November 20, 2021
Colorado Lagoon is an absolute joy to birdwatch at. It’s nestled in a residential area just east of Belmont Shore in Long Beach and offers a nice variety of habitats. The following photos are from a quiet morning in November, but I’m confident this would also be a stellar springtime birding location.
White-crowned Sparrows’ black-and-white striped caps are striking, especially in combination with their bright orange beaks.
A juvenile, sporting chestnut crown stripes, was chowing down on some seeds nearby.
Speaking of sparrows…
House Sparrows are overwhelmingly prevalent in the United States, but that’s not to say they’re not special birds. The rich plumage on males is often overlooked by restaurant patio patrons.
I stumbled upon several Scaly-breasted Munias feeding around the lagoon later in the day, a far less common bird in the United States. Birdwatching in Los Angeles can sometimes produce a handful of exotic bird populations that emerged from escaped cagebirds. Scaly-breasted Munias are one of those species, originating from Asia but developing a population in Southern California from a few escapees.
Another exotic escapee, a Pin-tailed Whydah, was perched on a telephone wire. Native to Africa, these guys exhibit parasitic nesting behavior, meaning females lay their eggs in other species’ nests.
A large, grassy area with plenty of trees produced a flock of American Coots, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Cedar Waxwings. This is the kind of place you could pull up a chair and stay a while.
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Gone Birdin' 