Del Rey Lagoon/Ballona Channel report for March 28, 2008
Headed out to the lagoon and channel in hopes of seeing a breeding plumage Common Loon that had been reported the morning before. Also a Red Knot was reported at the lagoon the previous day.
On my way I stopped to look for the Burrowing Owl again. Came up empty again. I guess it's moved on. Oh well...
As I was pulling up to park at the lagoon, I ran into a fellow birder just as she was leaving. She told me the loon wasn't found again this morning, but the Red Knot was currently out on the mud flat. She also told me the female White-winged Scoter was out in the surf not to far from shore. Hummm, maybe I could tick off two life birds.
Bummer on the loon. Of course I've seen a Common Loon before but only in winter plumage. I would have dearly loved to have seen one in breeding plumage.
Well no luck on the White-winged Scoter. I'm beginning to think this one is never going to happen.
I did find the Red Knot. Yippee!
The Three Amigos were at the lagoon today. The Three Amigos are a Canada Goose, a Greater White-fronted Goose and a Cackling Goose who travel in company. They've been hanging out in the Ballona area since January. They are always seen together.
The list....
American Coot, Snowy Egret, Song Sparrow, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black-bellied Plover (in breeding plumage), Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Mallards, Ring-billed Gull, Grey Lag Geese, Great Egret, Red-breasted Merganser, American Crow, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, European Starling, Western Sandpiper, Red Knot, House Sparrow, House Finch, White-crowned Sparrow, Allen's Hummingbird, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern (heard), Surf Scoters, Western Grebe, Western Gull, Horned Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Brown Pelican, Least Sandpiper, Sanderlings, Surfbirds, Eared Grebe, Ruddy Turnstone, Northern Mockingbird, Forsters Tern.
Attached photo of the Red Knot. Not the greatest photo. The bird was some distance away out in the center of the mudflat.
Attachment(s): Red Knot Del Rey Lagoon March 2008.jpg