First sunrise of the yearFirst sunrise of the year First sunrise of the new year

Some people like to end the year in celebration and start the new year sleeping in and with perhaps a hangover. I like to end the year going to sleep early with a full night sleep and start the new year with a celebration of birds. For the 5th year in a row, I have organized the LB100. A group of us go out and try to find 100 species of birds within the city of Long Beach on the 1st day of the year. It is an all day challenge and I plan a route based on where the birds are, tides, shortest driving route to maximize time for birding, and also, perhaps most importantly to some, where there are bathrooms and places for a snack and lunch break. The coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies I offered partway through the day were very well received.

The first 50 to 60 species of birds are easy to find, but it is those last unique ones that become harder and harder to find as the day wears on. It is no small feat. It takes good eyes and ears, and stamina.

This year about 14 people participated, at least for part of the day. We had several strong storms in the days before the event, and we weren't sure what we would find with areas flooded and birds on the move. Two people took up the challenge and birded solo on their own routes. Jonathan scouted out some areas not often covered by most birders and found a returning Black-throated Green Warbler.  Jeff B. stuck strictly to the LA River in Long Beach and tallied 93 species! Some people came in and out at different points during the day.

The main group caravanned from spot to spot to cover a variety of habitats. We started strong in terms of birds and birders. We hit the majority of the locations with 8-10 strong birders, but as the day wore on, a few people started to peel off from the group, with maybe a stop of their own on the way back to their homes. 

Five of us completed the full route as planned: 
(10 hours, 35 miles driving, 5 miles walking, 10 birding hotspots).

With such strong birders all looking out, we made fast work of finding many species. Some were targeted birds and some were pleasant surprises. We started at 7:15 in the morning and by 10:15 we tallied 59 species. We reached 100 species at 2:55pm! By the end of the day our final tally was 106. That's three hours for 60, five hours for 40 more, and two more hours for the final 6 birds!

Expected 'good' birds (We knew they had been there or were likely to be there): Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Canvasback, White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Oak Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Glaucous-winged Gull, Herring Gull, Short-billed Gull, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Black Oystercatcher

Greater White-fronted Goose - Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons Scherer Park, 01/01/2022	Scherer Park, 01/01/2022	Snow Goose - Anser caerulescensSnow Goose - Anser caerulescens LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021	Snow Goose - Anser caerulescensSnow Goose - Anser caerulescens LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021
Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescensGlaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021	Short-billed Gull - Larus brachyrhynchusShort-billed Gull - Larus brachyrhynchus LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021	Herring Gull - Larus argentatusHerring Gull - Larus argentatus LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021	American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchosAmerican White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021
Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus, White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihiBlack-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus, White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021	Belted Kingfisher - Ceryle alcyonBelted Kingfisher - Ceryle alcyon Golden Shore, 01/01/2022	White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensisWhite-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis Scherer Park, 01/01/2022	White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollisWhite-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis Willow-Springs Park, 01/01/2022

Surprises: White-faced Ibis hiding amongst Black-necked Stilts, Pin-tailed Whydahs at Wardlow Park (rarely seen there), White-tailed Kite flying over El Dorado Park as our last bird of the day

Misses and near-misses: Great-tailed Grackle and Northern Shoveler required a stop at the El Dorado Duck Pond. No Shovelers before that! We had no American Robin. A little less surprising, we missed Green-winged Teal, Green Heron, Peregrine Falcon.

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius carrying a BatAmerican Kestrel - Falco sparverius carrying a Bat
LA River, Willow Street, 01/01/2021 Highlight of the day: A bat was flying in the middle of the day at the LA River at Willow Street. An American Kestrel swooped in and hit the bat in flight. It dropped to the ground and the kestrel caught it. I was not fast enough, but caught a bad photo as the kestrel took off from the ground with the bat in its talon.

Thanks to all who participated.

Species from the day: