An unexpected business trip to Burbank turned out to be the highlight of September! This cool city, with its nearby canyons and mountains and great food scene, also offered some fantastic birding opportunities and a chance to add to my year list.
After work, my first stop was Brand Park, a lovely neighborhood park. I immediately heard the familiar call of a California Scrub-Jay and the unmistakable squawks of parrots. I later learned that these Red-crowned Parrots are not a common sighting in the area. One of the flowering trees was absolutely packed with mostly Allen’s Hummingbirds. We loved this park so much that we came back two weeks later on a follow-up trip. On this visit I saw a Townsend’s Warbler high in a treetop, along with a Bewick’s Wren and some beautiful Western Bluebirds.
Saturday’s plan was a trip to the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve. I was lucky enough to meet a fellow birder who was a huge help in identifying some of the western species. In just an hour and a half, we tallied an impressive 41 species!
A highlight was spotting a pair of Ross’s Geese flying past the dam. The preserve’s diverse habitats—from open water to woodlands—yielded a great variety of birds, including ducks, shorebirds, passerines, and raptors. I was particularly excited to add some Western specialties to my year list, such as the Bushtit, Lesser Goldfinch, and Nuttall’s Woodpecker. The adventure continued even after I left, as a recording I took of a singing bird was later identified as a “Least” Bell’s Vireo!
Burbank Trip 2
Just two weeks later, we both made the trek to Burbank. Our first morning started bright and early with a quick stop at Porto’s Bakery—a must-visit for their cakes decorated with a single, stunning rose.
With pastries in hand, we headed to Betty Davis Park. At the park, we enjoyed spotting a nice variety of birds, including a pair of Black Phoebes, an Acorn Woodpecker, and an Anna’s Hummingbird.
After dropping me off for work, Mike headed out for a day of birding and exploration. His first stop was Griffith Park, a sprawling 4,000-acre mix of oak woodlands and sage scrub. Hiking the Toyon Trail, he spotted a trio of classic California birds: the California Towhee, California Thrasher, and California Scrub-Jay. The trail, perched on a steep ridge, also offered fantastic views of Los Angeles.
The next day, Mike ventured northwest of Burbank to O’Melveny Park and Aliso Canyon. This trip was particularly productive, yielding several new birds for the list: Wood Duck, California Quail, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit, Cassin’s Kingbird, and Nuttall’s Woodpecker.
While exploring the trails in the foothills and canyons, we couldn’t help but notice the dry conditions of the sage scrub and oak woods. The potential for fire was obvious, but so were the clear signs in all the parks banning smoking and open flames—a comforting reminder that these beautiful natural areas are being protected. As an added bonus, we were treated to a special sighting of a Fox Squirrel scurrying through the woods.
While exploring the trails in the canyons and foothills, it was hard to ignore the potential for fire in the dry sage scrub and oak woods. It’s reassuring to see that all the parks have clear signs banning smoking and open flames to help protect these beautiful natural areas. It was a treat to have a special sighting of a Fox Squirrel scurrying through the woods.
The Weekend
We always recommend checking local Audubon websites, and that’s how we found a coastal bird walk with the Ventura Audubon group on Saturday morning. We met at Surfer’s Knoll for a two-hour walk that yielded an impressive 41 species.
While it’s hard to pick favorites, we were especially thrilled to see a Red-necked Phalarope, Elegant Tern, Surfbird, and Wandering Tattler. We highly recommend taking the time to walk from the wetlands all the way to the rock jetty to get the best variety of birds.
After a fantastic lunch of Angel Shark at Andria’s, we made a couple of quick stops. First, the Ventura Settling Ponds, followed by Malibu Creek State Park. The park, with its numerous trails, including one to the original M*A*S*H filming site and popular swimming holes, was unfortunately not very birdy in the middle of the day. Still, we managed to add a Pacific-sloped Flycatcher and Band-tailed Pigeons to our list.
The real highlight, however, was Malibu Lagoon State Beach. This turned out to be our favorite spot of the trip. Where Malibu Creek meets the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find both a public beach and wetlands. In just an hour and a half, we spotted an incredible 32 species! The most special sightings for us were the ones we don’t see often: a “Western” Snowy Plover, Whimbrel, Red-necked Phalarope, and Heermann’s Gull. Seeing hundreds of shorebirds together is always a spectacular sight.
A Successful Trip Comes to a Close
Another whirlwind trip has come to an end. Our new business partnership in Burbank is off to a great start with some wonderful people, and we’re feeling very optimistic about the future.
Trip Birds: 84 Year Birds: 27 Life Birds: 0
Next Up: Southern California
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