A handful of rare birds brightened a rather rainy month of December. The action started on 12/2, with a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE in a southern Woodland neighborhood (RW). The bird was relocated a few hours later but was never seen after that evening. The following day, a RUFF was found in a flooded field along County Road 103 north of Davis (SeS). This Siberian shorebird was enjoyed by many throughout the month as it foraged with dozens of snipe, dowitchers, and peeps.
A SUMMER TANAGER discovered on the evening of 12/6 was enjoyed by dozens of birders as it continued throughout December (MP). This tanager, an apparent female, represents the first winter record of the species for Yolo County. Previous records in fall and spring have proven difficult to relocate, so this individual was a “county bird” for many. It was well photographed and heard giving its diagnostic calls on many occasions.
The PALM WARBLER on County Road 104 south of Davis, first discovered last month (BW), was refound a week later and appears to be wintering. Many birders have gone to check out the Palm Warbler and the nearby MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD flock. A very lucky group was present when a TROPICAL KINGBIRD flew into the orchard next to the road 12/16 (MM, LC, KS). The kingbird was apparently chased into the area by a kestrel from far away, and disappeared some 40 minutes later. This crazy kingbird find is just the third Yolo County record, with the first record of a bird found in November 2003 and the second a wintering bird in 2010-2011.
Following the recent rains, many gulls have flooded into the area around the Yolo County Central Landfill. The long-returning adult WESTERN GULL was first noted this year on 12/13 at Davis Wetlands (BW). This well-known bird has returned to the wetlands every winter for over a decade. On 12/22, a beautiful first-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was discovered at the County Road 104 “borrow pits” just west of the landfill (ZP). This huge, snow-white gull was not seen again but may well be around nearby. The areas around the landfill have thousands of gulls flying and loafing around every day.
In the northern part of the county, the famous flock of MOUNTAIN PLOVERS has returned to its usual barren fields along Highway 45 south of County Line Road. The group was first reported this winter on 12/5 with a few dozen individuals. Follow up reports have had as many as 107 birds (CT, SaS). It is great to see this species is still hanging on in Yolo County, as its populations continue to plummet worldwide.
Of local interest were a pair of “THICK-BILLED” FOX SPARROWS at the EC Garden near UC Davis on 12/5 (KD, LW). This subspecies of Fox Sparrow is usually restricted to the chaparral slopes in the extreme western part of the county, and any report on the valley floor is exceptional. Birders participating in the Sacramento Christmas Bird Count discovered an immature-male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at the Elkhorn Volunteer Fire Station on 12/26 (CH, LG). It was seen and photographed by a few later that day, but had not been relocated as of the end of the month.
Notable winter rarities include as many as four CASSIN’S VIREOS in North Davis (JG, BC, NG), as well as a SWAINSON’S HAWK on 12/11 at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (SH). Two LEAST BITTERNS have been found, one at Davis Wetlands on 12/12 (KO), and another at Cache Creek Wild Wings Park on 12/28 (BC). A LONG-EARED OWL has been observed at an undisclosed location near Wildhorse throughout the month.
A rare hybrid COMMON GOLDENEYE x BUFFLEHEAD was found and photographed at a pond in West Sacramento on 12/23 (FS). Speaking of rare hybrids, the YELLOW-BELLIED x RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER continued at North Davis Farms, hanging around in its fifth winter. Finally, the WINTER WREN discovered last month at Putah Creek Fishing Access #2 continued through at least 12/18.
Thanks to the following for their reports:
Bart Wickel (BW), Brent Campos (BC), Cameron Tescher (CT), Cliff Hawley (CH), Frank Severson (FS), Josh Greenfield (JG), Kelli O’Neill (KO), Kirk Swenson (KS), Konshau Duman (KD), Linda Gal (LG), Lyann Comrack (LC), Lynette Williams (LW), Mark Martucci (MM), Michael Perrone (MP), Nancy Gronert (NG), Rick Williams (RW), Sam Simon (SaS), Sean Smith (SeS), Scott Hoppe (SH), Zane Pickus (ZP).
Photos:
Townsend’s Solitaire: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123362232
Ruff: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124381181
Summer Tanager: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123611973
Tropical Kingbird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124070577 (Solano County side);
https://ebird.org/checklist/S124071070 (Yolo County side)
Western Gull: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123922320
Glaucous Gull: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124451390
Mountain Plovers: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124790414
“Thick-billed” Fox Sparrows: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123522482
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124648771
Least Bittern: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123881960
Cassin’s Vireo: https://ebird.org/checklist/S123704669
Common Goldeneye x Bufflehead: https://ebird.org/checklist/S124495773
Townend’s Solitaire
Photo by Bart Wickel
–Zane Pickus