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184 THE CONDOR Vol. XXIV 
southwest Texas. All of which goes to show that the Cedar Waxwing in winter shows 
little choice among different climates and surroundings.—R. H. PAauMer, Instituto Geo- 
logico, Mexico, D. F., June 17, 1922. 
Some Birds Recently Observed in Southern California——The past year, during 
both the fall and spring migrations, the writer has hunted assiduously in many favor- 
able spots in southern California for the different waders. During these hunts a care- 
ful lookout was kept for two of our rarest shore bird visitants, the Ruddy Turnstone 
(Arenaria interpres morinella) and the Surf Bird. No Surf Birds were seen, but seven 
Ruddy Turnstones were observed. Near Point Mugu, Ventura County, on August 27, 
1921, two were seen, and one of them, a male, was secured. Five were seen on the tide 
flats near Wilmington, Los Angeles County, on May 7, 1922, and two of these were col- 
lected. Both were females, one a young bird and the other in nearly full breeding plum- 
age. There are quite a few instances of occurrences of this turnstone during the fall 
migration, but no spring records from the southern California mainland, though it was 
met with on San Nicolas Island from March 30 to May 11, 1910 (Willett, Pac. Coast Avi- 
fauna, 7, 1912p. 41). 
On August 21, 1921, on the mud flats near Wilmington, there were many large 
flocks of Northern Phalaropes (Lobipes lobatus) (later in the fall many Phalaropus 
fulicarius also), but I was indeed surprised to see a large flock of Wilson Phalarope 
(Steganopus tricolor) busily feeding in the mud near the water’s edge. Unlike the 
Northern Phalaropes, which were swimming constantly, they fed on the banks, though 
occasionally running into the shallow water. I estimated the flock of Wilson Phalaropes 
to be somewhat over two hundred birds. They kept in a compact mass and it was dif- 
ficult to count them, though they were very tame and unsuspicious. All appeared to be 
in winter plumage, as were the specimens collected. The place was visited several 
times afterwards at intervals of a few days each, but the birds were not seen again. 
On July 4, 1922, three Black-bellied Plover (Squatarola squatarola), all in winter 
plumage, or perhaps young birds, were observed near Venice, feeding among a mixed 
flock of Long-billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, Greater Yellow-legs, Black-necked 
Stilts, Hudsonian Curlews, and Marbled Godwits. Were these birds very early fall mi- 
grants, very late spring migrants, or had they been there since the past winter? 
On February 19, 1922, I took a female Eastern Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca 
iliaca) at the mouth of Verdugo Canyon, near Glendale, Los Angeles County. It is 
quite reddish but not to such an extent as the typical bird from the east. 
A short trip to Buena Vista Lake, Kern County, was made on June 11, 1922, in 
company with Mr. Luther Little. What impressed us most was the irregular occurrence 
of some of the breeding birds, comparing different years. For several years the water 
of the lake has been very low, but now, the copious rains of last winter have made it 
higher than for many previous years. Last season, large numbers of White Pelicans 
(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) were present all summer, but did not nest; the water was 
not high enough to form their nesting island and it seems that these birds must have 
an island or they will not nest. This year, although their island was formed, there were 
but few Pelicans around and those were not nesting. The reason may have been that 
this year there are only a few fish left of the myriads that were there formerly. 
Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) were nesting abundantly. Last 
year none nested (in fact only one was seen), while the year before, Mr. Adriaan van 
Rossem tells me they were breeding commonly. 
White-faced Glossy Ibis (Plegadis guarauna) were present in a large breeding col- 
ony. This is the first time, after several visits to the lake, that I have found this spe- 
cles nesting there. In the same way, Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) breed irregu- 
larly; but Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) are more constant.—CHESTER 
C. Lams, Los Angeles, California, July 8, 1922. 
Vaux Swift in Migration—On April 29, 1922, about 7 P. M., the largest flock of 
Vaux Swift (Chaetura vauaxi) I have ever seen or, in fact, heard of, circled over my 
house several times. By careful estimate I judged the number to be very nearly six 
