Tropical Kingbird ©Mark Sawyer
A relatively clear and still January gave birders the chance to get into the field and search the county far and wide, which yielded some interesting results. From a rarity perspective, the highlight was a pair of TROPICAL KINGBIRDS at Bridgeway Lakes Community Park in West Sacramento. While this species is a regular vagrant along the California coast in late fall and winter, it remains exceedingly rare inland. Yolo County only got its fourth record last winter (also at Bridgeway Lakes Community Park) that was discovered in March but was likely present all winter. So, it was not a total shock when presumably the same individual was reported on 1/17, likely returning for another winter stay (RP). More surprising was that a second bird was found in the same spot the following day (MS)! Both kingbirds continue to be reported regularly, and have provided nice opportunities for photography. What a coincidence it is to have two of the same vagrant in the same location at the same time!
A COMMON LOON at Davis Creek Reservoir on 1/19 was a great find of a species that is likely more regular there than records reflect (ES). This is the third COMMON LOON report from the county in the past twelve months, after many consecutive years with one or zero records. PILEATED WOODPECKER has become difficult to find in the county following multiple large wildfires in the foothills in the past decade, so a flyover from County Road 81 on 1/17 made for an intriguing report (ES). Locally rare was a PACIFIC WREN in Rumsey on 1/17, which may be the first record for the entire northwestern quadrant of the county (ES).
Due to heavy rains in December, the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area was closed for much of the month from residual flooding. However, upon reopening a male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL was discovered on 1/31 (CD). With tens of thousands of waterfowl on the refuge, there are surely more good birds to find out there.
Noteworthy songbird finds included a NASHVILLE WARBLER, only the fourth winter record for the county, at the UC Davis Arboretum on 1/12 (MH). Interestingly, another NASHVILLE WARBLER was photographed in December at Elkhorn Regional Park, so there are likely two overwintering in the county this year. A NORTHERN YELLOW WARBLER, also the fourth record for the winter period, was found at Bridgeway Island Pond on 1/10 (HW, PB, EG, CF). A CASSIN’S VIREO in North Davis on 1/25 is the second in the county reported this winter (ZP, JZ, GB).
As for continuing birds, the WESTERN GULL remains at the Davis Wetlands and has been reported periodically. The Wetlands are open Mondays only until February 15th. A resident GREATER ROADRUNNER at Taber Ranch Winery off County Road 81 has had sporadic reports, and an AMERICAN DIPPER in Putah Creek Canyon has ranged from its regular spot near Monticello Dam to less common haunts in the rapids at Fishing Access #4. It has been a banner year for SHORT-EARED OWLS in the state, and a handful continue to be seen regularly at dusk near the Yolo County Central Landfill.
Thanks to the following for their reports:
Grace Bottomley (GB), Peyton Bounds (PB), Collin Dillingham (CD), Cliff Feldheim (CF), Ellie Gottlieb (EG), Marcel Holyoak (MH), Ruth Pagano (RP), Zane Pickus (ZP), Mark Sawyer (MS), Elliot Schoenig (ES), Henry Witsken (HW), Joe Zeno (JZ)
Photos and Audio Recordings:
Tropical Kingbirds: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S295027835
Common Loon: https://ebird.org/checklist/S295261667
Eurasian Green-winged Teal: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S297298279
Nashville Warbler: https://ebird.org/checklist/S294087058
Northern Yellow Warbler: https://ebird.org/checklist/S293813155
Cassin’s Vireo: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S296427210
–Zane Pickus