My bird book has sightings going back to 2015, and I know I've been birding in the Dam since since we moved to Valley Village in 1995. I had a very good day yesterday morning. Our guide was perhaps one of the best I've ever had, impressively identifying songs, finding birds camouflages in bushes that I'd never be able to.
With SFVAS, Alexander guide: South side of Burbank Blvd.
Western bluebird – small flock at beginning of walk, seen there in past years, walking towards lake from amphitheater parking lot
Yellow-rumped warbler – most common bird, migrating now, used to be called Audobon’s warbler
Mourning dove – has long narrow tail, it was thought that these birds slept alternating tail/head in groups, giving us the term “dovetailing”
They are at our bird feeder every day, once I saw them with their ruffs puffed. Sounds like an owl.
Song sparrow – common at our feeder, energetic ground feeder
Osprey – at very top of a dead tree, present for perhaps ½ hour
Two viewings, white head with black eyestripe, also saw in flight
Cedar waxwing- one brief long view after hearing distinctive high “scree” - I’ve never seen them in LA except in our neighborhood tree,
and not in October, only in February or so
Acorn woodpecker – in several palm trees near soccer fields
Cassin’s kingbird-good views several times perching in dead trees
Belted kingfisher – several sightings of birds fishing swooping over the lake, very fast flight, and an excellent silhouette view
Red-tailed hawk- one view circling overhead, fine view of coloration and tail for some minutes, a warm creamy-pale honey tone, / noted wing position, slightly v-d upward, unlike vultures commonly seen high and circling; another view in tree: it flapped its wings and then was clearly visible in tree high up for 5 minutes or so, cream breast with spots covering breast and lower breast at the point where it narrows to legs. The tree view added a lot to my memory bank for this bird sighting.
Cooper’s hawk- heard distinctive attack call twice, saw one being chased by raven/crow, also flying across low treetops – good views/see one around our neighborhood occasionally, due to the bird feeder
American kestrel – perched for a long time on engineering tripod in mowed field, flew off and returned with something in mouth
Brandt’s & Pelagic Cormorants mixed group, perched in tree, then another view fishing -I saw one with a fish in its mouth flapping and splashing.
Pelagic Cormorant – smaller,
White outline around beak, this species is ranging north as weather becomes warmer.
Green heron – several sightings sitting in low branches beside lake or on shoreline, blending with shrubbery – one view was excellent – could see colors on head and greenish color, they look grumpy
Great blue heron – one flying, one perched on shoreline
Great egret, perched, flying, several birds observed, repeat observations
Snowy egret – perched, flying, then a view of 4-5 perched on trees on island in lake, other multiple sightings
California towhee – saw several of these, common in our garden
Birds I did not see but guide Alexander ID’d:
Orange warbler – have seen in yard last year
Black and gray warbler – have seen elsewhere
Ruby kingbird – have seen elsewhere and in yard
Sora – supposedly rare and difficult to see – hides in bankside brush
Savannah sparrow – both of these at our feeder
White-crowned sparrow – seen at feeder
Commonly seen, or birds I have not learned
Black phoebes - yard bird
House finches - yard bird
Vultures
Gulls
Mallards - ubiquitous
Lorquin’s Admiral – first time I’ve ever seen one in Southern California – I have seen them while hiking in the Sierras, delightful sighting – its wings were open, getting warmed up for the day. Thrilled to see this!
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