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Convinced my fiancée to spend Valentine’s Day morning searching for a duck.

Saturday February 14, 2026 – San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Today I saw a Wilson’s Snipe!

Thursday February 12 2026 – Oso Creek

Like so many other boring times while working I took a brief break and had a peek at eBird to relieve my mind. This week I learned that eBird unveiled a new feature for hotspots called ‘iconic birds.’ This feature essentially indicates which birds make a particular location special, which immediately captured my curiosity. For instance, I know exactly where to visit in order to see a White-breasted Nuthatch or a California Gnatcatcher. However for some species, especially those less researched, they can easily stay hidden when you aren’t specifically looking for them.

After exploring the map for a bit and seeing iconic birds were consistent with expectations for some of my favorite birding spots, I looked at places I have visited but do not know quite as well. I searched a local trail hotspot we enjoy taking our dog for walks along the Oso Creek. I was drawn to this hotspot as this is where I saw my first Common Merganser, among other uncommon, but not unexpected sightings while casually birding.

To my surprise, a Wilson’s Snipe, a bird I’ve never seen before, came in at 43x more frequent at this location compared to the rest of the region. Now this makes sense given the habitat, but I also would not have thought of this creek, turned largely cement channel, that’s located behind a Costco, and nestled between two highways and railroad tracks, to be the place go look for this species either!

Truly a testament to the incredible resolve of wildlife making due in an increasingly polluted and urbanized world. Photo below of a very pretty winter sunset and the not so pretty environment where I saw the snipe:

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I first tried after work on February 11 with our dog Rangi, spending an hour scouring the vegetation in the creek bed. I came across a large group of Least Sandpipers and several Spotted Sandpipers but no luck spotting the sandpiper I was seeking. It certainly did not help that my eyes were far more focused on our 6 month old puppy! An enjoyable, but unsuccessful snipe search, I decided I would try again soon.

Today, I decided to give it another go immediately, this time solo. I did the same route, came across more least and spotted sandpipers, a shy Belted Kingfisher, and the usual ducks and wading birds of the creek but again, no luck on the snipe!

Back at my car and nearing sunset, I thought I might as well try the other side of the bridge. I decided to drive across the large and busy road rather than cross it by foot. I would typically walk such a short distance, but given the fading daylight and dangerous road, I figured driving across would be best. What I did not anticipate was lack of legal street parking on the opposite side. Annoyed, I contemplated giving up for the day, called Amanda, and after her encouragement, decided drive back across the intersection and try it again on foot.

Silly detour over, I safely crossed the road, pulled out my camera, and began again, scouring the creek bed. As luck would have it, within a minute, my eyes somehow glimpsed and darted back to a frozen tan object with black streaking, camouflaged exceptionally well against the creek grasses. Immediately knew I had my bird! This picture shows exactly the scene I looked at to see my first Wilson’s Snipe, the bird is hiding in this image!

I was immediately drawn to just how beautiful this bird’s feathers were. Not to mention the size of its long bill. I loved its barred flanks, buffy breast, white belly, and red tail feathers. For a sandpiper, this one really struck me as so interesting to admire.

The bird sat silent and largely motionless for the brief encounter I had with it. Shortly after spotting it, a Sharp-shinned Hawk came swooping in, sending the Least Sandpipers fleeing, yet the snipe sat motionless, successfully relying on its extraordinary camouflage to remain out of danger.

By now, it was getting dark and the bird was perched roosting with its head tucked. I left very happy that I had not given up on it and instead was rewarded with a new species. This, in large part thanks to the new iconic birds feature from eBird. I am so excited to see what other species are unveiled with this new tool moving forward.

And that’s the story of my first Wilson’s Snipe!

A second special raptor encounter in summer 2025

Saturday July 26 2025 – Angeles National Forest

I had only seen a California Condor once, a year prior at the Grand Canyon, and it was only upon photo review a couple of days later was I even able to confirm the distant dark bird we saw.

So when there were reports of California Condors in the Angeles National Forest consistently for weeks we decided we would give it a shot to hopefully get a good look at the critically endangered species. We made a couple of small attempts scheduled around visiting a friend and 4th of July. Both attempts, like so many instances of chasing uncommon or rare birds came up fruitless on finding the bird.

On July 26, Amanda had a bridal dress appointment, so with a large block of time free, I went up looking for them a third time. From my journal:

‘I arrived to the forest road pullout around 10:45a for third attempt at seeing these critically endangered raptors. As luck would have it, as I turned the bend I spotted a huge soaring black bird. I knew it had to be the condor. It had a large wedge-like tail that couldn’t be a raven due to its size. Doubt rushed through my mind, but deep down I knew it. Burst out of my car and photographed it soaring the ridge along the road. The bird land a quarter-mile away and began investigating a trash pile. It began eating, or at least picking up small rocks. I hurried closer and got an incredible view of the condor on the ground. A motorcycle spooked the bird and it took off allowing amazing looks of the soaring bird directly overhead. It revisited the location again and later took flight again when I lost sight of it. As writing, another (black 9 tag) flew over followed shortly later by the first condor (pink 11 tag).’

Seeing a California Condor up close was such a special moment. Several other condor enthusiasts were along the same pullout and was great to meet others so excited about the observations happening over the summer so close to Los Angeles. It made it even more special to spot a second condor that day as well.

It’ll always be my hope that one day the species will have such a healthy population they’re a routine sight over my local mountain range. Regardless, will cherish such an encounter and will be eager for my next sighting of a condor.