Gone Birdin'

October 14, 2021

Birdwatching in Hollywood might sound like an oxymoron, but I’ve been keen on bringing the idea to life. I hear “Hollywood” and think red carpets, movie stars, and glamour. Who says birds can’t be on that list?

What started out as curiosity eventually blossomed into a wonderfully memorable (and surprisingly birdy) day with my sister. I agonized over a map of Hollywood the night before, contemplating which locations would result in a proper representation of birds in the area. I sought a destination that was easily accessible, had a variety of birds, and if possible, a view of the Hollywood sign. Turns out Hollywood Reservoir checks every one of those boxes. The sun is reflecting off the reservoir’s water in the righthand corner of the photo above.  

We were greeted by a lovely path cutting through dense foliage around the reservoir. I closed my eyes for a moment to take in the birdsong. I inhaled a deep breath of rich pine fragrance and felt the sun warm up my skin. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I was in a forest somewhere hundreds of miles away.  

Wrentits tirelessly bopped around from twig to twig throughout the entire length of the walking path. The bird above was foraging nonstop, occasionally pausing long enough for a glimpse of his icy-white eyes. With those wren-like cocked tails, it’s no wonder their common name is Wrentit.

Several Dark-eyed Juncos meandered aimlessly on the ground as they often do in search of food. I was grateful to have gotten a shot that captured the light in his eyes and does his plump body justice. Dark-eyed Junco plumage varies tremendously by geographic location, almost to the point where subspecies look like entirely different species. Some are uniformly gray; some are gray with chestnut backs; others have all-black heads. Regardless of coloration, Dark-eyed Juncos are a symbol of winter in much of North America. ‘Tis the season!   

Like Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-rumped Warblers also have a multitude of subspecies varying by location. Based on her yellow throat, the female above appears to be an Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler. In comparison, Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warblers have white throats.    

The California Towhee’s distinctive rust-colored rump is barely visible through the leaves in the photograph above.  

A group of California Scrub-Jays hanging around Hollywood Reservoir stole the show with their boisterous calls and acrobatic flight between trees. 

My sister and I hiked up to the Hollywood sign before we left to take in the iconic view. When in Hollywood, right? There are a few different ways to get to the sign. We took a direct and pretty intense route via the Burbank Peak Trail, but there are plenty of leisurely options if time permits.  

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