Yolo Notable Sightings: April 2024

Spring migration was in full swing this past month, with migrant songbirds and shorebirds showing up all throughout the county. Nice April weather gave local birders plenty of opportunities to sort through the passing flocks, and the results were pretty exceptional.
The highlight of April was the discovery of two beautiful BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS beyond the crossroads of Rayhouse Road on 4/29 (JG). Following the LNU Lightning Complex Fire that burned much of the county’s chaparral habitat in summer of 2020, the area has been in a steady state of recovery. Chaparral specialists have continued to increase with each passing year, and this year the numbers of BELL’S SPARROW, WRENTIT, and MOUNTAIN QUAIL are higher than recent memory. The current stage of succession seemed primed for one very rare species in particular, and on 4/29, it showed up. BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS are rare breeders in northern California foothills, with the required habitat of recovering chaparral that is four-to-seven years post-burn. Much of the area where the species could theoretically show up in Yolo County is inaccessible, so it is unsurprising that this is the first individual found in the county in almost a decade. All told, there appear to be fewer than ten county records in total. Adding on to the excitement on Rayhouse was a migrant GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE, which represents just the fifth spring record for the species, on the same day as the sparrows (JG). A PILEATED WOODPECKER, which has crashed in the county following the fires, on 4/22 is also noteworthy (JG).
Following a rather rainy winter, the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area reopened in early April and water levels began to drop. It did not take long for an astounding show of shorebirds to arrive. Clouds of DUNLIN and WESTERN SANDPIPERS and masses of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS spread across the drying fields. Birders were able to pick out a few rare shorebirds hiding amongst the groups. It started on 4/12 with five SNOWY PLOVERS, (FF, EM), and at least three of these stuck around for a few days. Within the hundreds of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER was found on 4/17 (FF). This basic-plumaged individual was the first in the county in several years. The next day, an unprecedented flock of over 90 MARBLED GODWITS were seen, tying the county high-count for the species (EM). More expected were two separate SOLITARY SANDPIPER reports from the wildlife area, one near Putah Creek Sinks on 4/27 (BW), and another along the auto loop on 4/30 (CD). Another SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen at West Davis Pond on 4/20 (SH), making an impressive three individuals for the month.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS put in an impressive showing this April, with four different individuals reported from the county, and all on the valley floor! Three of those were on the same date on 4/16. One individual was photographed at Grasslands Regional Park (KD, LW, MP), another at a UC Davis property (JL, MM), and the third at a private residence near Clarksburg (TU). Another CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was briefly spotted at Babel Slough on 4/21 (KS).
Additional noteworthy migrants included a GRAY FLYCATCHER on a private stretch of Putah Creek west of Davis on 4/16 (EM). Sticking with Empidonax flycatchers, a DUSKY FLYCATCHER was found at Grasslands Regional Park on 4/22 (FF, KS). SWAINSON’S THRUSHES do not usually arrive until early May, so a bird at Gray’s Bend on 4/14 was pretty unheard of (AE). A COMMON POORWILL, rare on the valley floor, spent two days at Grasslands Regional Park beginning 4/26 (JG). A presumed migrant BARROW’S GOLDENEYE photographed on the late date of 4/2 in West Sacramento was unexpected (FS). A LEAST BITTERN heard cooing away at the bypass on the evening of 4/21 is the first detected this season at a traditional breeding location (FF). GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS returned to their usual spot along CR38 in southeastern Yolo County, with three reported on 4/5 and others seen in subsequent visits (JG)
As far as continuing birds, the ORCHARD ORIOLE at the UC Davis Arboretum continued to sing its little heart out until it disappeared. It was last reported on 4/10. Finally, the COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD in Wildhorse was relocated after a month-long absence, and was reported periodically from a private residence throughout the month.

Thanks to the following for their reports:
Andy Engilis (AE), Bart Wickel (BW), Chris Dong (CD), Ethan Monk (EM), Frank Fabbro (FF), Frank Severson (FS), Joshua Greenfield (JG), Kirk Swenson (KS), Konshau Duman (KD), Lynette Williams (LW), Michael Perrone (MP), Steve Hampton (SH), Tom Uslan (TU)

Photos and Audio Recordings:

–Zane Pickus