Field Trip: Birding Catalina Island's Interior

Sat, Oct 18, 2025

Leader: Laura Vandezande, Mark and Janet Scheel, Naresh Satyan

This is a unique opportunity to bird in the interior of Catalina Island. We will be traveling throughout the island in 14-passenger vans and the trip will include some moderate walking (up to 6 miles total throughout the day).

Resident species include Spotted Doves and island endemic subspecies of Hutton’s Vireo, Spotted Towhee, and California Quail. Rare and unusual species sometimes occur on the island. At the time of writing, already October 2025 has seen Gray Catbird, Sage Thrasher, Least Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, Indigo Bunting, Painted Bunting, Clay-colored Sparrow, and more.

The itinerary will include Avalon, Middle Ranch Reservoir (aka Thompson Reservoir—McGee Lake) and Little Harbor on the windward side of the island.

Bring your own lunch, snacks, and water - we may have time to stop at the Catalina Airport where they sell food (and famous killer cookies), but this is not a guaranteed stop.

Cost: Please bring $10 cash to help cover gas prices for the van.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE ISLAND. As soon as you have confirmation you are on the trip, please make your reservations with the Catalina Express ferry, which costs about $85 round trip. Either take the 6am boat leaving from Long Beach, or stay on the island overnight Friday. We will be finished in time for you to take the 6:30pm boat back to Long Beach. More details will be emailed to you when you sign up for the trip.

Here is a 2015 bird list for the island. Many of the recent rarities/vagrants are not listed on this list.

Consider becoming a Catalina Island Conservancy member! The Catalina Island Conservancy is a non-profit organization that manages 88% of the island with a focus on conservation, recreation and education.

All individuals under the age of 18 participating in a LAB sponsored event must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or an adult designated as responsible for their well-being including their safety, behavior, and compliance with all applicable rules and regulations during the course of the event, program, activity, etc.

Currently signup is limited to LAB members, who will receive an email with instructions for how to sign up.