July 19th: Black Swifts and Lesser Nighthawks
Sunday, July 19th, 2026
4:45 PM to 9:00 PM
Trip leaders: Darren Dowell, Oliver Huang, Luke Tiller
Black Swifts, so enigmatic was this species that up until 2012 ornithologists still had no idea where the birds wintered. We will seek out these aerial acrobats at Claremont Wilderness Park, the only reliable spot in LA County to find this most mysterious of birds. The swifts are best looked for late in the day and so we will spend a couple of pre-dusk hours seeking them out. On our return towards Pasadena we will make a sundown stop in Duarte to look for displaying Lesser Nighthawks.
Not a morning person? This may be the perfect PAS trip for you!
Participant number: no limit
At the Swifts site, anticipate a slow, uphill/downhill hike on a wide dirt trail (fire road), approximately 2 miles round trip. At the Nighthawks site, the route is mostly paved and level with some short interruptions; distance is approximately 1 mile round trip. Other details are in the sign up confirmation email.
PHOTO: Black Swift (Cypseloides niger). Photo by Luke Tiller.
July 5th: Angeles Crest Highway near Winston Spring
Sunday, July 5th
7:30 AM - noon
Trip leaders: Lance Benner
Come join us as we search for birds along a section of the Angeles Crest Highway currently closed to cars following storm damage last winter. We're going to meet at the 6000 foot level gate at mile 54 on the Angeles Crest and then walk up the road for about 1.5 miles to search for high elevation species such as white-headed woodpecker, pygmy nuthatch, mountain quail, brown creeper, Clark's nutcracker, and more. The elevations will be from about 6000 feet to about 6500 feet on a gentle, paved slope.
The lack of cars due to the road closure makes this a pleasant place to hike, and as a bonus, we will search for evidence of breeding to contribute to the California Bird Atlas in an area where breeding has been confirmed for only a few species. The road has washouts but there is ample space to walk around them.
Time and interest permitting, there will be an optional extension to look for birds at a few places along the road on the drive back to contribute to other bird atlas blocks that need coverage.
No limit on the number of participants.
The parking lot at the gate closure is about 30 miles up the Angeles Crest Highway from I-210 in La Canada-Flintridge and is about a 60 minute drive from Pasadena.
Please note that an Adventure Pass or National Parks annual pass is necessary at the parking lot.
Please bring water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, sturdy shoes, cameras, and, of course, binoculars.
PHOTO: Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps). Photo by Chris Spurgeon.