July 30, 2024 Switzer Falls Trail, Angeles National Forest, LA County CA (23 Species) Callyn Yorke
Weather: Fair; 65F to 81F; light, up-canyon breezes by 0930 hrs.
Time: 0715-1230 hrs.
Observers: Hai-Dang Phan and I.
Area Covered: Starting and ending our survey at the lower parking-picnic area of Switzer Falls, at an elevation of about. 2,740 ft. asl, we explored the streamside canyon Switzer Falls Trail for a distance of about 0.25 mi.. This is a canyon ecotonal area comprised primarily of oak-riparian woodland bordered by upland chaparral. The dominant trees along the stream included mature live oak (Quercus agrifolia; Q. chrysolepis) and White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia) – the latter bearing clusters of small, black fruits, and forming a discontinuous canopy over the streambed. A shallow, relatively clear-flowing stream appeared to run the length of the canyon, though we did not follow it to the waterfall.
Hai-Dang led the way to the sections of the upper Falls Trail where he and his wife, Roya discovered a singing Tropical Parula on July 4, 2024. This bird (apparently the second record of this species in Los Angeles County and third record for California) was subsequently re-found by multiple observers, most recently the previous day – July 29, 2024. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate it during this visit.
Birdlife was most apparent and active in the alder canopy and to a lesser extent in marginal chaparral understory. Insectivorous birds, e.g. Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Western Flycatcher and Western Wood Pewee, were conspicuous in the riparian zone. Other birds, e.g. Canyon Wren and Dark-eyed Junco were active on rocks; on and near the ground in the shaded understory. Numerous day-hikers, many with dogs (leashed and unleashed) were on the trail.
Notable wildlife found on the upper section of the falls trail, included Western Gray Squirrel (12- 15 individuals – a relatively large, active population) and Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (two adults moving slowly on and near the trail) (photos).
BIRDS NOTED
- Band-tailed Pigeon 1-2 vocal; one imm. perched on hillside tall snag.
- Anna’s Hummingbird 1 (f) hovering around understory shrubs.
- Acorn Woodpecker 12 vocal, greg. pairs in oaks and laurels; one entering a nest cavity in the main trunk of a dead alder, at about 10 ft. agl.
- Nuttall’s Woodpecker 2 (m) vocal in oaks and alders.
- Cooper’s Hawk 1 (ad) chased by WWPE in subcanopy at edge of woodland.
- Western Wood Pewee 4-5 (ad, imm), aerial-hawking – sallying from shaded middle to lower level of mature alders; one bird flying near us and snatch-gleaning an insect from a trailside shrub; an adult bringing insect food to two young birds perched sude-by-side on a horizontal, subcanopy laurel limb.
- Willow Flycatcher 1 ID: a medium-sized, comparatively dark-plumaged Empidonax with a very faint, narrow eye-ring and long bill. Observed sallying to low vegetation along stream; also snatch-gleaning from low alder foliage over stream.
- Western Flycatcher 3 occasionally vocal (calls); individuals very active, apparently moving up and downstream 50-100 yards, snatch-gleaning from foliage in the middle and lower levels of the shaded alder woodland.
- Black Phoebe 1 on a streamside boulder.
- Warbling Vireo 2 active at all levels of young and mature alder in msf with YEWA and WEFL.
- Hutton’s Vireo 1 active in shrubs and low trees on streambank.
- Steller’s Jay 3 vocal, active with Western Gray Squirrels in chaparral-oak edge; vocal in picnic area.
- Common (Northern) Raven 2 an individual in flight, eastward over upper parking area on Angeles Crest Highway; vocalizations heard around the picnic area.
- Oak Titmouse 6 greg. vocal (calls) pairs active in understory shrubs and lower levels of trees.
- White-breasted Nuthatch 4 vocal, individuals active, mostly in oak subcanopies.
- House Wren 1 in brush pile around fallen limbs on shaded embankment.
- Canyon Wren 5 greg. vocal (calls and song) pairs on shaded, canyon embankments with boulders and brush cover.
- Wrentit 2 vocal (unseen) upslope chaparral.
- Purple Finch 1 (f) in dense, streamside, alder understory.
- California Towhee 4 vocal (contact calls) greg. pairs on ground in brushy, streamside and roadside picnic area.
- Spotted Towhee 1 (m) in alder subcanopy above the stream.
- Orange-crowned Warbler 1 in msf with YEWA, alder canopy.
- Yellow Warbler 3 vocal (calls and song) in alder canopies.