Ken Cross in Costa Rica 2018: A Day in LA

Unofficial Bird of the Day [an addition to my North America list] - Elegant Tern

Six of us had a day birding around the LA area.

The plan was to visit the following sites;

male House Finch - seen at most sites

Heisler Park - You get nice views of the Pacific here and with your scope you should be able to pick out some seabirds as well as shorebirds possible on the rocks below the viewpoints. You can often pick up California Towhee, Black Phoebe, Anna's and Allen's hummingbirds, Bushtits, etc. in the bushes in Heisler Park too.

Whimbrel

my first Californian Surfbirds

Crystal Cove State Park - Reef Point Unit. - Walk trails and paved pathways watching in the scrub for the tiny California Gnatcatcher. Especially around the parking lot is good for California Thrasher. Near the bathrooms I often get Wrentits. Again, good coastal views here with a scope.

Californian Gnatcatcher

Back Bay (Also known as Upper Newport Bay) in Orange County is also a great place for birding, especially on a falling tide. Access points are along Back Bay Drive. It's a great place for shorebirds, terns, gulls, etc. The marshy habitat here is home to Ridgway's Rails, which come out quite readily to recordings.