February 16, 2004
President's Day
3 day weekend and I don't think I've been birding this year. Flu over Xmas and work commitments have prevented me from getting out. Anyway, today I take the opportunity for a couple of hours down at Ballona Marsh near LAX. No sign of the reported Greater White-fronted Geese but others odds and ends included American Coots, Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal that wouildn't stay still for the digital camera and scope combo.
It seemed that everything was very skittish this morning.
I decided to sit and wait and see if I could get some shots of the White-crowned Sparrows- I managed one of a young bird. Now with some time in photoshop maybe I can get rid of that annoying branch...
Red-winged Blackbirds were also very vocal and getting ready for spring.
Suddenly, a Sora Rail popped out of the bush next to me and fed unpeturbed along the reeds.
Occasionally some coots would rush it but for the next 15 mins it showed very well.
I really like the Sora pics...they are pretty cool looking once you study them a bit.
I was just out to Orange County two weeks ago and drove up into LA for Spotted Dove but dipped bigtime. Any suggestions on where to find them? I have heard that the Malibu lagoon area might be a good spot, but I didn't have a chance to get up there. I pretty much drove every road in Palos Verdes, Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches but to no avail (my friend used to live out in Hermosa and used to see Spotted Doves everyday...except, of course, for the the a few days I went out to visit him in 2002).