Having arrived in Los Angeles the evening before (no birds seen at all), we all awoke very early and a bit jet-lagged. At about 6am myself and Sam decided to get out of bed and walk along the beach. I was surprised at the large numbers of Heerman’s Gulls loafing about on the beach, along with the expected Western Gulls, and a single California Gull. Brown Pelicans were flying in formation up and down the coast and the rocky headlands held Brandt’s Cormorants, and a couple of Pelagic Cormorants whilst Black Turnstones were feeding

The others soon got up and we did the same stroll, this time adding Western Grebe to the list. The rest of the day was spent lazing around the beach. However, I did manage to see a distant Sooty Shearwater and a flock of seven Whimbrel flying south.

A fantastic day, both birding and family stuff. Tom and I went out whilst the others slept to Crystal Cove. Our first proper birding was soon rewarded with California Towhee (the first bird we saw when arriving), quickly followed by California Thrasher (our second bird!) Other new birds included Anna’s Hummingbird, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Northern Mockingbird, and Wrentit. All this was in the upper section north of the road. We had spent too long here (mostly looking at a Hummingbird that was almost certainly Allen’s) as our main target was supposedly on the cliff edges south of the road. Just as we were leaving we found our first ever Greater Roadrunner sitting in a tree. Not the views we had expected.

We took the short drive down and pretty much the first bird we stumbled upon was indeed our target: California Gnat Catcher. We then birded the area for another half an hour or so (not adding too much more – a couple of distant American Herring Gulls following a close in trawler for example) before heading back to collect the others and head into Los Angeles.

On the drive in we saw our first Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks, and also several flocks of unidentified Parrots. Our first stop was Griffith Park. Being around midday, the temperature was now pretty hot. We did manage to see a few common birds here, including a new one for me, Lesser Goldfinch. Sam also found a couple of Acorn Woodpeckers who had completely filled a telegraph pole full of acorns.  We also saw Western Grey Squirrel and a few Monarch butterflies.

Then on to the excellent Griffith Observatory where some California Quails were seen, before we spent the rest of the afternoon driving and walking around the sites of Hollywood before heading off to Dodger Stadium to watch the Dodgers lose to San Francisco Giants.

Arriving home late the night before, everyone was exhausted so I left them in bed to take a stroll along the beach and take a few photographs before the harsh sun became too bright and the crowds arrived. A couple of new species were added: Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Wandering Tattler and a Dark-eyed Junco. I then noticed a Common Dolphin close in to the shore. I went back to tell the others and this was enough to get them out of bed (Tom also needed Pacific Golden Plover).

After getting good views we left Laguna Beach for a long drive north along the busy Pacific Coast Highway. I was planning a stop at Rancho Palos Verdes to bird, but the drive took longer than expected and the main species to see there (the Gnatcatcher was already in the bag). We therefore carried on to our first destination at Venice Beach. The kids loved the surf here and whilst watching them, a Marbled Godwit flew over and circled the beach several times looking for a place to land among the surfers, bathers, and general weirdo's that inhabit this particular beach. Some Caspian Terns were also fishing offshore.

After several hours on Venice Beach we continued our drive north on the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barba where we arrived shortly after nightfall.

Everyone was up reasonably early for the thirty minute or so drive back along the Pacific Coast Highway to Ventura, where we were to get our boat to Prisoner’s Harbour, Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands.

Arriving in plenty of time we had coffee and checked to see if there was anything more interesting than Great-tailed Grackles (there wasn’t) whilst we drank coffee, before boarding the boat at  around 9:30am.

The journey across was superb, with the following species being recorded:

Western Grebe
Pink-footed Shearwater x 100+
Sooty Shearwater x 1000+
Black-vented Shearwater x 3
Brown Pelican
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Peregrine Falcon (just outside Ventura harbour)
Willet – on the shore leaving Ventura
Whimbrel – on the shore leaving Ventura
Red-necked Phalarope x c.200
Pomeraine Skua – single bird
Heermann's Gull
Western Gull
Elegant Tern
Murrelet sp. – flying away from boat unfortunately
Pigeon Guillemot
California Sealion
Harbour Seal
Common Dolphin
Killer Whale (!)
Harbour Porpoise
Humpback Whale (!)
Sunfish

Once upon the island we listened to a talk before deciding to explore the area around the harbour ourselves rather than go on the guided walk. A good choice as Island Scrub-jay was quickly found and Island Fox a few moments later. The first Jay we found was actually ringed (white above green on right leg) and the details of it have been sent.

Having several hours to spend we birded and hiked, seeing the following new or good birds:

Allen's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch

The journey back was nowhere near as exciting with little seen (no idea why) but we’d had a very good day. It was then a case of driving back to Santa Barba for the pool and a sea-food dinner on the pier.

I left the family sleeping in our posh hotel and went birding first thing for about an hour at the nearby Andre Clark Bird Refuge. This proved good birding; nothing spectacular but allowed me to catch up with some UK vagrants I’d not seen for a while like Pied-billed Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron, American Coot, Forster's Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Cliff Swallow, and Common Yellowthroat. I also managed a new mammal in Brush Rabbit.

When everyone was up and ready we began our drive to Monterey via the Big Sur. Several stops were planned on route, the first being Nojoqui Falls Park. We didn’t have time to walk to the falls (they are supposed to be quite beautiful but require a walk), but birded the area around the carpark. We only birded here a short while (as it was really a stop on the way to Alisal Road) but managed to get a pair of Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, and just before we entered the park, the first of numerous Western Scrub-jays and Western Bluebirds in the area. After half an hour or so, we were ready to go, but just as I was driving off, I noticed a small group of Wild Turkeys which was a real bonus. Another couple of mammals were also added to the list: Mule Deer and California Ground-squirrel.

The target along Alisal Road was the Californian endemic Yellow-billed Magpie. After hearing but not seeing any whilst driving the road, Tom picked up a flock on the golf course (the best place to see them) and we all had good views. We then stopped at the bridge over the river just short of the Danish town of Solvang, where we had several White-throated Swifts amongst numerous Violet-green Swallows.

We’d got three of the four target species for the day, so after a quick stop for fuel and snacks we pressed on to the Big Sur where we planned to take in the scenic drive to Monterey and hopefully see our final target, Californian Condor. The drive was, as promised spectacular, we made several stops to either admire the view or look at wildlife. One stop produced several Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, White-tailed Kites, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers in the air together, but no Condors. Another stop was made at Hearst Castle where we watched the Northern Elephant Seals and close in Sea Otters. But, after several hours we eventually arrived in Monterey Condor-less. Unfortunately Michelle was also sick as she had a reaction to a wasp sting that she picked up on Venice Beach a couple of days earlier. First stop in Monterey was therefore to the doctors before picking up drive-through burgers and retiring to the hotel.

Today we had all been booked on a Whale watching trip run by Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Unfortunately Michelle was not up to it, so I went with the boys, leaving her to rest in the hotel. The trip was enjoyable, though slightly disappointing in that they managed to pick up a pod of Killer Whales and spent nearly the whole time concentrating on these. This would have been great had we not had good views of these creatures a couple of years ago off Vancouver Island. Killer Whales are not often seen on these trips apparently which is why they spent so much time looking at them, but we would have preferred searching for other species. We did get good views of a Humpback and apparently no other whales were seen by any other groups. The trip ended at:

Black-footed Albatross x 3
Sooty Shearwater x 1000s
Pink-footed Shearwater x 50?
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Western Grebe
Black Turnstone
Red-necked Phalarope
Sabine's Gull x 2
Heermann's Gull
Western Gull
Elegant Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Cassin's Auklet x 5
Rhinoceros Auklet x 2
Sea Otter
Californian Sealion
Harbour Seal
Common Dolphin
Killer Whale
Harbour Porpoise
Humpback Whale

Meeting up with Michelle who was feeling slightly better, we dropped her off at Carmel (the worst signposted town in North America) before we headed south down the Big Sur to have another go for Californian Condor. Within only ten minutes we managed to pick up a distant juvenile and Sam also picked up our first ever Coyote! Unfortunately Tom got very poor views of the Condor and wasn’t happy ticking it, so we continued south for another half hour or so before eventually turning round to collect Michelle. Still no Condors. Picking up Michelle in Carmel (where we had good views of Red-Shouldered Hawk), we went on the 17 Mile Drive until nightfall, seeing more Sea Otters and the usual sea birds, before we headed off to McDonalds for dinner.

Myself and Tom were booked on an eight hour sea bird pelagic today run by the same people as yesterday. It was superb. A few seabirds weren’t seen but this was made up for by seeing the two largest animals in the world (Blue and Fin Whale) together on either side of the boat and later by a huge pod of Pacific White-sided Dolphins performing spectacularly for us. My big regret is that I didn’t take Sam. A count was kept by Dan Singer.

More pictures are on my Pelagic Page.

Tom, to his credit, had refused to tick the Condor and insisted we drive the Big Sur again. I’d been given some information on the boat about a spot that was supposedly between three-quarters of an hour and one and a half-hours (!) south. So mid-afternoon we all set off (including Michelle who had missed some of the journey as she’d been sleeping) to have another drive along the Big Sur. After over an hour of driving, and without finding the spot, I decided we had better turn around as it was getting late and Michelle wanted to take us to Cannery Row in Monterey which she had visited (including the Aquarium) with Sam. Pulling into a view point to turn around, I stepped out of the car to stretch my legs for a few minutes and admire the view, when an adult Californian Condor with gleaming White coverts circled above me. Quickly calling the others out of the car, we were all able to get on it and have good views as it circled a thermal. Whilst there we also connected with Rufous-crowned Sparrow. A good place to turn around! Then a quick dash back to Monterrey and out to a sea-side restaurant on Cannery Row. .

A long drive to Yosemite today, but the first stop was nearby at Carmel river-mouth. Here we easily picked up Hutton’s Vireo before moving to nearby Carmel River State Beach. This beautiful stop held Virginia Rail, a few Western Sandpipers, and a couple of hendersoni Short-billed Dowitchers.

We then headed north to Moss Landing, half way up the bay to look for Tri-coloured Blackbirds. I’d been given the details on the boat and told it was “guaranteed”. Indeed, even before we arrived at the Dairy Farm I was told about, we spotted some by the road-side, so after picking up some fruit to provide breakfast over the next few days from one of the many road-side stalls, we decided we had time for a brief visit to Salinas, the setting of Mice and Men. We then continued east towards Yosemite. With a Golden Eagle and a Sharp-shinned Hawk seen on the journey, we made a stop half way at Los Banos which was supposed to hold White-faced Ibis.

It was now mid-afternoon and very hot. Fortunately the reserve was aimed more at drivers than walkers and provided a few species such as Loggerhead Shrike and another Coyote, but no Ibises. With time pressing on we made a dash for Yosemite arriving just as it was getting dark. Fortunately the pools were open until late (it was very hot still) so we myself and the boys were able to have a dip. Unfortunately Michelle had relapsed somewhat so we just picked up pizzas to watch in front of the baseball whilst she slept. The boys then went to play with the Racoons!

I thought it best to allow Michelle a late start, so I went out and birded the river by the hotel. I was very pleased to pick up American Dipper (a species that I’d somehow missed in British Columbia) which meant I’d now completed the family. A Red-crowned Kinglet was another pleasing find. When the family were ready we headed into the park. Today we concentrated on the Southern half of the park, beginning with Glacier Point and finishing with the Wawona Redwoods. Birding started well. We continued well and we picked up Townsend Solitaire some how managed to park in just the right parking place at Glacier Point, right next to a Sooty Grouse (no more were seen, probably due to the crowds).

From early afternoon, the birding was very slow (only picking up Mountain Chickadee). Hot evergreen forests in the middle of summer don’t make for good birding. However, Michelle was feeling better, the views were absolutely magnificent, and we all had a good day which was the most important thing.

Beautiful views first thing as we started the day watching American Dipper from our hotel balcony whilst having coffee. An earlier start today where we intended to drive out of the park birding the northern section before continuing to Mono Lake and Death Valley. In just a few stops we hit more good birds in a in a couple of hours than in the whole of yesterday. Highlights were White-headed Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker at Chevron Meadows and hitting a mixed Warbler flock at White Wolf Campsite that included Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet as well as Western Wood-Pewee, Mountain Chickadee, and Brown Creeper.

Once out of the park we drove to the south end of Mono Lake. The Tufas were interesting but it was extremely hot. We did manage to get a couple of Cassin’s Finches, but apart from the numerous Eared Grebes, Kildeers, Brewer’s Sparrows, California Gulls, Brown-headed Cowbirds and a distant Osprey, birds were few and far between. With time running on and only one of the hoped for species seen, we pressed on.

Driving south a few miles I pulled over to look at the map, and on a fence-post sat a Mountain Bluebird! Our luck continued when we pulled over for something to eat at a service station at June Lake junction. Whilst I was ordering hotdogs, Tom was on the trail of a couple of rodents (Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel and Panamint Chipmunk) in a woody garden behind the station. Here he also stumbled upon Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-headed Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, and best of all, one of our target birds, Green-tailed Towhee.

No more stops as it was getting late and we had a huge drive to DeathValley. Apart from one stop for gas and one stop to look at the Death Valley from above before we entered, we drove without stopping and no interesting birds were seen. It was 7:30pm when we arrived at the entrance. It was getting dark, with overcast clouds and the air-conditioning on in the car gave the impression that it was probably not that warm outside. It was a shock therefore to step out to a temperature of 110F (about 44C)! We continued the drive to our lodge at Furnace Creek and, despite it being pitch black, the atmosphere felt like a oven. Fortunately the pools were open until late, and although Michelle did not join us, we had a dip before eating in the bar.

A short walk before everyone was up turned up a few birds, as did birding from the balcony before breakfast (it was already too hot to venture outside for long!) which overlooked the golf course where most of the birds centred. These included a a flock of White-faced Ibis and a single Marbled Godwit that flew over. Feeding on the course were small flocks of Kildeers and Yellow-headed Blackbirds as well as singles of Greater Roadrunner and Western Kingbird and a migrating Yellow Warbler and a Desert Cottontail.

After the boys had an early morning swim we took the scenic drive south. A hungry Coyote came to meet us and later, although Tom’s directions were generally spot-on throughout, a slight wrong turning took us to a small oasis at Tecopa Hot Springs. This was fortunate as it held a new bird for us in American Avocet. There were also other water birds there like Green-winged Teal and a Northern Harrier spooked a flock of Western Sandpipers.

I’d planned to do some birding more birding just outside the park, but a huge storm about 20 miles outside of Vegas ended that. Once in Vegas, we decided birding was over for the day, but I managed to add House Sparrow to the list.

Leaving Vegas mid-morning we headed north to Corn Creek to do some desert birding. The reserve is superb and I only wish we could have stayed longer than the couple of hours we had, and birded earlier in the day. New birds here were Black-chinned Hummingbird, Dusky Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-throated Sparrow, Scott's Oriole, American Redstart, and Phainopepla.

So, then the big journey south and then west back to LA. We did have one stop en-route at Mojave were we drove the road looking for birds but the only two birds we saw in about an hour were a pair of Ravens and a Loggerhead Shrike as well as an American Pika. However, stopping at at the service station when coming out of the park at the junction with the 15, Tom (who was again pretty hot with mammals) managed to pull out a final new mammal in White-tailed Antelope Squirrel.

Arrived back at Laguna Beach just in time for Sam to have a swim.

Apart from an early morning stroll on the beach by myself where I saw Anna’s Hummingbird and Caspian Terns, and added the final new bird, Spotted Sandpiper, today was a relaxing day on the beach. We watched QPR v Man. City over breakfast, lazed about, swam, and went home!