The new year opened with record rainfall and plenty of birds to chase. Topping the list were at least four Trumpeter Swans, found Jan 5 among Tundra Swans along Rds 111 and 112 north of Knight’s Landing (TE). These represent an overdue first county record. Birders also enjoyed as many as four Mountain Plovers within a mile of east Davis for several weeks, first found on Jan 2 (DC, TC). A Townsend’s Solitaire, discovered at the Lower Cache Creek picnic area on Yolo Audubon’s Raptor Ramble field trip on Jan 15 (KG), persisted for nearly two weeks. An extremely cooperative Sage Thrasher was found a week later near Plainfield Elementary School (PP) and has delighted many. Ten Ferruginous Hawks have been counted in the same field. A second Sage Thrasher was found Jan 30 along Rd 89 north of Rd 16 (AB, ET). A dozen Mountain Bluebirds were a couple miles to the south. A bit out of season were three Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Bridgeway Island Pond in West Sacramento beginning Jan 15 (LE) and a well-photographed Hammond’s Flycatcher at West Pond in Davis on Jan 11 (ABu).
Thanks to the following for their reports: Ann Brice (AB), Andi Burnett (ABu), Diane Colborn (DC), Terry Colborn (TC), Todd Easterla (TE), Leo Edson (LE), Kevin Guse (KG), Pam Pappone (PP), Erna Tarara (ET).
— Steve Hampton