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April Bird Walk at Rancho Los Cerritos Recap

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By Carolyn Vance

Our last walk of the season wasn’t as birdy as I expected it to be, but we still saw 20 species! We had up close looks at Bushtits and were able to distinguish male from female.  I learned that, during breeding season, males have black eyes and females have pale yellow eyes.  We also got a fairly good look at a Hermit thrush and a better look at a Pacific-slope flycatcher (shown in the header photo).  A small flock (17) of Cedar waxwings were seen flying over the Rancho.  Other flyovers included nine Mallards, some way-up-high gulls and a couple of Ravens.   We heard several birds that we never could see, including Red-shouldered hawk, House and Lesser goldfinch, Orange-crowned Warbler and a Robin.

This is the last walk put on by El Dorado Audubon, but the Rancho has now started a family-and-beginner-friendly walk the fourth Saturday of every month. It also starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 9:30 a.m.  If you couldn’t attend one of our walks, and still want to bird the Rancho, this is your chance.  For more information on their walk, go to their website at: www.rancholoscerritos.org.  Many thanks to Merryl Edelstein and Jerry Millett for helping me out again in April and to Marie Barnidge-McIntyre, the Horticulturist for the Rancho, for having us in and helping.

Post photos ©Jerry Millett

Male Bushtit

Female Bushtit

Bird Walk, Rancho Los Cerritos

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By Carolyn Vance

The first two bird walks at Rancho Los Cerritos have proved to be very popular, especially with novice birders. Welcome to the wonderful world of birds and bird watching! Our final walk of the fiscal year is on Thurs., Apr. 12th, at 8:00 a.m.

Meet in the parking lot of the Rancho; no reservations required. If you don’t have binoculars, the Rancho has some to loan. Comfort-able walking shoes are recommend-d as we will be going up and down dirt slopes and some staircases.

The winter birds should be gone by now and the garden in bloom. We may see some nesting birds, possibly Common Raven and/or Red–shouldered Hawk. Hummingbirds should abound, as well as Black Phoebes, and Bushtits. With spring migration on, we should also see several different species of warblers and swallows.

Don’t know your birds? No problem. Here’s some homework to get you ready for our April walk. Go to the Rancho’s website (https://www.rancholoscerritos.org/) and click on “Things to Do” on the top. Click on Bird Watching, then download the bird check list. Look for the birds with a letter (A, C, U) in the “Sp” column (for Spring). Those are the birds you want to study. You can easily find photos on–line or in a field guide.

Photo credit ©Jerry Millett

Bird Walk at Rancho Los Cerritos

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Leader: Carolyn Vance

The first two bird walks at Rancho Los Cerritos have proved to be very popular, especially with novice birders. Welcome to the wonderful world of birds and birdwatching!  Our final walk of the fiscal year (Sept – June) is on Thursday, April 12th, beginning at 8:00 a.m.  Meet in the parking lot of the Rancho – no reservations required, just show up.  Don’t forget to bring a pair of binoculars, if you have them.  If not, the Rancho has some to loan.  Comfortable walking shoes are also recommended as we will be going up and down some dirt slopes and a couple of staircases.

The winter birds should be all gone by now and the garden in bloom. We may see some nesting birds, possibly Common Raven and/or Red-shouldered Hawk.  Hummingbirds should abound, as well as Black Phoebes, and Bushtits.  With spring migration on, we should also see several different species of warblers and swallows.

Don’t know your birds? No problem.  Here’s some homework to get you ready for our April walk.  Go to the Rancho’s website (www.rancholoscerritos.org) and click on “Things to Do” on the top. Click on Bird Watching, then download the bird checklist.  Look for the birds with a letter (A, C, U) in the “Sp” column (for Spring). Those are the birds you want to study.  You can easily find photos on-line or in a field guide.  Look at size, color, and bill shape.  That way, you’ll be ahead of the game by knowing what to look for in the bushes or on the ground or in the air.  I call it playing hide and seek – the birds like to hide, and I love seeking them out, watching their amazing behaviors!

Since this walk is in spring, when bird’s thoughts turn to love and mating, I’m including drawings of hummingbird displays (click here to view), taken from the Second Edition of The Sibley Guide to Birds, by David Allen Sibley.   Enjoy and hope to see you on April 12 at the Rancho!

Photo credit, Bushtit by Jerry Millett

February Walk at Rancho Los Cerritos Recap

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By Carolyn Vance
 
Another great walk at the Rancho! We started the day with a pair of Ravens flying over the parking lot, calling to each other.  Our next bird was a nice Hermit thrush, followed by a small flock of Cedar waxwings flying over.  A pair of California Scrub jays flashed their blue wings at us as did the Western bluebirds.  A Northern mockingbird stood silent watch over us, unusual for this bird.  Luckily, the Black phoebes and Allen’s hummingbirds weren’t silent as they zipped back and forth across the Rancho.

Our other fly-over birds included three Great Blue herons and 43 California gulls. A Red-shouldered hawk, heard several times, finally landed in the large oak tree for us to see, then took off again, calling.  The best part of the day, for me, was the small group (21) of Bushtits in a low, open bush, feeding.  It looked as though the bush was alive, swarming with birds in constant motion, going branch to branch.   Then leaving it, one-by-one, as Bushtits do, going to their next feeding spot.  The last bird of the day was the California towhee that we had been hearing, but couldn’t find, until he popped up on an open branch of the Toyon tree at the top of the drive.

The most asked question of the day was: Why is that rust-and-green colored hummingbird an Allen’s and not a Rufous?  Simple – Rufous hummers are only seen in this area in migration – spring and fall, so in winter-time you’re seeing Allen’s.  Also, Allen’s have green on their back and Rufous’ don’t.  Okay, okay – about 5% of Rufous’ show a little green on their back, but once again, our walk was in the middle of winter, when Rufous’ are in their wintering grounds.  Check their range map in your favorite field guide for where they are now.

Many, many thanks to Kim Moore, our bug expert; Merryl Edelstein, Rancho Garden Docent; Jerry Millett, member of El Dorado Audubon’s monthly survey here and Rancho Horticulturist Marie Barnidge-McIntyre for all their help! At the end of the walk, we had seen 19 species of bird.  Our next walk will be on Thursday, April 12th, from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.  Come join us!

(Photo credits: Allen’s Hummingbird & California Towhee by Kim Moore.  Bushtit, Hermit Thrush & Northern Mockingbird by Jerry Millett)

Walk at Rancho Los Cerritos Recap

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By Carolyn Vance

 Our very first bird walk at Rancho Los Cerritos in September was a huge success! Fall migration was on, even though it was a beautiful end-of-summer day.  Not only did we see Canada geese and Western gulls flying over, we had two Olive-sided Flycatchers and a Western Wood-peewee.  Of course, we also saw the ever-present Allen’s Hummingbirds, Black Phoebes, Mourning Doves, Bushtits, and Western Bluebirds.   Robins, House Finches and California Towhees were also around, and we heard a Red-shouldered Hawk calling from outside the Rancho.

Many, many thanks to Kim Moore, our big expert; Merryl Edelstein, Rancho Garden Docent; Jerry Millett, member of El Dorado Audubon’s monthly survey here and Rancho Horticulturist Marie Barnidge-McIntyre for their help with such a large group and answering everyone’s questions!  At the end of the walk, we had seen 21 species of bird, smelled wonderful plants and had big grins on our faces from the marvelous walk.

Join us on February 8, 2018 for our second walk, which will give us our winter birds.

Pictured below birds seen on this walk, female House Finch (left), female Western Bluebird (right), photo credit Kim Moore, including the group photo — Thanks Kim!

Bird Walk at Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

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Cedar Waxwing by Jerry Millett

Cedar Waxwing by Jerry Millet, at Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site

El Dorado Audubon and Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is co-hosting a new public bird walk at the Rancho, led by El Dorado Audubon member Carolyn Vance!

The beautiful event photo is a Cedar Waxwing, taken at the Rancho by photographer Jerry Millet, just one example of the wonderful birds often seen at the Rancho.

September has given us some of our highest species counts at the Rancho over the years. It should be ripe time for our fall migrants to pass through and stop at this wonderful garden, lovingly kept by RLC horticulturalist Marie Barnidge-McIntyre.  Come check out the fabulous birds right in our own Long Beach back yard!

Meet in the parking lot at 8 a.m. and bring binoculars, a field guide, and water. No advance registration required.

Rancho Los Cerritos Bird Survey

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These surveys take place the second Friday of each month at 8 am and last from 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the activity.  If you are interested in participating please call Carolyn Vance at 562-594-7589.

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