LAKE PALMDALE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY,CA

                Previous Seasons  Bird  Surveys

              

                           INDEX

        FALL (October, 2009; August 1 - October 31, 2010)

          SUMMER (June 1 - July 30, 2010)

           FALL (October 14, 2009)

 

 

* A seasonal summary of the birds found at Lake Palmdale (1986-1996) is available.

Aerial view of Lake Palmdale looking south (March 12, 2007). © 2009  Callyn D. Yorke 2

Lake Palmdale is 2.7 mi. in circumference, 234 acres when full, and holds about 4,129 acre-feet of water.

MAY 28, 2010 (49 Species)

Weather: Fair, 48 to 55F; Winds 0-15 mph.

Time: 0622- 1000 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats (see previous notes) using a scope, binocular and DSLR camera. Conditions were fair for identifying bird vocalizations. About 30 fishermen were around the lake and trolling in small motorboats. Birds of seasonal significance were, Bufflehead (2) and Common Goldeneye (1).

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard  6 (m,f) around edges of lake, N, NW.

Bufflehead  2 (m,f)  near jetty.Ruddy Duck  4 (mf)   edge of lake, NW, S.

Common Goldeneye  1  (f) near jetty.

California Quail  8  brushy areas around the lake.

Pied-billed Grebe  4  open water and edges of lake.

Western Grebe 10 edges of lake, N and NW.

Clark's Grebe  8  edges of lake, N, NW, SW.

Green Heron  1  flushed from S side of lake.

Osprey  1  flying over lake, E.

American Coot  25  edges of the lake.

Killdeer  4  settling ponds and jetty.

Spotted Sandpiper  1  on jetty.

Mourning Dove  8  riparian areas around the lake.

Black-chinned Hummingbird  2  Juniper scrub, SE.

Anna's Hummingbird  10 riparian areas around the lake.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  3  calls from riparian areas, W and S.

Western Wood Pewee  8  riparian and edge around the lake.

Black Phoebe  12 riparian and marsh around the lake.

Ash-throated Flycatcher  2  riparian, Juniper scrub and edge, S.

Warbling Vireo  1 riparian, S.

Western Scrub-Jay  2  riparian Juniper edge, S.

Common Raven  12 pairs in cottonwoods and flying around the lake.

Tree Swallow  20  riparian areas around the lake, N and S.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  2   flying around settling ponds, N.

Cliff Swallow  20  adjacent housing tract, S.

Barn Swallow  12  flying low over the lake.

Oak Titmouse  1  riparian edge, W.

Verdin  1  calls from S riparian Juniper edge.

Bushtit  12  flocks in riparian and Juniper edge.

Bewick's Wren  8  brushy areas around the lake, calls and song.

Marsh Wren  calls from marsh, SE.

House Wren  2  riparian edge, S.

Northern Mockingbird  2  Juniper scrub, N and SE.

European Starling  2  riparian S.

Yellow Warbler  20 riparian areas around the lake; song and calls.

Common Yellowthroat  2  marsh-riparian edge, S and NE.

Wilson's Warbler  20  riparian and edge around the lake; calls and song.

California Towhee  3  Juniper scrub, calls, W and SW.

Song Sparrow  12 riparian-marsh around the lake; song and calls.

Red-winged Blackbird  40 (m,f) riparian-marsh around the lake.

Tricolored Blackbird  100 (m,f)   marsh-riparian, NW and SE.

Yellow-headed Blackbird  10 (m,f) riparian-marsh, N and SE.

Great-tailed Grackle  30  ubiquitous around the lake.

Brown-headed Cowbird  2  riparian, calls, S.

Bullock's Oriole  2   in cottonwoods, S and SE.

House Finch  10  brushy and riparian areas around the lake.

Lesser Goldfinch  2  riparian, SE.

Lawrence's Goldfinch  4  Juniper scrub, SE.

House Sparrow  15 ornamental shrubs around buildings, N.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 24, 2010 (61 Species)

Weather: Fair, 50 to 55F; winds WNW 5-10 mph.

Time: 0712-1115 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route around the entire lake surveying all habitats (see previous notes) using a scope, binocular and DSLR camera. Conditions were fair to poor for identifying bird vocalizations. Birds of seasonal significance included, Common Goldeneye (2) and Common Loon (1). One new species, Olive-sided Flycatcher (1) , was added to the Lake Palmdale Bird List, now at 202 Species.

BIRDS NOTED

Mallard 8 (m,f) shallows around the lake, especially NW.

Ruddy Duck 6 (m,f) slough and S side of lake.

Common Goldeneye  2 (m,f)  near jetty.

California Quail 10  brushy areas around the lake; calls.

Common Loon  1  open water, diving, E.

Pied-billed Grebe  3  open water and edge of lake, N and S.

Eared Grebe  12  open water, N and central.

Western Grebe  4  W side of lake.

Clark's Grebe  8  W side of lake.

Double-crested Cormorant  1  open water, central.

Great Egret  3  near dam and N shore.

Red-shouldered Hawk  1 riparian, S.

Red-tailed Hawk  2  N and E.

American Coot  25  NE edge of lake.

Killdeer  6  N and NW edge of lake; calls.

Spotted Sandpiper  3  edge of jetty, NW.

Caspian Tern  5  flying over E and central lake; calls.

Mourning Dove  10  riparian areas around the lake.

Roadrunner  1  Creosote scrub, N.

Black-chinned Hummingbird  1  SE corner.

Anna's Hummingbird  6  riparian and edge around the lake; calls.

Nuttall's Woodpecker  3  riparian, W and SE.

Western Wood Pewee  6  riparian and edge around the lake.

Willow Flycatcher  1 riparian, N.

Hammond's Flycatcher  1 in cottonwood, W (photo).

                                      © 2010 Callyn Yorke

Gray Flycatcher  1   on fence in Juniper-sage scrub, SE corner (photo).

                                  © 2010 Callyn Yorke

Pacific Slope Flycatcher  2  riparian, W and N.

Black Phoebe 10  riparian and edge around the lake.

Ash-throated Flycatcher  2  riparian and edge, SE.

Olive-sided Flycatcher  1  Joshua-Juniper edge, riparian, SE.

Warbling Vireo  2  riparian, W and S.

Western Scrub-Jay 2  SE and E, calls.

Common Raven  12 riparian and flying around edge of lake.

Tree Swallow  10  riparian, W and S.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  6  flying low, N and NW.

Cliff Swallow  30  flying around presumed nests under eaves of adjacent home, S.

Barn Swallow  4  flying low over lake.

Oak Titmouse  2  riparian, calls.

Bushtit  20  small flocks in brushy and riparian areas around the lake; calls.

Cactus Wren  1  calls from Juniper-Joshua Tree scrub, N.

Bewick's Wren  8  calls and song from brushy and riparian areas around the lake.

House Wren  6  riparian area, S; calls and song.

Northern Mockingbird  1  singing in Joshua Tree-Juniper scrub, N.

California Thrasher  2  Juniper scrub, W and SW.

European Starling  4  riparian, S.

Phainopepla  2  (m,f)  riparian, W.

Yellow Warbler  20 (m,f) riparian areas around the lake.

Common Yellowthroat  1(m)   riparian, singing, W.

Wilson's Warbler  20 (m,f)   riparian areas around the lake.

California Towhee  1  calls from Juniper scrub, W.

Black-headed Grosbeak  1 (m)   riparian, S.

Red-winged Blackbird  40 (m,f) riparian and marsh around the lake.

Tricolored Blackbird  150 (m,f)   riparian-marsh, NW and SE.

Yellow-headed Blackbird  (m,f) 10  riparian strip, N and NE.

Great-tailed Grackle  30  ubiquitous around the lake.

Brown-headed Cowbird  1 riparian, N.

Bullock's Oriole  1  adjacent tall cottonwoods, S.

House Finch 6 (m,f) brushy areas and riparian around the lake.

Lesser Goldfinch  2  riparian edge, SE.

Lawrence's Goldfinch  2  Juniper scrub, SE.

House Sparrow  15  ornamental shrubs around clubhouse.

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 14, 2010 (62 Species)

Weather: Fair, 54-76F; winds WNW 0-3 mph.

Time:  0634 - 1030 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered:  We walked a counter-clockwise route around the lake, surveying all habitats, including gardens, picnic areas, Creosote Bush - Chaparral scrub, Riparian, Freshwater Marsh, Shoreline (rocks and mud), open water, Joshua Tree-Juniper Woodland, Great Basin Sage Scrub, and ruderal roadsides. About 40 fishermen were at the lake, on docks and in small motorboats. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations. Noteworthy birds found today included Common Goldeneye (photo) , Bufflehead, Horned Grebe and about 140 Tricolored Blackbird (photo) .

BIRDS NOTED

1) Mallard  6 (m,f) around the edges of the lake.

2) Northern Shoveler  2 (m,f) flying SW over the lake.

3) Bufflehead  2 (m,f) open water, NE.

4) Common Goldeneye   3  (m,f)  open water, NE and NW (photo).

                                                  Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  Lake Palmdale, CA          May 14, 2010

                                                 

                                                                                                                                         © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

5) Ruddy Duck  3 (alt. plmg.)     NW and SE

6) California Quail  12  pairs in brushy areas around the lake (calls).

7) Pied-billed Grebe  3  around edges of lake, NW and SE (calls).

8) Horned Grebe  1 (alt. plmg.) diving, open water near jetty, NW.

9) Eared Grebe  16  (alt. plmg.)   a tight flock diving simultaneously, mid-lake.

10) Western Grebe  7  around edges of lake, NW.

11) Clark's Grebe  12  edges and open water; calls.

12) Double-crested Cormorant   1  flying over N side of lake.

13) Great Blue Heron   1  S  (MSM).

14) Snowy Egret  1  foraging along shore, N.

15) Osprey  1  in willows, W.

16) Red-shouldered Hawk  1  SE, calls.

17) Red-tailed Hawk  2  (MSM).

18) American Coot  30  around the edges of the lake.

19) Killdeer  6  settling ponds, picnic area (N) and NE fields; calls.

20) Spotted Sandpiper  7  (alt. plmg.) shoreline and jetty.

21) California Gull (imm)  2  resting on mid-lake.

22) Mourning Dove  12  pairs in riparian and juniper woodland around lake; calls.

23) Anna's Hummingbird  10 (m, f) riparian and juniper woodland, around lake.

24) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  riparian, S (MSM).

25) Western Wood Pewee  1  riparian/creosote edge, N (photo)

                              Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulis)  Lake Palmdale, CA  May 14, 2010

                                          

                                                                                                                            © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

26) Willow Flycatcher  1   riparian edge, N.

27) Black Phoebe  5  riparian and juniper edge around lake; calls and song.

28) Ash-throated Flycatcher  5  juniper woodland and riparian edge, W ,SW and S; calls.

29) Warbling Vireo  12  riparian woods around the lake.

30) Western Scrub-Jay  5  juniper woodland and riparian edge, W, SW and E; calls.

31) Common Raven  12   a pair nesting on a utility pole, NE; others flying around lake; calls.

32) Tree Swallow   20  riparian areas around lake; flying low over lake; calls; attracted to pshing noises;  several probably nesting.

33) Northern Rough-winged Swallow   3  one on barbed-wire fence; flying low over fields, N.

34) Barn Swallow   4  flying over riparian and edge of lake.

35) Oak Titmouse  5  riparian and juniper woodland around lake; calls.

36) Verdin  2  creosote scrub and juniper woodland, N and NW; calls.

37) Bushtit  16  flocks of 3-5 birds in brushy areas around the lake.

38) Bewick's Wren  12  juniper woodland and Great Basin Sage scrub; ruderal; song and calls.

39) House Wren  2  Cottonwoods, W and SW; song.

40) Northern Mockingbird  2  N and SE; song.

41) California Thrasher  4  juniper woodland, W, SW and NE.

42) European Starling  8  pairs flying in riparian and over ruderal fields, N and S.

43) Phainopepla  2   in Fruitless Mulberry trees next to clubhouse  (MSM).

44) Yellow Warbler  20 (m,f)   riparian areas around the lake; calls and song.

45) Yellow-rumped Warbler  1 (f)  in Cottonwood, SE.

46) MacGillivray's Warbler  1  juniper-riparian edge, S calls (MSM).

47) Common Yellowthroat  6  marshland S and N; calls and song.

48) Wilson's Warbler   15  riparian areas around the lake; often with Yellow Warbler; calls and song.

49) Western Tanager  5 (m) riparian areas around the lake.

50) California Towhee  2  juniper woodland, W and SE; calls.

51) Song Sparrow 12  riparian and marsh around the lake; calls and song.

52) Black-headed Grosbeak  1  riparian, S; calls.

53) Red-winged Blackbird   60 (m,f) riparian and marshland around the lake; probably nesting.

54) Tricolored Blackbird  140  (m,f)   large, noisy, shifting flock (120 est.) in SE corner marsh; a few near jetty, including 2 females catching crickets in salt grass (photo). 6 - 10 individuals flying across lake ot Lake Una and to and from NW; song and calls.

                                            Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) female with cricket, Lake Palmdale  May 14, 2010

                                          

                                                                                                                                                                            © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

55) Yellow-headed Blackbird  12 (m,f)   in small marshland patches around the lake; calls.

56) Great-tailed Grackle  30 (m,f)   riparian and marshland edge around the lake; calls.

57) Brown-headed Cowbird  3  (m,f)  riparian and edge, W and S; calls.

58) Bullock's Oriole  1 (f) riparian, W; calls.

59) House Finch  20 (m,f)   all habitats around the lake; calls and song.

60) Lesser Goldfinch  4  riparian and olive trees in caretaker's yard, E and N; calls

61) Lawrence's Goldfinch  4 (m,f)   riparian and juniper woodland, W and SW; calls and song.

62) House Sparrow  10  around clubhouse; calls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       

 

 

 

MAY 10, 2010  (69 Species)

Weather: Fair, 53 to 60F; increasing winds WNW, W, WSW  2-20 mph.

Time: 0713 - 1129 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered:  We walked a counter-clockwise route around the lake, using binoculars, scope and a DSLR camera to survey gardens, picinic areas (Fruitless Mulberry), Creosote Bush - Chaparral, riparian (Willow & Cottonwood), Freshwater Marsh (Cattail and Tule), shorelines (mud, rock and concrete), open water, Joshua Tree - California Juniper Woodland, Salt Grass - Atriplex scrub, roadside ruderal and adjacent suburban yards and fields. Due to the large numbers of swallows and swifts, we spent at least 40 minutes watching the skies over the lake. About 25 fishermen were around the lake; a few were on the lake in small boats. One species was added to the Lake Palmdale bird list: Black Swift, bringing the official total 201 species.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Mallard  2 (m,f) in the middle settling pond with water.

2) Bufflehead  2 (m,f)   a pair near shore, NE.

3) Common Goldeneye  2 (m,f)  open water, NE and NW.

4) Ruddy Duck  6  (m,f alt. plmg.)   resting in the slough, S.

5) California Quail  10 (m,f) pairs in brushy areas around the lake; calls.

6) Eared Grebe   25  (alt. plmg.)  simultaneous diving in tight flock, middle of the lake.

7) Pied-billed Grebe  3  open water and near shore, N, NW; calls.

8) Western Grebe  12  pairs staying close, near shore, NW and W.

9) Clark's Grebe   16  pairs showing courtship displays; open  water and near shore, N, Central and NW.

10) Green Heron   3  NW  and SE.

11) Osprey  1  being harrassed by ravens, flying 60-80 ft. over the lake, E.

12) Red-shouldered Hawk  1 (ad) flying through Cottonwood woodland, SE.

13) Red-tailed Hawk  1 (imm)  flying over yard, S.

14) American Coot  40  scattered around edges of the lake.

15) Killdeer  6  on lawn next to clubhouse; N, E; calls

16) Spotted Sandpiper  4 (alt. plmg.)   on jetty and N shoreline.

17) California Gull  2  flying over lake (MSM).

18) Mourning Dove  12  pairs flying and perched in riparian edge; calls.

19) Vaux's Swift  25  flying 30-100 ft. over lake and adjacent fields, N.

20) Black Swift   1  flying NW  at about 200 ft; mostly gliding; Vaux's Swift beneath for comparisons. A new record for Lake Palmdale.

21) White-throated Swift   1  flying over lake, S   (MSM).

22) Black-chinned Hummingbird  5  (m,f)  Juniper scrub, W and S.

23) Anna's Hummingbird  6  (m,f) riparian and edge, W and SW.

24) Nuttall's Woodpecker   1 (m)  Cottonwoods, S (MSM).

25) Downy Woodpecker  1  Cottonwoods, S (MSM).

26) Western Wood Pewee  3  Cottonwoods, S and NE; calls. First of the season (FOS) for LP.

27) Willow Flycatcher  1  Cottonwoods, S (MSM)  FOS for LP.

28) Pacific Slope Flycatcher   2  Cottonwoods, S (MSM).

29) Black Phoebe  5  sallying from low perches, N, W, S.

30) Say's Phoebe  1  sallying on edge of concrete drainage ditch, S.

31) Ash-throated Flycatcher  3  calls from Cottonwoods, edge, marsh, S and SE.

32) Warbling Vireo  25  foraging in Cottonwoods and Willows around the lake in MSF with Wilson and Yellow Warbler.32)

33) Common Raven  15  flying around the lake; harrassing an osprey in mid-air.

34) Tree Swallow  20  flying low over the lake, marsh and riparian edge.

35) Violet-green Swallow  1  (imm)  flying low over lake, NW (MSM).

36) Northern Rough-winged Swallow  12  flying just above the ground and 30 ft., also over water, N

37) Cliff Swallow  50  fast, back and forth flights, 2-150 ft. over water and land.

38) Barn Swallow  40  fast, back and forth flight low over water; a few at 50 ft.

39) Oak Titmouse  3  calling in Cottonwoods and Juniper Woodland, N, W and S.

40) Verdin  2  active in Juniper woodland, S and SE; calls.

41) Bushtit  25  small flocks of 3-5 birds in brushy areas around the lake; calls.

42) Cactus Wren  1  calls from Joshua Tree - Juniper Woodland, SE.

43) Bewick's Wren  8  singing in Juniper Woodland and rioarian edge.

44) House Wren  2  singing in Cottonwoods, W and SW.

45) Marsh Wren  2  singing in marsh, SE.

46) Northern Mockingbird  2  singing, S (MSM).

47) California Thrasher  1  singing, E (MSM).

48) European Starling  5   a pair flying near clubhouse, N.

49) Cedar Waxwing  2   Cottonwoods S (MSM).

50) Orange-crowned Warbler   2  in Creosote Bush and Willow, N and W.

51) Yellow Warbler  50 (mf)   ubiquitous and abundant in Fruitless Mulberry, Cottonwood, Willow and Creosote Bush calls and song.

52) Yellow-rumped Warbler  6  Cottonwood and Willow, N and S; calls.

53) Common Yellowthroat  5  singing in marsh and riparian around the lake.

54) Wilson's Warbler  50   ubiquitous and abundant in most trees and shrubs; often in msf with Yellow Warbler and Warbling Vireo; calls.

55) Western Tanager  10 (m,f,)   flying between Cottonwoods; one with insect in beak; calls.

56) California Towhee  5  calls from Juniper Woodland, W , SW and S.

57) Song Sparrow  15  singing in riparian and marsh around lake.

58) Lazuli Bunting  1  Cottonwoods, S  FOS (MSM).

59) Black-headed Grosbeak  1  calls in Cottonwood, SE.

60) Red-winged Blackbird  70 (ad, imm)  ubiquitous in marsh and riparian areas; calls and song.

61) Tricolored Blackbird  5  (m,f) singles and triplets, flying and perched, NW and W; jetty colony evidently abandoned.

62) Yellow-headed Blackbird  15  scattered small colonies in patches of marsh, NE, N and NW; calls and song.

63) Great-tailed Grackle  30  displays and calls in marsh and riparian around the lake.

64) Brown-headed Cowbird  6  calls in Willow and Cottonwood, NW, W and SW.

65) Bullock's Oriole  3 (f)  in Cottonwood subcanopy, W and SW; calls.

66) House Finch  10  pairs in riparian and Juniper Woodland around lake; calls and song.

67) Lesser Goldfinch 5 Cottonwoods, S.

68) Lawrence's Goldfinch  6 (m,f)   pairs in Junipers and  Cottonwoods, SW, S, SE; calls and song.

69) House Sparrow  10 (m,f) around clubhouse; visiting feeder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY 3, 2010  (60 Species)

 

Weather: Fair; 55 to 77F; wind  WNW 0-2 mph.

Time: 0715-1130 hrs.

Area Covered: I walked a counter-clockwise route around the lake, surveying all habitats (see previous survey for a complete description). About 50 fishermen were around the lake; a few were scattered over the lake in small boats. The lake surface was glassy throughout most of the survey this morning; light breezes began around 1000 hrs. as air temperatiures steadily increased. Conditions were largely excellent for finding and identifying birds by their vocalizations. The counter-clockwise route allowed me to survey the riparian strip along the west shore before 0900 hrs. instead of the usual 1030-1100 hrs. visit to this area. This area has consistently produced uncommon migrant passerines in the fall months (e.g. Blue-winged Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo). Fewer surveys have been conducted during spring migration compared with fall, thus my interest in focusing on this area during the early morning hours in May. Unfortunately, regular automobile traffic in this area created much noise and dust, making observations of birds difficult at times. One new species found today, Eurasian Collared Dove, bringing the total number of bird species recorded during my surveys of Lake Palmdale to 200.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Mallard  10 (m,f)  a pair was foraging in the middle settling pond, the only one holding a significant  quantity of  water.

2) Cinnamon Teal  2 (m,f)  pair staying close in open water, N (photo)

                                                       

                                                                 Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)  Lake Palmdale  May 3, 2010

                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                               ©   2010 Callyn Yorke

 

3) Bufflehead  3  (m,f) diving, open water, N.

4) Common Goldeneye  2 (m,f) resting on jetty; swimming (photo)

                                                                    Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  Lake Palmdale  May 3, 2010

                                                                   

                                                                                                                                  © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

5) Ruddy Duck  20 (m,f  alt. plm.)   most resting in sheltered coves around the lake.

6) California Quail   10  (m,f) brushy areas around the lake; calls.

7) Pied-billed Grebe  4  near shore, N and SE; calls.

8) Horned Grebe   1 (alt. plm.)   diving, open water NW.

9) Eared Grebe  20  (alt. plm)  pair showing courtship displays (head bobbing and turning); tight flock of 12 in middle of lake.

10) Western Grebe  12   pairs and singles resting near shore,  mostly N and NW.

11) Clark's Grebe  2  pair swimming in NW section.

12) Double-crested Cormorant   1  flying low, W.

13) Snowy Egret  1  flushed from N shore, flew SW, low across lake; call.

14) Osprey  1  soaring on thermals, E.

15) Red-tailed Hawk  1  soaring on thermals and chased by ravens, N.

16) American Coot  60  scattered around the lake nearshore.

17) Killdeer   6   three flying W; one on edge of settling pond; calls.

18) American Avocet   2 (m,f) foraging in shallow water of the middle settling pond, N. First Spring-time record.

19) Spotted Sandpiper  2 (alt. plm.)   running along the water's edge on the jetty, NW.

20) Least Sandpiper  1  preening on the edge of the middle settling pond.

21) California Gull  2  (imm)   in the middle of the lake.

22) Rock Pigeon  1  flying NW.

23) Eurasian Collared Dove   2   calling from trees near the clubhouse. First record for Lake Palmdale.

24) Mourning Dove 10  pairs and singles flying in riparian and open areas; calls.

25) Black-chinned Hummingbird  3 (m)   males singing, flying; Juniper woodland, W and S (photo).

 

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) LP   May 3, 2010                                                                               

                                                                                                  © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

26) Anna's Hummingbird  8   (m,f)  female on nest in Cottonwood, about 8 ft. on horizontal branch in shade., W.

27) Belted Kingfisher   1  flushed from trees, NE.

28) Pacific Slope Flycatcher  1  flycatching in subcanopy of Cottonwood, W.

29) Black Phoebe  6  riparian areas around the lake; calls.

30) Ash-throated Flycatcher  4  riparian and edge of marsh around the lake; calls.

31) Western Scrub-jay  4  juniper woodland, SW , S and SE; calls.

32) Common Raven  12  flying around the lake; calls; pair nesting in Cottonwoods, S.

33) Tree Swallow  20  pairs circling and landing on  Willow and Cottonwood snags and foraging low over lake; calls.

34) Northern Rough-winged Swallow  3  flying low over open fields, N.

35) Oak Titmouse  4  wooded areas around the lake; calls.

36) Verdin  1  singing in Juniper woodland, NW.

37) Bushtit   25   singles and small flocks of 3-5 birds in brushy areas around the lake.

38) Bewick's Wren  10  singing in brushy areas around the lake.

39) House Wren  2  singing in Cottonwoods, W and S.

40) Marsh Wren   3  singing in dry cattails,  SE.

41) Northern Mockingbird   2  singing in Juniper woodland, N and SE.

42) California Thrasher  2   brushy areas, W and SE.

43) European Starling  5  Cottonwoods, S;  NW.

44) Orange-crowned Warbler   2  low shrubs and small trees along edge of riparian, N and NW; calls.

45) Yellow Warbler  10 (m,f)   singing and foraging in Cottonwoods and other trees around the lake.

46) Yellow-rumped Warbler  3 (m,f)   in Aleppo Pines, N; calls.

47) Common Yellow-throat   4 singing in marsh and edge of riparian, NE, SE and S.

48) Wilson's Warbler   6 (m,f)   foraging and singing in Willows and Cottonwoods around the lake.

49) Western Tanager  2 (m)  in Cottonwoods, W and SE.

50) California Towhee   4  calls from Juniper woodland, SE,  W and N.

51) Song Sparrow  10  foraging, singing in marsh and riparian areas around the lake; one fledgling, N riparian edge; calls.

52) Red-winged Blackbird  30 (m,f) pairs defending territories in Cottonwoods and Willows around the lake; female with cricket caught in roadside grass.

53) Tricolored Blackbird  10  (m,f)  no distinct colony found; singles and triplets in flight to and from LP, heading NW; single males perched quietly in Willows, W and SW.

54) Yellow-headed Blackbird  20 (m,f)   small colonies in patches of marsh-riparian along N shore; calls and song.

55) Great-tailed Grackle  30 (m,f)  loose groups centered on displaying males in riparian areas around the lake; calls.

56) Brown-headed Cowbird  10  calls and song; flying in riparian areas around the lake.

57) House Finch  20  (m,f)  singing in wooded areas around the lake; males ranging from yellow to deep red.

58) Lesser Goldfinch  8 (m,f)  loose flocks in Cottonwoods, S and SE; calls and song.

59) Lawrence's Goldfinch  2   Juniper woodland, SE; calls and song.

60) House Sparrow   10  around clubhouse in Mulberry and Olive trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APRIL 30, 2010  (65 Species)

 

                               Lawrence's Goldfinch (Carduelis lawrencei) Lake Palmdale, CA April 30, 2010

                                

                                                                                                                                                     ©  2010 Callyn Yorke

 

Weather:  Fair; 43 to 62F; winds ENE and WNW 2-5 mph. High winds yesterday.

Time:  0701 - 1115 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked the usual clockwise route around the lake, surveying all habitats (see previous description of area for Aptil 23, 2010). About 25 fishermen were on docks and a few were trolling in small motorboats over most of the lake. A maintenance crew on the west side was running a noisy piece of machinery, otherwise conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.

BIRDS NOTED

1) American Wigeon 3 (m,f) near dam, E.

2) Mallard  10 (m,f) near shore around the lake; pairs flying over lake; one in the settling pond, N.

3) Cinnamon Teal  1 (m) dabbling in the settling pond, N.

4) Bufflehead  10  (m,f) open water around the lake.

5) Common Goldeneye (f) resting on W sided of jetty; flushed to lake but returned to the same spot in a few minutes (photo).

                                                                                  Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) Lake Palmdale, April 30, 2010

                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

6) Ruddy Duck  30 (m,f  alt. plmg.)  scattered around the lake in coves and near shore.

7) California Quail  10  (m,f) pairs foraging in brushy areas around the lake.

8) Pied-billed Grebe  4  open water and nearshore, N and NW.

9) Eared Grebe  18 (bsc. and alt. plmg.) open water; small flock (5-7) in middle of lake.

10) Western Grebe  8  near shore, NW; resting and swimming.

11) Clark's Grebe  6  near shore, NW, resting, swimming and displays.

12) Double-crested Cormorant   6 (ad, imm)  on stirring platforms and swimming.

13) Green Heron  1 (ad) flew into Willow, SE slough.

14) Osprey  1  flying 100 ft. over lake, then gradually lower, SE.

15) Red-shouldered Hawk  1 (ad) flying low through Cottonwood area, S.

16) Virginia Rail  1  called once from dried cattails, SE.

17) American Coot  60  scattered around the lake, nearshore.

18) Killdeer  3  a pair in the settling ponds, N; one calling, W.

19) Spotted Sandpiper  5  (4 in alt. plmg); edge of settling pond and jetty (4 individuals fairly close together); foraging along water's edge (photo).

 

     Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) Lake Palmdale, April 30, 2010                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

20) Least Sandpiper  4  running along edge of jetty, NW.

21) Western Sandpiper  2   foraging along W edge of jetty, NW  (photo).

 

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)  Lake Palmdale, April 30, 2010

                                                                                                                                                           © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

22) Mourning Dove  6  singles and pairs, flying in wooded and open areas; calls.

23) Vaux's Swift  2  flying at about 30-40 ft. above trees and lake, SE.

24) Black-chinned Hummingbird  4  (m,f)  in Junipers and Cottonwoods, S; calls. (photo).

25) Anna's Hummingbird 6  (m,f) calling from Cottonwoods and Junipers, E, SE and W.

26) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  calls from SE Cottonwood area.

27) Hairy Woodpecker 1 (f) flew into isolated, mature Cottonwoods near dam, SE. A Spring-time record (see 1986-96 LP Seasonal Bird List).

28) Black Phoebe  10  low perch, sally flycatching below Cottonwoods and edge.

29) Ash-throated Flycatcher  3  one in dry cattails, SE; two others in Juniper-Cottonwood and edge; low perch, sally-flycatching; calls.

30) Western Kingbird  3  flying in and out of a Cottonwood NE; calls.

31) Warbling Vireo  1  flew into cottonwood, N.

32) Western Scrub-jay   4  in Desert Willow area, E;  also Juniper woodland, SE; calls.

33) Common Raven  20  2 pair nesting in Cottonwoods, S; others flying around; calls.

34) Tree Swallow   80 (consev. est.) flying low over lake near shore; several perched on utility lines.

35) Violet-green Swallow  3  perched on utility line and flying over field near clubhouse, N.

36) Northern Rough-winged Swallow  22   flying low over land and water; perched on utility lines and fences (photo).

                                                           Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)  Lake Palmdale, CA

                                                                 

                                                                      April 30, 2010                                                                 ©   2010 Callyn Yorke

 

37) Cliff Swallow  16  flying low over lake and land; perched on utility lines and fences.

38) Barn Swallow  10  flying low over lake and land; perched on utility lines and fences (photo).

                     Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  Lake Palmdale, CA  April 30, 2010

                     

                                                                                                                     © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

39) Oak Titmouse  3  singing in wooded areas, N and SE.

40) Verdin  4  Junioer woodland and Great Basin Sage scrub, SE and NW; calls and song.

41) Bushtit  25  singles, pairs and flocks of 3-5 birds in brushy areas around the lake (photo).

 

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)  Lake Palmdale, April 30, 20

                                                                                                                                   © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

42) Bewick's Wren  5  singing from brushy areas around the lake.

43) House Wren  2   two individuals separated by about 150 yards, singing in Cottonwoods, S.

44) Marsh Wren  3  singing in cattails, SE  and S.

45) Northern Mockingbird  2  singing in Joshua Tree woodland, N and SE.

46) California Thrasher  3  Joshua Tree woodland, S; one foraging on ground in open grassy area around Junipers (photo).

 

          California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) Lake Palmdale   April 30, 2010                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                               ©  2010 Callyn Yorke

 

47) European Starling  5  around buildings, N; also in Cottonwood area, S.

48) Yellow Warbler  (m,f) 25  foraging and singing in Cottonwoods throughout.

49) Yellow-rumped Warbler  30 (m,f)   ubiquitous in shrubs (e.g. hawking insects around Creosote Bushes) and flycatching in trees around lake.

50) Common Yellowthroat  2  singing in cattails, NE and SE.

51) Wilson's Warbler  10 (m,f)   foraging and singing in Cottonwoods and Willows around the lake (photo)

                                                                      Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) Lake Palmdale, April 30, 2010

                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                       © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

52) California Towhee  2  calling in Juniper woodland, SE.

53) Sage Sparrow  1  singing in open sage scrub on hillside next to the Palmdale Park and Rde lot, NW.

54) Song Sparrow  20 singing in riparian and marshland around the lake; one gathering nest material on ground in cattail marsh, W.

55) White-crowned Sparrow  10  calls from NE sage scrub.

56) Red-winged Blackbird  40 (m,f)   calls and song from marshland and riparian edge around the lake.

57) Tricolored Blackbird  5 (m,f)   one male in SE marsh; two males and females shifting around in cattail marsh and Willow snags, E side of jetty,   previous large TCBL colony there appears largely abandoned ; possibly being replaced by RWBL.

58) Yellow-headed Blackbird   20 (m,f) small (3-6 individual) colonies in several small  patches of cattail marshland-riparian on N side; individuals flying over lake all morning; calls and song.

59) Great-tailed Grackle  40  males perched in Willows and Cottonwoods near water around the lake; calls and displays. Some males with very large tails; femaies moving around singly and in small flocks with males. Individual males foraging in a variety of habitats.

60) Brown-headed Cowbird  10  indivindual males singing and calling in Cottonwoods, Willows and Junipers, around the lake.

61) House Finch  10  (m,f) mostly in Cottonwoods; some around clubhouse garden; song and calls.

62) Lesser Goldfinch  (m,f) 8  in Cottonwoods, SE  and S; calls and song.

63) Lawrence's Goldfinch  5  pairs in Juniper woodland (photo) and Cottonwoods; calls and song.

64) American Goldfinch  2  song and calls in Cottonwood, SE.

65) House Sparrow  10  around clubhouse; calls and song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  

 

 

 

April 23, 2010  (76 Species)

Weather: Fair, 46 to 66F; winds WSW 2-7 mph.

Time: 0715 - 1150 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered:  We walked the usual clockwise route around LP, surveying all habitats, including, gardens, ruderal roadsides, concrete settling ponds (4: one with water, others with sediment), Aleppo pines and Fruitless Mulberry trees, Great Basin Sage scrub, Joshua Tree - California Juniper woodland, Willow and Cottonwood Riparian, Fresh-water Marsh, shoreline, open water and aerial. We used binoculars,  35-55x scope and DSLR camera. About 50 fishermen were at the lake, using the docks and trolling with motorboats. Conditions were excellent for identifying bird vocalizations. One Blue-winged Teal was found, establishing a questionable record for this species (see 1986-96 LP Bird Llist).

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  2 (m,f) near dam, E.

2) Mallard  10 (m,f)  edges of lake.

3) Blue-winged Teal  1  (m)  dabbling near Cinnamon Teal in settling pond, N.  Second record of BWTL at LP.

4) Cinnamon Teal 4  (m,f)  dabbling in settling pond, N.

5) Redhead  1  (m)  NW  (MSM).

6) Bufflehead  10 (m,f) diving, open water around the lake.

7) Common Goldeneye  1 (m)  near jetty, NW  (photo).

8) Ruddy Duck  20  (m,f; 90% alt. plumage)  sheltered coves around the lake.

9) California Quail  10  brushy areas around the lake; calls.

10) Pied -billed Grebe  5  open water and nearshore around the lake; calls.

11) Horned Grebe  1 (alt. plumage)  N side near shore (photo).

                           

                             Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) at LP, April 23, 2010

                           

                                                                                          © 2010 Callyn Yorke

12) Eared Grebe  10  (alt and basic plumage) diving in open water throughout the lake.

13) Western Grebe  5  mostly resting nearshore, W and NW.

14) Clark's Grebe  8  pairs staying close near shore (photo).

                             Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) at LP April 23, 2010

                              

                                                                               ©   2010 Callyn Yorke  

 

15) American White Pelican  1 (basic plm)    middle of lake, moving to NW section.

16) Double-crested Cormorant 8 (ad, imm) on platforms and diving.

17 Snowy Egret  1  flushed from N shore; later seen stirring for minnows in riparian-marsh, NW.

18) Green Heron  1  calls from N shore (MSM).

19 Osprey  2  circling above the lake.

20) Sharp-shinned Hawk  1  chasing and attacking a Raven in mid-air over Willow Riparan, NW.

21) Red-shouldered Hawk  1  calls from SE Riparian.

221) Red-tailed Hawk   2 (ad, imm)  flying, NW  (MSM).

23) Virginia Rail  1  calls from dense Cattails,  NE.

24) American Coot  60  scattered around the lake nearshore.

25) Killdeer  2   near settling ponds and on field in NE corner; calls.

26) Spotted Sandpiper  2 on jetty and shore, NW, N.

27) California Gull  10 (ad, imm) flying in to center of lake.

28) Sabine's Gull  1  (ad, trans. alt. plm.)  flying back and forth low near jetty, NW; occasionally dipping onto surface (photos).

 

Sabines Gull (Xema sabini) at  Lake Palmdale, CA   April 23, 2010

   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

29) Rock Pigeon  8  flock flying W, N side.

30) Mourning Dove  8  Riparian and Joshua tree Woodland; calls.

31) Black-chinned Hummingbird  4  (m,f)  Riparian and edge of Joshua Tree Woodland, SE; short, low, back and forth display flights.

32) Anna's Hummingbird  10 (m,f)  Riparian and edges; calls.

33) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  flying over Joshua Tree woodland, SE.

34) Black Phoebe  10  Riparian, edge and open areas around the lake; calls.

35) Say's Phoebe  1  calls, SW open area (MSM).

36) Ash-thoated Flycatcher  5  Riparian; Joshua Tree Woodland and open fields, NE, SE, SW; calls.

37) Cassin's Vireo  1 mid level of Cottonwoods, NE; calls.

38) Western Scrub-Jay  4  Riparian and Joshua Tree-Juniper Woodland, SE and E; calls.

39) Common Raven  20  a pair nesting in Cottonwood, S; others circling edges of lake; one chased and attacked by a SSHK (see above notes).

40) Tree Swallow  30  flying 2-100 ft. over lake; pair nesting in Cottonwood, S; 4-8 pairs in cottonwoods with cavities, SW, NW. Apparently fewer nesting pairs along S shore than found on previous surveys this spring; TRSW possibly competing with nesting European Starlings in same area. Nest boxes placed in this area could help the breeding population of TRSW at LP (photo).

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting at LP,  April 23, 2010

                                                                                                © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

41) Violet Green Swallow   4  Flying 50-100 ft over edges of lake, NE and SW.

42) Northern Rough-winged Swallow  3  on barbed-wire fence and flying over settling ponds, N.

43) Cliff Swallow  5  flying 50-100 ft. over edge of lake, N.

44) Barn Swallow  6  flying 2- 50 ft, over lake, NW and N.

45) Oak Titmouse  4  Riparian and Joshua Tree - Juniper, SE, S , SW; song.

46) Verdin  4  Joshua Tree- Juniper Woodland, SE;  Juniper-Great Basin Sage, W; calls; near flock of Bushtits.

47) Bushtit  20  small (3-5 individuals) , noisy flocks in brushy areas throughout.

48) Bewick's Wren  5  Great Basin Sage, Riparian and ruderal; song.

49) House Wren  4   a pair nesting in Cottonwood cavity, S; calls and song.

50) Marsh Wren  1  edge of marsh, SE corner (MSM).

51) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  1  foraging low in Rabbitbrush, NE corner.

52) Northern Mockingbird  2  N and SE; song.

53) California Thrasher  2  Joshua Tree Woodland, SE corner; song.

54) European Starling   8  a pair feeding young in a Cottonwood cavity, S; others foraging in open fields, NE.

55) Cedar Waxwing  5  flying over Cottonwoods near entrance, N; calls.

56) Orange-crowned Warbler  5  Riparian; mid to low levels; calls.

57) Nashville Warbler  1 (f) Riparian , SW (MSM).

58) ) Yellow Warbler  15 (m,f)   Cottonwoods around lake; calls and song.

59) Yellow-rumped Warbler  30 (1 myrtle, f)   all levels and habitats, esp. Riparian, around lake; calls.

60) MacGillivray's Warbler 1 (?)  calls and moving around in low, well-concealed place in Rabbitbrush -Juniper-Riparian edge, W (CY).

61) Common Yellowthroat  10 (m,f)   Marshland- Riparian edge around the lake; song.

62) Wilson's Warbler  5  (m,f) mid to high levels in Willows and Cottonwoods throughout; song.

63) California Towhee  2  calls from Joshua Tree Woodland, SE and S.

64) Song Sparrow  25  Marshland and Riparian edge throughout; song and calls.

65) White-crowned Sparrow  30 small flocks of 5-8 individuals, brushy areas throughout.

66) Black-headed Grosbeak  calling from Cottonwoods, S.

67) Red-winged Blackbird  40  marshland and Riparian edge throughout; song and calls.

68) Tricolored Blackbird 12  (m,f) marshland with Willows in SE and near jetty (NW); Noticeably fewer birds than previous survey of April 19; calls.

69) Yellow-headed Blackbird  25  two separate, small colonies in dry Cattails, N and NE; males singing; displaying from conspicuous perches.

70) Great-tailed Grackle  40 (m,f)   ubiquitous in Riparian-Marshland around the lake; numbers appear to be increasing; calls, song, displays.

71) Brown-headed Cowbird 8  Riparian, edge, S, SW; calls; 2 males and 2 females in Juniper, W.

72) House Finch  16  Riparian areas throughout; song and calls.

73) Lesser Goldfinch  15 small flocks in Cottonwoods throughout.

74) Lawrence's Goldfinch  6  in Cottonwoods and Junipers, SW and S; calls and song.

75) American Goldfinch  2  flying over dam, E;  flying N on west side; calls.

76) House Sparrow  8  around clubhouse; calls and song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                     

 

 

 

APRIL 19, 2010 (52 Species)

 

  Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) Lake Palmdale, April 19, 2010

            

     ©   2010  Callyn Yorke                                                        Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) LP April 19, 2010                                                                                                                            

Weather: Fair, 60 to 74F; winds WSW 15-25mph, gusting to 35 mph. Whitecaps on lake.

Time: 0713 - 1130 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked slowly, the usual clockwise route around the lake, surveying all available habitats (see previous notes). The lake was stocked with fish three days earlier for the weekend fishing derby. Today (Monday), only about 50 fishermen on docks and trolling in small motorboats on the lake. Steady winds reduced the detectability of birds in most areas, except sheltered coves. Relatively few species of warbler and no orioles or vireos were found. A male Blue-winged Teal was found on a settling pond in the north section, confirming a questionable record of that species for Lake Palmdale (see the 1986-96 Lake Palmdale Bird List). One new species, Brant, was added to the LP bird list, bringing the official total to 199 bird species.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Brant  32,  tight flock in middle of lake @ 0715 hrs. Gone by 0950 hrs. A new species (#200) for the LP bird list.

2) Mallard  10 (m,f) around the perimeter of the lake, near shore; two dabbling in settling pond with water, N.

3) Blue-winged Teal  1 (m) dabbling in a settling pond with water. Confirming a questionable record (1986-96) for this species at LP.

4) Cinnamon Teal  3 (m,f) dabbling near # 2 & 3 in a settling pond.

5) Bufflehead  15 (m,f) scattered over the entire lake, mostly in open water; diving.

6) Ruddy Duck  35  (m,f)  sheltered coves, SE and W; 85% in alternate plumage.

7) California Quail  12  (m,f) several pairs in brushy areas around the lake; calls.

8) Pied-billed Grebe  3  near dam and shore, E, SE and W; calls.

9) Eared Grebe  12  flocks in open water, mid-lake; alternate plumage.

10) Western Grebe  10  swimming, resting; near shore, away from boats; calls.

11) Clark's Grebe  6  swimming near shore and open water; calls.

12) Double-crested Cormorant  20 (ad, imm)   in trees (w) and on floating platforms; swimming in open water.

13) Great Blue Heron  1  flushed from land edge of marsh, SE.

14) American Coot  60  scattered around the lake near shore.

15) Killdeer   4   edge of settling pond; near dam; N boat parking lot; calls.

16) California Gull  35  (ad, imm) resting, mid-lake; flying NW toward Pamdale landfill.

17) Rock Pigeon  1  flying low over field, W.

18) Mourning Dove 8  pairs around the lake in wooded areas; calls.

19) Anna's Hummingbird  4   calls from SE , S and W; in Cottonwoods.

20) Nuttall's Woodpecker   2 (m,f) Joshua-tree and Junipers, SE; calls.

21) Black Phoebe  10  open areas and woodland around the lake.

22) Ash-throated Flycatcher  1   calling from open field, W.

23) Western Scrub-jay   1  on fence oppsite dam in Great Basin Sage scrub.

24) Common Raven   25  circling around lake; perched in Cottonwoods; nesting, S.

25) Tree Swallow  30  pairs nesting in dead Cottonwoods, S (Dock# 44), W and NW; flying low and high over water; calls.

26) Northern Rough-winged Swallow  2-3; flying low near dam; one perched on fence by settling pond.

27) Cliff Swallow  15  flying along shore next to bluff, NW.

28) Oak Titmouse  4  singing from wooded areas around lake.

29) Bushtit   20  several small flocks in shrubs and trees around the lake; one eating small, pale lepidopteran larva.

30) Bewick's Wren  8  calling and singing from brushy areas around lake.

31) House Wren  2  singing in SE and S wooded areas.

32) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   1 calls from Junipers, W.

33) European Starling  10  foraging on ground in open areas; feeding young in Cottonwood cavitity, S.

34) Orange-crowned Warbler   1 flushed from Creosote bushes, roadside, N.'

35) Yellow Warbler  1 (m) singing in Willows at lakeside, W.

36) Yellow-rumped Warbler  30 (1 m Myrtle)  ubiquitous on lawns, in shrubs, trees; calls.

37) Common Yellowthroat  3  singing in marsh, NE, SE and W.

38) California Towhee  2  calls from Juniper scrub, W.

39) Savannah Sparrow   1  call, fly; low grass, NW.

40) Song Sparrow   5  singing from marsh and riparian edge, S, W.

41) Lincoln's Sparrow   1  calls from edge of marsh, SE.

42) White-crowned Sparrow  40  ubiquitous in brushy areas around lake; calls.

43) Red-winged Blackbird  30 (m,f) calls and displays in patches of cattails around lake; a few on edge of TCBL colony near jetty, NW.

44) Tricolored Blackbird  50 (conserv. est.) most in a restless colony amongst dry cattails, E side of jetty, NW section of LP; birds shifting within cattails, seemingly agitated by gusty winds; flying S/W  to and from the site, repectively (photo); one male pursuing a raven in flight; colony highly vocal; many males displaying; a few antagonistic encounters with displacements of a few yards. About 10 male RWBL maintaining territories on the W edge of the predominately TCBL colony.

45) Yellow-headed Blackbird  12 (m) vocalizing and maintaining territories in small patch of dry cattails beneath Cottonwoods,, NE (photo). Four or five male GTGR displaying in nearby willows.

46) Brewer's Blackbird   1 (m)  on tall Willow, SE.

47) Great-tailed Grackle   30 (m,f)   marshy, riparian areas around the lake; vocalizations and displays.

48) Brown-headed Cowbird  2 (m) perched in tall Willows, SE;  calls from W edge of homestead.

49) House Finch  20  ubiquitous in brushy and wooded areas around the lake; calls and song.

50) Lesser Goldfinch   2  calls from Cottonwoods, S.

51) Lawrence's Goldfinch  3   fly/calls from Cottonwoods, SW.

52) House Sparrow  15  mostly around clubhouse and picnic area, N.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 29, 2010  (37 Species)

Weather: Fair, 57F to 72F; winds 0-3 mph.

Time:  0830 - 1100 hrs.

Observers: Ethan Yorke and I.

Area Covered:  We walked the usual clockwise route around the lake surveying all habitats (see previous survey descriptions). About 50 fishermen around the lake, on docks and trolling in small motorboats. Conditions were good for identifying bird vocalizations.

 

   Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Lake Palmdale, March 29, 2010          ©   2010 Callyn Yorke                                                                     

 

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall 2 (m,f) near dam.

2) Mallard 6 (m,f)   near dam and NW shore; settling pond, N.

3) Cinnamon Teal  2  (m,f) near dam.

4) Bufflehead  30 (m,f) diving in open water throughout.

5) Ruddy Duck   60 (40% in alt. plumage) mostly in protected coves and S slough.

6) Califronia Quail  4  NE and NW; calls.

7) Pied-billed Grebe  3  S and N.

8) Eared Grebe  30 (alt. plumage)  open water throughout.

9) Clark's Grebe  8  open water; pairs together.

10) Western Grebe  4  W side,  mostly sleeping.

11) Double-crested Cormorant  14  open water, on floating stirrer platforms.

12) Osprey   1  on utility pole, N; calls.

13) Red-tailed Hawk  1  utility pole 10th St. West and Ave. S.

14) Swainson's Hawk  1 flying W, low along hillsides; seen with scope (second record for LP).

15) American Coot  70  scattered around the lake's edges.

16) California Gull  20 (ad, imm)   open water, mid-lake.

17) Rock Pigeon  2  N side.

18) Mourning Dove  4  N and S riparian.

19) Anna's Hummingbird   8  (m)  singing from Cottonwoods and Junipers.

20) Black Phoebe  4 edges of lake; calls

21) Common Raven   10  flying, calls; one ad. on nest in Cottonwood, S; pair courting on utility pole.

22) Tree Swallow  25   nesting in Cottonwoods and low forays over riparian and lake; calls.

23) Oak Titmouse   6  calls and song, S and SW.

24) Bushtit   20  active in shrubs and low branches of Cottonwoods throughout.

25) Bewick's Wren  6 singing throughout.

26) House Wren  3  singing in Cottonwoods, S and SW.

27) California Thrasher  1  Great Basin Sage scrub, NE.

28) European Starling   6  near caretaker's house, N.

29) Yellow-rumped Warbler  20  ubiquitous in trees and shrubs.

30) Common Yellowthroat   3  singing in marsh and riparian, N and SE.

31) Song Sparrow   20  singing in marsh and riparian throughout.

32) White-crowned Sparrow  6  shrubs on N side.

33) Red-winged Blackbird     80 (m,f) singing and displaying thoughout riparian and marshes (photo).

34) Brewer's Blackbird  3  (m,f) flying over the lake; calls.

35) Great-tailed Grackle  35  calls and song, displays in riparian and marshland throughout.

36) House Finch   10  singing  around the clubhouse and SE.

37) House Sparrow   8  active around the clubhouse, N.

 

 

 

 

MARCH 22, 2010  (45 Species)

 

Weather: Fair, 50F to 72F; NNW wind 0-3 mph.

Time: 0830 - 1100 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked the usual, clockwise route around the lake, surveying gardens, picnic areas, exotic deciduous trees, Aleppo pines, riparian (Salix & Populus), marshland,  rocky shoreline, open water, Joshua Tree-Juniper woodland, saltbush scrub (Atriplex & Chrysothamnus), alkali meadow, Great Basin Sage and Creosote Bush scrub. Many Cottonwoods had catkin inflorescences attracting birds; most with budding leaves and stems. About 100 people fishing on-shore and trolling in small motorboats during the survey. Conditions were good for finding birds; many waterbirds were avoiding fishermen and boats by staying near the dam (off-limits) and in the quiet coves around the lake.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  1 (m) foraging near the dam.

2) Mallard  4  (m,f)  N and E edge of lake.

3) Lesser Scaup  1 (m) diving near the dam.

4) Bufflehead  25 (m,f)  diving in open water throughout.

5) Ruddy Duck  50  (m,f)  resting in coves and margins of the lake; 15% males  in alternate plumage.

6) California Quail    4  (m,f)  NE and NW; calls.

7) Pied-billed Grebe  10  open water and edges of the lake.

8) Horned Grebe  3  near dam.

9) Eared Grebe  40  open water and edges of lake; one group with several in alternate plumage.

10) Western Grebe  6  periphery of the lake; resting.

11) Clark's Grebe  5  SE section of the lake; calls and pairs showing courtship behavior (head turning, preening).

12) Double-crested Cormorant   40  open water, resting on stirriing platforms; diving; a few in W trees.

13) Great Blue Heron  2  on dam.

14) Osprey  1  on dam.

15) Red-shouldered Hawk  1  calls from S Cottonwoods.

16) American Coot  150  scattered around the periphery of the lake.

17) Killdeer   3   settling ponds, N; calls.

18) California Gull    50 (ad, imm)   open water, mid-lake; many more flying in, drinking, and joining the flock at around 1040 hrs.

19) Rock Pigeon 2  embankment of settling ponds, N.

20) Mourning Dove  4  S and SW riparian.

21) Anna's Hummingbird  2 (m,f) calls from exposed perch in Cottonwoods; a female with nest material and placing it on horizontal branch,S, W..

22) Black Phoebe  10  sally-flycatching from low perches around the lake; calls.

23) Common Raven  10  flying over the lake; calls.

24) Tree Swallow   30  several pairs in Cottonwoods , S and NW; one individual attending hole in branch at about 15 ft.; calls and low flights over lake.

25) Barn Swallow   1   flying low, NEC.

26) Oak Titmouse  4  calls in riparian areas.

27) Bushtit   20  gasrdens, riparian, sage scrub; calls and small foraging flocks.

28) Bewick's Wren  6  singing and calling in brushy areas throughout.

29) House Wren  2  singing in riparian strip, S and SW.

30) Northern Mockingbird  3  singing in yards and gardens; also N near clubhouse.

31) California Thrasher  2  singing from GBS scrub, NE;  Juniper scrub, S.

32) European Starling 2  gardens and ruderal areas, N.

33) Yellow-rumped Warbler  30  ubiquitous; calls.

34) Common Yellowthroat  2  calls and song, NE  and SE.

35) California Towhee  2   ruderal Juniper edge, NW; calls.

36) Song Sparrow   25 singing in marsh and riparian throughout.

37) White-crowned Sparrow  30  brushy areas throughout; calls.

38) Red-winged Blackbird  120  singing and displaying in marsh and riparian throughout.

39) Brewer's Blackbird  2  flying over; calls.

40) Great-tailed Grackle  40 (mostly m's)    singing and displaying throughout.

41) Brown-headed Cowbird  1 (m) singing from Juniper, N (photo).

                                                        

                                                      Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) at Lake Palmdale, CA

                                                       

                                                                                                              © March 22, 2010   Callyn Yorke

42) House Finch  5  singing near clubhouse, N.

43) Lesser Goldfinch   1  cottonwoods, SE.

44) American Goldfinch  1-3  cottonwoods, SE.

45) House Sparrow  10  around clubhouse, N.

 

 

 

MARCH 12, 2010   (54 Species)

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) at Lake Palmdale, March 12, 2010

                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

Weather:  Fair, 46F to 62F; winds WSW 0-5 mph.

Time:  0732 - 1120 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked the usual clockwise route around the lake, surveying all habitats (see previous survey notes), using a 10x42 binocular, 35-55x scope and DSLR camera. I estimated at least 100 fishermen on the shorelines, docks and in small boats at LP during the survey. The lake was stocked with fish yesterday; the second time in about 3 weeks (see previous notes). Landbird diversity and abundance seemed to be relatively high during the survey compared with my previous two surveys. Many warblers, finches and blackbirds were feeding on inflorescences of Cottonwoods, which largely remain leafless. Most waterbirds were restricted to the edges of the lake. Conditions were excellent for detecting bird vocalizations.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  4 (m,f) dabbling near the edge of the dam, E.

2) Mallard  6 (m,f) north edge of settling pond; by the dam, E; one (f) flushed from NW marsh-riparian, apparently released by a coyote startled by my approach. This dense willow-marsh was quiet, but many fishermen were on the nearby jetty.

3) Northern Shoveler   3 (m,f)   open water, E.

4) Lesser Scaup  3 (m.f) open water, E.

5) Greater Scaup  1 (f) large, broad bill seen clearly with the scope at a distance of about 50 yards, diving near the dam.

6) Bufflehead  25 (m,f) swimming and diving throughout.

7) Hooded Merganser  1 (f)  N cove, staying close to shore (same place where a female was found on the December 14, 2009 survey).

8) Ruddy Duck  60  (m,f) about 1% of males in breeding plumage; one in SEC slough displaying to sleeping females (see photo above).

9) California Quail  12 (two coveys)   (m,f) sage scrub, NE and in S concrete culvert.

10) Pied-billed Grebe  4  4  quiet backwaters, E and S.

11) Horned Grebe  5  open water, E-central. Group staying together.

12) Eared Grebe  25  scattered around the lake and in a tight group of  10,  open water, central.

13) Clark's Grebe  3  open water,  E; staying close; calls.

14) Western Grebe  3  open water  E and SE; calls.

15) Double-crested Cormorant  35 (ad, imm)  ubiquitous, but most numerous near dam, E; diving, swimming and flying low over lake.

16) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (imm) gaining altitude over Juniper scrub, W.

17) Osprey  1  on pole,  N; calls.

18) American Coot  60  ubiquitous around margins of the lake; calls.

19) Killdeer  3  in and around settling ponds, N; 2 in fenced lot with a gravel substrate NE; calls.

20) Ring-billed Gull  3  (ad) flying E over dam.

21) California Gull   12 (ad, imm)  resting in middle of lake; flying NW.

22) Mourning Dove  6  flushed from trees, N and W.

23) Roadrunner  1  flushed from large California Juniper, then ran along dirt road, NW; some lizard (Uta stansburiana) activity nearby.

24) Anna's Hummingbird  2  (m)  E and N; calls from exposed perch.

25) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  calls, Cottonwoods, NE.

26) Northern Flicker   1  SE  in Cottonwoods; calls.

27) Black Phoebe   10  ubiquitous around lake; calls.

28) Western Scrub Jay  1  calls from large pines around Lake Una, E.

29) Common Raven  16  circling high above the N side of the lake; pairs flying over riparian areas; calls.

30) Horned Lark  2  flying, calls, open GB sage scrub adjacent to dam, E.

31) Tree Swallow  25 (ad)  height range 2-150 ft., back and forth over margins and central lake; calls; some landing in willows.

32) Northern Rough-winged Swallow   2  E  flying low over water and shoreline.

33) Barn Swallow  2  NE   height range  10 -50 ft, over central and E lake.

34) Oak Titmouse  8  calling throughout riparian and juniper areas.

35) Verdin  2 (m,f)  NW fence line; calls.

36) Bushtit  20  small, noisy flocks, E and S.

37) Bewick's Wren  12  brushy areas away from the lake; song and calls.

38) House Wren  1  singing in Cottonwoods, S.

39) Marsh Wren  2   calls and partial song, marsh, S.

40) Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2  in  Aleppo pines and Cottonwoods, NE and SE; calls.

41) Northern Mockingbird  3  2 on junipers near clubhouse; 1 singing NW.

42) European Starling  6  caretaker's yard, N; calls and song.

43) Orange-crowned Warbler  5  foraging in Cottonwood flowers; E, SE, W; song.

44) Yellow-rumped Warbler   70  ubiquitous; on ground, in shrubs and trees; song and calls.

45) Common Yellowthroat  4  NE, S, W; singing in marsh-riparian edge.

46) Phainopepla   2  W  (m & ?) top of Cottonwood (m); one hidden from view nearby, giving single-note calls.

47) California Towhee  4  juniper scrub, W; calls.

48) Song Sparrow  25  singing throughout marsh and riparian areas.

49) White-crowned Sparrow  20  brushy areas throughout; calls.

50) Red-winged Blackbird  30  ubiquitous in riparian-marsh areas; song, calls & displays;  (f) feeding on Cottonwood flowers.

51) Great-tailed Grackle  12 (m,f)  riparian areas, SE, S, SW; calls and song.

52) House Finch  10 (m,f)   mostly in Cottonwoods, foraging on flowers; calls, song.

53) American Goldfinch  8  in Cottonwoods, foraging on flowers; calls and song.

54) House Sparrow  10  around clubhouse shrubs and trees; calls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 8, 2010  (53 Species)

                          

                              Tree Swallow ( Tachycineta bicolor) at Lake Palmdale

                         

                                                                        © 2010 Callyn Yorke

Weather:  Partly cloudy, 51 to 56F; WSW winds 5-15 mph.

Time: 0747 - 1130 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked the usual clockwise route around the entire lake, using a 10x42 binocular, 35-55x scope and DSLR camera. Habitats surveyed included, picnic areas, yards and gardens, ornamental trees (e.g. fruitless Mulberry and Olive), shrubs (e.g. Pyracantha), ruderal fields and roadsides, Aleppo Pines, riparian Cottonwood-Willow, Great Basin Sage, Joshua Tree - California Juniper woodland, Creosote Bush scrub, settling ponds, shoreline, marsh, open water and aerial. I scoped the lake from several locations, surveying coves and floating agitators. About 50 fishermen ( only a fraction of the number here during the previous survey) around the lake and trolling in small motorboats. Conditions were generally good for detecting bird vocalizations.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  2   (m,f)  NW near marsh.

2) Mallard  6  (m,f) edges of lake and flooded area on E side of dam.

3) Northern Shoveler  6 (5 m, 1 f)  NW corner.

4) Bufflehead  40  (m,f) ubiquitous; diving & displays.

5) Common Goldeneye  1 (f)  NE diving near dam.

6) Ruddy Duck  85 (some m's with faint bluish bills) mostly in slough (S) and in protected coves.

7) California Quail  2 (m,f) NW corner.

8) Pied-billed Grebe  2  S slough.

9) Horned Grebe  1  E near dam (early alt. plumage).

10) Eared Grebe  25  open water; tight groups swimming.

11) Western Grebe  2   sleeping near marsh, NW; calls.

12) Double-crested Cormorant  5  on floating agitator, mid-lake.

13) Great Blue Heron  1   calls from N shore.

14) Snowy Egret  1  flying, NE corner.

15) Osprey  1  low perch in willow over water, NW; calls.

16) Red-shouldered Hawk   1  calling from tall Cottonwoods, S.

17) Red-tailed Hawk  1 (imm) flying low over field, W.

18) American Coot  75   ubiquitous around edges of lake.

19) Killdeer  2   1 calling from settling ponds;  one in wet drainage ditch, W.

20) California Gull  20 (mostly ads.)   flying and resting on lake.

21) Mourning Dove  1 foraging on ground, NE.

22) Anna's Hummingbird   3 (m)  in Cottonwoods and tall shrubs; calls.

23) Costa's Hummingbird  1 (m) E fenceline adjacent to Cottonwood and Great Basin sage scrub.

24) Belted Kingfisher  1  flusheded from Willows, NE corner.

25) Nuttall's Woodpecker   1 (m) flew into Cottonwood, E.

26) Northern Flicker  1  flying between Cottonwoods, S; calls.

27) Black Phoebe  10  ubiquitous around the lake; calls.

28) Common Raven  12  pairs flying over edges of lake; calls.

29) Tree Swallow  150  ubiquitous: flying low over lake and marsh (photo).

30) Northern Rough-winged Swallow  30  flying low over lake and land, NE, S and NW.

31) Cliff Swallow  2   20 - 50 ft. over marsh and lake

32) Barn Swallow  3  15- 35 ft. over marsh and lake; calls.

33) Oak Titmouse   8  ubiquitous in wooded areas around the lake (photo).

Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) Lake Palmdale, CA               © 2010 Callyn Yorke

 

34) Bushtit    30  ubiquitous, noisy flocks in trees and shrubs around the lake; calls.

35) Bewick's Wren  6  singing in dense shrubs around the lake.

36) Marsh Wren   1   calls from marsh next to jetty, NW.

37) Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1  calls from pines, N.

38) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   1  top of a Great Basin Sage, NE; responded to pshhing.

39) Hernit Thrush  2  together in tall California Juniper, W.

40) California Thrasher  2    pair staying close on fence line in GB sage, W; song.

41) European Starling  10  mostly in trees around caretaker's house; calls.

42) American Pipit   1  calls from dam, E.

43) Orange-crowned Warbler  1  singing in dense Calif. Juniper, W.

44) Yellow-rumped Warbler   60 (m,f) (including 1 Myrtle)  ubiquitous, on ground, in shrubs and trees; calls.

45) California Towhee  1   Cottonwood - Juniper - GB sage, NW corner.

46) Savannah Sparrow  1 calls from N edge of jetty, NW.

47) Song Sparrow  15  singing in Cottonwoods, shrubs and marshland throughout.

48) White-crowned Sparrow  25  ubiquitous in brushy areas around lake.

49) Red-winged Blackbird  20 (m,f)   singing in marshland and riparian throughout.

50) Great-tailed Grackle  12 (m,f)   mostly on edge of S slough; calls and song.

51) House Finch  5  junipers and garden near clubhouse; calls.

52) American Goldfinch  2  foraging on Cottonwood inflorescence, N.

53) House Sparrow  10 (m,f) garden around clubhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 26, 2010 (44 Species)

Weather:  Overcast to partly cloudy; 46 to 60F; winds NE 0-3 mph.

Time: 0721 - 1100 hrs.

Observers: Charles Hood and I.

Area Covered:  We walked the usual clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying the following zones: gardens, picnic areas,  ornamental deciduous and evergreen trees, Great Basin sage, Joshua Tree - California Juniper, Creosote bush, Willow-Cottonwood riparian, ruderal fields and roadways, ditches and drainage culverts, fresh-water marsh, settling ponds, shoreline, open water and aerial. The lake had been recently stocked with fish (catfish and trout), attracting scores of fishermen, distributed around the shoreline, on docks and in small motorboats on the lake. At least one fisherman we met had caught the legal limit of fish by mid-morning (photo). This was the first survey completed at LP with a high density of people present, including regular automobile traffic between the clubhouse and the fishing docks. Waterbirds were generally confined to the central lake and in protected coves, NW and SE. Relatively few species of waterfowl were found during the survey. Birds of prey were scarce; small landbirds appeared relatively unaffected by human activities.

                                              

                                                                     AVC  Professor William Vaughn with his catch at LP.                                                

                                                                   

                                                                                                                  © 2010 Callyn Yorke

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  2   (m,f) flying low over lake, E.

2) Mallard  4  (m,f) pair in settling pond; one pair NW.

3) Lesser Scaup   1 (m) near dam.

4) Common Goldeneye   1 (m)  near shore, N.

5) Bufflehead  50 (m,f)  diving in central lake.

6) Ruddy Duck  80 (m,f)   95% non-breeding plumage;   mostly in protected coves, SE and NW.

7) California Quail  4  calls from  N and NW sage scrub.

8) Pied-billed Grebe  1   SE cove.

9) Horned Grebe  2  open water, central lake.

10) Eared Grebe  20  open water, central lake.

11) Clark's Grebe  2  open water, central lake; calls.

12) Double-crested Cormorant  20   most resting on platforms in central lake.

13) Great Blue Heron   1  flushed from N and S shore.

14) Osprey   1   with fish in talons; flying and perched on utility pole, N shore; calls.

15) American Coot   100  scattered around the shorelines and shallows.

16) Killdeer   3   in and around the settling ponds, N.

17) California Gull   20   resting in the central lake.

18) Rock Pigeon   3   flying, NW.

19) Mourning Dove   4  two pair; NE and SW.

20) Anna's Hummingbird    5   in Cottonwoods and tall shrubs throughout; calls.

21) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  S  Cottonwoods; calls.

22) Northern Flicker   2   S Cottonwoods; calls.

23) Black Phoebe   4   E and SE; calls.

24) Common Raven   8   circling 200 ft. + north of the lake.

25) Tree Swallow   25-35 (est.) foraging back and forth, 1-150 ft. over the lake.

26) Oak Titmouse    2   in Cottonwoods, S and SW; calls.

27) Bushtit   10- 20   flocks in shrubs and trees around the lake; calls.

28) Bewick's Wren   5   ruderal and sage scrub, W  singing.

29) Marsh Wren   1   marsh next to jetty; calls.

30) Northern Mockingbird   2   N and NW; singing.

31) California Thrasher   2   NE  and SW; singing.

32) European Starling   10   trees and utility lines in caretaker's yard; calls.

33) American Pipit   1  calls,  N.

34) Yellow-rumped Warbler   50  ground, shrubs and trees throughout; calls.

35) California Towhee  1   calls from brushy area, SW.

36) Song Sparrow    10   marsh and lakeside riparian; song and calls.

37) Lincoln's Sparrow   1   S  lakeside ruderal; calls.

38) White-crowned Sparrow  30   brushy and ruderal areas throughout; calls and song.

39) Dark-eyed Junco   mature pines, N; song.

40) Red-winged Blackbird   20   marsh and riparian throughout; calls and song.

41) Great-tailed Grackle  (m,f)  marsh and riparian, S; songs and calls.

42) House Finch  10  ruderal areas N, E and S.

43) Lesser Goldfinch   3   trees near clubhouse; calls.

44) House Sparrow   20 picinic area and gardens around clubhouse.

 

 

 

                                            

 

 

February 3, 2010  (51 Species)

Weather: Fair. 45 to 62F; WNW winds 0-3 mph.

Time: 0900 - 1205 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked the standard clockwise survey route around the entire lake using a 10x 42 binocular, 35-55x scope and DSLR camera. Traffic and noise was light around the lake; only a few recreationists and a maintenance crew on the S side. The lake surface was calm; conditions were excellent for finding birds. Other wildlife noted: Raccoon (tracks in muddy canal, SE); Bat (large, brown sp. flying about 40 ft above the S slough, back and forth below tree swallows). California Ground Squirrel  2, N and NE. One new record added to the Lake Palmdale Bird List, COMMON GOLDENEYE, bringing the total to 198 species.

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  (m,f) 4  NE corner near willows.

2) American Wigeon  2 (m,f) NE corner near dam.

3) Mallard  4 (m,f)   SE and NW.

4) Northern Shoveler   3  (m)   resting on lake, NE corner near willows.

5) Green-winged Teal  2  (m)  NE corner near willows.

6) Lesser Scaup  10 (m,f) open water, N.

7) Common Goldeneye  (m,f)  separated by 200 yards : NE and NW; m preening and f diving (NW). A new record for LP.

8) Bufflehead  40  (m,f) scattered over the entire lake; diving.

9) Ruddy Duck  120   resting in loose flocks around edges of the lake.

10) Pied-billed Grebe  10  open water and slough.

11) Eared Grebe  60  scattered over the entire lake; one flock of about 20 in the middle.

12) Double-crested Cormorant  36 (80% ad)   mostly resting on floating platforms.

13) Great Blue Heron  2  N and SE; tules and shoreline.

14) Osprey  1  on utility pole, NE; calls, fly.

15) Sharp-shinned Hawk  1  circling on thermals to about 100 ft., N. (same location and behavior noted on a previous survey).

16) Red-shouldered Hawk  2 (ad) perched low in willows, W; calls.

17) Red-tailed Hawk 3  (ad, imm) on utility pole and soaring, NE and NW.

18) American Coot  120  around edges of lake.

19) Killdeer   1  calls from N settling ponds.

20) Least Sandpiper  2  flushed from jetty; calls.

21) California Gull 26  (90% ad) resting in middle of lake.

22) Rock Pigeon  2   flying, NW.

23) Anna's Hummingbird   2   SE and in Mulberry trees next to clubhouse; calls.

24) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  (f) foraging on Cottonwood, W; calls.

25) Downy Woodpecker   1  calls from NW woods (unseen).

26) Northern Flicker  3   calls, flying; perched in Cottonwood (photo).

27) Black Phoebe  4   low perch; calls; top of Cottonwood, SE, S.

28) Western Scrub Jay  2  calls, N and S.

29) Common Raven  8   flying, calls; in Cottonwoods.

30) Tree Swallow  10   foraging 50 to 200 ft. above S and NW section of lake.

31) Oak Titmouse  8   singing from Cottonwoods, willows and caretaker's yard.

32) Bushtit  12   two flocks; SE  and  NW; canopy of Cottonwoods; calls.

33) Cactus Wren   1  singing from adjacent yard, S.

34) Bewick's Wren   3  singing from brushy areas, N,  SE and W.

35) Marsh Wren  1   calls from cattails, S.

36) Ruby-crowned Kinglet  4  in Cottonwoods,  S. SW, W.

37) Northern Mockingbird  1   hedge along entry road (seen as I was driving out).

38) California Thrasher   3   singing from GB sage patch (NE) and Joshua Tree- Juniper , S, W.

39) European Starling  10  around caretakers house; calls and imitative songs.

40) American Pipit  2    flushed from muddy roadway on E side of dam; fly, call, perched on boulder.

41) Phainopepla  1 (f) calling on top of Cottonwood with mistletoe, W (photo).

                                            

                                                Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) Lake Palmdale, CA                    ©  2010 Callyn Yorke              

                                              

42) Yellow-rumped Warbler 30 (1 Myrtle) ubiquitous; foraging in trees, shrubs and on ground in picnic area; calls.

43) Common Yellowthroat  5   riparian, cattails, S, SW, NW; calls.

44) California Towhee  1   calls from Juniper scrub, W.

45) Song sparrow   10   calls and song; riparian and brushy edge.

46) White-crowned Sparrow  20  brushy edge, NE, SE, S and NW; calls.

47) Dark-eyed Junco   1  flushed into pines, NE; calls.

48) Red-winged Blackbird  10 (m)   singing and calls; flighty; wooded areas, SE, SW and W.

49) Great-tailed Grackle  2  (m) song and calls from well-concealed spot in cattails next to slough, S.

50) House Finch  5   calls and song around caretaker's yard.

51) House Sparrow  10  calls around caretaker's yard and picnic area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 23, 2010  (48 Species)

Weather: Fair, 41 to 47F; winds S, 2-7 mph. This is the first day in about a week without overcast skies and precipitation; snow on surrounding foothills and mts (photo).

Time: 0828-1120 hrs.

Area Covered:  I walked the usual clockwise route around the entire lake, surveying all habitats with a 10x42 binocular, scope and DSLR camera. A few folks were working on docks; a maintenance crew was clearing debris from the roadway. The path along the eastern fenceline was blocked by flooding; most of the low-lying areas were muddy.                        Greater Roadrunner (photo) was added to the official Lake Palmdale bird list, bringing the total to 197 Species.

Lake Palmdale, viewing W from the SE; snow line at about 3,500 ft.           January 23, 2010              © 2010 Callyn Yorke                                            

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall 2 (m,f) N and NW. flighty.

2) Mallard  2  (m,f) NW; flighty.

3) Northern Shoveler   8 (m,f):  swimming  close to cattails, NW.

4) Ring-necked Duck  2 (m,f) open water, SE.

5) Lesser Scaup  8  (m,f) resting, open water.

6) Bufflehead  15 (m,f)  open water and edges.

7) Hooded Merganser  1 (imm. m) preening, SE.

8) Ruddy Duck   70  resting, edges and slough.

9) Common Loon  1  open water.

10) Pied-billed Grebe 6  edges of lake.

11) Horned Grebe   4  diving, open water.

12) Eared Grebe  25   resting, preening and diving, open water and edges.

13) Double-crested Cormorant  25   resting on floating platforms; diving.

14) Great Blue Heron  3  flushed from edges of lake.

15) Osprey  2   calls from shoreline trees, W; flying.

16) Red-shouldered Hawk   2   calls from SE cottonwoods.

17) Red-tailed Hawk   3   (ad, imm; 1dark morph), trees and utility poles; flying, calls when chased by raven.

18) Northern Harrier   1 (f)  NW  flying low over field.

19) American Coot   300  ubiquitous around edges.

20) Killdeer   7   resting in silt-laden settling pond, NE.

21) California Gull   54 (ad, imm.) resting, mid-lake.

22) Rock Dove  1  on utility pole, N.

23) Mourning Dove  3   on utility wire; flying, NE.

24) Greater Roadrunner 1  on ground, running between creosote bushes, near clubhouse, N. A new record for Lake Palmdale (photo).

    Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)  at Lake Palmdale,   January 23, 2010.      ©  2010 Callyn Yorke                                       

25) Nuttall's Woodpecker  2 (m)  on willows and cottonwoods, SE and S; calls.

26) Northern Flicker  1   calls from cottonwoods, S.

27) Black Phoebe  2   low, sallys; SE and NW.

28) Say's Phoebe  2   sallys from ground and low perches;  jetty and sage scrub, NW.

29) Common Raven   10   flying, perched on utility poles; calls.

30) Tree Swallow   2  flying low over water near cattails and willows, SW.

31) Oak Titmouse   3  calls from trees, N; SE   and SW.

32) Bushtit   3   in shrubs and trees near clubhouse.

33) Bewick's Wren   2   singing from shrubs, NE  and W.

34) Marsh Wren   1  calling (briefly) from cattails near jetty, SW.

35) Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1  low in junipers, W.

36) Northern Mockingbird   1  creosote bush scrub, N.

37) California Thrasher   2   1 on fence along 5th St. E entrance;  1 singing in Great Basin Sage, NE.

38) European Starling  18  mostly in trees around caretakers house; calls and song.

39) American Pipit  3   calls in flight, SE.

40) Phainopepla   1   calls from trees near caretaker's house (unseen).

41) Yellow-rumped Warbler    20  ubiquitous, foraging on lawns, on jetty (sally-gleaning from and on floating vegetation); shrubs and trees; calls.

42) Common Yellowthroat   4   calls from cattails, S, SW.

43) Savannah Sparrow   2  on weedy edge of jetty; calls.

44) Song Sparrow  5   calls and song from cattails and willows.

45) White-crowned Sparrow   30   ubiquitous in brushy areas.

46) Red-winged Blackbird  4 (m)  singing from willows and cattails, SE and W.

47) Great-tailed Grackle   1  well concealed in cattails; calls (initially mistaken for a rail), S.

48) House Sparrow  8  shrubs around clubhouse.

 

 

 

                                                 

 

 

January 8, 2010  (55 Species)

Weather: Fair, 43 to 58F. Winds WNW 2-5 mph.

Time:  0719-1100 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered:  The usual clockwise walking route around the lake, beginning and ending at the main gate. All habitats surveyed (see previous survey notes below) using binoculars an a 35-55x scope. No fishermen on the lake; a couple of people repairing their docks; ground maintenance crews on the west end. Conditions were good for detecting bird vocalizations. Survey Total = 55 Species.

                          BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  6  (m,f) margins of the lake.

2) Mallard  10 (m,f) mostly N and W sides.

3) Northern Shoveler  3   (m,f)  NW.

4) Green-winged Teal  3 (f)   SE corner.

5) Canvasback  3  (m,f)  NW.

6) Redhead   3   flying E  (MSM).

7) Lesser Scaup   35 m,f)   N-central.

8) Bufflehead  10 (m,f)

9) Common Merganser   8  (f)  tight flock on water and in flight, NW.

10) Ruddy Duck   65  (m,f) all margins of the lake.

11) California Quail   2   5th St. entrance, W side.

12) Common Loon  1  E side.

13)  Pied-billed Grebe  25   groups of 3-5; open water and margins.

14) Horned Grebe  1  open water, diving, W.

15) Eared Grebe  20  open water and margins.

16) Western Grebe  2   resting, W.

17) Double-crested Cormorant    36   on floating agitator platforms and in trees, open water and W.

18) Great Blue Heron  4  tules and trees, margins of lake.

19) Osprey  1   perched on low branch of willow overhanging the water (same place last two surveys), NEC.

20) Sharp-shinned Hawk   1   circling  NWC.

21) Red-shouldered Hawk   3  (ad, imm)   Cottonwoods in S and SEC.

22) Red-tailed Hawk  7  (ad, imm; 1 dark morph)  in trees, on utility poles, soaring; pair fighting briefly over a fresh, almost completely stripped coot carcass on the jetty.

23) Northern Harrier  1 (f)  flying low over cattails, SE and S.

24) American Coot   200 (conserv. est.)  ubiquitous around margins of lake.

25) Killdeer  5   in the NE sedimentation basin.

26) California Gull  25 (90% ad); mostly resting in the middle of the lake; a few flying in from the NW.

27) Rock Pigeon  7   utility lines adjacent to 5th St. W.

28) Mourning Dove  1  on utility pole, NE.

29) Anna's Hummingbird   5    in Cottonwoods, S , SW and W .

30) Nuttall's Woodpecker  3    Cottonwoods,  NE,  S and SW; calls.

31) Downy Woodpecker  2   cottonwoods SE and S.

32) Northern (Red-shafted   4   Cottonwoods around margins.

33) Black Phoebe   11  ubiquitous in trees and shrubs around the lake.

34) Say's Phoebe  1   N   open field next to motorhome graveyard.

35) Common Raven   20   ubiquitous; several on dam.

36) Oak Titmouse  5  in Cottonwoods and Junioer woodland, SE,  S and  SW; calls.

37) Verdin   1   tree top, NW, calls.

38) Bewick's Wren  6  brushy areas,  SE, S, SW; calls.

39) Marsh Wren   4   cattails at margin of lake, S, SW; calls.

40) Ruby-crowned Kinglet   1  garden at main gate; calls.

41) Northern Mockingbird   1   W side of 5th Street entrance.

42) California Thrasher   3   shrubby areas, NE,  S   and SW; calls and song.

43) European Starling  15  utility lines; trees and on ground, N and NE.

44) Cedar Wazwing  4   flying over Mulberry trees in picinic area at main gate.

45) Phainopepla    1 (f)    Cottonwoods with mistletoe, SE (MSM).

46) Yellow-rumped Warbler   40   about 25 foraging on ground in picnic area next to clubhouse; loose flocks elsewhere in Cottonwoods; calls.

47) Common Yellowthroat   12 (m)   heavily vegetated margins of the lake; calls.

48) Savannah Sparrow  2   jetty (recenltly cleared of weeds), NW.

49) Song Sparrow  25  heavily vegetated margins of the lake; song, calls.

50) Lincoln's Sparrow   5   E slope of dam;  brushy margins, S, SW; calls.

51) White-crowned Sparrow  60   brushy margins, N, NE, SE, S and SW; calls.

52) Red-winged Blackbird  2  (m,f)  on cottonwood, S;  brief song and calls.

53) Great-tailed Grackle  12  (m,f) in cattails, S; flying, N side; calls.

54) House Finch  50   ubiquitous in brushy areas with trees; song, calls.

55) House Sparrow   10   shrubs and trees around clubhouse; calls.

 

   December 14, 2009  (56 Species)

 Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) at Lake Palmdale, Dec. 14, 2009.          © 2009   Callyn D. Yorke                                                                                      

Weather: Fair: 39 to 53F; WNW winds 0-3 mph.

Time: 0730-1210 hrs.

Area Covered: From the F&F clubhouse on 5th St. East, I walked slowly, surveying the entrance road, gardens, Fruitless Mulberry picnic area, sedimentation ponds, all visible parts of the lake, riparian edges, sage-saltbush scrub, Joshua tree- California juniper woodland, Rabbitbrush, Creosote Bush scrub, and roadside ruderal areas. I scoped the lake from N, S and NW hillside, docks and jetty, respectively; also used a 10x40 binocular and DSLR camera. Most of the deciduous trees had lost their leaves. One work crew was moving to different sites around the lake (the Dam and the NW corner). Conditions were good for detecting bird vocalizations. One species was added to the Lake Palmdale bird list (see 1986-1995 Summary), Hooded Merganser, bringing the total to 196 species. Survey Total = 56 Species.

 

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  25 (m,f) in pairs and scattered groups around the edges of the lake; flighty.

2) American Wigeon  10 (m,f)   SE and W.

3) Green-winged Teal  5 (f)    N, near shore.

4) Lesser Scaup  12 (m,f) open water, N.

5) Bufflehead    25  (m,f)   open water and edge of lake.

6) Common Merganser  1 (f)  N, near shore; preening.

7) Hooded Merganser  1 (f)  diving near shore, NE. A new record for Lake Palmdale.

8) Ruddy Duck   85 (m,f)    around the edges of the lake; many sleeping.

9) Common Loon   1  N and NW; open water; diving for several minutes each time.

10) Pied-billed Grebe   30   ubiquitous: open water and edge of lake; diving.

11) Horned Grebe   6   open water, N and SW; three in one group; diving and preening.

12) Eared Grebe 25   open water, near shore; diving and resting.

13) Western Grebe  4   NW,  one group, resting and swimming near shore.

14) Double-crested Cormorant  8 (ad, imm)   several on floating agitator platforms; one near shore on low snag.

15) Black-crowned Night Heron  1 (ad) edge of tules, NW.

16) Osprey  1 (ad) low perch in willows, NE ( seen in the same place last survey).

17) Sharp-shinned Hawk   1  flying fast through trees at edge of lake, W.

18) Cooper's Hawk   1  Circling over open area, N.

19) Red-shouldered Hawk   3  circling and soaring while giving repeated calls; 3 birds in proximity with tall cottonwoods, W.

20) Red-tailed Hawk 4 (ad, imm)    on utility poles; one on jetty;  pair circling, calls, N, NE and W.

21) Northern Harrier   1 (f) working low around lake; soaring next to RSH.

22) American Coot   300    all around edges of lake.

23) Killdeer  5   sedimentation ponds, N.

24) Least Sandpiper   11    foraging on mud in sedimentation pond, N.

25) California Gull  20 (ad, imm) tight flock resting in middle of lake.

26) Rock Pigeon   10   on power line, Ave S adjacent to 5th St. E entrance.

27) Anna's Hummingbird  4  (m)  W, S and NW; calls.

28) Nuttall's Woodpecker   3   cottonwoods, NE,  SE  and S; calls.

29) Northern Flicker 6   ubiquitous in and around trees; fly, calls.

30) Black Phoebe    5   brushy areas around lake; calls.

31) Say's Phoebe  1   sally-gleaning from low perches to wet ground, E side of Dam (see photo below).

32) Western Scrub Jay    1   calls, W.

33) Common Raven   20   flying around lake; pair in cottonwood, W; calls.

34) Oak Titmouse   4   Cottonwoods, SE and S; calls.

35) Verdin  1   5th Street E entrance road, in shrubs, call, fly.

36) Bushtit  25   ubiquitous in small flocks in brushy areas and woodland; calls.

37) Rock Wren   1  calls from boulders on E side of dam.

38) Marsh Wren   3    low cattails, scold calls, W.

39) Bewick's Wren  4   sage scrub; Cottonwoods and brushy areas, NE, SE and W; calls.

40) Ruby-crowned Kinglet  15   ubiquitous in brushy and wooded areas; calls.

41) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   2   sage scrub, NE corner; foraging in sage; calls.

42) Hermit Thrush   1   flushed from shady roadside area below cottonwoods, S.

43) Northern Mockingbird  1  entrance road fence line with Pyracantha.

44) California Thrasher   1   sunning on top of California Juniper, N entrance.

45) European Starling    10  in trees N, and S; calls.

46) Cedar Waxwing   5   flying over N side; calls.

47) Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)  20 (m,f)  small , loose flocks,  ubiquitous in trees and shrubs; calls.

48) Common Yellowthroat  4 (m,f)   edge of lake in dry cattails and nearby brush, W; calls.

49) Savannah Sparrow   2   weedy edge of jetty, NW; calls.

50) Song Sparrow  15  ubiquitous around lake; calls and song (brief).

51) Lincoln's Sparrow   1   with Song Sparrow in wet, brushy area, E side of dam; calls.

52) White-crowned Sparrow   30   ubiquitous, but not nearly as abundant as in last survey; calls and song.

53) Brewer's Blackbird   4   flying over Ave. S near 5th Street East, N.

54) House Finch  40    ubiquitous in flocks of 10-12; E , S and NW.

55) Lesser Goldfinch    2    feeding on dry thistle seeds, E side of dam ( see above photo).

56) House Sparrow     10  fence line on entrance road.

              Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)  at Lake Palmdale, December 14, 2009.    © 2009 Callyn D. Yorke

 

 

December 4, 2009 (62 Species)

Weather: Fair, 40 to 55F; WNW winds 1-3 mph.

Time: 0735-1130 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered: Walked from the clubhouse to the corner of Avenue S and 5th Street East, surveying the W settling pond, gardens and California Juniper scrub. Continued on foot, using binoculars and scope, clockwise around the lake, surveying all four settling ponds (one with water, the other 3 with mud), Aleppo pines, riparian (Populus and Salix), aerial, open water and cattail-lined shores, Atriplex-Artemesia scrub (NE corner), road below the dam, Joshua tree - California Juniper Woodland, ruderal grassland and Chrysothamnus scrub. Scoped the entire lake from N, S and SW shore. Aside from two vehicles with workers and two fishermen on a dock in the NW, our survey was undisturbed; conditions were good for detecting bird vocalizations. One new species, Northern Harrier, was added to the Lake Palmdale list, bringing the total to 195 species (c.f. 1986-1996).

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) NW Lake Palmdale.  © 2009  Callyn D. Yorke
California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) NW Lake Palmdale. © 2009 Callyn D. Yorke

BIRDS NOTED

1) Gadwall  30 (m,f)   open water near shore.

2) American Wigeon  20 (m,f)   open water near shore mostly in the SE; calls.

3) Mallard  10 (m,f) near shore, SE and NE; flighty.

4) Northern Pintail  5 (m,f)   SE corner near with coots and other ducks, near dam.

5) Green-winged Teal  15 (m,f) SE corner with NP and other ducks.

6) Canvasback  4 (m,f)  open water near shore, N and NW.

7) Lesser Scaup  15 (m,f)  open water, N, E, NE.

8) Bufflehead  15 (m,f)  open water N, NE, SW.

9) Ruddy Duck  75 (m,f)  open water everywhere.

10) Common Loon  1-2  open water near S and SE dam; diving.

11) Pied-billed Grebe  25  open water middle and near shore.

12) Horned Grebe  4  open water; diving.

13) Eared Grebe  30  open water, pairs and loose flocks in middle and near shore.

14) Western Grebe  5  open water,  a pair near shore NW; resting.

15) Double-crested Cormorant  12  several resting on floating agitators mid-lake.

16) Green Heron  1 flying low along NW shore.

17) Black-crowned Night Heron  3 (ad, imm) flushed from NE shore; in tules, S slough,

18) Osprey   1 (ad) perched low in a willow overhanging lake with duck decoys for more than 30 minutes, NE; calls.

19) Red-shouldered Hawk  3  SE and S, flying low over trees; calls.

20) Red-tailed Hawk  5 (ad, imm; dark and light morphs) in trees around lake; ad and imm circling, W.

21) Northern Harrier  1 (f) working the entire margin of the lake and Lake Una. A new record for Lake Palmdale.

22) American Kestrel  1  on utility pole wire, then flew over dam, NE (same location as Nov. 20 survey).

23) Virginia Rail  1 calls from dense cattails, SE (unseen).

24) Sora  1  calls from dense cattails, SE (MSM).

25) American Coot  200 (est.) ubiquitous around edges of lake.

26) Killdeer  6   in and around settling ponds, N.

27) Least Sandpiper  13  foraging on mud in W settling pond, N (same location as Nov. 20 survey)..

28) California Gull  50  resting in middle of lake; flying to and from direction of Palmdale dump to NW.

29) Rock Pigeon  10  flying around over Ave. S, N.

30) Great Horned Owl  1  flushed from cottonwood, S (MSM).

31) Anna's Hummingbird  3  calls, S, SW cottonwoods.

32) Belted Kingfisher  1  calls, S (MSM).

33) Nuttall's Woodpecker  2  NE riparian shoreline; calls.

34) Hairy Woodpecker   1  in tall roadside cottonwood, flew into shoreline willows, NE; distinctive loud calls.

35) Northern Flicker  4  flying low, foraging in cottonwood, calls,  SE, S.

36) Black Phoebe  5  low perches around lake.

37) Say's Phoebe  2  low perch on orange safety cone and shrub, flighty when approached, E, SE.

38) Western Scrub Jay  1  calls, Juniper scrub next to homes, S.

39) Common Raven  20   flock of 10 on dam, SE; circling lake; calls.

40) Oak Titmouse  4   called in and agitated by pshing, N pines; SW.

41) Bushtit  25  loose, noisy flocks in cottonwoods, called in with OTM, NE, SE, S

42) Bewick's Wren  5   brushy areas throughout; call and song.

43) House Wren  1  scolding calls from brushy roadside, NW.

44) Marsh Wren  5  flooded ditch; foraging at base of cattails; SE,  S,  W; calls.  

45) Ruby-crowned Kinglet  30  ubiquitous in trees and shrubs; calls, msf with YRW.

46) Hermit Thrush  2  under cottonwoods, S (MSM).

47) Northern Mockingbird  2   Junipers, 5th street East; SW.

48) California Thrasher   2  NW corner with large Cottonwoods and Junipers; attracted to pshing (see above photo).

49) European Starling  5  tree-tops in garden near clubhouse, N; calls.

50) American Pipit  3   in concrete ditch SE ,call, fly  E, near jetty NW.

51) Yellow-rumped Warbler  25 (m,f) Audubon (+ 2 Myrtle); ubiquitous in Cottonwoods and Willows; calls.

52) Common Yellowthroat  15 (m,f)   cattails throughout; calls.

53) Spotted Towhee   1   Cottonwoods, S (MSM).

54) California Towhee  5   N (entrance); attracted t, o pshing NE, and NW; calls.

55) Savannah Sparrow  5  brushy area  near and on jetty, NW.

56) Song Sparrow   20  cattails and shoreline throughout; calls.

57) Lincoln's Sparrow   2  brushy roadside, W; calls.

58) White-crowned Sparrow  125  brushy areas throughout; call and song.

59) Western Meadowlark   1  boggy area with saltbush near jetty, NW.

60) Great-tailed Grackle  10 (m,f)   riparian peninsula at mouth of slough, S; calls.

61) House Finch 60  brushy and ruderal areas throughout; calls.

62) House Sparrow  3   fence near entrance, N.

 

November 20, 2009  (64 Species_

Weather: Fair, 45 to 65F; winds WNW1-2 mph. Lake surface smooth.

Time: 0728 - 1208 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered:  We walked a clockwise route around the lake, surveying the 5th Street East entrance, adjacent sediment-laden settling ponds (a relatively new PWD development) riparian, Great Basin Sage, Creosote Scrub, Joshua Tree- California Juniper woodland, ruderal roadway edge, open water and aerial views over the lake and adjacent foothills. We walked slowly carrying a 3- 55x scope, 10x40 binoculars and a DSLR camera, stopping frequently to use pshhing calls and observe birds in dense vegetation around the lake; a 35x55 scope was essential for identifying birds at opposite ends of the lake. Good weather conditions this morning allowed bird vocalizations to be detected relatively easily; birds moving through the thinning fall foliage of Cottonwoods and Willows were conspicuous. Our counts of the abundant species (e.g. White-crowned Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Bushtit) were rough estimates, due to the relatively large flocks and high frequency of encounters around the lake.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulia) at Lake Palmdale, CA. ©  2009 Callyn D. Yorke
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulia) at Lake Palmdale, CA. © 2009 Callyn D. Yorke

BIRDS NOTED

1) Canada Goose 11, swimming near the dam.

2) Gadwall  20 (m,f) open water  N, W and S in small groups of 2-4 birds.

3) American Wigeon  5 (m,f)   W, open water.

4) Mallard   10 (m,f) around edges of lake; flying low over water, N.

5) Lesser Scaup  30 (m,f) open water, some diving.

6) Bufflehead  8 (m,f)   open water.

7) Ruddy Duck  50 (m,f) open water and edge; many resting.

8) Common Loon  1  open water, diving.

9) Pied-billed Grebe  30  open water and edge of lake.

10) Horned Grebe 2  open water, S.

11) Eared Grebe  12  open water; preening.

12) Clark's Grebe  6, open water; one ad w nearly full-sized young; calls.

13) Western Grebe  30, open water; resting; calls.

14) Double-crested Cormorant  8   open water; several resting on solar-powered floating agitators.

15) Black-crowned Night Heron  1 (ad) flushed from dense cover on N shore.

16) Red-shouldered Hawk  4;  1 flushed from N shore trees; a pair (vocalizing and courting?) S side in tall cottonwoods.

17) Red-tailed Hawk  4;  1 (imm) on edge of concrete settling pond; others in and  flying over riparian areas.

18) American Kestrel  1 (m) on utility pole at NE corner.

19) Virginia Rail   1 calling from SW edge of lake.

20) American Coot  400, ubiquitous around edges of lake.

21) Killdeer   8  foraging and resting in settling ponds (N edge of property); calls.

22) Spotted Sandpiper  1 foraging at the water-line, end of the jetty.

23) Least Sandpiper   30:  28 in the new settling ponds; 2 on the E edge of the jetty.

24) Ring-billed Gull  12, resting on open water; birds steadily arriving - probably from adjacent land fill to the NW.

25) California Gull  250 (90% 3rd year or older), resting on open water; arriving with RBG..

26) Mourning Dove  1  N side.

27) Anna's Hummingbird  6 (m,f)  riparian areas around lake; calls.

28) Belted Kingfisher   1 W and NW riparian; diving near shore; calls.

29) Nuttall's Woodpecker  1  calls from riparian, S.

30) Downy Woodpecker  1  calls from riparian, N.

31) Northern Flicker  4, riparian S and SW, fly; call.

32) Black Phoebe  15   ubiquitous around lake; sally from low and high perches; calls.

33) Loggerhead Shrike  1  chain-link fence, E side.

34) Common Raven  20  many soaring above adjacent foothills, N and S; one peeling bark off dead Willow, E.

35) Oak Titmouse  10  riparian areas around lake; calls.

36) Bushtit   80   ubiquitous in riparian areas around the lake; several in MSF with RCK and YRW.

37) Bewick's Wren  8  relatively dry, shrubby areas around lake; calls.

38) House Wren  3  riparian edge, W; calls.

39) Marsh Wren  5  SE and S, seen and heard (MSM).

40) Ruby-crowned Kinglet  70  ubiquitous in riparian areas around lake; calls, MSF.

41) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   2   tall shrubs along E fence line (see above photo). One previous record for May,

42) Hermit Thrush  2  open riparian area, S; foraging in leaf-litter.

43) Northern Mockingbird  2: 1 near 5th St. E entrance; 1 on S fence line bordering residential area.

44) California Thrasher  1  calls along 5th St. E entrance.

45) European Starling  6  N entrance; S.

46) American Pipit   1 foraging with Least Sandpipers on mudflats in settling pond, N.

47) Orange-crowned Warbler  12  riparian areas around the lake; MSF  with RCK, YRW and Bushtits.

48) Yellow-rumped Warbler  100 (m,f;) (1 Myrtle N riparian), ubiquitous; MSF.

49) Black-throated Gray Warbler  1 (m) Cottonwoods, S (MSM). First November record.

50) Common Yellowthroat  12 (m,f)   marshy areas and riparian edge around lake; calls.

51) Spotted Towhee   1  riparian edge, S; calls.

52) California Towhee  2   Calif. Junipers, S and W; calls.

53) Savannah Sparrow  1  calls, 5th St. E entrance.

54) Song Sparrow  35  marsh and riparian areas around lake; calls.

55) Lincoln's Sparrow   5  riparian and edge, S and W; calls.

56) White-crowned Sparrow  125   ubiquitous; calls and song.

57) Red-winged Blackbird  5   S,  (MSM).

58) Western Meadowlark   riparian, N, NW; fly and perch in tall snag next to jetty.

59) Brewer's Blackbird   8  with GTG flying into SW residential area.

60) Great-tailed Grackle  15 (m,f)   S,  riparian adjacent to slough; fly, call.

61) House Finch   30  ubiquitous in Cottonwoods and adjacent ruderal areas; calls.

62 Lesser Goldfinch  3  1 flying N from 5th St. E;  2 in cottonwoods, S; calls.

63) Pine Siskin  1  fly, call NE.

64) House Sparrow   15 (m,f) ;  10 along 5th St. E; 5 along S fence line.

 

November 6, 2009 (56 Species) 

Weather: Fair, 47 to 75F; winds WNW 0-2 mph.

Time:  0745 -1145 hrs.

Observers: Mike San Miguel and I.

Area Covered:  From the Fin & Feather clubhouse gate on 5th Street East, we walked counter-clockwise around Lake Palmdale (LP), surveying all habitats (aerial, open water, riparian, Great Basin Sage (Artemesia tridentata) scrub, California Juniper (Juniperus californica)woodland, Rabbitbush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus )- Saltbush (Atriplex spp.)scrub, ruderal fields and roadsides. We began at the picnic area next to the clubhouse with a closed-canopy stand of Fruitless Mulberry and proceeded to the N hillside of Creosote Bush (Larrea divaricata) and Whipple Yucca (Yucca whipplei) overlooking the lake. We used binoculars and a 30-55x spotting scope. Along the roadway we met PWD workers in vechicles, who stopped to talk with us briefly. One of them reported seeing only medium-sized young (W/C ?) grebes on the lake, as opposed to chicks (which was in agreement with my observations this fall for WG). Conditions during the survey were generally quiet, allowing us to hear and identify the vocalizations of most landbird species. We ended our survey with a summary of the findings, which included the addition of White-throated Swift, a previously unrecorded species for LP, as well as another species previously of questionable status for LP, Horned Grebe (see the 1986-1996 seasonal list).

 

Birds Noted

1) Gadwall  25 (m,f) , mostly on S and SE side near tules; flighty.

2) Mallard  10 (m,f) NW, S and SE, near tules; flighty.

3) Lesser Scaup  20 (m,f) open water, W and S-central.

4) Bufflehead 35 (m,f) open water and edge of lake; one male on end of jetty.

5) Common Merganser 1 (f) open water, N and E.

6) Ruddy Duck  30 ( est.) (m,f) around the edges of the lake.

7) California Quail  2, NW, calls.

8) Common Loon  1 open water E-central.

9) Pied-billed Grebe 15, open water and near tules, mostly S and SE.

10) Horned Grebe 2 , pair staying fairly close; diving in open water, central and N-central.

11) Eared Grebe 6, open water, N, S and SE.

12) Clark's Grebe 40 (est.) open water around edges of lake; calls; many sleeping.

13) Western Grebe 40 (est), open water around edges of lake; many sleeping; adult and imm. calling.

14) Double-crested Cormorant 10, standing on solar-powered agitator platforms in middle of lake; flying low across lake.

15) Great Blue Heron 1 flushed from edge on N side, flew E toward trees.

16) Cooper's Hawk  1 (ad) flying low across NE bay.

17) Red-shouldered Hawk 2 W- flushed from cottonwoods and SE - one circling high over cottonwoods in SE; calls.

18) Red-tailed Hawk 2 ( ads, light and dark phases): N (dark phase ad) gaining altitude over 5th Street E; E (light phase)perched on old nest in cottonwood.

19) American Coot   600, ubiquitous around edge of lake.

20) California Gull  80 (90% ads), tight flock in open water; flying in from NW.

21) Mourning Dove  6, W and SE, flying through cottonwood areas.

22) White-throated Swift  20, circling at 300 ft. + over E side of lake near Ravens, VGS, TS and BS. New record for Lake Palmdale.

23) Anna's Hummingbird  4 (m,f), mulberry trees near clubhouse and cottonwoods, S.

24) Nuttall's Woodpecker  3, NW, S, calls (unseen).

25) Downy Woodpecker  2, mulberry trees near clubhouse; (f) NW willow canopy.

26) Northern Flicker  4, cottonwoods, W, S and SE; one perched precariously on top of Calif. Juniper; calls.

27) Black Phoebe  15, wooded and open areas around lake; calls.

28) Common Raven 25  flying and soaring in a loose flock, high over lake.

29) Tree Swallow  1 circling at 300 ft. + over lake with BS, VGS and WTS.

30) Violet-green Swallow 2  same as above.

31) Barn Swallow 1  same as above (MSM).

32) Oak Titmouse  1 NW edge of willows; attracted to loud, persistent pshhing sounds made by MSM.

33) Verdin  4  shrubby areas on NW and W; calls; attracted to pshhing as above.

34) Bushtit  50  several flocks of 8-12, widely separated around the lake; attracted to pshhing as above.

35) Bewick's Wren  4  N, NW, W; active in brushy areas at edge of woodland; call and song.

36) House Wren  2  W, brushy areas with cottonwoods; scold calls.

37) Marsh Wren  6  NW, W, SW and SE; cattails and grasses in seepages; calls and song.

38) Ruby-crowned Kinglet 35, loose flocks in willows (N and W) and cottonwoods (S); active in lower to mid-levels of trees, attracted and agitated by pshhing sounds.

39) Hermit Thrush  2, NW and SW, beneath shady, inundated willows and cottonwoods; calls; attracted to pshhing (MSM).

40) American Robin 1 W, perched on Calif. Juniper.

41) Northern Mockingbird  1, seen as I was leaving on the Pyracantha-lined fence along Fin and Feather Drive (5th Street East).

42) California Thrasher  1 calling atop Calif. Juniper, W.

43) European Starling  2  on power line along Fin and Feather Drive (CY).

44) American Pipit  1 flying over, SE; called once (unseen - CY).

45) Orange-crowned Warbler  4  foraging quickly near YRW's mid-level in willows and cottonwoods; calls.

46) Yellow-rumped Warbler 50 (est., incl. 1 Myrtle by call- MSM), ubiquitous, foraging in shrubs and trees, all levels; calls.

47) Common Yellowthroat  12   moving quickly in lower to mid-levels of riparian thickets and wetlands around the lake; calls.

48) Savannah Sparrow  4  NW and W; in tall grass and cattails; calls.

49) Song Sparrow  20  ubiquitous but generally staying low in riparian and wet shrubland; calls.

50) Lincoln's Sparrow 6  low in shady riparian and adjacent shrubland; calls.

51) White-crowned Sparrow  60 ubiquitous in small (3-5) to large flocks (12-20) around lake; calls and song.

52) Red-winged Blackbird  2, calls SE (MSM).

53) Great-tailed Grackle  6, S side persistent calls from W end of slough; 3 flying NW.

54) House Finch  25  N, W and S; riparian and ruderal areas; call and song.

55) American Goldfinch 1 in cottonwoods, S (MSM).

56) House Sparrow  2-5 around clubhouse; calls.

 

October 14, 2009 (53 Species)

Weather:  Partly cloudy (rain and high winds late yesterday and last night); winds steady and increasing throughout the survey: 10-30 mph. 60 to 66F.

Time: 0751-1142 hrs.

Area Covered: I parked outside the clubhouse gate (off Avenue S and 5th Street East) and after checking in, walked counterclockwise around entire lake (about 3 miles), using a 10x40 binocular and 25-30x scope. Stopped at several locations (photos), including overlooks on the north and north west side; fishing docks and sheltered backwaters; shady shorelines on the north, west, southwest, and southeast sides. Surveyed a fruitless mulberry picinic area, riparian (mature cottonwoods and willows), creosote bush -saltbush - rabbitbrush and California juniper shrubland on the N, NW, SW and S sides; open water (becoming choppy by 1100 hrs.) and surrounding tules, cattails and innundated willow woodlands. Also surveyed a sandbar willow grove along the eastern fence line below the dam. A couple of maintenance crews were working around the lake this morning; the lake was quiet (except for traffic noise from HWY 14 on the west end) and conditions generally good for birding until about 10:30 AM when the wind speed nearly doubled. One species, Canada Goose, was added to the Lake Palmdale bird list today (see 1986-96 Seasonal Bird List).

Note: Opening weekend for duck hunting season begins on October 24 and 25 this year. Regular hunting days (ducks and geese only) will be on Wednesdays and Sundays through January, 2010. The Fin and Feather Club (Private) will be closed on Thursdays. Except for F&F Club members, permission for entry into Lake Palmdale is required.

View of Lake Palmdale from the north shore, looking southwest (0830 hrs.).              © 2009  Callyn Yorke
View of Lake Palmdale from the north shore, looking southwest (0830 hrs.). © 2009 Callyn Yorke

View of Lake Palmdale from the southeast corner, looking west (1020 hrs).  © 2009 Callyn Yorke
View of Lake Palmdale from the southeast corner, looking west (1020 hrs). © 2009 Callyn Yorke

View of Lake Palmdale from the northeast shore, looking southwest (1100 hrs.) © 2009 Callyn Yorke
View of Lake Palmdale from the northeast shore, looking southwest (1100 hrs.) © 2009 Callyn Yorke

BIRDS NOTED

1) Canada Goose  1: resting on jetty; began calling and flew off when I approached within about 100 ft.; landed in water nearby. A New Record  for Lake Palmdale.

2) Gadwall  20 (m,f): one scattered flock in the NW corner; other in SE slough (very flighty as I approached within about 500 ft.).

3) American Wigeon 2 (m,f): in SE slough.

4) Mallard  20 (m,f,): mostly near tules in NW and SE (flighty).

5) Scaup (probably Lesser)(f): 1 sleeping on water, N.

6) Ruddy Duck (m,f):  40 (est.) open water in protected bays, NW, W, S, SE.

7) California Quail  2-8?: calls from N shrubland across fence (unseen).

8) Common Loon  1: preening, peering and diving, open water, N.

9) Pied-billed Grebe  10: mostly near shore on N, NW and W sides of lake.

10) Eared Grebe  6 (ad, imm): N and NW, near shore.

11) Western Grebe  10 (possibly twice this number); sleeping, preening; calls. W and SW near shore.

12) Clark's Grebe  25: open water: pair doing partial courtship (ritual preening, outstretched neck, touching bills, etc.); calls, N, NW.

13) Double-crested Cormorant  5: 3 on floating, solar-powered stirring platforms in middle of lake; 2 flying.

14) Great Blue Heron 1 (ad) : standing on dock railing, S. calls.

15) Black-crowned Night Heron  1 (ad): flushed from weedy ditch on SE side.

16) Osprey 1 (ad): about 20 ft. up in willow at edge of lake, W.

17) Red-shouldered hawk 2 (ad): flushed from riparian thicket on N and SE side (possibly same bird); calls.

18) Red-tailed hawk  2 (imm): flushed from willows, NW; cottonwoods on S; soaring over dam.

19) Sora  1: feeding on water surface covered with algae, secluded backwater slough, W.

20) American Coot  200 (est. ) ubiquitous around edge of lake.

21) Ring-billed Gull  1(imm) on jetty, NW.

22) Rock Dove  1: flying over parkinglot in NW.

23) Mourning Dove  6: N, W and E.

24) Vaux's Swift  1: 30-80 ft. (est.) over lake with swallows, S, SE.

25) Anna's Hummingbird  1, calls from cottonwoods, S (unseen).

26) Belted Kingfisher  2: fly,call, perched on snag, S and SE.

27) Downy Woodpecker  1 (m) foraging quietly in cottonwood, 10" diagonal branch, S.

28) Northern Flicker  2: fly, call, low perch on dead tree,W and SE.

29) Black Phoebe  8: ubiquitous around edge of lake, calls.

30) Common Raven  8: flying and soaring around lake.

31) Tree Swallow  25 (est.), low (0830-0930) and 100 ft. + (0930-1100) over lake with VGS, mostly W and SE.

32) Violet Green Swallow   50 (est.) generally lower over the lake than TS, otherwise staying in loose MSF, including BS.

33) Barn Swallow  10: very low over lake; seen only on W side in MSF with TS and VGS.

34) Oak Titmouse 2 : calls from juniper-cottonwood shrubland on W side (unseen).

35) Verdin  2: calls from juniper shrubland, W(unseen).

36) Bushtit  6: noisy flock moving quickly through junipers on W side.

37) Bewick's Wren  2 : active,N scrub by fence line; W juniper shrubland; calls and brief song.

38) House Wren  2: active low in rabbitbrush scrub beneath cottonwood; also in riparian strip, W; calls.

39) Ruby-crowned Kinglet  2: foraging mid-level in willows and cottonwoods, SW and SE; calls.

40) Northern Mockingbird 1: Fruiting Pyracantha along fence line by clubhouse, N.

41) American Pipit 1-2: fly/call, NW (unseen).

42) Common Yellowthroat  20: ubiquitous around edge of lake, especially protected bays and backwater areas; calls.

43) Wilson's Warbler 2 (m, f): gleaning low foliage in cottonwood; calls

44) Yellow-rumped Warbler 100 (est.): ubiquitous around lake, foraging at all levels; many on ground.

45) Savannah Sparrow  2: foraging along weedy W side of jetty (NW).

46) Song Sparrow  5:  Low rabbitbrush/riparian edge, W and shady backwater, SW; calls (two: one high sssp; one chirp).

47) Lincoln's Sparrow 1 calls,  dense riparian scrub W (unseen).

48) White-crowned Sparrow  60 (est.) ubiquitous around lake; foraging on ground; calls and song.

49) Red-winged Blackbird  1: flying W over S lake; calls.

50) Great-tailed Grackle 1 (f) : shore with tules, SE.

51) House Finch 20 : fly, forage on ground, W and E; calls.

52) Lesser Goldfinch  6: flock foraging on dried thistle, beneath dam, E; calls.

53) House Sparrow  3: trees and gardens next to caretaker's house.

back to top