LAKE PALMDALE SUMMER BIRD SURVEYS (2010)
Weather: Fair, 77 to 85F; winds 5-15 mph.
Time: 0708- 1000 hrs.
Area Covered: After scoping the lake on the bluff across from the F&F clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats (see previous notes), using a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. A few fishermen were around the lake (a catfish derby was held on July 24, 2010); one was trolling in a small motorboat. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.
BIRDS NOTED
Gadwall 1 (f) slough, S.
Mallard 80 (ad, imm) scattered around the edges of the lake.
Pied-billed Grebe 6 (ad, imm) edges of the lake,
Western Grebe 20 pairs around the edge of the lake, NW.
Clark's Grebe 30 pairs and singles around the edge of the lake and open water.
Great Blue Heron 3 (ad, imm) on jetty and edge of dam.
Great Egret 2 on jetty and on edge of dam.
Snowy Egret 3 on and near dam.
Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) flushed from S marsh.
Cooper's Hawk 2 (ad, imm) riparian edge, W and N.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) riparian, N.
Red-tailed Hawk 1 on utility pole, N.
American Coot 30 (ad, imm) scattered around the edge of the lake.
Killdeer 4 settling ponds and jetty.
Least Sandpiper 1 foraging in settling pond.
Caspian Tern 1 flying back and forth over lake.
Rock Pigeon 2 flying around adjacent area, N.
Mourning Dove 8 riparian areas around the lake.
Anna's Hummingbird 6 (m,f) riparian and edge around the lake.
Downy Woodpecker 1 (m) in Cottonwood, W.
Black Phoebe 5 riparian and edge around the lake; calls.
Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 riparian-juniper edge, SE.
Common Raven 12 riparian and flying around edges of lake.
Horned Lark 20 RV parking area, N.
Tree Swallow 1 flying over riparian area, S.
Cliff Swallow 10 flying around housing tract, S.
Verdin 2 brushy roadside area, N.
Bushtit 12 small noisy flocks, juniper-riparian-creosote edge.
Cactus Wren 1 calls from Joshua-juniper scrub near entrance.
Common Yellowthroat 4 song and calls in marsh-riparian, W and S.
Song Sparrow 5 (ad, imm) song and calls in marsh-riparian W, S, SW.
Red-winged Blackbird 6 (ad, imm) riparian, NW and W.
Tricolored Blackbird 2 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh, NW.
Great-tailed Grackle 30 (ad, imm) marsh-riparian areas around the lake.
House Finch 20 (ad, imm) riparian and edge around the lake;calls, song.
House Sparrow 10 around buildings and in open areas, N.
Weather: Fair, 86F; winds WSW 10-15 mph.
Time: 0615-0930 hrs.
Area Covered: After scoping the lake, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats (see previous notes), using a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. About 30 fishermen were around the lake; a few trolling in small motorboats. Conditions were fair for identifying bird vocalizations. Several species appeared to have bred successfully at LP (see notes below).An unusual seasonal occurrence, Bufflehead (2) was found today, along with Cassin's Kingbird (1); the latter a new record for Lake Palmdale Bird List, bringing the total to 203 species.
BIRDS NOTED
Mallard 80 (ad, imm) scattered around the edges of the lake.
Bufflehead 2 (f, imm) open water, near jetty; successful breeding at LP?.
Ruddy Duck 2 (alt. plmg.) slough, S.
California Quail 4 juniper edge, SE.
Pied-billed Grebe 6 (ad, imm) S and SE edge of lake.
Western Grebe 15 pairs around edges of lake, calls, displays, NW and W.
Clark's Grebe 50 pairs around edges and in open water; calls, displays.
Double-crested Cormorant 2 open water, central lake.
Great Blue Heron 1 N shore.
Great Egret 1 edge of dam.
Cooper's Hawk 1 riparian, NW.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 riparian, calls, SE.
American Coot 20 around edges of lake.
Killdeer 1 settling pond.
Caspian Tern 1 flying over dam and central lake.
Mourning Dove 8 pairs in riparian areas around lake.
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1 (m) junipers SE.
Anna's Hummingbird 5 (ad, imm) riparian and edge, W and SW.
Hairy Woodpecker 2 (ad, imm) riparian, W.
Black Phoebe 8 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh and edge around the lake; calls.
Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 riparian, SE.
Western Kingbird 3 riparian and open area near clubhouse and entrance; one on utlity line near CK.
Cassin's Kingbird 1 on utility line near entrance (photo). A new record for LP.
© 2010 Callyn Yorke
Common Raven 12 (ad, imm) pairs and small flocks in riparian areas around the lake.
Horned Lark 20 on ground in RV parking area, N.
Tree Swallow 20 (ad, imm) flying around riparian areas, N and S.
Barn Swallow 2 low over lake, NW.
Oak Titmouse 1 riparian, W.
Verdin 2 (ad, imm) Juniper edge, NW.
Bushtit 16 (ad, imm) brushy areas around the lake; calls.
Bewick's Wren 8 (ad, imm) juniper and riparian edge around the lake; calls and song.
Northern Mockingbird 1 adjacent suburbs, S.
European Starling 2 riparian, S.
Phainopepla 1 (f) riparian SE.
Common Yellowthroat 6 ad, imm) marsh-riparian edge, N, W, SW.
Western Tanager 1 (f) in Cottonwood, S.
Song Sparrow 3 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh edge, W.
Red-winged Blackbird 8 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh, N and W.
Tricolored Blackbird 2 (f, imm) NW riparian-marsh; calls, fly. colonies evidently abandoned at LP.
Great-tailed Grackle 30 (ad, imm) riparian and marsh around the lake.
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 riparian, NW.
House Finch 20 (ad, imm) riparian and edge around the lake.
Lesser Goldfinch 1 Cottonwood, SE.
Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 (ad) juniper-riparian edge, SE.
House Sparrow 10 near clubhouse and open areas, N.
Weather: Fair, 50F to 71F; winds, WNW 5-10 mph.
Time: 0630-0915 hrs.
Area Covered: After scoping the lake from the bluff across from the F&F clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats (see previous notes), using a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. About 30 fishermen were around the lake; a few were trolling in small motorboats. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations. Common Goldeneye (2) continues as an unusually late spring occurrence in the region. Several species (e.g. Hairy Woodpecker, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch) appear to be breeding at Lake Palmdale (see notes below).
BIRDS NOTED
Mallard 25 around edges of the lake.
Ruddy Duck 10 edge of lake, NW and S.
Common Goldeneye 2 (m,f) near jetty.
California Quail 12 brushy areas around the lake, N and SE.
Pied-billed Grebe 6 open water and edges of lake, N, W and S.
Eared Grebe 4 (alt. plmg.) open water, NW and N.
Western Grebe 10 pairs around the edge of lake, NW; calls.
Clark's Grebe 20 pairs around the edge of lake, near marsh; calls.
Green Heron 1 flushed from S marsh.
Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) NE riparian.
American Coot 30 around the edges of the lake.
Killdeer 6 settling ponds, jetty and E side of dam.
Mourning Dove 6 pairs in riparian areas around the lake.
Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (m) juniper scrub, calls, SE.
Anna's Hummingbird 6 (m,f) riparian and edge, calls.
Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m,f) riparian, calls, SE.
Downy Woodpecker 1 riparian, calls, S.
Hairy Woodpecker 2 (ad, imm) in Willows, W (photo).
Black Phoebe 10 m(ad, imm) riparian, marsh and edge around the lake; calls.
Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 juniper-riparian edge, SE.
Western Scrub-Jay 1 calls, SE.
Common Raven 10 pairs around nests in Cottonwoods, S and SW.
Tree Swallow 30 at least 5 pairs nesting in Cottonwoods and Willows, NW, W and S.
Cliff Swallow 20 flying around adjacent housing tract, S; a few over the lake.
Barn Swallow 8 flying low over the lake, NW and S.
Oak Titmouse 2 calls and song, riparian and juniper edge, W and SW.
Bushtit 20 (ad, imm) small, noisy flocks in juniper scrub, riparian and edge around the lake.
Bewick's Wren 8 (ad, imm) juniper scrub and riparian edge around the lake; song and calls.
House Wren 1 song, Cottonwoods, S.
Northern Mockingbird 1 Joshua-Juniper area near entrance; song.
European Starling 20 riparian areas around the lake; calls.
Yellow Warbler 3 (m,f) probably nesting in SE Cottonwoods; calls and song.
Common Yellowthroat 2 song and calls, marsh-riparian edge, W.
California Towhee 2 juniper, calls, W.
Song Sparrow 10 (ad, imm) song, calls, riparian-marsh, W and S.
Red-winged Blackbird 30 nesting in riparian-marsh around the lake; calls and song.
Tricolored Blackbird 80 two colonies, one on E side of jetty, the other on the SEC near the dam; song, calls.
Yellow-headed Blackbird 10 two small colonies NE and N; calls and song.
Great-tailed Grackle 60 nesting in riparian-marsh around the lake; calls and song.
Brown-headed Cowbird 3 riparian, NW and W , S
House Finch 6 (m,f) riparian and edge around the lake.
Lesser Goldfinch 2 riparian, calls and song, SE.
Lawrence's Goldfinch 6 (ad, imm) riparian-juniper edge, calls and song, W, s and SE.
House Sparrow 20 around clubhouse and open fields, N.
Weather: Fair, 71 to 80F; winds WSW 10-18 mph.
Time: 0630-0940 hrs.
Area Covered: After scoping the lake on the bluff across from the F&F clubhouse, I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake surveying all habitats (see previous notes), using a 10x42 binocular and DSLR camera. About 50 fishermen were around the lake; some trolling in small motorboats. Conditions were fair to poor for detecting bird vocalizations. Nesting or probable nesting for numerous species (noted below); an unusual seasonal occurrence for Common Goldeneye.
BIRDS NOTED
Gadwall 3 slough, S.
Mallard 20 scattered around the edges of the lake.
Ruddy Duck (m,f ) mostly NW and S side of lake and in slough.
Common Goldeneye 2 (m,f) on and near jetty, NW.
California Quail 20 brushy areas around the lake; calls.
Pied-billed Grebe 3 open water, N.
Eared Grebe 2 (alt. plmg..) open water N and near jetty.
Western Grebe 4 NW.
Clark's Grebe 18 pairs and singles, edges of the lake near marshes.
Green Heron 1 (ad) S.
Cooper's Hawk 1 riparian, W.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 riparian, S; calls.
American Coot 30 edges of the lake.
Killdeer 3 settling ponds, N.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 on jetty.
Mourning Dove 8 riparian areas around the lake.
Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (m) juniper-Joshua scrub, SE.
Anna's Hummingbird 4 (m,f) riparian, W and S.
Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m,f) riparian, W and SE; calls.
Downy Woodpecker 2 (m,f) riparan W; calls.
Black Phoebe 8 (ad, imm) riparian, edge and marsh around the lake.
Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 riparian and juniper edge, SE.
Western Scrub-Jay 1 SE calls.
Common Raven 10 pairs nesting in Cottonwoods, S and SW; calls.
Tree Swallow 20 several nesting pairs in Cottonwoods and Willows, NW, S.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2 flying low over open ground, N.
Cliff Swallow 30 riparian and edge, S. and N.
Barn Swallow 2 flying low over lake, NW.
Oak Titmouse 2 calls in riparian-juniper edge, W and SW.
Bushtit 20 small, noisy flocks in riparian, juniper, edge.
Bewick's Wren 6 calls and song, juniper scrub, riparian edge.
House Wren 2 nesting in Cottonwood, S; calls and song.
California Thrasher 1 juniper scub, W.
European Starling 20 riparian areas around the lake; nesting in Cottonwood, near TS, S.
Yellow Warbler 4 two pair, probably nesting SW and SE riparian; song.
Common Yellowthroat 4 song and calls, marsh edge and riparian, W and S.
California Towhee 2 juniper scrub, W; calls.
Song Sparrow 12 songs, calls, marsh and edge of riparian, NW, W and SE.
Red-winged Blackbird 30 nesting in marsh and riparian areas around the lake; esp. NW and W.
Tricolored Blackbird 80 two colonies, NW near jetty; SE near dam; songs, calls; flights back and forth across lake and beyond.
Yellow-headed Blackbird 14 two small colonies, N and Nw; some frequenting feeders at caretaker's house.
Great-tailed Grackle 30 nesting in marsh and riparian areas N, NW, W; calls and song.
Brown-headed Cowbird 3 riparian, NW.
House Finch 10 riparian and juniper edge around the lake.
Lawrence's Goldfinch 4 pairs probably nesting in juniper and riparian edge, SE and NW; song and calls.
House Sparrow 15 around buildings near entrance.
Weather: Fair, 85F; no wind.
Time: 0630-0945 hrs.
Observers: Charles Hood and I.
Area Covered: We walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats (see previous notes), using a scope, binoculars and DSLR camera. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations. A few fishermen were around the lake and trolling in small motorboats. A pair of Common Goldeneye was again found near the jetty, representing an unusually late occurrence for this species in our region.
BIRDS NOTED
Mallard 10 (m,f) around the edges of the lake, N and NW.
Common Goldeneye 2 (m,f) swimming near the jetty; appears to be the same pair seen here on previous surveys.
Ruddy Duck 12 (m,f) around the edges of the lake, NW and SE.
California Quail 12 brushy areas around the lake.
Pied-billed Grebe 4 (ad, imm) open water and edge of lake, N and S.
Eared Grebe 3 (alt plmg.) open water, N-central.
Western Grebe 8 around edges of lake; courtship, calls, N, NW.
Clark's Grebe 12 around edges of lake in pairs; calls.
Double-crested Cormorant 3 on floating stirrers and swimming, open water.
Green Heron 1 (ad) flushed from marsh-riparian, S.
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad) riparian, S.
American Coot 30 scattered around edges of the lake.
Killdeer 3 settling ponds.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 on jetty, NW.
Mourning Dove 6 riparian areas, in pairs, around the lake.
Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (m) Juniper scrub, SW,SE.
Anna's Hummingbird 4 riparian and edge, W and S.
Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls from riparian, E.
Downy Woodpecker 4 (ad, imm) riparian, W.
Willow Flycatcher 1 riparian, W.
Black Phoebe 8 riparian-marsh and edge around the lake.
Ash-throated Flycatcher 4 riparian, juniper, edge, S, SE.
Western Kingbird 2 riparian, S.
Common Raven 10 (ad, imm) pairs in riparian areas around the lake.
Tree Swallow 20 (ad, imm) riparian, S NE.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 4 flying low, settling ponds, N.
Cliff Swallow 50 large flock around eves of adjacent housing tract, S.
Barn Swallow 4 flying low over the lake, S.
Oak Titmouse 4 (ad, imm) riparian, edge, W, S.
Bushtit 20 (ad, imm) small, noisy flocks around the lake, riparian, juniper edge.
Bewick's Wren 4 riparian and juniper edge; calls.
House Wren 2 riparian, S.
Marsh Wren 1 marsh, SE song.
Northern Mockingbird 1 singing near clubhouse, juniper scrub, N.
California Thrasher 1 juniper scrub, W.
California Towhee 2 calls from juniper scrub, W.
Song Sparrow 10 (ad, imm) riparian edge, W and SW.
Red-winged Blackbird 40 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh and edge around the lake.
Tricolored Blackbird 60 (ad, imm) dispersed around the lake in marsh-riparian.
Yellow-headed Blackbird 12 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh, N and NE.
Great-tailed Grackle 30 (ad, imm) dispersed around the lake, marsh-riparian.
Brown-headed Cowbird 1 riparian, S.
House Finch 10 (ad, imm) riparian and edge around the lake.
Lawrence's Goldfinch 2 (ad) juniper scrub riparian edge, SE.
House Sparrow 20 open areas, N and NE.
Weather: Fair, 60 to 80F; winds WNW 2-5 mph.
Time: 0705 - 1107 hrs.
Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake surveying all habitats (see previous survey notes), using a scope, binocular and DSLR camera. A few fishermen were around the lake and trolling in small motorboats. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations. Birds of seasonal significance were: Common Goldeneye (2) and Horned Grebe (1).
BIRDS NOTED
Mallard 8 (m,f) around the jetty and edges of the lake, NW.
Common Goldeneye 2 (m,f) near the jetty.
Ruddy Duck (m,f) 6 edges of the lake, NW and S.
Califronia Quail 10 brushy areas around the lake; calls.
Pied-billed Grebe 4 open water and edges of lake, N and S.
Horned Grebe 1 (alt. plmg.) near jetty (photo).
© 2010 Callyn Yorke
Western Grebe 8 edges of the lake, NW and W.
Clark's Grebe 10 edges of the lake, NW, W and S.
American Coot 25 edges of the lake.
Killdeer 4 settling ponds and jetty.
Caspian Tern 1 flying around E side of lake.
Mourning Dove 8 riparian areas around the lake.
Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (m,f) Juniper scrub, SE.
Anna's Hummingbird 4 (m,f) riparian areas, W and S.
Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 calls from riparian, S.
Downy Woodpecker 2 riparian area, W.
Western Wood Pewee 3 riparan areas, N, W and S.
Willow Flycatcher 1 riparian, W.
Black Phoebe 6 rIparian-marsh around the lake.
Ash-throated Flycatcher 3 riparian edge, S and SE (photo).
© 2010 Callyn Yorke
Western Scrub-jay 1 calls, SE.
Common Raven 12 pairs and trios in riparian areas, W and S; calls.
Tree Swallow 20 (ad, imm) riparian areas around the lake, esp. S.
Barn Swallow 6 flying low over lake.
Oak Titmouse 6 (ad, imm) riparian, Juniper and edge around the lake.
Verdin 5 brushy hillside, N (photo).
Bushtit 16 small flocks in riparian, juniper and edge around the lake.
Bewick's Wren 8 (ad, imm) calls and song from riparian, juniper and edge around the lake.
House Wren 2 riparian, song, S.
Northern Mockingbird 2 singing, N and SE.
California Thrasher 2 Juniper scrub, W and SW.
European Starling 6 (ad, imm) riparian and open areas, N and S.
Phainopepla 1 (f) riparian, W.
Yellow Warbler 2 (m,f) riparian, song, SE.
Common Yellowthroat 4 riparian-marsh, calls and song.
Wilson's Warbler 1 (m) cottonwood, song, S.
Western Tanager 2 riparian W and SW.
California Towhee 4 (ad, imm) juniper and riparian edge, NW, W, S.
Song Sparrow 12 (ad, imm) marsh-riparian around the lake; song and calls.
Red-winged Blackbird 40 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh around the lake.
Tricolored Blackbird 100 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh, NW and SE.
Yellow-headed Blackbird 15 (ad, imm) riparian-marsh N, NE
Great-tailed Grackle 30 (ad, imm) ubiquitous in riparian-marsh around the lake.
House Finch 16 (ad, imm) riparian edge and brushy areas around the lake.
Lawrence's Goldfinch 3 (ad, imm) juniper scrub, SE.
House Sparrow 12 (ad, imm) brushy areas, E and N.