Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park 2019-2024 Callyn Yorke

BIRD SURVEYS OF MALIBU LAGOON and LEGACY PARK 2019-2024 Callyn Yorke

Archival reports on Malibu Lagoon

November 17, 2024 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (67 Species)

Weather: Fair; 50°F to 72°F; wind ESE 5 – 7 mph; ocean surface moderately choppy; surf 1-2 ft; high tide @ 0900 hrs.

Time: 0750-1315 hrs.

Observers: Dạ Thảo Lê Nguyễn and I

Areas Covered: Cross Creek Rd (CCR). We walked from the City Library parking area on Civic Center Way (CCW), to Cross Creek Road (CCR), with a brief visit to the west bank of Malibu Creek (MC). The creek was nearly full and largely backed up by the sandbar at Surfrider Beach (SB).

Continuing our walk along the riparian revegetated area on the west bank of MC, (the creek is partially visible from the alley behind the Malibu Village shopping center), we crossed the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and entered Malibu Lagoon State Beach (ML). We surveyed the stagnating backwaters of the inundated lagoon, replanted coastal sage scrub, a willow-riparian patch bordering fenced homes and gardens of Malibu Colony, and small patches of freshwater-brackish marsh. We continued eastward, at the high tide debris line, using binoculars for surveying nearshore waters to about 0.3 mi (four surfers and a few beach-goers and bird photographers were present). A visual survey was made of Surfrider Beach (SB), and the south edge of the lagoon (feebly roped-off as a Western Snowy Plover nesting/wintering area), returning to CCR by the same route. Most of the shorebirds we found were crowded together, resting on the south sand berm between Malibu Lagoon (ML) and Surfrider Beach (SB).

At the conclusion of the ML segment of our survey, noting multiple sets of dog tracks on the main trail to the outer shore (ML and SB), we spoke briefly with a young State Park Ranger at the entrance kiosk. He informed us that, due to a multi-jurisdictional situation, there are complications regarding the prevention of dogs in the areas where resident and migratory shorebirds usually occur (including Western Snowy Plover). Dogs are not permitted on the trails into the lagoon area (California State Park land, Los Angeles County) but may be allowed on the outer shore (administered by Ventura County). Evidently, dogs (and their owners) can and do access the sensitive, roped-off shorebird habitat at the south end of Malibu Lagoon, despite the park ranger’s efforts to prevent such incursions while stationed at the entrance.

Following a lunch break in the car (1120-1200 hrs.) I (CY) walked the south wetlands path of Legacy Park (LP) beginning at the east end. A well developed freshwater marsh with a mudflat bordering a pond — with sufficient water for a population of habituated, hand-fed mallards, together with a few other waterbirds utilizing resources there.

My final survey (1200-1315 hrs.) was a walk along Stuart Ranch Road (SRR), beginning and ending at Civic Center Way (CCW). SRR dead-ends northward at the Malibu Civic Center parking lot and gardens with numerous mature Sycamore trees. The developed land is bordered by a coastal sage-chaparral hillside, variously disturbed and thinned for fire control. A large, ruderal field is bisected by the fenced SRR; significantly more herbaceous growth has developed in the eastern section of that field than was seen during the previous survey of October 6, 2024 (see below).

BIRDS NOTED

• Gadwall 35 (m,f) greg. pairs and trios in shallows and open water, ML, MC.
• Northern Shoveler 1 (m) swimming in open water with GADW and AMCO, ML.
• American Wigeon 8 (m,f) greg. swimming in open water, sw ML (photo).

• Mallard 40 (m,f) greg. a large flock of comparatively tame, hand-fed birds in LP; elsewhere less numerous but widespread, MC, ML.
• Bufflehead 12 (m,f) greg. pairs and individuals swimming in open water, MC, ML.
• Red-breasted Merganser 8 (f) loosely greg., diving in open water and shallows, ML.
• Ruddy Duck 25 resting, preening, swimming in open water, ML, MC.
• Pied-billed Grebe 11 greg. individuals and pairs in shallows throughout, ubiq..
• Feral Rock Pigeon 18 greg. a cohesive flock flying over the east field, SSR.
• Anna’s Hummingbird 2 (m) hovering around ornamental flowering herbs and shrubs, CCW, CCR.
• Allen’s Hummingbird 9 (m,f) individuals and pairs chasing; feeding on a wide variety of ornamental flowering plants in gardens and ruderal patches, ubiq..
• American Coot 280 greg. in freshwater and brackish shallows, ubiq..
• Black-bellied Plover 25 (ad., imm., bsc. plmg.) greg. resting on inner shore of lagoon, in roped-off area; visibly alarmed by noise from a company of Harley baggers on PCH, ML/SB.
• Killdeer 16 greg. initially scattered in ruderal east field; vocal when taking flight together, SRR; 3 on s shore of ML.
• Whimbrel 8 greg. resting on sand berm, south shore, ML.
• Marbled Godwit 20 greg. standing on inner shore and in shallows with WILL and BBPL, ML.
• Ruddy Turnstone 3 greg. resting on south shore of lagoon with BBPL, WILL and MAGO, ML/SB.
• Sanderling 1 (bsc. plmg.) running on outer shore, SB.
• Western Sandpiper 3 (bsc. plmg.) individuals on inner shore of lagoon; one with LESA, ML.
• Least Sandpiper 6 (ad., imm. bsc. plmg.) greg. individuals and pairs on shore, dodging pedestrians, probing into wet sand and algal wrack; inner shoreline with WESA, ML, SB (photo).

• Willet 65 (bsc. plmg.) greg. resting at high tide on inner shore of lagoon in roped-off area, ML/SB.
• Heermann’s Gull 16 (ad., imm) greg. resting on inner shore with CAGU and WEGU, ML.
• Ring-billed Gull 35 (ad., imm) greg. resting in and flying around over open water and standing on inner shore, ML.
• Western Gull 60 (ad. imm. – mostly C1 & C2) most in and around lagoon; individuals in flight and resting on towers and elevated platforms in town, ubiq..
• California Gull 40 (ad., imm – mostly C1, C2) resting in open water, usually staying apart from WEGU, s lagoon; in flight over nearshore waters, ubiq..
• Herring Gull 1 (ad.) in flight with WEGU and CAGU, low over lagoon, ML.
• Caspian Tern 1 vocal in flght above lagoon, ML.
• Elegant Tern 3 greg. vocal, individuals and pairs in flight, back and forth between lagoon and nearshore waters, ML, SB.
• Common Loon 1 diving about 70 yards offshore, SB.
• Brandt’s Cormorant 4 greg. a cohesive flock flying low, fast, northwest offshore about 100 yards, SB.
• Double-crested Cormorant 40 (ad., imm) greg. on shore, lagoon islets; flying back and forth between lagoon and offshore waters; none observed in traditional tree roosts at Malibu Village, ML, MC, SB.
• Brown Pelican 40 (ad., imm) greg. a cohesive flock resting in open water, s lagoon; in flight to nearshore waters; diving in lagoon, ML, SB.
• Great Blue Heron 2 standing in low vegetation on isles in lagoon, ML.
• Great Egret 6 on shores and in shallows, ML, MC, LP.
• Snowy Egret 12 greg. a cohesive flock resting on isle, ML.
• Osprey 1 (ad.) preening on light pole at edge of Malibu Colony, ML.
• Red-tailed Hawk 1 (imm) top limb perch in Araucaria, CCR.
• Belted Kingfisher 2 (m) individuals on tree limbs overhanging water; vocal when in flight, MC.
• Downy Woodpecker 1 briefly vocal (unseen) Eucalyptus grove and adjacent garden, CCR.
• Black Phoebe 8 individuals sallying from low perches on shrubs and trees, ubiq..
• Cassin’s Kingbird 2 vocal in riparian patch, MC; in flight over east field, SRR.
• Wrentit 1 vocal (unseen) sw ML; 1 vocal (unseen) hillside sage scrub, SRR.
• California Scrub Jay 2 vocal in flight, CCR ,MC.
• American Crow 25 vocal, greg. ubiq..
• Common (Northern) Raven 2 greg. a pair in flight over hillside homes, SRR.
• Horned Lark 5 greg. foraging on ground in east field, SRR.
• Wrentit 2 vocal 2 individuals, alternate song (unseen) in tall coastal sage scrub, sw ML.
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 foraging in sycamore foliage at about 8 ft. agl, CCR.
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 foraging in coastal sage with flowering Conyza sp., sw ML (photo).

• Northern House Wren 2 in garden and coastal sage, trailside, CCW, ML.
• European Starling 5 greg. vocal, in canopy of a mature Araucaria, CCR.
• Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal (calls) in Eucalyptus grove and ornamental plantings in parking lot, CCR.
• Western Bluebird 4 greg. on utility pole and line; vocal (calls) in flight over parking lot, SRR.
• House Sparrow 2 vocal in garden, CCW.
• American (Buff-bellied) Pipit 4 greg. foraging on ground in roadside ruderal patch, SRR (photo).

• House Finch 8 (m,f) greg. vocal, coastal sage, riparian, gardens and ruderal fields, ubiq.
• Lesser Goldfinch 14 (m,f) vocal, greg. foraging on flowering herbs; ornamental shrubs and trees, CCW, CCR.
• Dark-eyed Junco 1 flushed to garden from parking lot, SRR.
• White-crowned Sparrow 8 (ad., imm) vocal (calls and song), foraging on ground in coastal sage, marsh and ruderal field edges, ubiq..
• Song Sparrow 2 vocal (calls) coastal sage, riparian- marsh edge, MC, ML.
• Lincoln’s Sparrow 1 on ground in garden with NOHW, CCW.
• California Towhee 1 on path between coastal sage and marsh, LP.
• Western Meadowlark 1 a brief, low flight in the east field, SSR.
• Great-tailed Grackle 20 (m,f) greg. vocal, in flight over wetlands; on shore, LP, MC, ML.
• Orange-crowned Warbler 4 individuals in ornamental shrubs and trees, CCR.
• Common Yellowthroat 1 vocal (calls) low with WCSP in riparian-coastal sage, MC; 1 at edge of drainage stream, LP (photo).

• Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler 20 (m,f) vocal (calls) greg. individuals and pairs affecting a wide range of vegetation, gleaning insects, seeds and fruit; frequent aerial hawking of insect swarms; observed at all foliage height levels, ground to canopy, ubiq..

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October 6, 2024 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (58 Species)

Weather: Coastal low fog until about 1300 hrs., then mostly fair; 64°F to 79°F. Winds W, WNW 2-7 mph; seas calm to moderately windblown, surf 1-3 ft.. Incoming tide, high @ 1130 hrs..

Time: 0833-1425 hrs. (lunch break in car; 1200-1315 hrs.).

Areas Covered: Cross Creek Rd (CCR). I walked from the City Library parking area, the length of the accessible sections of CCR, with a brief visit to the west bank of Malibu Creek (MC). The creek was nearly full and largely backed up by the sandbar at Surfrider Beach (SB). I made a count of birds in and around the trees overhanging the Malibu Village parking area, a traditional nesting and roosting site for cormorants, herons and egrets.

Continuing my walk southward on CCR to the Pacific Coast Highway, I entered Malibu Lagoon State Beach (ML). I surveyed the stagnating backwaters of the lagoon, replanted coastal sage scrub, a willow-riparian patch bordering fenced homes and gardens of Malibu Colony, and small patches of freshwater-brackish marsh – once a dominant wetland community pri 6or to the dredging and “Ecological Restoration” project about twelve years ago (see the above URL link to my archival reports for this area). I walked to the outer shore, surveying nearshore waters to about 0.3 mi (about fifty surfers and beach-goers were present), Surfrider Beach (SB), and the south edge of the lagoon (feebly roped-off as a Western Snowy Plover nesting/wintering area), returning the same route.

I walked the perimeter of Legacy Park (LP) twice, beginning and ending at the east end. A well developed freshwater marsh had a mudflat border and pond with sufficient water for a population of habituated, hand-fed mallards, together with a few other waterbirds finding usable resources there.

My final survey was a walk along Stuart Ranch Road (SRR), beginning and ending at Civic Center Way (CCW). The road dead-ends northward at the Malibu Civic Center parking lot with numerous mature Sycamore trees, which is bordered by a coastal sage-chaparral hillside (where most of the new bird species for the day-list were observed), variously disturbed and thinned for fire control. A large, ruderal field is bisected by the fenced SRR. This area has recently been cleared and back-filled with gravel, transforming a once productive meadow for open-country birds, e.g. American Kestrel, Cassin’s Kingbird, Western Bluebird and Savannah Sparrow, into a mostly barren wasteland, colonized by the opportunistic and adaptable California Ground Squirrel.

Other recent developments in the survey area, included the new Cross Creek Commercial Center at the northeast end of CCW. Fortunately, landscaping around the buildings and parking area includes a colorful mixture of native and non-native vegetation attractive to birds and other wildlife.

Homeless folks in the area continue to be an obvious presence, particularly in Legacy Park – now with fewer makeshift campsites visible than in previous years. This is likely the result of recent legislation passed at the state level, requiring California cities and municipalities to remove homeless camps. However, the new legislation apparently has done little to solve the homelessness problem in Los Angeles County, which has reached epic proportions. So, most of the homeless individuals probably remain in the Malibu area, now disassociated and dispersed.

BIRDS NOTED

• Blue-winged Teal 1 (f) swimming at the edge of the pond, LP.
• Gadwall 12 (m,f) greg. pairs and trios in shallows and open water, ML.
• Mallard 30 (m,f) greg. a large flock of comparatively tame, hand-fed birds in LP; elsewhere less numerous but widespread, MC, ML.
• Redhead 1 (m) swimming in open water upstream, MC.
• Ruddy Duck 2 resting in open water, ML.
• Pied-billed Grebe 12 greg. individuals and pairs in shallows throughout, ubiq..
• Eared Grebe 8 individuals swimming, diving in shallows, LP (photo), ML.

• Anna’s Hummingbird 1 (m) hovering around tall ornamental flowering shrubs, CCR.
• Allen’s Hummingbird 8 (m,f) feeding on a wide variety of ornamental flowering plants in gardens and ruderal patches throughout, ubiq.. (photo).

• American Coot 25 greg. in freshwater and brackish shallows, ubiq..
• Black-bellied Plover 25 (bsc. plmg.) greg. resting on inner shore of lagoon, in roped-off area, ML/SRB.
• Western Snowy Plover 20 loosely greg. mostly in deep sand and tidal debris within and adjacent to the roped-off area of ML/SRB; only one bird found to be leg-banded (OB/PB – photo).- chased away by an un-banded individual: OB/PB (photo). Evidently, this species migrates in territorial flocks, presumably individuals from the same nesting areas, e.g. Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County.

• Killdeer 6 greg. individuals and pairs vocal in flight, low over lagoon and inner shore, ML/SRB.
• Ruddy Turnstone 6 greg. resting and foraging on inner shore of lagoon, ML/SRB.
• Sanderling 8 greg. resting at high tide in a cohesive flock in sand with tidal debris, ML/SRB.
• Western Sandpiper 3 (bsc. and trans. bsc. plmg.) greg. individuals and a pair foraging on algal-mud flats on inner shore of lagoon, ML/SRB (photo).

• Dowitcher (Limnodromus sp.) 1 (bsc. plmg.) resting in saltmarsh at s end of lagoon, ML.
• Willet 7 (bsc. plmg.) greg. resting at high tide on inner shore of lagoon in roped-off area, ML/SRB.
• Heermann’s Gull 8 (ad., imm) greg. bathing in open water amongst CAGU, s lagoon; ML.
• Western Gull 60 (ad. imm. – mostly C1 & C2) most in and around lagoon; individuals in flight and resting on towers and elevated platforms in town, ubiq..
• California Gull 35 (ad., imm – mostly C1, C2) resting in open water, usually staying apart from WEGU, s lagoon; in flight over nearshore waters, ubiq..
• Caspian Tern 1 vocal in flght above lagoon, ML.
• Elegant Tern 5 greg. vocal, individuals and pairs in flight, back and forth between lagoon and nearshore waters, ML/SRB.
• Double-crested Cormorant 20 (ad., imm) greg. assembled on upper limbs with unoccupied nests above marketplace mall – a traditional nest and roost site, CCR; in flight over lagoon and nearshore waters, ubiq..
• Brown Pelican 16 (ad., imm) greg. a cohesive flock resting in open water, s lagoon; in flight to nearshore waters, ML/SRB.
• Great Blue Heron 3 standing in low vegetation on isles in lagoon, ML.
• Snowy Egret 8 greg. foraging in shallows and shorelines with relatively little disturbance from pedestrians, ML.
• Green Heron 1 standing at edge of replanted coastal sage-marsh at in sw corner of lagoon, ML (photo).

• Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) standing in tule patch at edge of pond, LP.
• White-faced Ibis 1 foraging in muddy shallows of inlet stream, LP (photo).

• Turkey Vulture 1 soaring and gliding 60-80 ft. agl. SRR.
• Osprey 1 perched on light pole in parking area adjacent to SRB.
• Red-shouldered Hawk 1 vocal (unseen) LP/CCR.
• Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) soaring 70-80 ft. agl over open fields, SRR.
• Belted Kingfisher 1 (f) in flight, low over MC.
• American Kestrel 1 (m) with prey item in talons, in flight, 20 ft. agl over hillside chaparral, SRR.
• Black Phoebe 1 on short post in marsh, ML.
• Phoebe sp.? (c.f. S. phoebe) 1 ID: A dark phoebe, resembling BLPH in size and structure, except with a predominantly light to dusky breast and belly, i.e. no contrasting black and white between breast and belly as in BLPH – seen briefly while perched on a utility wire in the yard of a Malibu Colony home adjacent to SRB.
• Cassin’s Kingbird 1 on conspicuous hillside perch, chaparral, SRR.
• California Scrub Jay 1 on a conspicuous tall perch, MC; 3 vocal, in flight, hillside chaparral, SRR.
• American Crow 25 vocal, greg. ubiq..
• Bushtit 6 greg. active in willows and tall shrubs along ML trail to SRB.
• Wrentit 2 vocal 2 individuals, alternate song (unseen) in tall coastal sage scrub, sw ML.
• Northern House Wren 3 vocal (calls), greg. in tall coastal sage, trailside, MC; sw ML.
• Bewick’s Wren 2 vocal (calls) in ornamental garden and adjacent native (coastal sage), SRR.
• European Starling 16 vocal, greg. in ornamental trees, CCR.
• Northern Mockingbird 2 vocal (calls) edge of lagoon, ML; 1 vocal (calls), hillside chaparral SRR.
• House Finch 4 (m,f) vocal, greg. pairs active in trees and shrubs, MC; ML.
• Lesser Goldfinch 2 vocal (unseen) coastal sage, swc, ML.
• Song Sparrow 10 in gardens, coastal sage and marsh, ubiq..
• Savannah Sparrow 5 greg. on ground in roadside ruderal patch along fence line, SRR.
• California Towhee 2 vocal (calls) trailside, MC; 1 in garden, SRR.
• Western Meadowlark 1 flushed from northeast side of gravel-ruderal field, SRR.
• Red-winged Blackbird 6 (m,f) vocal, greg. in trees, swc ML; CCR.
• Great-tailed Grackle 3 (m) greg. vocal, on inner beach, SRB.
• Orange-crowned Warbler 1 in willows, msf with COYE, ML.
• Common Yellowthroat 6 (m,f) vocal, active in marsh and adjacent coastal sage scrub, ML; LP.
• Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 4 (m,f) vocal, greg. found in a wide variety of shrubs and trees, ML; CCR.

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July 2, 2024 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (51 Species)

Weather: Low coastal fog; partially clearing by 1000 hrs.; 63°F to 82°F; wind SSE 2 – 7 mph; seas calm; surf 0.5 to 1.0 ft.; high tide.

Time: 0555-1351 hrs.

Observers: Hai-Dang Phan and I

Areas Covered: The entire survey was completed on foot. We began by walking along Civic Center Drive, surveying birds in adjacent gardens & parking lot landscaping (CCD); followed by Cross Creek Rd. (CCR), including the Malibu Village parking lots, gardens, exotic shrub and tree plantings, (MV); Lower Malibu Creek, aligned with MV parking lot to the PCH bridge (MC); Subsequently, we surveyed Legacy Park – now a well established coastal sage scrub, freshwater marsh & pond (fed by an artificial drainage and nuisance water stream), scattered sycamore and oak plantings (LP) and then crossed PCH to survey Malibu Lagoon State Park, ecotonal riparian -coastal sage scrub – estuarine marsh & mudflats (ML); Surfrider Beach, sand with piles of driftwood and wrack, mostly at the high tide line (SB); Lastly, we walked north on Stuart Ranch Rd. and into the City Hall parking area, bordered by open, ruderal fields, gardens, eucalyptus grove and steep hillside chaparral with scattered homes (SR); A combined total of about forty-five acres was surveyed visually, using 10×42 binoculars and a Nikon D850 camera, fitted with a Nikon pf 500mm lens.

An increasing volume of pedestrian and automobile traffic occurred throughout the morning. By contrast, there was much less human associated disturbance than during the previous survey made on Saturday, June 8, 2024 — the latter which also differed due to low tide and widespread shoreline exposure.

BIRDS NOTED

• Canada Goose 7 (ad.) greg., a small flock wading in the shallows of the Malibu Creek outlet on SB.
• Gadwall 35 (m,f) (ad., imm.) greg. in shallows mostly with a few in open water; MC, ML.
• Mallard 60 (m,f) (ad., imm) greg. mostly on shore and in shallows and mudflats of LP, MC and ML.
• Pied-billed Grebe 5 (ad, imm) loosely greg., vocal, in shallows and open water of LP, MC and ML.
• Feral Rock Pigeon 5 greg. on and flying around parking lots; on trail next to a large flock of semi-domesticated, wild-type Mallards, MV, LP, ML.
• Mourning Dove 5 flying low, on fences and foraging on ground ML. SR.
• Allen’s Hummingbird 10 (m,f) individuals perched on shrubs and in small trees, ubiq..
• American Coot 10 (ad, imm) greg. parent feeding young, swimming around in the pond and shallows, LP (photo); MC.

• Killdeer 7 (ad., imm) greg. often vocal when approached; foraging on shore at edge of lagoon, ML.
• Whimbrel 1 initially seen on inner, south shore of lagoon, flushed to outer beach as we approached, ML–SB.
• Heermann’s Gull 20 (8 ad., alt. plmg; 12 imm, Juv. (2), C1, C2 greg. a cohesive flock on lagoon sandbar adjacent to Adamson House, with nearby flocks of WEGU, SB.
• Western Gull 40 (imm. C1, C2, C3; (C1, C2 predominantly); greg. mainly on shore foraging in kelp; resting on sandbar; a few in flight almost constantly throughout.
• Glaucous-winged Gull 1 (imm. C3 showing relatively worn, pale gray flight feathers); walking alone on beach near life guard tower, SB (photo).

• Double-crested Cormorant 30 greg. (ad., imm.) at least twelve active nests with fledged and nearly fledged young in a mature Auraucaria tree, MV (this is a traditional DCCO nest site — scroll down to see photo from my survey of May 15, 2022); pavement below white-washed with droppings; this and adjacent trees (most severely trimmed) have also been traditional heron nest/roost sites, now with only one or two GREG nests, MV; other individuals and msf with BRPE on shore of lagoon and islets, MC, ML.
• Brown Pelican 60 (ad, imm), greg. most resting on shore and islets of lagoon; a few circling nearshore and in water offshore, ML; SB.
• Great Blue Heron 2 on shore of lagoon; individuals in flight over the area; none found nesting, MC; ML.
• Great Egret 4 greg. a pair on large, open stick nest, attending to a nestling; another active nest in the same, heavily trimmed tree, MV (photo).

• Snowy Egret 4 foraging on shore and in shallows of lagoon, ML.
• Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) on cable railing of partly submerged walkway, ML.
• Green Heron 2 (ad.) in flight, low over marsh and water, LP, ML.
• Turkey Vulture 2 circling on thermal updrafts over canyon ridge, SR.
• Cooper’s Hawk 1 in flight, circling 40-60 ft. agl over open field, SR.
• Red-shouldered Hawk 2 (ad.) vocal; circling MC/CCR; one perched 30 ft. agl in outer, leafless limb of a Eucalyptus, CCR.
• Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad. light phase) circling on thermal updrafts at base of hillside, SR.
• American Kestrel 1 (f) perched 50 ft. agl in canopy of Eucalyptus, SR.
• Nanday Parakeet 2 greg. vocal, a pair (possibly more individuals unseen nearby) perched in a hillside Eucalyptus, SR.
• Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 sallying from canopy of tall trees (sycamore and ornamental), MC, ML.
• Cassin’s Kingbird 3 in flight and perched on utility wire and exposed outer limbs of tall trees at edges of clearings, MC, LP, SR.
• Black Phoebe 5 (ad., imm), individuals sallying to shore and fields from low perches, ubiq..
• American Crow 60 greg. vocal, flocks foraging in ruderal fields; in flight throughout, ubiq..
• Common (Northern) Raven 4 greg. vocal, pairs and individuals on utility wires and inner shore of lagoon, CCR, ML–SB.
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10 greg. pairs and small flocks perched and flying low over creek and inner lagoon, MC, ML.
• Barn Swallow 3 loosely greg. msf with NRWS and CLSW – flying low over water and open fields, MC, SR.
• Cliff Swallow 50 (conserv. est.) greg. flying 2 – 150 ft. agl, ubiq..
• Oak Titmouse 1 garden trees, ML (HDP).
• Bushtit 18 greg., occasionally vocal; small flocks foraging quickly in shrubs and small trees along trails, heavily vegetated areas, ubiq..
• Wrentit 3 vocal (repeated song), active, 2-5 ft. agl in coastal sage-riparian, LP, ML, SR.
• Western Bluebird 3 (m,f) (ad, imm), on chain-link fence, low limbs and low vegetation in open fields, SR.
• Northern Mockingbird 2 vocal in hillside coastal sage chaparral, SR.
• House Sparrow 5 (m,f) vocal, greg. on pavement around buildings and gardens, CCR.
• House Finch 24 (m,f) vocal, greg. on ground and in shrubs and trees throughout, ubiq..
• Lesser Goldfinch 5 (m,f) vocal, greg. pairs and trios foraging on utility wires, flowering shrubs and trees, MC, SR.
• Rufous-crowned Sparrow 2 (imm.) greg. a pair in ornamental landscaping at the north end of the City Hall parking lot, at base of steep, rocky hillside with coastal sage chaparral; foraging on ground, SR (photo).

• Song Sparrow 3 vocal, active on ground and low in coastal sage scrub, ML, LP.
• Dark-eyed Junco 4 greg. vocal (repeated song), pairs in deciduous trees at edges of ruderal fields and parking lots, MC, CCR, LP (photo).
• California Towhee 3 vocal (calls) on ground in coastal sage scrub, ML.
• Hooded Oriole 2 (f) active in riparian restoration sycamores and ornamental garden trees, MC, SR.
• Red-winged Blackbird 8 (m,f) greg. vocal a cohesive flock foraging in grass at edge of marsh, flying into marsh, LP.
• Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (m) vocal in tree canopy perch, ML.
• Great-tailed Grackle 40 (m,f) vocal, greg. on ground in developed areas; on shorelines and in fields, ubiq..
• Black-headed Grosbeak 1 (m) vocal, in Eucalyptus and mixed ornamental tree grove at edge of parking lot, SR.

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June 8, 2024 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (49 Species)

Weather: Low overcast with intermittent light rain and drizzle. 62F to 69F. Wind, WSW, WNW 5 mph. Tide low, outgoing; surf 2-3 ft.

Time: 0630-1240 hrs.

Areas Covered: Civic Center Drive and adjacent gardens & landscaping (CCD); Cross Creek Rd. (CCR), including the Malibu Village mini-mall parking lots, gardens, exotic shrub and tree plantings, (MV); Stuart Ranch Rd., open, ruderal fields, gardens and adjacent eucalyptus grove (SR); Legacy Park – now a well established coastal sage scrub, freshwater marsh & pond (fed by an artificial drainage and nuisance water stream), scattered sycamore and oak plantings (LP); Lower Malibu Creek, aligned with CCR parking lot to the PCH bridge (MC); Malibu Lagoon State Park, ecotonal riparian -coastal sage scrub – estuarine marsh & mudflats (ML), Surfrider Beach, sand with piles of driftwood and wrack, mostly at the high tide line, exposed rocky shoals at low tide and nearshore waters (to about 300m) with the Malibu Creek and tidal outflow isolating the east and west sections of Surfrider Beach (SB). A combined total of about forty acres was surveyed visually, using a Zeiss 10×42 binocular and Nikon D850 camera, fitted with a Nikon pf 500mm lens.

There was the usual weekend traffic, noise, leaf-blowers (used by a uniformed State Park employee at the entrance to ML), etc. through much of the surveyed area outside the parks. Picnic areas in LP and ML, observation decks, and beaches had multiple visitors, including about 35 active surfers at SB. A signed, roped off sandy area for Snowy Plover, bordering the lagoon, was avoided by most visitors; SNPL was not observed there or anywhere else in the area. A comparatively reduced population of homeless people continue to camp out, mostly in LP.

Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Wilson’s Phalarope (1), Royal Tern (1) and Wrentit (3 — evidently a recently established breeding resident in LP).

BIRDS NOTED

• Canada Goose 2 (ad.) greg., a pair on the inner mudflat of ML.
• Gadwall 35 (m,f) (ad., imm.) greg. in shallows mostly with a few in open water; several females with 5 -8 young, including one flock feeding on the inner mudflats of the lagoon; ubiq..
• Mallard 20 (m,f) (ad., imm) greg. mostly in shallows and on mudflats of MC and ML.
• Pied-billed Grebe 20 (ad, imm) loosely greg., vocal, in shallows and open water of LP, MC and ML (photo).

• Feral Rock Pigeon 4 greg. on trail next to a large flock of semi-domesticated, wild-type Mallards, LP.
• Mourning Dove 10 flying low and foraging on ground in msf with EUST, GTGR and AMCR in ruderal field, SR.
• Allen’s Hummingbird 5 (m,f) individuals perched on shrubs and in small trees, ubiq..
• American Coot 2 (ad, imm) swimming around in the pond, LP.
• Killdeer 4 (ad) vocal when approached, on ground, edge of pond and lagoon, LP, ML.
• Wilson’s Phalarope 1 (fem. alt. plmg.) probing in mud and shallows of inner lagoon, ML (photo).

• Heermann’s Gull 32 (5 ad., alt. plmg; 27 imm, Juv. (2), C1 (23) , C2 (2), greg. a cohesive flock on sandbar with nearby flocks of WEGU and CAGU, SB.
• California Gull 15 (imm. C1), loosely greg. on sandbar and in shallows, usually keeping apart from WEGU.
• Western Gull 65 (ad. alt. & bsc. plmg. (combined total about 40 %) , imm. – C1, C2 predominantly); greg. mainly on shore, sandbar, a few foraging in tidepools; resting in central lagoon with BRPE; ubiq..
• Caspian Tern 10 (alt. plmg.) greg., vocal (in flight) resting on inner shore of lagoon and circling, ML, SB.
• Royal Tern 1 (imm) resting on inner shore of lagoon with nearby CATE, ML (photo).

• Brandt’s Cormorant 6 greg., a cohesive flock flying nw, low offshore, SB.
• Double-crested Cormorant 26 greg. at least thirteen active; pavement below white-washed with droppings; this and adjacent trees (most severely trimmed) have also been traditional heron nest sites, MV; other individuals and msf with BRPE on shore of lagoon and islets, MC, ML.
• Brown Pelican 240 (conserv. est.) (90 % imm) greg. most resting on shore and islets of lagoon; a few circling nearshore, ML; SB.
• Great Blue Heron 4 on shore of lagoon; individuals in flight over the area; none found nesting, MC, ML, LP.
• Great Egret 2 greg. a pair on shore of MC.
• Snowy Egret 1 foraging in shallows of lagoon, ML.
• Black-crowned Night Heron 12 (10 imm; 2 ad.) loosely greg. on shore and in trees, upper section of MC.
• White-faced Ibis 4 (3 ad., 1 imm.) foraging in shallows and on muddy shore of pond, LP.
• Red-shouldered Hawk 1 (ad.) perched 50 ft. agl in outer, leafless limb of a Eucalyptus, CCR.
• Nuttall’s Woodpecker 1 vocal (unseen) MC.
• Cassin’s Kingbird 1 flying to ground in ruderal field with nearby flock of AMCR and GTGR, SR.
• Black Phoebe 4 individuals sallying to shore and fields from low perches, ML, LP, CCR.
• American Crow 60 greg. vocal, flocks foraging in ruderal fields; in flight throughout, ubiq..
• Common (Northern) Raven 1 vocal an individual on inner shore of lagoon, ML/ SB.
• Violet-green Swallow 1 flying low over water, upstream in a msf with CLSW and BASW, MC.
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow 6 greg. pairs flying low over creek and inner lagoon, MC, ML.
• Barn Swallow 30 (conserv. est.) loosely greg. flying low over water and open fields, ubiq..
• Cliff Swallow 20 (conserv. est.) greg. flying 2 – 70 ft. agl, often in msf with BASW and NRWS, throughout, ubiq..
• Oak Titmouse 1 vocal (unseen) heavily wooded east side of MC.
• Bushtit 14 greg., occasionally vocal; small flocks foraging quickly in shrubs and small trees along trails, LP, ML, CCR.
• Bewick’s Wren 1 vocal (unseen) ruderal-riparian edge of MC.
• Wrentit 3 vocal (repeated song) in dense coastal sage. Athough this species has been found in the area (mainly by its distinctive vocalizations) during previous survey-years, it now appears to have colonized the dense coastal sage section of LP, between the pond-marsh and PCH. MC, LP (photo).

• European Starling 12 greg. vocal, a small flock foraging with GTGR and AMCR in a ruderal field, SR; in flight throughout, ubiq..
• House Sparrow 5 vocal, greg. on and around buildings and gardens, CCR.
• House Finch 14 (m,f) vocal, greg. on ground and in shrubs and trees throughout, ubiq..
• Lesser Goldfinch 12 (m,f) vocal, greg. small flocks foraging on flowering shrubs and herbs throughout, ubiq..
• Dark-eyed Junco 4 greg. vocal (repeated song), pairs in deciduous trees at edges of ruderal fields and parking lots, MC, LP (photo).

• Song Sparrow 26 (ad, imm) vocal (calls and song) on trails and in adjacent shrubs, occasionally in small trees, ubiq..
• California Towhee 4 vocal (calls and song) riparian edge and coastal sage, MC, LP.
• Hooded Oriole 1 (m) vocal (calls) in the canopy of a line of ornamental trees bordering the nursery parking area, CCR.
• Red-winged Blackbird 20 (m,f) vocal (calls and song) in marsh vegetation and on ground adjacent fields in msf with GTGR and EUST, LP, SR.
• Brewer’s Blackbird 5 (m,f) greg. foraging in short grass and ruderal edge, LP, SR.
• Great-tailed Grackle 30 (m,f) vocal, greg. small flocks of 3 -5 individuals foraging in ruderal fields, shorelines, marsh, gardens, ubiq..
• Orange-crowned Warbler 1 foraging in trailside deciduous trees, ML.

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April 11, 2023 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (66 Species)

Weather: Coastal low fog persisting through the morning and early afternoon; 55F; wind ENE 1- 3mph; – low tide, surf 2-3 ft.

Time: 0842 – 1315 hrs.

Areas Covered: Civic Center Drive and adjacent gardens & landscaping (CCD); Cross Creek Rd., including the mini-mall parking lots, gardens, exotic shrub and tree plantings, (CCR); Stuart Ranch Rd., open, ruderal fields, gardens and adjacent eucalyptus grove (SR); Legacy Park – now a well established coastal sage scrub, freshwater marsh & pond, scattered sycamore and oak plantings (LP); Lower Malibu Creek, aligned with CCR parking lot to the PCH bridge (MC); Malibu Lagoon State Park, ecotonal riparian -coastal sage scrub – estuarine marsh & mudflats (ML), Surfrider Beach, sand with piles of driftwood and wrack, mostly at the high tide line, exposed rocky shoals at low tide and nearshore waters (to about 300m) with the Malibu Creek outflow isolating the east and west sections of Surfrider Beach (SB). A combined total of about forty acres was surveyed visually, using a Zeiss 10×42 binocular and Nikon D3X camera, fitted with a Nikon pf 500mm lens.

There was the usual weekday traffic, noise, construction, leaf-blowers, etc. through much of the surveyed area outside the parks. Picnic areas in LP and ML, observation decks, and beaches had multiple visitors, including two busloads of elementary school children, all with binoculars and teachers providing basic instruction on ecology and bird identification. A substantial population of homeless people continue to camp out in the parks and adjacent areas.

BIRDS NOTED

Canada Goose 4 greg. vocal, flying low over the lagoon and alighting on shore of MC; Gadwall 10 (m,f) greg., pairs in shallow fresh and brackish waters throughout; Mallard 30 (m,f) greg. pairs in shallow fresh and brackish waters and shores throughout; one albinistic domestic, LP; Green-winged Teal 3 (m,f) greg. foraging on mudflats, ML; Hooded Merganser 3 (f) greg. resting in pond, LP (photo).

Red-breasted Merganser 1 (f) resting, apparently with an injured wing, on shore near creek outlet to the sea, ML (photo).

Scoter sp. c.f. White-winged, white patch in wings in flight seen briefly, 2 flying low, southward over nearshore waters, SB; Ruddy Duck 3 (m,f; alt. plmg.) at edges of pond, LP; Pied-billed Grebe 4 (ad, imm) swimming in pond and shallows, LP, MC; Horned Grebe 1 (bsc. plmg.) swimming in nearshore waters, SB. Western Grebe 2 both individuals possibly sick or injured, resting on shore of lagoon, ML; Feral Rock Pigeon 25 greg. on shore of marsh and pond, LP; Mourning Dove 4 greg., vocal, in trees and on ground, LP; Anna’s Hummingbird 1 perched atop a sycamore, LP; Selasphorus sp. 3 (m,f ) individuals flying low over flower gardens, perched atop tall shrubs, CCR, LP; American Coot 40 greg. in freshwater and brackish water throughout; Killdeer 6 greg. pairs on ground in open areas and mudflats, LP, ML, SR; Snowy Plover 1 (alt. plmg.) on sandy berm next to MC outlet, SB; Whimbrel 3 (ad.) foraging in exposed tidal rocks with attached clusters of mussel (Mytilus californianus), one bird repeatedly probing deeply into mussel beds for several minutes before emerging with a live crab (photo).

Long-billed Curlew 2 (alt. plmg.) greg. a pair on the edge of the MC outlet, SB; Marbled Godwit 3 greg. a pair and single individual foraging in exposed tidal rocks, SB (photo).

Least Sandpiper 4 greg. pairs foraging on mudflats, loosely associated with WESA, LP, ML; Western Sandpiper 80 (alt. plmg.) greg. highly mobile, cohesive flocks foraging and flying between sections of ML mudflats; a comparatively small, sedentary flock of nine birds in LP (photo).

Willet 3 (trans. alt. plmg.) foraging at tideline and in exposed tidal rocks, SB (photo).

Western Gull 120 (ad., about 70% imm:C1, C2, C3) greg. ubiq, most abundant in ML; Heermann’s Gull 10 (imm) greg. most on outer shore, SB; California Gull 30 (ad. imm.) greg., most in water and islet, ML; Ring-billed Gull 45 (ad, imm.) greg. with CAGU and WEGU on islet, shore and in water, ML, SB; Elegant Tern 80 (85% alt. plmg.) tightly greg. incipient courtship behavior on islet, flying around over lagoon and nearshore waters, ML, SB; Royal Tern 2 (imm) with ELTE on islet; Forster’s Tern 2 seen briefly in flight over ML; Caspian Tern 3 (alt. plmg.) greg. resting on islet with ELTE, flying over lagoon, ML; Double-crested Cormorant 30 greg. at least 15 active nests in traditional location – top third of a mature Araucaria tree adjacent to Starbucks coffee shop, CCR (see also, May 15, 2022 report below); Brandt’s Cormorant 4 flying nw, low over water, nearshore, SB; Brown Pelican 80 (ad, imm) a larg flock crowded together on islet; a few in the water, ML; Great Blue Heron 3 (alt. plmg.) on shore and in shallows, ML; Great Egret 5 partially gregarious (apparently due to small area of cover, i.e. dense tule marsh in LP, compared with the barren, fully exposed “restored” wetland of ML) foraging in marsh and edge of water LP, ML; Snowy Egret 3 loosely greg. in marsh, LP; Turkey Vulture 1 soaring at about 60 ft. agl along base of hillside, SR; Belted Kingfisher 1 perched on snag under PCH bridge, MC; Nanday Parakeet 1 vocal (unseen) CCD-LP; Nuttall’s Woodpecker 1 vocal (unseen) riparian woodland, east side of MC; Western Kingbird 9 greg. one in ruderal field and two, small migrating flocks (3 & 5), flying nw over open area at base of hillside 30 ft. agl, CCD, SR; Cassin’s Kingbird 1 vocal in large eucalyptus, CCR; Black Phoebe 3 vocal, sallyng from low perch of trees in gardens and edge coastal sage, LP, CCD; American Crow 15 greg. vocal, pairs on beach and in developed areas, ubiq; Tree Swallow 2 perched in sycamore with NRWS, east side of MC; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 14 greg. flying back and forth over surface of creek and riparian patch, MC; Barn Swallow 10 greg. pairs collecting mud nest material, flying around under PCH bridge, MC, ML; Cliff Swallow 6 greg. soaring above hillside and riparian woodland at 100-150 ft. agl, MC; Wrentit 1 vocal (unseen) adjacent second-growth, garden and coastal sage edge, nw ML; American Robin 2 perched in sycamore, MC; Western Bluebird 4 vocal, greg. on fence in ruderal field and gardens, coastal sage clearing with scattered small trees, LP, SR; Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal (partial song) distant edge of ruderal field and woodland, SR; European Starling 5 greg. vocal, flying and perched in garden trees and eucalyptus, CCR, ML; House Sparrow 4 (m,f) greg., vocal, in gardens and on sidewalks, CCR; House Finch 12 (m,f) vocal, greg. in trees at edges of clearings, ubiq; Lesser Goldfinch 4 (m,f) vocal in flight and in trees at edges of clearings, CCD, LP; Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco 4 greg. pairs in shrubs and garden trees, CCR; White-crowned Sparrow 22 (ad, imm) on ground in coastal sage, riparian woodland and ruderal edges of gardens, LP, CCR, ML; Song Sparrow 14 vocal (song, calls), pairs in gardens, coastal sage; one pair with nest material, ubiq; Red-winged Blackbird 20 (m,f) vocal, greg. riparian edge, most abundant in tule marsh, LP; Brewer’s Blackbird 2 vocal, perched in trees at edge of garden, CCR; Great-tailed Grackle 20 (m,f) vocal, greg. most abundant in marsh and adjacent riparian patches, LP, CCR, ML; Common Yellowthroat 4 greg. vocal (song and calls) pairs in tule marsh and adjacent coastal sage, LP; Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler 4 (m,f) pairs foraging in small trees and shrubs, LP, ML.

May 15, 2022 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (50 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 57F to 76F; wind WSW 2-12 mph; high tide @ 0900 hrs; surf 1-2 ft. seas calm.

Time: 0650-1015 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) Legacy Park (LP) – I walked a clockwise route on perimeter and interior paths around the park, including a brief visit across the street to Stuart Ranch Rd (SR). Water level in the main LP pond was relatively high; there was abundant marsh vegetation around the pond with adjacent coastal sage scrub. No other visitors were present in the park during my survey.

2) Civic Center Way and Cross Creek Rd (CCR). I surveyed roadside gardens and ornamental trees (e.g. loquat); automobile traffic increasing in this area through the morning with a car show in the shopping center parking lot. 3)

Continuing, east through the shopping center, I surveyed Malibu Creek and the adjacent riparian strips between the rocky stream bed and PCH overpass (MC). A colony of nesting Double-crested Cormorant was photographed in a tall Araucaria tree in the shopping center. 4) I continued walking south into Malibu Lagoon State Park (ML), staying on pathways leading to Surfrider Beach (SB).

I surveyed the main lagoon – very shallow with abundant algal growth; mudflats – largely devoid of birdlife – coastal sage plantings, sandy beach (SB) with much accumulated kelp and California mussel left from an overnight high tide – and nearshore waters. About ten surfers were out near the Malibu Pier. Relatively few visitors were on the beach; one wildlife photographer in waders and full camouflage attire was sitting in the lagoon and slowly moving up to an islet with a flock of Brown Pelican. Two people were collecting mussels on the mudflats in the northwest section of the lagoon.

Receding creek waters in the lagoon have fostered stagnation, i.e. heavy algal growth with presumably a depletion of dissolved oxygen and accumulating toxic byproducts. Consequently, piscivorous birds (pelicans, cormorants & terns) were using the lagoon for resting and staging areas (most of the terns were in alternate plumage). Frequently, these flocks were disturbed enough to relocate to the outer shore of SB and adjacent nearshore waters, just outside the surf zone. Gulls congregated on the outer shore of SB, foraging amongst clumps of tidal wrack. A few cormorants were diving upstream in MC; however, the main source of fish being fed to their nestlings was probably somewhere else, i.e., offshore waters.

The Malibu Lagoon ‘ecological restoration’ project, initiated more than a decade ago (see archival bird surveys), and enthusiastically supported by local Audubon Society chapters, led by individuals with evidently little understanding of coastal ecology, has been a dismal failure. Not only are fewer waterbirds sustained by the scant natural resources remaining in Malibu Lagoon these days, what once was a vibrant coastal marsh ecosystem, has degenerated into something resembling a flooded landfill with educational signage now largely of historical relevance.

BIRD NOTED

Canada Goose 14 vocal, gregarious, flying over LP; Brant 3 greg. foraging on mudflat, n ML; Gadwall 18 (m,f) vocal, greg. – pairs swimming and resting near shore LP, MC, ML; Mallard 22 (m,f) greg. in shallows, LP, MC, ML; Feral Rock Pigeon 12 greg. flying around CCR, SR; Allen’s Hummingbird 2 (m,f) in flowering garden plants, CCR; American Coot 4 in shallows, MC; Black-bellied Plover 2 (bsc. plmg.) greg. pair standing on shoreline rocks, sw ML; Killdeer 2 a pair in rocky streambed, w LP; Whimbrel 3 greg. resting on islet shore, s ML; Red-necked Phalarope 1 (alt. plmg.) foraging quickly on mudflat shorelines, nw ML (photo).

Heermann’s Gull 6 (C1) greg. on outer and inner shore with other gulls, SB; Ring-billed Gull 2 (one ad.) greg. on mudflat, sw ML; Western Gull 20 (C1 + C2 (70 %), C3, ad. ) greg. ubiq., most on outer shore, SB, a few flying around CCR, LP; California Gull 30 (C1, C2, C3) greg. on islets, inner and outer shore, ML, SB; Glaucous-winged Gull 3 (C1 (photo), C2, ad.).

Caspian Tern 6 (alt. plmg.) vocal, greg., flying around lagoon when disturbed while resting isle, nw ML; Forster’s Tern 3 (alt. plmg.) with other terns and pelicans on isle, nw ML; Royal Tern 150 (most in alt. plmg.) vocal, greg. on isle with other terns, flying around lagoon and SB when disturbed; Elegant Tern 30 (bsc. and alt. plmg.) with ROTE and other terns, nw ML; Pacific Loon 3 loosely greg. while flying n over surface, offshore, SB; Double-crested Cormorant 40 (ad., imm. – 1/3 grown visible in some of the 14 active nests; bird excrement and a strong fish odor in the immediate area); colony in upper third of Araucaria tree next to busy shopping mall, CCR (photo).

Brown Pelican 300 (est.) (about 75% imm.) greg. resting on islets and outer shore, some in nearshore waters, taking flight when disturbed (photo), none seen foraging, sw ML, SB.

Great Blue Heron 4 (alt. plmg., bsc. plmg.) individuals on shore, LP, MC, ML; Snowy Egret 2 individuals on shore, ML; Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) on snag, sw ML (photo). This heron species, now comparatively scarce at ML, was abundant prior to the habitat restoration. It formerly nested in trees (most of which have been severely trimmed) adjacent to the shopping mall on CCR.

Nanday Parakeet 2 vocal, greg. flying n from palm, SR; Black Phoebe 5 ubiq. at edge of open areas near water; California Scrub-Jay 1 in trees, SR; American Crow 12 vocal, greg. ubiq; Tree Swallow 3 (ad, imm) flying low over MC; Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 greg., flying low over upper MC; Cliff Swallow 3 flying over riparian strip, MC; Barn Swallow 12 greg. flying low over wetlands, ubiq.; Oak Titmouse 1 vocal, e riparian, MC; Bushtit 2 (ad, imm) edge of coastal sage scrub, s ML; Wrentit 1 vocal, e riparian-coastal sage, MC; Western Bluebird 1 vocal, ruderal field, w CCR; Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal, gardens, CCR; European Starling 6 vocal, greg. in sycamores and euclalyptus, CCR, n ML; House Sparrow 6 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, on and around buildings and gardens, CCR; House Finch 10 (m,f) vocal, greg., LP, CCR, MC; Lesser Goldfinch 2 in flowering garden plants, CCR; Common Yellowthroat 2 edge of marsh, LP, 1 riparian edge, n ML; California Towhee 1 vocal, riparian edge, n ML; Song Sparrow 12 vocal (song) from exposed perches, LP, CCR, ML; Red-winged Blackbird 8 (m,f) vocal, edge of marsh-riparian, LP; Brewer’s Blackbird 1 (m) flying w over LP; Great-tailed Grackle 7 (m,f) greg., vocal, riparian edge of marsh, LP; Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco 2 vocal on ground in garden and adjacent trees, CCR; Hooded Oriole 2 (m,f) greg. a pair in fruiting ornamental trees next to nursery, CCR.

January 10, 2021 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (61 Species)

Weather: Partly cloudy; 55 F to 70F; wind NNE 5 – 10 mph; tide high at 0600 hrs. seas choppy, surf 2- 3 ft.

Time: 0650 – 1030 hrs.

Areas Covered: 1) I walked twice around Legacy Park, before and after surveying adajcent areas, staying mostly on paved paths (LP). There was sufficient water in the main pond and stream to support a few ducks and coots. Marsh vegetation was completely dry and appeared to have been largely removed during the previous year. Ongoing attempts to establish native coastal sage habitat continue, largely on the north side of the main pond and creek; the south side is now covered by a relatively dense, continuous stand of native coastal sage scrub. 2) Continuing on Civic Center Way (CCW), I covered a developed segment Cross Creek Road (CCR), with almost exclusively non-native, ornamental shrubs and trees, to the adjacent edge of Malibu Creek (MC). The latter was at near maximum water volume with little to no exposed shoreline. The revegetation of the west shore of MC has resulted in a fairly uniform riparian strip; evidence of homeless camps (clearings and trash) was abundant here. 3) Lastly, I entered Malibu Lagoon State Park (ML) and walked the main pathways on the north and west sides, ending at Surfrider Beach (SB). Many gulls and other shorebirds were isolated on the SB sandbar and adjacent coastal sage, low ridges of ML. The gulls and other shorebirds were flushed when two individuals waded across the channel and invaded their roost, throwing stones at them.

Very little marshland vegetation (Scirpus & Typha) has recolonized ML following the “restoration” project, begun nearly a decade ago. Consequently, birds largely dependent on dense marsh habitat, e.g. Black-crowned Night Heron, Sora, Marsh Wren and Red-winged Blackbird, once common at ML, are now scarce. The dredge and fill operations in the lagoon created what initially appeared to be additional mudflats for wintering shorebirds. However, the diversity and abundance of those birds, e.g. Calidris spp., has apparently declined. It seems likely that disruption of the soil ecology and exposure of deep toxic sediments, resulted in comparatively poor foraging opportunities for migratory shorebirds.

The establishment of a nearby freshwater marsh in Legacy Park was arguably a suitable replacement mitigating the loss of that feature in Malibu Lagoon. However, water management by the local agencies at LP, including large-scale marsh removal and frequent incursions by people and dogs (apparently there is no law enforcement here), has left that area with a disappointingly low diversity and abundance of water birds.

BIRD NOTED

Canada Goose 4 in shallows, ML; Gadwall 5 (m,f) pairs and individuals swimming near island shore, ML; American Wigeon 1 (f) resting on island shore, ML; Mallard 16 (m,f) resting on edge of creek, LP, 4 (m,f) pairs swimming in lagoon; Green-winged Teal 2 (m) swimming in main pond, LP; Bufflehead 1 (f) flying upstream, ML/MC; Hooded Merganser 3 (f) gregarious, diving in deeper sections of the lagoon and upstream, ML/MC; Red-breasted Merganser 8 (1 m, 7 fem) gregarious, swimming fast and diving repeatedly in deeper sections of the lagoon, ML (photo).

Ruddy Duck 30 (m,f) gregarious, most resting in open water, MC ML; Pied-billed Grebe 5 diving in open water, MC/ML; Eared Grebe 4 loosely gregarious, lower MC; Western Grebe 2 swimming near shore upper MC, one standing on shore lower MC; Feral Rock Pigeon 2 on sidewalk in shopping center, CCR; Mourning Dove 2 flying nw over lagoon, ML; Anna’s Hummingbird 1 atop tall ornamental shrub, ML; Allen’s Hummingbird 1 (m) atop saltbush, ML; American Coot 12 LP, 100 + shoreline and edge of MC/ML; Black-bellied Plover 20 (all in bsc. plmg.) gregarious resting on low ridge next to lagoon, ML/SB; Killdeer 1 vocal (unseen) ML; Whimbrel 1 foraging on inner shore, SB; Marbled Godwit 5 gregarious, resting on low ridge with BBPL, ML/SB; Ruddy Turnstone 2 gregarious, resting on low ridge with BBPL, WILL and MAGO, ML/SB; Willet 5 gregarious, resting on low ridge with BBPL, MAGO, RUTU, ML/SB; Heermann’s Gull 4 (2 ad, 2 imm) gregarious with CAGU on sandbar peninsula, SB; Ring-billed Gull 10 (ad, imm) gregarious, resting on sandbar peninsula with other gulls, SB; Western Gull 16 (ad, C1, C2) gregarious, vocal, foraging on refuse around library, CCW, 85 (ad, imm) gregarious on and near sandbar peninsula, ML/SB, ubiquitous flying over entire survey area; California Gull 120 ( 90% ad. ) gregarious on sandbar peninsula, SB; Herring Gull 1 (ad) on sandbar peninsula shore, SB; Glaucous-winged Gull 2 (ad, C1) foraging with WEGU on refuse around library, CCW, 3 (ad, C1) on sandbar peninsula shore, SB; Royal Tern 10 gregarious on outer shore, SB (photo); Brandt’s Cormorant 1 flying low offshore, SB; Double-crested Cormorant 1 40 ft. agl in tall conifer over shopping center, CCR, 20 (ad, imm) on sandbar peninsula and snags in lagoon, ML/SB; Brown Pelican 1 circling the lagoon, ML; Great Blue Heron 2 gregarious on brushy lagoon island, ML; Great Egret 1 (trans. alt. plmg.) on shore, n ML (photo).

Snowy Egret 20 variably gregarious, apparent pre-courtship staging with displays and aggressive chasing on shore, ML; Osprey 1 flying over lagoon, ML; Belted Kingfisher 1 vocal in flight, MC; Nuttall’s Woodpecker 1 vocal (unseen) tall eucalyptus, CCR; American Kestrel 1 flying low over n LP; Nanday Parakeet 18 gregarious, vocal in flight over LP; Black Phoebe 3 low perch and sallies over creek and adjacent open ground, LP, one hawking insects in beach wrack, ML/SB; Say’s Phoebe 1 hawking insects in beach wrack, about 20 yards from BLPH, MLSB, ML/SB. California Scrub-Jay 1 vocal (unseen) lower MC; American Crow 20 vocal, gregarious – especially in tall eucalyptus, CCR, ubiquitous; Marsh Wren 1 vocal, (unseen) nw corner of lagoon with a small patch of marsh vegetation; Hermit Thrush 1 foraging on ground at edge of coastal sage scrub, LP; European Starling 5 vocal, gregarious in and around shopping center, CCR; House Sparrow 5 vocal, gregarious in and around shopping center, CCR; House Finch 4 vocal, gregarious in tall riparian scrub, n ML; Lesser Goldfinch 2 in sycamores, LP, 2 riparian edge, n ML; Orange-crowned Warbler 1 vocal in ornamental roadside trees bordering nursery, CCR; Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 25 (m,f) vocal (calls) gregarious, ubiquitous in taller vegetation; Common Yellowthroat 3 vocal (calls) edge of pathway, LP, ML; Spotted Towhee 1 foraging with WCSP at edge of pathway, nw ML; California Towhee 1 vocal (unseen) dense shrubs next to parking area n LP; Savannah Sparrow 2 calls (unseen) sparse coastal sage scrub, n ML; Song Sparrow 20 vocal (calls and song), relatively tame, ubiquitous in brushy areas; White-crowned Sparrow 16 (ad, imm) vocal (calls and song), gregarious, ubiquitous in brushy areas; Red-winged Blackbird 10 vocal (gregarious), flying over but not alighting in marsh, LP; Brewer’s Blackbird 4 (m,f) on ground in shopping center, CCR;

November 9, 2019 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (65 Species)

Weather: Fair; 65F to 83F; wind WNW 3 mph; low tide @ 1130 hrs. surf 2-3 ft, surface calm.

Time: 0850-1330 hrs.

Areas Covered: Legacy Park (LP). I walked a counter-clockwise route around the nearly dry marsh-riparian drainage and pond, cutting across fields of coastal sage scrub (see previous survey of October 13, 2019 for details on this area). Continuing northeastward on Civic Center Way (CCW), I surveyed ornamental shrubs and trees, including Cross Creek Road (CCR to gated community entrance), back to shopping center (heavily pruned trees bordering the parking lot were without herons & egrets – everywhere scarce today, except GBHE) then south along the west border of Malibu Creek (MC). Lastly, I entered Malibu State Beach, walking the perimeter trail bordering Malibu Lagoon (ML) to the Adamson House on Surfrider Beach (SRB). The tide was going out, exposing nearshore shoals, which began attracting shorebirds. The beach berm continues to be blocking the connection between Malibu Creek and the sea. About 50-60 beach goers and surfers were active on and around Surfrider Beach during my survey.

BIRDS NOTED

Brant 1 foraging on submerged filamentous algae and grass near the surface, sw ML (photo);

Gadwall 25 (m,f) loosely gregarious, dabbling in shallows around the lagoon, ML; American Wigeon 14 (m,f) individuals and pairs dabbling in shallows around the lagoon, ML (photo);

Mallard 30 (m,f) pairs around the edges of the lagoon, ML; Northern Pintail 1 (f) swimming in shallows, nw ML; Green-winged Teal 1 (f) walking and dabbling in stagnant shallows at edge of lagoon, s ML; Redhead 1 (imm m) diving repeatedly (not seen consuming anything) in channel, sw ML (photo);

Lesser Scaup 2 (f) resting in open water, sw ML; Red-breasted Merganser 1 (f) resting in open water near PCH bridge, ML; Ruddy Duck 10 (m,f) most resting in open water, MC, ML; Pied-billed Grebe 3 individuals swimming and diving in open water, ML; Eared Grebe 2 diving in open water and near shore, sw ML; Horned Grebe 1 swimming, preening in open water, central ML; Feral Rock Pigeon 16 gregarious, circling parking area and mall, CCW, CCR; Mourning Dove 6 gregarious on ground and flying, LP; Anna’s Hummingbird 2 on shrubs, LP, ML; Allen’s Hummingbird 5 (m,f) individuals perched, visiting and guarding flowering ornamental and native shrubs, CCW, CCR, ML; Sora 1 vocal (unseen) in marsh, LP; American Coot 500 gregarious, MC, ML; Black-bellied Plover 18 gregarious on shore, SRB, ML; Snowy Plover 16 gregarious, SRB and adjacent shoreline with wrack; Killdeer 6 vocal, individuals and pairs around edges of the lagoon, ML; Whimbrel 1 edge of lagoon with BBPL, s ML/SRB; Marbled Godwit 2 edge of lagoon, s ML/SRB; Ruddy Turnstone 5 gregarious foraging in and around wrack on outer shore, SRB (photo);

Sanderling 20 gregarious, mostly on outer shore, SRB; Willet 6 gregarious, inner shore, ML; Heermann’s Gull 2 (ad) in shallows with CAGU and RBGU, s ML; Ring-billed Gull 14 (ad, imm) gregarious on shore and in shallows, ML, SRB; Western Gull 30 (80 % ad; remainder imm, juv-C3) gregarious, ubiquitous; California Gull 120 (90 % ad), gregarious, ubiquitous, esp s ML; Herring Gull 1 C3 resting on shore, sML (photo);

Royal Tern 1 flying low over outer shore, SRB; Brandt’s Cormorant 1 flyjng low, westward, offshore; Double-crested Cormorant 25 (ad, imm) resting on snags, mouths open, around the edges of the lagoon, ML (photo);

Brown Pelican 1 resting in open water, central ML; Great Blue Heron 5 on land around edges of the lagoon, ML; Snowy Egret 3 on shore, sw, se ML; Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (imm) on shore, nw ML; Red-tailed Hawk 1 perched on exposed branch in adjacent garden, e ML; Belted Kingfisher 1 (m) perched on branch over water, MC; Nanday Parakeet 8 vocal, gregarious, flying swiftly over park and adjacent developments, LP, CCW; Say’s Phoebe 1 in shrub near drainage, LP; Black Phoebe 4 vocal, in shrubs and trees near water or mud, LP, ML; Cassin’s Kingbird 1 vocal (unseen) eucalyptus, sycamore patch, CCR; American Crow 20 gregarious, vocal, ubiquitous; Common Raven 2 vocal, flying, n CCW; House Wren 1 scold calls, in shrubs, LP; Bewick’s Wren 1 vocal (calls) edge of trail in shrubs, nw ML; Marsh Wren 1 vocal, active low in patch of bulrush, sw ML; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 active in shrubs with WCSP, e LP; Hermit Thrush 1 in dense trail side shrubs with WCSP and BGGN, e LP; Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal, (partial, fragmented song – similar to CATH) on ground and in shrubs, central LP; European Starling 14 gregarious, vocal, CCW, CCR; American Pipit 1 vocal (unseen) s ML; Lesser Goldfinch vocal (unseen) sw ML; Orange-crowned Warbler 2 in msf with WCSP and YRWA, n LP; Common Yellowthroat 15 (m,f) vocal, ubiquitous in medium to tall patches of shrubs, marsh, gardens; Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 50-60 (m,f) gregarious, vocal (calls) foraging in a wide variety of vegetation types, often in msf with WCSP, SOSP, COYE, and other small passerines, ubiquitous; California Towhee 1 on ground trail side, flushed into dense coastal sage, LP; Song Sparrow 5 vocal (calls) with WCSP, COYE, one with unusual broad, white supercilium, LP, ML (photo);

White-crowned Sparrow 30 (ad, imm) vocal (calls and song) gregarious, ubiquitous, most common in LP; Western Meadowlark 2 flying low over field, sw ML; Brewer’s Blackbird 2 (m,f) shopping area, CCR; Great-tailed Grackle 6 (m,f) gregarious, vocal, CCR, ML.

October 13, 2019 Malibu Lagoon and Legacy Park (60 Species)

Weather:Fair; 53F to 78F; wind E 1-2 mph; high tide

Time: 0740-1120 hrs.

Areas Covered: Legacy Park (LP). I walked a clockwise route around and on short trails within LP. Relatively dense plantings of coastal sage scrub and 15- 25 ft. tall trees (mostly sycamore with a few small coast live oak) dominate the park. The drainage basin supports a heavy growth of bulrush (Scirpus sp.) with a shallow, receding pool and mud border at the terminus of a dry, rocky channel. A few ducks and herons were clustered around a puddle- mudflat-marsh in the north-central portion of the basin. The park is now dissected by trails to homeless encampments adorned by toilet paper and rubbish. Nearly every park bench was occupied by a homeless resident and their belongings. On a more upbeat note, the constant human presence in the park appears to be habituating the wildlife (some species are taking supplemental food), e.g. Mallard, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Orange-crowned warbler, Western meadowlark, as commonly occurs in public campgrounds. This makes possible some interesting close-up photography of otherwise shy, secretive species.

Continuing eastward from LP along Civic Center Way (CCW) then north on Cross Creek Rd (CCR), I surveyed ornamental shrubs and trees (e.g. a loquat popular with warblers ). Cutting across the shopping center parking lot, I walked a short trail within the riparian strip (mostly reclaimed) bordering Malibu Creek (MC). The creek water level was high owing to a blockage by a contiguous sandbar at Surfrider Beach. From this vantage point, I could see about 100 m upstream and about 200 m downstream to the PCH overpass.

Crossing PCH, I entered Malibu Beach State Park, following the trails overlooking Malibu Lagoon (ML) and leading out to Surfrider Beach (SRB). Most of the northwest section of the park continues to display the devastating ecological effects of a massive dredge and fill operation, dubbed ‘habitat restoration’, completed here several years earlier (see my archival webpages for Malibu Lagoon). Very little of the once extensive freshwater marsh remains. The lagoon margins are dominated by a patchy, low growth of saltmarsh-coastal sage scrub vegetation. Sadly, marsh birds, e.g. Virginia Rail, Sora, Black-crowned Night Heron, Marsh Wren and Red-winged Blackbird, are now largely without adequate cover; a handful of individuals of those formerly common species return to visit the lagoon, seemingly in anticipation of the return of their preferred habitat, which has become increasingly impacted by coastal development in Southern California.

The tidal sandbar between the Malibu Colony and the Adamson House has narrowed substantially and formed a barrier to the connection of Malibu Creek and the sea (photo). This has caused stagnation and eutrophication in the lower reaches of the lagoon as well as upstream in Malibu Creek, probably impacting habitat quality for resident and migratory waterbirds. Visible impacts to those species occur from pedestrians, who often force flocks of migratory birds from their resting areas at high tide and feeding areas at low tide.

BIRDS NOTED

Greater White-fronted Goose 2 (imm) foraging in the shallows, se ML (photo);

Gadwall 10 (m,f) resting in shallows, s ML; Mallard 30 (m,f) ubiquitous in wetlands, several following pedestrians around in LP; American Wigeon 5 resting on an island landfill, sw ML; Cinnamon Teal 1 (m imm) swimming in open water, s ML; Northern Shoveler 1 (f) with other ducks, s ML; Green-winged Teal 3 (f) dabbling in muddy puddle, LP; 5 (f) open water, s ML; Pied-billed Grebe 2 open water and near shore, sw ML; Eared Grebe 1 diving, sw ML; Feral Rock Pigeon 25 gregarious, circling parking area, CCW; Mourning Dove 2 on ground, LP; Anna’s Hummingbird 2 hovering above shrubs, LP; Allen’s Hummingbird 3-4 (m) hovering above flowering ornamentals, CCW, CCR, coastal sage border, ML; American Coot 50 gregarious, MC (n) and ML; Sora 1 vocal (unseen) in an isolated patch of bulrush, nw ML; Black-bellied Plover 25 (bsc. plmg.) gregarious, resting on edge of sandbar, s ML- SRB; Snowy Plover 18 (none found with leg bands) gregarious, resting in small depressions in sand, until disturbed by pedestrians, SRB (photo);

Killdeer 5 vocal, on shore, ML; Whimbrel 2 on sandbar, s ML-SRB; Marbled Godwit 10 tightly gregarious on sandbar, s ML- SRB; Ruddy Turnstone 3 gregarious, foraging on inner shore, s ML-SRB; Sanderling 30 (bsc. plmg.) tightly gregarious, clumped in a tight flock on SRB (photo – above); Dunlin 2 (bsc. plmg.) loosely gregarious, foraging on the inner shoreline, s ML-SRB (photo);

Willet 7 (bsc. plmg.) gregarious, resting on inner shore, s ML-SRB; Heermann’s Gull 6 (bsc. plmg.) resting on SRB, swimming with CAGU in lagoon; Western Gull 30 ( 80% ad; remainder juv. & C1), gregarious, ubiquitous, most numerous resting on shore and in the lagoon; California Gull 50, (ad; 10 % C1), gregarious, ubiquitous, esp. s ML; Double-crested Cormorant 20 (ad, imm) resting on islands and snags, s ML; Brandt’s Cormorant 1 flying e offshore, SRB; Brown Pelican 8 gregarious, circling low over lagoon, s ML; Great Blue Heron 4 on shore and islands, ML; Great Egret 1 at edge of marsh, LP, 7 around edges of s ML; Snowy Egret 1 LP, 4 edges of s ML; Black-crowned Night Heron 2 (ad, imm) edge of marsh, LP, 1 (ad) on shore se ML; Belted Kingfisher 1 vocal in flight upstream, MC; Nuttall’s Woodpecker 1 vocal (unseen) riparian strip, w MC; Nanday Parakeet 8 vocal, gregarious, circling at about 100 ft. agl, LP; Black Phoebe 3 vocal, LP; 2 edge of lagoon, sw ML; California Scrub-jay 4 vocal in trees and shrubs, CCR; American Crow 15 vocal, gregarious, foraging on bases of ornamental tree plantings, CCW; Barn Swallow 1 flying low out over surf, SRB; Oak Titmouse 2 vocal, gregarious in sycamore at nw corner of LP (photo);

House Wren 2 vocal, staying low in shrubs, LP; Bewick’s Wren 1 vocal (unseen) dense shrubs, LP; Marsh Wren 3 vocal in small patches of bulrush at sw edge of lagoon, ML; Blue-gray gnatcatcher 3 vocal, loosely gregarious in coastal sage scrub, n LP; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 vocal, active in shrubs and small trees, n LP; Northern Mockingbird 2 in brushy areas, LP, ML; European Starling 12 gregarious, vocal, LP, CCR; House Sparrow 8 (m,f) gregarious, foraging on food left on sidewalk, CCR; House Finch 8 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, LP, CCW, CCR; Orange-crowned Warbler 4 gregarious, foraging in shrubs, msf with YRWA, WCSP and SOSP, LP; Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 30, (m,f) vocal (calls) ubiquitous, gregarious, foraging at all levels of vegetation, glean, hover-glean, snatch-glean, flycatching; California Towhee 3 vocal, on ground in coastal sage, LP, nw ML; Song Sparrow 12 vocal (mostly calls and abbreviated song), loosely gregarious on ground and in shrubs, ubiquitous but most numerous in marsh, often with WCSP LP; White-crowned Sparrow 30 (ad, imm) vocal (calls and song), ubiquitous on ground, coastal sage, gardens; Red-winged Blackbird 15 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, most numerous in and around marsh, LP; Great-tailed Grackle 5 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, CCR; Western Meadowlark 2 in open field of n LP.