Photography

Photos taken with a Nikon CoolPix P900

Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area
Irwindale, California

May 9, 2022

A trip to Santa Fe Dam proved eventful with tons of Barn Swallows and White-throated Swifts, a Wrentit, a Cactus Wren, and many more! I also spotted lizards like Western Fence Lizards, Common Side-blotched Lizard, and a Western Whiptail!

Spring Butterflies in L.A.
Los Angeles, California

April, 2022

Spring is here y’all and what better way to enjoy life than to go outside and explore butterflies! At my home in L.A., I spotted a Mourning Cloak feeding on Crimson Bottlebrush. At Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, I observed more Mourning Cloaks, Gulf Fritillaries, and Umber Skippers. At Arlington Gardens (also) in Pasadena, I added Monarchs to the list of spring butterflies too!

Joshua Tree National Park!!
Twenty Nine Palms, California

April 6-7, 2022

During my spring break, my family and I took our good friends to Joshua Tree for their first visit. We enjoyed hiking, climbing rocks, and exploring desert wildlife. There, I got to see my first Chuckwalla and explored the communal living of Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moths. I also spotted Ash-throated Flycatchers and Black-throated Gray Warblers, both spring migrants. Phainopeplas and Common Ravens, two resident bird species, were present in large numbers as well.
Read more about my adventure under the “Exploring Joshua Tree National Park” blog post here!

Placerita Canyon
Newhall, California

March 28, 2022

People from Los Angeles Birders-Students met up first at Placerita Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains to do some birding. There we observed numerous migratory warbler species, Western Bluebirds, Oak Titmice and many hummingbird species.
Read more under my “Witnessing Early Spring Migration” blog post here!

Millard Canyon
Altadena, California

March 18, 2022

Less than 15 minutes away from my house, Millard Canyon offers a fantastic variety of mountain wildlife. This included the numerous (and very loud) Stellar’s Jays, which my mom and I spotted foraging on steep cliffs and in trees. We also spotted a pair of Canyon Wrens on the way to a waterfall and a few Dark-eyed Juncos! We watched Western Gray Squirrels forage in the leaf litter, feeding on acorns from a variety of oak species.
Be aware: if you visit Millard Canyon, Poison Oak is abundant (especially on the way to visiting the waterfall)!

What’s up in my backyard?
Los Angeles, California

March 10-17, 2022

It’s almost spring and the first wave of mass bird migration for 2022 is starting! Among the migrating avians are the Swainson’s Hawks that passed over my house on March 11. There were around 40 individuals! I also spotted a trio of Cassin’s Kingbirds in a pine tree from my house, which only happens a few times during the spring. Cassin’s Kingbirds are technically a migratory species, but are found year round in L.A.
House Finches are nesting right now, along with other bird species as well. Red-crowned Parrots have found their way back to my house and are beginning to feed on the barely ripe loquats in my front yard.
I also got a visit from the neighborhood Red-shouldered Hawk! Common Ravens and Mourning Doves continue.

Hiking Rubio Canyon
Altadena, California

March 6, 2022

My dad and I went for what became a 3 mile hike roundtrip in Rubio Canyon not far from my home. While there was certainly an abundance of birds, including California Scrub-jays, Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds, Wrentits, and migrating White-throated Swifts, what surprised me most was the diversity of native plant life. This included Coast Live Oak, Laurel Sumac, White Sage, and California Buckwheat. Walking along the trail, I would brush my hand through Black Sage and California Sagebrush, in love with the smells both gave off.

Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area
Irwindale, California

February 25, 2022

Today, I visited Santa Fe Dam (again). My friend told me about a Burrowing Owl that was living in one of the grass fields there. Having never seen a Burrowing Owl, my mom and I visited as soon as we could later in the week. Unfortunately, we didn’t see the owl. A tractor had been spending the day mowing grasses and shrubs and we suspect the activity caused the owl to relocate sadly. We hope the Burrowing Owl is okay.
However, we did get to see Mountain Bluebirds, a Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrows, and much more!

Glendale Narrows Riverwalk
Glendale, California

February 20, 2022

Third day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Total 25 species and two taxa (Domestic mallard and Larus sp.). Also a lifer Northern Pintail!
Check out my blog post on Day 3 of the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
Van Nuys, California

February 20, 2022

Third day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Total 38 species and two taxa (Domestic mallard and Larus sp.). Also a lifer Cassin’s Finch!
Check out my blog post on Day 3 of the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Lower Arroyo Secco
Pasadena, California

February 19, 2022

Second day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Total 19 species!
Check out my blog post on Day 2 of the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area
Irwindale, California

February 18, 2022

First day of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Total 37 species and 2 lifers!
Check out my blog post on Day 1 of the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Joshua Tree National Park
Twentynine Palms, California

February 12, 2022

Joshua Tree National Park is the fusion of two Southern California deserts– the Mojave and the Colorado Deserts. Each desert features similar plant and animal life, yet the landscapes are dotted with a different mix of plants. Wildlife in a desert can be hard to come by. With the possibilities of intense heat and wind, the animals living here have adapted for the special environment. Even on eBird, relatively few bird species have been reported. That’s why I considered the 7 bird species I spotted a minor victory (especially once I located some Black-throated Sparrows)! Lizards were numerous, and good at hiding once I startled them.

Santa Fe Dam
Irwindale, California

February 7, 2022

Deukmejian Wilderness Park
Glendale, California

January 11, 2022

I was so pleased to see so many native plants at Deukmejian!!! These included the ones down below as well as California sagebrush, toyon, western sycamore, and more!

Hahamongna Watershed Park
Pasadena, California

December 17, 2021

Today I visited Hahamongna and saw 27 bird species. These included the species photographed below as well as spotted towhees, Eurasian collard doves, California scrub-jays, and a red-tailed hawk that was perched on a telephone pole. It was great to see so many ruby-crowned kinglets, which are wintering here before heading to far northern North America in the spring to breed.

Leo Carrillo State Park
Malibu, California

November 27, 2021

One thing I love about the ocean are the tide pools– little patches and puddles of water where animals like crabs, barnacles, anemones, sea stars, mussels, limpets, and snails live. Living in a tide pool is tough. The bodies of these invertebrates are mere inches away from sun exposure and are constantly struggling with the ebb and flow of the strong tides. Not to mention the gulls and shorebirds that meander about the rocks looking for snacks and the people who disturb the rocks and water looking for “*collectibles”. Most can’t move either, so once they’ve sealed themselves to rocks, that’s their permanent home. This helps to keep them anchored when the waves hit, but does make them less adaptable when it comes to escaping predators and intense sunlight.
However, living at the shore’s edge does have benefits. As the waves cycle in, they carry nutrients and food with them. Where does the wave stop and the nutrients collect? The tide pools! At high tide, tide animals are harvesting the food that comes in.
We went right at the start of low tide and began making our way up the beach looking for these cool tide animals. You should have seen my reaction when I found an anemone!
*At Leo Carrillo, one is permitted to take home certain tide animals, including crabs, urchins, limpets, and worms. I was surprised by this as I was under the impression that state parks would at least encourage the “leave only footprints, take only memories” policy. There were many people, namely young kids, picking up the tide animals and putting them in buckets. I personally left everything how I found it and tried to disturb the sea life as little as possible.

Peck Road Water Conservation Park
Arcadia, California

November 13, 2021

Went to Peck today with my school’s Green Club (focuses on environmental conservation and awareness) and members of Pasadena Audubon Society to bird! We saw a total of 51 bird species, most notably a wood duck, American kestrel, and Townsend’s warbler. See what wildlife we spotted! Big thanks to Lois, Lindsay, and Isa for organizing the event!
Please make sure to wear your mask and stay physically distanced whenever gathering with people.

Oro Vista Park
Sunland, California

October 19, 2021

Though Oro Vista isn’t a heavily birded location (only 76 species ever recorded), it still provides stellar habitat for a variety of wildlife! There are lots of native plants here! Look for songbirds like white-crowned sparrows and Audubon’s warblers during their migration right now, house finches, and lesser goldfinches. Also keep an eye out for California scrub-jays, rock wrens, Anna’s hummingbirds, common ravens, and Cooper’s hawks!
Look for signs that teach you about the park. Near the entrance, there is a sign that describes some of the birds you can find here. There’s another that explains the ways the native Tongva peoples used the native plants for medicine, food, shelter, and ceremony. Did you know California buckwheat is medicinal and that bladder pod was a food source? I didn’t!

Wittier Narrows and Legg Lake
South El Monte, California

October 10, 2021

If you like the guarantee of tons of American coots and domesticated geese, Wittier Narrows is the place to be! There were literally probably hundreds of these birds! You can also find songbirds like lesser goldfinches and house finches in the grassy areas flying about the western sycamores. The park has giant lakes, so be on the look out for common gallinules, great and snowy egrets, black-crowned night herons, and more!

Backyard: Some Monarch Photos
Los Angles, California

October 9, 2021

So happy to have the monarchs back and even happier when they stop moving to let me get a picture!

San Gabriel Spreading Grounds: Rarity Chasing
Pico Rivera, California

September 26, 2021

I went chasing for my first rarity, the bobolink! I’m happy to say that my group and I were successful. After walking up and down the park, playing bird calls, and investigating grassy areas, we finally spotted a group of five bobolinks that had been reported to eBird within the week!
Bobolinks are a small New World blackbird typically found in the eastern half of the U.S. at this time of year, so seeing one in Los Angeles is quite unlikely. Yet every year, at least a few bobolinks are reported in the LA area. They breed in the northern United States and spend their winters in South America. Bobolinks travel some 12,500 miles annually during their migration, one of the longest migrations of any New World songbird!

Peck Road Water Conservation Park (“Peck Pit”)
Arcadia, California

September 19, 2021

With fall migration starting up, I visited Peck Pit with my friends at Los Angeles Birders-Students! There, we spotted some 67 species, most notably Wilson’s warblers, killdeer, lesser and western sandpipers, a pair of belted kingfishers, Bell’s vireo, and an awesome osprey flyover carrying a fish in their talons!
It’s always so much fun exploring nature with friends! Please remember to stay distanced and wear a mask! Stay safe!

Arroyo at the Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California

September 18, 2021

Coastal Cleanup Day was the 18th, so of course I was out at a trash cleanup! I went to the Arroyo to participate in this crucial event. My team of five people including myself hiked trails and climbed up rock hills to retrieve various trash items— mainly aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bags. Litter pollutes the environment and poses threats to wildlife and soil health. While trash cleanups are only short-term, please pick up trash wherever you go and encourage others to do the same! Your small efforts can make a difference!
Thanks so much to Heal the Bay and Pasadena Audubon Society for organizing the events! Of the 35 cleanup sites across Los Angeles County, some 2,735 volunteers picked up 5,051 pounds of trash!

Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area
Irwindale, California

September 6, 2021

Nice area to hike and explore nature! Lots of native plants such as western sycamore, mule fat, cacti, and — for wildlife to explore. Look for lizards, desert cottontails, and chaparral birds such as song sparrows, California towhees, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and California quails. At the large reservoir, look for water birds like ducks, gulls, herons, and terns. In the grass fields, keep an eye out for passerines like black phoebes, bushtits, and warblers. Look for the bright blue colors of male western bluebirds and the stunning reds of vermilion flycatchers!

Rubio Canyon Trail
Altadena, California

August 22, 2021

Hike in the San Gabriel Mountains with lots of flora and fauna!

Dramatic Bird Photos
Los Angeles, California

August 14, 2021

Overcast weather makes for dramatic photos!

Peck Road Water Conservation Park
Arcadia, California

August 14, 2021

Peck Road is a great place for hiking, biking, and wildlife watching! Peck Road has two large lakes, oak and sycamore trees, and an open grass field. Look out for a variety squirrels, sandpipers, sparrows, egrets, and gulls!

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI)
Three Rivers, California

July 28-30, 2021

SEKI is a fantastic place to explore nature. Look for a variety of plant life, such as thimbleberries, pacific dogwood, California coneflower, incense cedar, and the namesake of the park, sequoia trees. Birds such as woodpeckers, jays, and quails are abundant. Mammals such as marmots, squirrels, and chipmunks call the park home as well.
On this trip to SEKI alone, I spotted 51 animal species and 22 plant species!

Northern Mockingbird Nest Monitoring
Los Angeles, California

July 16-25, 2021

Unfortunately for unknown reasons, this nest was unsuccessful. By the sixth day of monitoring, all three chicks had disappeared. The last individual had some developed feathers, but was definitely not near fledging.
See my nest monitoring report under the Research tab for the full story.

Lower Arroyo Secco
Pasadena, California

July 6, 2021

Lower Arroyo Secco is a fantastic place to explore wildlife. With dense groves of oak and sycamore, various species inhabit the habitat. Look for woodpeckers in the trees, hummingbirds in the native plant garden, and hawks flying over.

Hahamongna Watershed Park
Pasadena, California

June 10, 2021

Backyard Insects
Los Angeles, California

The main food source of the California sister is rotting fruit. In this case, the butterfly is feeding on loquat.

Backyard Birds
Los Angeles, California

Backyards are great places for birds to live, especially if you put up feeders, water and grow native plants! Learn about your local species to get an idea of what you might find in your yard!

BIRDS: Spring Migration

January-June, 2021

Try: Bear Divide, Hahamongna Watershed Park, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, and your backyard!