Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Knot | Dunlin | Common Tern | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | White-headed Woodpecker | Tropical Kingbird | Eastern Phoebe | Green-tailed Towhee | Ovenbird | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Indigo Bunting
Hooded Merganser | Greater Roadrunner | Black Swift | Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Knot | Ruff | Common Tern | Sabine’s Gull | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Flesh-footed Shearwater | Red-footed Booby | American Bittern | Clay-colored Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | Virginia’s Warbler | American Redstart | Blackpoll Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Hooded Merganser | White-winged Dove | Common Nighthawk | Pacific Golden-Plover | Stilt Sandpiper | Common Tern | Sabine’s Gull | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | Eastern Kingbird | Purple Martin | Clay-colored Sparrow | Baltimore Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Summer Tanager | Indigo Bunting
Hooded Merganser | Common Ground Dove | White-winged Dove | Greater Roadrunner | Pacific Golden-Plover | Stilt Sandpiper | Semipalmated Sandpiper | Sabine’s Gull | Red-billed Tropicbird | American Bittern | Western Cattle Egret | Clay-colored Sparrow | Northern Waterthrush | Lucy’s Warbler | Virginia’s Warbler
Following the unprecedented disastrous fires of early January, the remainder of winter was downright calm. We were spoiled the past two winters by above average precipitation, but the 2024-2025 season had a very dry start.
At last we received measurable precipitation, with a handful of fronts passing through in late February and March. These alleviated extremely dry conditions in the region, though we are still well below normal and unlikely to catch up. As we enter April, we’re nearing the end of any significant chance of rain.
Though we enjoyed two drought-busting winters in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, the current rainy season has been anything but. In December and January, most of Los Angeles County was suffering from record dry conditions and extreme drought. Vegetation, having increased significantly over two wet years, had not received any measurable rain for over eight months.
Though each season in southern California has its attractions, fall migration in southern California ranks at the top for birders. Expected migrants, numerous vagrants from virtually anywhere and a wide variety of winter arrivals are all represented. This October and November did not disappoint, with plenty of surprises great and small.
Summer on the deserts is always hot, but on the coastal slope the summer of 2024 was relatively mild. At least that was the case until early September when the first real heat wave of the season arrived. Up to that point, the county had been left largely unscathed by wildfires, but things were about to change dramatically.
Winter in southern California. As far as the weather goes, we’re the envy of much of the country. Thus far, the winter of 2023-2024 has been drier than the previous one, but last winter was an aberration. At present, most areas are at least near normal for this time of year. In these unpredictable times, that’s a welcome scenario.
Mild temperatures and limited precipitation were features of fall this year, and so were many rare birds. Though the traditional vagrant season for passerines ends with October, that doesn’t mean the end of good birds. Increasingly, neotropical migrants are found well into November and later. Neither were these limited to songbirds; as always, the variety was ample. Additionally, Christmas Birds Counts, run from December 14-January 5, have already turned up more notable birds.
Following a relatively cool early July, summer finally arrived. Temperatures increased and some weak systems brought a modicum of subtropical moisture. Thankfully there were no significant wildfires locally thus far.
But the stunner from a weather and birding perspective was a very strong tropical storm- the remnants of hurricane Hilary— that hit the county on August 20. This event dumped five inches of rain or more in many locations and was accompanied by high winds in many places. The added precipitation from Hilary makes severe fires even less likely, but not out of the question.
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