Franklin’s Gull ©Julian Johnson
Following a warm March with multiple reports of exceptionally early spring migrants, the beginning of April came in similarly hot. This was led-off by record-early reports of LAZULI BUNTING in the first week of April (RF, ZP, EI, TU), and a very early MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER on 4/5 at Grasslands Regional Park (SSc). Songbird migration continued its early season surge until around the third week of the month, at which point a run of cooler weather apparently dampened movement and the end of April was more aligned with what is expected in typical years. Still, plenty of exciting birds were found to spice up spring migration in Yolo County.
One of the record-early arrivals of March was the CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, and the species followed up this early arrival with what has been an incredible spring for the species on the Sacramento Valley floor. With at least eight individuals photographed at flower patches and feeders in urban Davis (FC, SSm, SB, SSc, SM), urban Woodland (MH), Guinda (ES), Putah Creek (GS), and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (JE), plus a minimum of five different individuals at Uslan Farm near Clarksburg (TU), it truly was a brilliant run of Calliope magic. The majority of these birds were male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS, likely because of their ease of identification when compared to RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, but a few females were reported as well. Similarly high numbers were reported from neighboring counties as well, further demonstrating how exceptional this year has been for the species in the Sacramento Valley.
Small flycatchers of the genus Empidonax are notorious among birders for their challenging identification pitfalls and skulky behavior. Fortunately, Yolo County birders had plenty of opportunities to practice this month due to an above average abundance of GRAY FLYCATCHER. The earliest was a bird at North Davis Farms Greenbelt on 4/17 (JJ, ZP), followed by individuals at South Fork Putah Creek Preserve (GS, KG) and Wood Duck Lakes in West Sacramento on 4/20 (MS). Two birds were reported on 4/24, with one at Grasslands Regional Park (MP) and another in a Davis backyard (KS). The fellow Empidonax member, DUSKY FLYCATCHER, was seen in more modest numbers with two reports from South Fork Putah Creek Preserve on 4/22 and 4/29 (JG, KO) and one from Grasslands Regional Park on 4/28 (SSc).
Rare waterbirds in the period were headlined by an unprecedented male LONG-TAILED DUCK at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). It was found on 4/13 and has surprised birders by sticking around through the end of the month (SSA). Not only is this just the seventh Yolo County record, it is the first to occur in spring and is one of few spring migrant records for the Central Valley overall. Sticking with notable Woodland waterbirds, an adult FRANKLIN’S GULL, in full breeding attire, spent an afternoon at WWTP on 4/25 (JJ, ZP). The stunning hooded gull sporting a nifty red bill was observed by many over the course of its three-hour stay. This is a rather early occurrence of FRANKLIN’S GULL for Yolo County, as most spring records are from May.
Also of note was a flyby male PURPLE MARTIN observed from Rayhouse Road on 4/6 (JG), presumably a migrant but at a location not far from where they breed in Napa and Lake counties. Two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS were photographed at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, the first on 4/19 (AV, BS) and the other on 4/27 (AH, DT). Uslan Farm continues to host an occasional male ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD, and remains the only place in Yolo County to see this species with any sort of reliance (TU).
California Bird Atlas Updates – Yolo County:
April is the time when bird nesting season in Yolo County truly takes flight, with species of all types engaged in breeding activities and raising their young. It is a great time to get outside and pay close attention to bird behavior, and the California Bird Atlas (CBA) is the perfect way to do just that – while contributing to an important bird conservation initiative! The CBA now has over 90,000 Atlas checklists submitted statewide, from nearly 4,000 atlassers, and 235 species have been confirmed as breeding in the state. You can keep up with CBA news here.
Yolo County continues to grow its data contributions to the CBA, with nearly 1,200 individual checklists submitted in the county through the month of April. 197 birders have contributed breeding bird data in Yolo, yet there is surely room for improvement in that number! At this point, 74/101 Atlas Blocks have data, though all are far from the requirements to be considered “complete” blocks. In other words, all data is welcomed! 69 species have been “Confirmed” as breeding, with dozens more recorded “Probable” breeders awaiting further documentation. Let’s take a closer look at a few notable breeding confirmations thus far:
- A SAVANNAH SPARROW was observed carrying nesting material at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. This is a scarce breeding species in the Central Valley, and the Yolo Bypass is one of if not the only location they breed in the county.
- A pair of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES remain active on a nest at Uslan Farm. Shrikes are a species of conservation concern in the region, and their populations continue to be monitored closely.
- TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS are actively nesting at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant. Tricoloreds are listed on the California state Threatened list.
- DARK-EYED JUNCOS have been confirmed nesting at three locations in urban Davis and on the UC Davis campus. Breeding Juncos are a relatively new development in Yolo County, an occurrence only recorded in the past decade.
For those who want a challenge, below are some “low-hanging-fruit” species that are sure to breed in the county, but have not yet been confirmed for the CBA. With continued effort and coverage, Yolo’s list of confirmed species and birded blocks will continue to grow!
- BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD: 14 “Probable” breeding reports but no “CONFIRMED” breeding behavior.
- CALIFORNIA QUAIL: 7 “Probable” reports but not yet confirmed as nesting for the Atlas.
- SONG SPARROW: 7 “Probable” reports, but not yet confirmed in the county for CBA.
- COMMON GALLINULE: Likely breeding at many local ponds, but no confirmed observations yet.
Yolo County continues to grow its Atlas coverage and it is all thanks to the wonderful Yolo County birding community. All birders, naturalists, and keen observers of all skill levels are encouraged to join the project. Keep up the good work!
Feel free to follow Yolo County Atlas statistics here. Click here for more information about the CBA, and check out the YouTube tutorial on how to join the project.
Thanks to the following for their reports:
Sylvia Bauer, Forest Chapman, Jonathan Eisen, Rob Furrow, Joshua Greenfield, Kevin Guse, Marcel Holyoak, Amy Hudechek, Emmett Iverson, Julian Johnson, Sarah Mayhew, Kelli O’Neill, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Sonia Santa Anna, Mark Sawyer, Sam Schmidt (SSc), Elliot Schoenig, Gregg Schwab, Sean Smith (SSm), Bhanu Sridharan, Kirk Swenson, Debbie Tubridy, Tom Uslan, Ashwin Viswanathan
Photos and Audio Recordings:
Calliope Hummingbird (Davis): https://ebird.org/checklist/S320927512
Calliope Hummingbirds (Uslan Farm): https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S329231413
Gray Flycatcher (North Davis): https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S324455280
Dusky Flycatcher (Putah Creek): https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S325660739
Dusky Flycatcher (Grasslands Regional Park): https://ebird.org/checklist/S329155184
Long-tailed Duck: https://ebird.org/checklist/S321714876
Franklin’s Gull: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S329662188
Solitary Sandpiper (4/19): https://ebird.org/checklist/S324467256
Solitary Sandpiper (4/27): https://ebird.org/checklist/S329380685
Allen’s Hummingbird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S329675625
–Zane Pickus