9 November 2022

West Coast USA 2022 (Part 2 San Diego to Los Angeles)

Date: 5th September - 13th September
Location: 
San Diego, Los Angeles


Birds Species Highlights 
(See the end of blog for a full list of species)

A short flight from San Francisco and we landed in San Diego, checked in, and had food. The next day it was Whale Watching with San Diego Whale Watch but first, we stopped at Old Town.

Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Coopers Hawk, and Allen's Hummingbird were all in this authentic western town. 



A bus ride later and we arrived at Mission Bay for our watch-watching trip. It was roasting hot, and in the harbor the bird life was fantastic.


 Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Pelican, and Snowy Egret to name a few. 
Loved watching Elegant Tern hunting over the harbour.


This trip was to see Blue Whale and it didn't take long to see the biggest mammal in the world! At 82 to 105 feet and weighing up to 200 tons it was huge, only seeing a 3rd of it the majority was under water.


After the whale a Pod of Long-Beaked Common dolphins appeared all around the boat, this one had a calf with her.




Black-Vented Shearwater was the most common bird out on the trip although we did see a few other species.


A Red-billed Tropicbird was a highlight, spotted by me, the captain said in 4 years of sailing he'd only seen a handful, and the next day on the same trip it was full of twitchers looking for the bird!


Another Bird in good numbers was the Red-necked Phalarope.


A few places we visited not birding, but if you see birds you gotta get cameras out! Cabrillo overlooks North Island Navy Air Station, San Diego, when we arrived it was covered in sea fog which made the views difficult but a few birds took our minds off it, Cooper's Hawk


Western Gull, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Bewick's Wren, California Towhee, and this cool-looking Western Fence Lizard kept us entertained 


La Jolla was next on the itinerary, some 12 miles from San Diego a coastal site in which we walked along the cliffs and shore. It took a few buses and we arrived on a very warm day the humidity was high and the sweat was dripping off of us.

Royal Tern another lifer was posing along the cliff


California Sea Lion were swimming in the sea along with swimmers and snorkeling locals, Brown Pelican were in good numbers, and other birds of note included, Wandering Tattler, Western Sandpipers, and Black Turnstone. 3 species of Cormorant: Double-breasted, Brandt's, and Pelagic Cormorants were also here, a great spot for a wander.


The next stop was me on my own back in San Diego, it was a wet day as a hurricane was down the coast but it was not gonna stop me from birding, I headed to Presidio Park, a short tram ride.

 My first bird was the introduced Scaly-breasted Munia a bird originally from India, Thailand but large numbers have made California their home


The rain was warm and constant, and my waterproof 7d mk2 was weathering the storm, I was very wet! same as this Western Bluebird


19 species were seen in this small parkland Western Wood Pewee, Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Orange Crowned Warbler, and Townsend Warblers included. 

California Towhee


After 2 hours of walking in the rain, I took this Mourning Dove and packed the camera away, unfortunately, it was the last photo I took as the once waterproof 7d mk2 was no longer waterproof!! It didn't work once I got back to my San Diego hotel room, luckily I brought my old 7d mk2 and swapped it for the rest of the trip.


The next day the sun was shining and we headed to catch a bus for Anaheim, Los Angeles, driving up route 5 the San Diego freeway some 95 miles. 
The girls were going to Disney but the next morning we headed to Griffiths Observatory first to overlook Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign, but again birds and butterflies took center stage, as they do, for me anyway.

Anna's Hummingbird surrounding by people unaware of this tiny beautiful bird.


Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawk circled above and this fabulous California Scrub Jay looked on.


California Thrasher (picture later) and this amazing Acorn Woodpecker were the stars though, both lifers. This chap filling his favorite tree with hundreds of Acorns.


An early start for us all this morning Tamlyn, Lauren and Melaine going to Disney, and me waiting for a Uber to go 10 miles to Bolsa Chica in Huntington, a large reserve on the coast.
I arrived at 8:30am and started my wander, the sound of waves crashing on Huntington beach and traffic faded as I entered this large reserve, Willet flying past and Kildeer were my first sightings. 
Next, a lifer Say's Phoebe catching breakfast, no zoom on camera just a few feet from me!


A group of Savannah Sparrow we also feeding in nearby scrub.


Male House finch


4/5 Osprey were perched and flying around the reserve, with Forster's Tern hunting along the inlets, House Wren, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and American Kestrel and I have only just entered. Snowy Egret looks similar to our Little Egret in the UK.


Great-blue Herons, Marbled Godwits, and a distant Reddish Egret a bird I really wanted a closer look at. As I walked to get better views 30/40 Least Sandpiper landed just feet from me.


Looking to make sure it was just Least Sandpiper I noticed this Kildeer plus  Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone.


This Osprey flew directly overhead, didn't see them dive, they seemed content to sit in dead trees and fly around the reserve, other birds were not really taking much notice.


Finally came to where the Reddish Egret was feeding, it was on my must-see list so chuffed I got some decent shots.



Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Redhead, Mallard, and Pied Billed Grebe swam around the bodies of water.
 Time for a rest as I walked half of the reserve, I sat in a good spot as a Belted Kingfisher was calling and flying around with a mate.



From where I sat I could see American White Pelican, Double-breasted Cormorant, Western Gull, Great Blue Heron,


Western Sandpiper


More Snowy Egret


Long-billed Curlew, look at that bill!!


Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked stilts this Pied Billed came for a closer look, but what a place!


Grey Plover, Black-crowned Night Heron, Long-billed Dowitchers


Forster's Tern


I ended the day doing a full loop of the reserve, could have spent many more hours there but having walked 8 miles in the heat and no water left, 7 hours was enough.
                   I spoke to a few American birders who all were friendly, giving advice on where to go tomorrow which as it turned out I'd already planned the same place. The last bird of the day was the same bird I started the day with, the Willet.


That evening I walked to meet the girls at Disney, 1000's of people were leaving Disney at around 9pm it was horrendous! I waited outside, but they didn't come out till 10.30pm, I waited patiently, and we then walked back to the Hotel.

The Next Morning they left again for Disney and I again waited for my Uber, today it was San Joaquin, apparently pronounced San Waa Keen, which is why yesterday talking to American birders, they didn't know what I was talking about!
San Waa Keen is a Sewage treatment plant and reclaimed marsh, on eBird it looked to have some great birds and I had high hopes.

Getting out of my Uber, and entering the reserve I could hear a beautiful bird song, California Thrasher, for such a plain bird its song was amazing.


The reserve is made up of some 8 ponds of different water levels attracting many different species, the first pond I came to had American White Pelican, Caspian Tern, Ruddy Duck and Night Heron.


Above the Reserves were at least 30 Turkey Vultures landing on some of the islands and surrounding trees.


3 different species of Grebe, this Western Grebe looking splendid, Clark's Grebe, and Black-necked Grebe or Eared grebe as they call it here.


The last of my wanna-see birds was the Black Skimmer and I could hear them calling a few ponds over, I was amazed to see so many, most just sat but occasionally flying around the small pond.


I walked around the pond to get better views of the Skimmers, seeing Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, Bushtits, and this California Scrub Jay.


Passing some of the Turkey Vultures just a few feet above me, amazingly ugly but beautiful birds.



Finally, I came closer to the Black Skimmers and sat in an ants nest, just to watch them.


Feisty birds and very noisy, chasing each other around.


Around 50/60 birds were sat on a small island, they seemed to take turns to take off of and fly, none really skimming the surface, but I was very happy to sit and watch.


American White Pelican are freshwater birds unlike Brown Pelicans which we saw at San Francisco, which are Salt Water.


The next bird was a bird I'd never thought I would see, and the only time I'd ever seen one was on a Warner bros cartoon outsmarting a coyote!
The Roadrunner, just sat on a bench as I rounded the corner.


After taking a few shots and stepping back as it was so close the next pond came into view. A Cassin's Kingbird was sitting waiting to feed until an American Kestrel flew in briefly.


On this Pond, White-faced Ibis.


American Avocet, Lesser Yellowlegs, Blue-winged Teal plus Cinnamon Teal, 4 lifers here!


Around the pond was a couple of Say's Phoebe catching flies, always happy to pose.


Red-shouldered Hawk overlooking the reserve.


Western grebe with a chick and for comparison below


Clarks Grebe, the difference is not big, notice the head cap, Clarks above the eye, and Western covering the eye.


The birds stateside are not bothered by photographers, this was taken at 100mm no crop, I could have touched him!


Chatting to other photographers there, they were saying that The Roadrunner is hardly ever seen but I saw this one 4 times on my visit.


Bewick's Wren was my last life bird of the trip taking me to 56 lifers.


Time was plodding on and I had to check out the Skimmers again, much more active, but still no skimming, maybe next time.


The Roadrunner was checking out a threat, and a few minutes later this Coyote wanders by, no Meep Meep



And that was the end of the day and the end of my trip. 
San Joaquin was the best reserve I've ever been to, and if you're ever over that way I thoroughly recommend it, I'm going to be back this way in January 2023, and shall check it out again!
 Here are a list of all species seen. 

Birds 139

American Crow                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Anna's Hummingbird        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Belted Kingfisher                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Black Capped Chickadee      28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Bushtit                                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Canada Goose                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Caspian Tern                        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Common Starling                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Double Crested Cormorant    28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Feral Pigeon                        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Glaucous Winged Gull        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
House Finch                        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
House Sparrow                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Mallard                                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Osprey                                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Peregrine Falcon                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
White Breasted Nuthatch       28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Pigeon Guillemot                28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Surf Scoter                        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
White Crowned Sparrow        28/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Purple Martin                        28/08/2022 Port Edmonds
Red Necked Phalarope        28/08/2022 Port Edmonds
Rhinoceros Auklet                28/08/2022 Port Edmonds
Common Guillemot                28/08/2022 Port Edmonds
Bald Eagle                        28/08/2022 Discovery Park
American Robin                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Baird's Sandpiper                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Band Tailed Pigeon                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Barn Swallow                        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Bewick's Wren                        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Brown Headed Cowbird        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
California Gull                        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Chestnut Backed Chickadee 29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Common Raven                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Cooper’s Hawk                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Dark Eyed Junco                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Great Blue Heron                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Least Sandpiper                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Northern Flicker                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Orange Crowned Warbler      29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Red Breasted Nuthatch        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Sharp Shinned Hawk        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Short Billed Gull                29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Steller's Jay                        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Western Gull                        29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Wilson's Warbler               29/08/2022 Discovery Park
Black Turnstone               30/08/2022 Luna Park
Brandt's Cormorant               30/08/2022 Luna Park
Red Necked Grebe               30/08/2022 Luna Park
Surfbird                               30/08/2022 Luna Park
Song Sparrow                       31/08/2022 Myrtle Edwards Park / Centennial Park
Black Crowned Night Heron  01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Brewer's Blackbird               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Brown Pelican                       01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Great White Egret               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Heermann’s Gull               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Killdeer                               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Long Billed Curlew               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Red Shouldered Hawk       01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Ring Billed Gull               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Snowy Egret                       01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Spotted Sandpiper               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Turkey Vulture                       01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Western Grebe               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
Willet                               01/09/2022 Crissy Field Marsh
American Coot               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
American Redstart               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
California Towhee               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Black Phoebe                       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Black Headed Grosbeak       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Brown Creeper               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
California Scrub Jay       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Cedar Waxwing               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Common Yellowthroat       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Hooded Merganser               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Lesser Goldfinch               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Mourning Dove               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Pacific Slope Flycatcher       02/09/2022         Golden Gate Park
Pied Billed Grebe               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Pine Siskin                       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Pygmy Nuthatch               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Red Winged Blackbird       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Townsend's Warbler       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Warbling Vireo                       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Western Bluebird               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Nuttall's Woodpecker       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Western Tanager               02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Wood Duck                       02/09/2022 Golden Gate Park
Black Oystercatcher       03/09/2022 Sausalito
Vaux’s Swift                       04/09/2022 Twin Peaks
Black Vented Shearwater     06/09/2022         San Diego
Red Billed Tropicbird       06/09/2022 San Diego
Blue Grey Gnatcatcher       07/09/2022 Cabrillo Monument
Pelagic Cormorant               08/09/2022 Point La Jolla
Royal Tern                       08/09/2022 Point La Jolla
Western Sandpiper               08/09/2022 Point La Jolla
Allen's Hummingbird       09/09/2022 Presidio Park
Red Masked Parakeet       09/09/2022 Coit Tower
Scaly Breasted Munia       09/09/2022 Presidio Park
Western Wood-Pewee       09/09/2022 Presidio Park
Black-chinned Hummingbird 09/09/2022 Presidio Park | US-CA
Northern Mockingbird       10/09/2022 Embarcadero Marina Park South
Acorn Woodpecker               11/09/2022 Griffith Observatory
California Thrasher               11/09/2022 Griffith Observatory
Red Tailed Hawk               11/09/2022 Griffith Observatory
American Kestrel               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
American White Pelican       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Black Necked Stilt               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Cinnamon Teal               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Common/Arctic Tern       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Forster's Tern                       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Grey Plover                       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
House Wren                       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Lesser Yellowlegs               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Long Billed Dowitcher       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Marbled Godwit               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Reddish Egret                       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Redhead                               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Ruddy Turnstone               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Sanderling                       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Savannah Sparrow               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Say's Phoebe                       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
Semipalmated Plover       12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
White Faced Ibis               12/09/2022 Bolsa Chica
American Avocet               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
American Moorhen               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Black Skimmer               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Black Necked Grebe       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Cassin's Kingbird               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Clark's Grebe                       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Downy Woodpecker       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Gadwall                               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Great Tailed Grackle       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Greater Roadrunner       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Greater Yellowlegs               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Northern Shoveler               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Ruddy Duck                       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Rufous Hummingbird       13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh
Green Winged Teal               13/09/2022 IRWD San Joaquin Marsh

Butterflies Life ticks 14

Sandhill skipper-Polites sabuleti                        29/08/2022 Discovery Park,USA
Gulf Fritillar-Dione vanillae                                01/09/2022 San Francisco,USA
Umber skipper-Poanes melane                        01/09/2022 San Francisco,USA
Western swallowtail-Papilio rutulus                        02/09/2022 Golden Gate,USA
White-checkered skipper-Burnsius albescens       03/09/2022 Sausalito, USA
Gray hairstreak-Strymon melinus                        03/09/2022 Sausalito, USA
Marine blue-Leptotes marina                                07/09/2022 Cabrillo, USA
Mourning cloak-Nymphalis antiopa                07/09/2022 Balboa Park, USA
Funereal Duskywing-Erynnis funeralis                08/09/2022 La Jolla, USA
variegated fritillary-Euptoieta claudia                08/09/2022 La Jolla, USA
Western Pygmy-blue-Brephidium exilis                08/09/2022 La Jolla, USA
Giant swallowtail-Papilio cresphontes                08/09/2022 La Jolla, USA
Eufala skipper-Lerodea eufala                        08/09/2022 Balboa Park, USA
Mournful Dusky-wing-Erynnis tristis                11/09/2022 Griffith Obs, USA


Dragonflies life ticks 7

Eight-spotted Skimmer-Libellula forensis         29/08/2022       Discovery Park, USA
Blue-eyed Darner-Rhionaeschna multicolor         29/08/2022       Discovery Park, USA
Cardinal Meadowhawk-Sympetrum illotum         29/08/2022       Discovery Park, USA
Western Meadowhawk-Sympetrum occidentale 29/08/2022       Discovery Park, USA
Pacific Forktail-Ischnura cervula                         29/08/2022       Discovery Park, USA
Vivid Dance-Argia vivida                                 07/09/2022       Balboa Park, USA
Mexican amberwing-Perithemis intensa         13/09/2022      San Joaquin, USA

Notable other species

Orca                                                                          29/08/2022      Seattle, USA
Coyote                                                                      02/09/2022      San Francisco,USA
Blue Whale                                                               06/09/2022      San Diego, USA
Long-beaked Dolphin                                               06/09/2022      San Diego, USA
Great Basin Fence Lizard                                         07/09/2022      San Diego, USA

So there it is Seattle to Los Angeles 2022, one of our best-ever trips despite Broken 7dmk2, ants nest, jet lag, and sea sickness. If you've any questions on locations, travel, or anything always happy to help.


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