m,f) gathered on se shore; pairs in marsh; wary and flighty.

Cinnamon Teal 3 (m) swimming along the northern and western edge of the lake.

Canvasback 1 (m) swimming along the southern edge of the lake. A relatively late occurrence in the AV for this migratory species.

Ruddy Duck 8 (m,f) alt. plmg. diving, n edge of lake.

California Quail 6 flushed from dead tules, w.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming, s.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) low in the cattails, w.

American Coot 4 edge of lake, s, n.

Killdeer 3 highly vocal along the e and n shore.

Spotted Sandpiper 4 (alt. plmg.) se shore and marsh regrowth, nw.

Mourning Dove 2 calls, flying, n, nw.

Willow Flycatcher 1 flew into dry cattails, nw.

Warbling Vireo 1 preening and foraging in Willow clump, w.

European Starling 6 yards s of lake.

Common Raven 10 flying around adjacent fields; calls of young.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 flying low over ruderal edges of lake, se.

Barn Swallow 1 flying low over marsh and edge of lake, se.

Wilson's Warbler 4 (m,f) vocal in Willows and Pines, w.

Common Yellowthroat 1 singing in marsh, w.

Brewer's Blackbird 6 in adjacent yard, s.

Tricolored Blackbird 120-175 (m,f) a vocal, active, breeding colony in the the dense marsh regowth, se. Flocks commuting to and from adjacent fields. One female in the middle of the colony carrying nest material..

Yellow-headed Blackbird 40 (m,f) vocal, active, probably breeding in marsh regrowth, s and nw.

Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) vocal, active, probably breeding in old and regrowth marsh, sw.

Western Meadowlark 2 singing in adjacent fields, n.

Bullock;s Oriole 4 (m,f) two pair, flying, s, nw.

House Finch 6 (m,f) in Aleppo pines, Cottonwoods and driveway next to the clubhouse, s; calls and song.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 singing in Cottonwoods, pines; flushed from edge of marsh, w.

House Sparrow 4 around clubhouse, s.

MAY 6, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (22 Species)

Weather: Fair; 75F; winds W 5-10 mph.

Time: 0755- 0845 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.

Area Covered: We walked around the entire lake once in a counter-clockwise direction, surveying all habitats. Water level high resulting in very little exposed shoreline compared with the previous survey of April 29; good regrowth of tules and cattails in the burned and cleared areas around the lake. Many more TRBL around the northern margin than found during the previous survey (see below). Spoke briefly with the general manager of HL, Mark Crosby. Relatively few waterbird and landbird migrants were found today.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 20 (m,f) swimming around the edges of the lake; a few on shore, e.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f) alt. plmg. around the edges of the lake.

California Quail 3 brushy edge of lake, ne.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) hiding in cattails, nw.

Snowy Egret 1 (ad) alt. plmg. in burn-regrowth area, nw.

Killdeer 2 on shore and in burned area, e.

Wilson's Snipe 1 flushed from burned -regrowth, e.

Spotted Sandpiper 5 (alt. plmg.) foraging on narrow rocky shoreline, se, e.

White-faced Ibis 6 in a tight flock on shore, se.

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 fly, calling, s.

Mourning Dove 6 fly, call, n, nw.

Western Kingbird 1 perched in dead Cottonwood, n.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 in pines and willows, w.

Common Raven 4 flying around adjacent homesteads and fields, nw.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 in Willow, s.

Brewer's Blackbird 2 (m,f) edge of regrowth, s.

Tricolored Blackbird 200 (m,f; imm) vocal, active colony in tules and cattails around the lake, especially, ne with a few YHBL (photo).

Yellow-headed Blackbird 40 (m,f) vocal, active; mixed in with TRBL at several locations around the lake (see above photo).

Great-tailed Grackle 20 (m,f) active, vocal, mostly in the sw edge of the lake.

House Finch 6 (m,f) around edges of the lake in pines; calls and song.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 (m,f) singing in Cottonwood, s.

House Sparrow 10 on and around clubhouse and adjacent homesteads.

APRIL 29, 2011 HOLIDAY LAKE (53 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 41F to 50F; winds WSW 20 - 30 mph.

Time: 0742- 1040 hrs.

Observers: Ethan Yorke and I.

Area Covered: Elise Avenue, California Aqueduct (CA) and Holiday Lake (HL), Los Angeles County, CA. I walked a counter-clockwise and clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying pines, freshwater marsh ( including regrowth of tules from a recent controlled burn of peripheral vegetaion), mud-rock shoreline (water levels medium-high; shoreline only on se and e sides of lake), open water (6-12 inches deep), and ruderal fields bordering homesteads. Steady, high winds made observations of landbirds difficult; some species were probably overlooked. No other people were present in the survey area. I used a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera for the survey. Migratory waterbirds were well represented, including, Blue-winged Teal, Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, White-faced Ibis, Bonaparte's Gull and Forster's Tern.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f ) a pair swimming together at east HL.

Mallard 10 (m,f) a pair on embankment, CA; 8 HL.

Blue-winged Teal 2 (m,f) a pair dabbling, w HL.

Cinnamon Teal 2 (m,f) a parid dabbling, w and c HL.

Redhead 1 (m) diving, CA.

Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f; alt. plmg.) swimming near the marsh, HL.

California Quail 6 brushy areas around the lake, HL.

Great Blue Heron 1 flying over lake, HL.

Great Egret 5 resting in marsh, w HL.

Green Heron 1 (ad) at edge of marsh, w HL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 3 (ad, imm) one being chased out of nesting area by TRBL, nw HL.

White-faced Ibis 10 foraging in burned tule area, nw HL, flighty.

Northern Harrier 1 (m) flying low over adjacent alfalfa fields, ne.

Sora 1 called twice, nw HL.

American Coot 12 edge of marsh, HL.

Killdeer 8 pairs in burned marsh; on lawn at clubhouse (photo).

Black-necked Stilt 12 foraging in shallows, e and nw HL.

Spotted Sandpiper 5 (alt. plmg.) foraging on rocky shoreline, ne HL.

Western Sandpiper 10 (alt. plmg.) foraging at water line, CA; 6 foraging on shore, e HL.

Least Sandpiper 20 (alt. plmg.) foraging on shore and in burned tules, HL.

Dunlin 1 (alt. plmg.) foraging on shore and in shallows with other sandpipers, e HL (photo).

Short-billed Dowitcher 2 - continuing - foraging in shallows, e HL.

Bonaparte's Gull 1 (bsc. plmg.) swimming in middle of lake, HL.

Forster's Tern 8 flying back and forth over the lake for a few minutes, then leaving the area, HL.

Mourning Dove 40 flushed from brushy borders of lake, nw HL.

Black Phoebe 3 adjacent homesteads and edge of lake, HL.

Say's Phoebe 1 flew across Elise Ave.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 perched on dead tree, nw HL.

Western Kingbird 2 in open fields s HL.

Common Raven 10 adjacent homesteads and open fields, HL.

Marsh Wren 2 singing in marsh, nw.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 in clump of young Willows, w HL.

European Starling 2 around clubhouse, HL.

Northern Mockingbird 1 on fence around adjacent homestead, s HL.

Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging in willows, w HL.

Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 20 (m,f) foraging in trees and on club house lawn, HL (photo).

Common Yellowthroat 4 (m,f) edge of marsh and adjacent ruderal areas, n HL.

Wilson's Warbler 3 (m,f) foraging in willows and pines, HL.

Chipping Sparrow 1 flushed from brushy area, ne HL.

Savannah Sparrow 1 in tule regrowth, nw HL.

White-crowned Sparrow 3 brushy edges of lake and adjacent ruderal fields, HL.

Dark-eyed Junco 2 in pines, se HL.

Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (m,f) flying; foraging on club house lawn, HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 12 nesting in tules, s, ne HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 50 nesting in and dried cattails around edges of the lake, HL; two males chasing a BLNH out of nesting area.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 10 (m) packed together in clump of cattails, sw; calls, HL.

Brewer's Blackbird 4 around homesteads, s, HL.

Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) in tules, cattails; flying; foraging on club house lawn, HL.

Western Meadowlark 3 singing in adjacent fields, n, s HL.

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 fly, call, w HL.

House Finch 4 in pines and adjacent brushy areas, s HL.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 1 (m) flushed from ruderal roadside with dead trees, nw HL.

House Sparrow 10 nesting under roof tiles of club house, HL.

April 22, 2011, QUAIL LAKE, HOLIDAY LAKE and WEST AVENUE I (49 Species)

Weather: Fair; 53F to 55F; increasing WNW winds, 15 - 30 mpn.

Time: 0804 - 1000 hrs.; 1700-1710 hrs. (West Avenue I).

Areas Covered: 1) The Quail Lake Outlet (QLO) from the overlook on Westfork Rd. I scanned the adjacent section of the California Aqueduct, which was largely devoid of birdlife. 2) West shore of Quail Lake (WQL): I walked the shore, scanning the lake and marshy edges with a scope and binoculars. Only the western half of the lake could be seen clearly due to low angle of the sun and reflection off the water.

3) Holiday Lake (HL): I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying open water, mud-rock shoreline, and burned stubble where a marsh and riparian strip had been for several years; adjacent open fields. Except for increasing winds (25-30 mph) the area was quiet and undisturbed during my survey. Birds of note found today included, White-faced Ibis, Solitary Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher (0845- 1000 hrs.)

The southeast corner of West Avenue I and 120th Street West (WI): I scanned the grassy fields for Burrowing Owl. One individual was found.

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 2 (m,f) HL.

Mallard 30 (m,f) HL.

Cinnamon Teal 6 (m,f) dabbling, HL.

Bufflehead 3 (m,f) diving, QLO; WQL; 2 (f) HL.

Ruddy Duck 3 HL.

California Quail 4 QLO; 5 HL.

Pied-billed Grebe 1 WQL.

Eared Grebe 1 diving, QLO.

Double-crested Cormorant 1 WQL; 1 HL.

Great Blue Heron 3 HL.

Great Egret 3 in field next to aqueduct, HL; 1 west end of HL.

Snowy Egret 2 west end of QL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 2 HL.

White-faced Ibis 18 (alt. plmg.) foraging in burned stubble, nw HL (photo); flushed at 80 yards.

Turkey Vulture 2 flying w, low over field, HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 on utility pole, WQL.

American Coot 20 edge of marsh, WQL; 10 in burned stubble, HL.

Killdeer 4 shore and stubble; much vocalizing as I approached, HL.

Black-necked Stilt 2 foraging in shallows, e HL.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 rocks at edge of outlet, WQL; 2 (alt. plmg.) shore, HL.

Solitary Sandpiper 1 ne shore, HL; reported here a few days ago by Jon Feenstra (photo).

Western Sandpiper 1 foraging on shore with SBDO, HL (photo).

Least Sandpiper 5 at edge of water, QLO; 3 on rocks, WQL; 5 on shore, HL.

Short-billed Dowitcher 3 (alt. and trans. alt plmg.) foraging in shallows with WESA, ne HL (photo

Mourning Dove 8 flushed from riparian patch, nw, HL.

Eurasian Collared Dove 4 fly, calls, HL.

Rock Pigeon 3 around homestead on 255th St. W and Elise.

Burrowing Owl 1 standing alert next to burrow with low, green shrub; hid when I approached within about 100 yards from the west, WI.

Western Kingbird 2 fly, call, HL.

Common Raven 2 flying over edge of lake, WQL; 10 homesteads around HL.

Marsh Wren 2 singing in marsh, HL.

Northern Mockingbird 1 flying over, HL.

European Starling 4 adjacent fields and homesteads, HL.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 WQL; 4 HL.

Savannah Sparrow 2 flushed from rabbitbrush, n, HL.

Song Sparrow 1 singing, marsh-riparian, w HL.

White-crowned Sparrow 10 adjacent fields and edge of riparian, WQL; HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 12 marsh, WQL; 6 marsh near TRBL, HL.

Tricolored Blackbird 80 (m,f) colony quite vocal and mobile, north side, clinging to dead cattails near water, HL (photos).

Yellow-headed Blackbird 2 singing in marsh near TRBL, HL.

Brewer's Blackbird 6 edge of lake and roadway, WQL.

Great-tailed Grackle 8 (m,f) WQL; 12 (m,f) much vocalizing, HL.

Brown-headed Cowbird 2 calls and song, w HL.

Bullock's Oriole 1 calls and song, w HL.

Western Meadowlark 2 singing in field, WQL; 1 singing in adjacent field, HL.

House Finch 4 calls and song, HL.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 going down to lawn with dandelions, HL.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 singing, ne HL.

House Sparrow 6 around clubhouse, HL.

Western Antelope Valley: Nebeker Ranch; 60th Street West & 30th Street West, LACO (19 Species)

Weather: fair; 58F; winds WNW 15-25 mph.

Time: 0725 - 0845 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Nebeker Ranch (NR) @ southeast corner of 60th Street West and Avenue B. From the roadside, I surveyed a flooded ditch on the west side of 60th Street West, about 50 acres of mature and recently harvested alfalfa fields; an irrigation ditch running n-s through the alfalfa fields from Ave. B (unpaved) and about 58th Street West. Fairly steady auto traffic on 60th Street West combined with steady WNW winds, made observations somewhat difficult. Most of the birds counted were within 100 yards of roadways. I observed two Swainson's Hawks at this location.

2) 60th Street West between Avenue B and G (60BG), surveyed casually while driving (saltbush scrub in a dry alkaline basin); California Quail and Mourning Dove were added to the day-list 3) Northwest corner of Avenue I and 30th Street West (30WI): From my vehicle at roadside, I surveyed a fenced, flooded alkaline sink across from a desert riparian drainage (northeast corner of Avenue I and 30th Street West). Three species were added to the day-list here: Mallard, American Avocet and Barn Swallow.

Birds Noted

Mallard (m,f) a pair flying low from desert riparian sw toward a housing tract, 30WI.

California Quail 1 perched on saltbush near roadway, 60BG.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 on chain-link fence, Ave G e of 50th St. West.

Swainson's Hawk 2 (ad; one molting some wing feathers) flying together into wind, low over alfalfa field; one landed in field.

Killdeer 4 in flooded ditch along roadway, NR.

American Avocet 2 (m,f alt. plmg.) foraging in flooded alkaline sink, 30WI.

Least Sandpiper 80 (ad, juv) foraging in flooded ditch along roadway and in alfalfa field, NR.

Dowitcher sp. 12 flying fast and low, w over alfalfa field, NR.

California Gull 3 (ad, imm) resting at edge of flooded alkaline sink, 30WI.

Rock Dove 3 flying over livestock corral, NR.

Mourning Dove 1 flying low over roadway, 60BG.

Common Raven 10 flying over fields, NR; 8; 1 active nest on crosspiece of utility poles, 60BG.

Barn Swallow 1 flying low over flooded alkaline sink, 30WI.

European Starling 60 flocking in alfalfa fields and roadside ditches, NR.

Savannah Sparrow 50 in flooded ditch, alfalfa fields and adjacent saltbush scrub, NR.

White-crowned Sparrow 8 a loose flock in adjacent field (n) of saltbush scrub, NR.

Red-winged Blackbird 12 (m,f) edge of alfalfa field and flooded ditch; calls, displays, NR.

Yellow-headed Blackbird 6 (m,f) flooded ditch along roadway and adjacent alfalfa field; song and calls,

Western Meadowlark 5 singing in alfalfa field, NR.

MARCH 27, 2011 Holiday Lake and the Western Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, CA (46 Species)

Viewing north from 180th Street West and HWY 138, Western Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, CA 27 March, 2011.

Weather: Fair; 47F to 58F; winds W 10-20 mph. Snow cover on Tehachapi Mts.

Time: 0855 - 1210 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.

Areas Covered: 1) Holiday Lake (HL). I walked around the lake twice, first counter-clockwise, then clockwise, surveying all habitats. Much of the riparian cover around the lake has been removed (cut and burned) recently by LACO fire crews. The burned marsh at the east end is in the early stages of regrowth. No other people were in the area during the survey. Windy conditions decreased bird vocalizations and thus detectability. The lake water level was relatively high; a narrow strip of mud and rock occurring along the se and eastern shore (0855-1115 hrs) A binocular and DSLR camera were used for the survey. Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found here today included: Wilson Snipe (4); Greater Yellowlegs (1); Long-billed Dowitcher (1); Chipping Sparrow (6); Hooded Oriole (1). 2) We drove east on HWY 138 to 170th Street West (WA), turning north and then east on Avenue A. We stopped along the roadway to survey adjacent alfalfa fields, using binoculars (1125-1140 hrs.). Two species were added to our day-list: Barn Swallow and Horned Lark. 3) Our last stop was at the corner of Avenue I and 120th Street West (120 W), where we scanned fields for Burrowing Owl (none found); One species was added to our day-list, Western Kingbird (1155 - 1210 hrs.). Many motorists had stopped their cars along Avenue I to view the fields of California Poppy and other wildflowers, which against a background of the snow-covered Tehachapi Mts., was spectacular.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 60 (m,f) swimming around the edges of the lake; flighty, HL.

Cinnamon Teal 8 (m,f) dabbling around the edges of the lake, HL.

Northern Shoveler 2 (m,f) swimming along the nw side of HL.

Green-winged Teal 6 (m,f) pairs foraging around edge of lake, HL.'

Common Goldeneye 2 (f) flushed from near bridge over Calif. Aqueduct, HL.

Ruddy Duck 8 (m,f) males in alt. plmg. diving at edge of lake, HL.

California Quail 6 calls, running through field, n HL.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) flushed from n side of lake, HL.

Turkey Vulture 1 flying w over field, s HL.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) flying along utility pole line, n HL; calls.

American Kestrel 1 (m) flying low across roadway, s HL.

American Coot 13 edge of lake, HL.

Killdeer 2 foraging on shore and in regrowing burned marsh, e HL.

Greater Yellowlegs 1 foraging in regrowing burned marsh, e HL.

Long-billed Dowitcher 1 foraging in regrowing burned marsh and shoreline; fly calls, ne HL (photo)

Wilson's Snipe 4 flock staying close; foraging in regrowth of burned marsh, ne HL(photo).

Eurasian Collared Dove 2 calls from pines near clubhouse; 2 in garden, s homestead, HL.

Mourning Dove 2 edge of riparian, e HL

Great Horned Owl 1 flushed from Cottonwood, s HL.

Western Kingbird 5 a cohesive flock on barbed wire fence at edge of alfalfa field; hawking insects in field, 120W (photo).

Say's Phoebe 1 on fence in yard, s HL.

Common Raven 12 flying around lake and adjacent fields; defending nest site in pines with fly-over and calls, sw HL; nesting on utility poles along Lancaster Rd.

Horned Lark 2 flying over alfalfa field, Ave A and 160th W, AW.

Tree Swallow 2 flying w over lake, HL.'

Barn Swallow 20 flying low, against the wind over alfalfa fields, AW.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, sw HL.

Marsh Wren 3 singing in marsh, HL.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4 in pines, HL.

European Starling 4 around homesteads, s HL.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 (m,f) foraging in trees; calls, s HL.

Common Yellowthroat 1 (m) edge of marsh, s HL.

Chipping Sparrow 6 calls; preening, sunning, in pines and Cottonwoods (photo), sw HL.

Savannah Sparrow 1 calls, rabbitbrush in flooded field, s HL.

Song Sparrow 1 calls in marsh, nw HL.

Lincoln's Sparrow 2 calls, fly, rabbitbrush in flooded field, s HL.

White-crowned Sparrow 30 (G) (ad, imm) calls, song, fields around the lake, esp. s HL.

Dark-eyed Junco 15 (OR) in and around pines, s HL

Red-winged Blackbird 2 singing in marsh-riparian, nw.

Tricolored Blackbird 50-60 (m,f) vocalizing in marsh; a few males conspicuously perched in cattails (photo); small flocks flying over lakes HL

Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) fly, call and song; marsh and riparian edge around lake, HL

Western Meadowlark 3 singing in adjacent fields, e, n HL.

Hooded Oriole 1 ( ad m) flew into canopy of Arizona Cypress near clubhouse, s HL.

House Finch 15 (m,f) in fields and around homesteads; patches of Cottonwood; calls and song, HL.

Lesser Goldfinch 2 calls in Cottonwoods and pines, s HL.

Lawrence's Goldfinch 20 (m,f) ubiquitous in trees around lake in flowering Amsinkia tesselata; calls and song (photo)

House Sparrow 20 around clubhouse and adjacent homesteads, stored hay and buildings, sHL.

March 5, 2011 Quail Lake and Holiday Lake, Western Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County, CA (50 Species)

Weather: Fair, 47F to 66F; winds ENE 0-2mph.Snow remaining on higher mountains.

Time: 0755- 1245 hrs.

Observers: Ethan Yorke and I.

Areas Covered: 1) Southeast corner of Avenue I and 120th Street West (120). We scanned the fields with 20-30 California Ground Squirrels for Burrowing Owl (1 found) ( 0755-0815 hrs.). 2) Driving west on Avenue I, we stopped at a farm adjacent to the intersection of 167th Street West (167), scanning the fields and utility poles for birds (0820-0840 hrs.).3) Continuing west on Avenue I (Lancaster Rd.) we stopped a few times to observe birds in adjacent rural settlements and farmland (LRW). 4) Westfork Rd. overlooking the Quail Lake Outlet segment of the California Aqueduct (QLO) ( 0858-0910 hrs.). 5) Quail Lake (QL): We cycled the paved, fenced roadway on the south side of the lake, continuing around to the eastern and central-northern QL inlet of the aqueduct. Riparian, freshwater marsh, grassland, chaparral hillsides (south side of HWY 138), open water and shorelines were surveyed on both the outgoing and return trip to the west parking lot. A few fishermen were on the west and north-central shores; the lake surface was calm throughout most of the survey and with little or no disturbances (except from the noisy traffic on HWY 138) ( 0915-1040 hrs). 6) Holiday Lake (HL). We walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats (see previous notes for habitat descriptions). Two vehicles entered the area during our survey but exited within a few minutes. The area was largely quiet and windless during our survey (1105-1245 hrs.). All surveys today were made using a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. Raptors seen on utility poles along the roadways were noted. We continued our survey today in the southern foothills bordering the Antelope Valley, including Lake Hughes and Elizabeth Lake (see Elizabeth Lake field notes link).

BIRDS NOTED

Gadwall 4 (m,f) edge of lake, s-central, QL; 6 HL.

Mallard 12 (m,f) edge of lake, s QL; 25, HL.

Cinnamon Teal 4 (m,f) HL.

Green-winged Teal 2 edge of lake, HL.

Lesser Scaup 8 (m,f) QLO; 20 (m,f) QL.

Bufflehead 8 (m,f) QLO; 30 (m,f) QL.

Common Goldeneye 3 (m,f) QLO; 10 (m,f) QL.

Common Merganser 7 (m,f) diving, e QL.

Ruddy Duck 2 (m,f) QLO; 80 (m,f) QL; 1 HL.

Pied-billed Grebe 3 w QL.

Eared Grebe 30 diving, QL.

Clark's Grebe 1 north edge, QL.

Double-crested Cormorant 7 east QL.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) soaring over s hills, QL; 1 (ad) on utility pole, n, HL; 8 on utililty poles between 110th St. W and Quail Lake.

Ferruginous Hawk 1 (imm) on roadside utility pole; flew to another pole, 120 th W (photo).

American Kestrel 1 on utility pole, LRW.

Sora 2 calls, s marsh, HL.

American Coot 40 edge of lake, QL; 6 HL.

Killdeer 5 s and e shore of QL.

Mourning Dove 2 riparian, QL; 6 HL.

Burrowing Owl 1 keeping a low profile in a ground squirrel burrow, sec of Avenue I and 120th St. West; near previous sighting 2/ 28/2011.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls, HL.

Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 foraging on elm, HL (photo).

Say's Phoebe 1 flying low over field, 120; 1 hillside, n QL; 1 calls, fenced field s of HL;

Common Raven 4 flying over, 120; 20 fields, utility poles, LRW; 10 flying around QL; 20 adjacent yards, HL.

Horned Lark 4 flying over field, 167; 2 LRW; 1 on fence, s HL.

Oak Titmouse 1 calls, s adjacent chaparral edge of yard, QL.

Bewick's Wren 2 song, adjacent chaparral edge of yard, QL.

Marsh Wren 3 song, marsh, s and n, QL.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 in pines, calls, HL.

Northern Mockingbird 1 on sign along HWY 138 w.

California Thrasher 1 singing for several minutes, riparian edge, se QL.

European Starling 4 riparian edge, s QL.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 riparian, s QL; 4 pines and riparian, HL.

California Towhee 1 calls, adjacent chaparral ravine, se QL.

Spotted Towhee 1 calls and song, riparian edge, se QL.

Vesper Sparrow 1 flew and landed in roadside weeds; flew back to shrubby hillside, 167.

Lark Sparrow 12 two or three birds singing in dense mulefat clump, n QL.

Savannah Sparrow 1 fly, call, s and n riparian edge of QL.

Song Sparrow 5 calls and song in marsh, s and se QL; 3 song, HL.

Swamp Sparrow 1 - continuing - ( now with a tail) flushed from Umbrella Sedge (where I photographed it tailless on January 25, 2011); flew low, back into dense sedges quickly; flushed again to adjacent cattails, taking cover and disappearing before I could get the camera ready. No vocalizations heard.

White-crowned Sparrow 10 marsh and riparian edge, QL; 15 riparian and marsh, HL.

Dark-eyed Junco 4 in and around pines, w HL.

Red-winged Blackbird 1 on utility line, LRW; 20 in marsh, s QL.

Tricolored Blackbird 60 (m,f) foraging with BRBL in field, 167(photo); 10-20 (m,f) vocalizing, largely concealed in dry cattails, s HL.

Brewer's Blackbird 40 foraging with TRBL , 167 (photo); 10 s edge of QL.

Great-tailed Grackle 2 s edge of QL; 2 (m) calls, s HL.

Western Meadowlark 3 song, calls, flying low, 120; 167; 4 hillsides, QL; 2 song, n HL.

House Finch 10 (m,f) riparian, QL; 4 fly, call, HL.

House Sparrow 15 farmhouse and yard, LRW; 8 HL.

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