Plumbeous Vireo ©Josh Greenfield
While February had multiple periods of intense storms, a few breaks of warm, spring-like weather gave birders a chance to get out and discover some noteworthy birds. The diverse scattering of rarities throughout the county kept Yolo County birders busy and made for an exciting month.
February started strong with a gray-scale PLUMBEOUS VIREO that was well-photographed in Davis Community Park on 2/3, though unfortunately it disappeared before it could be seen by others (JG, SS). This Great Basin breeder is quite rare in California, yet Yolo County has an unusually high number of records, including almost annual reports from the past half-decade. Of quite a surprise was a WESTERN KINGBIRD in central Davis on 2/14 (RF). This out-of-season find also disappeared shortly after its discovery, but the photos taken proved conclusive of Western over other potential kingbird species. There are no prior February records of WESTERN KINGBIRD, and it is impossible to know for certain whether this was a wandering wintering bird or an unprecedentedly-early migrant.
Moving on to waterbirds, the unequivocal highlight was a RED-THROATED LOON at the Deep Water Channel in West Sacramento on 2/16 (LC, MM). This represents the fifth Yolo County record and the first in five years. It was enjoyed by many birders over its ten-day stay. Two interesting duck hybrids were found in February. A LESSER SCAUP x RING-NECKED DUCK was reported on iNaturalist on 2/9 (DD), and a BLUE-WINGED x CINNAMON TEAL was observed at Bridgeway Island Pond beginning 2/1 (EH).
Gulls are always a staple of February birding, and a third-cycle LESSER-BLACK BACKED GULL at the County Road 104 Ponds on 2/5 was the first of this calendar year (ZP, FF). On 2/10, a snow-white GLAUCOUS GULL was found at the same location (JG). Thousands of gulls and geese could be observed in the vicinity of the Yolo County Central Landfill all month long. Such large concentrations of birds made for quite a spectacle.
Along Putah Creek, a SWAMP SPARROW was photographed on private property near Winters on 2/25 (FF). This eastern sparrow is quite rare in the region, yet this record makes the sixth straight winter with at least one individual reported in Yolo County. A few days later on 2/28, a CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE was found on a private stretch of Putah Creek near Stevenson Bridge (ZP). Chickadees have become much rarer in the county over the past decade, and this record on the valley floor was particularly notable.
Many wintering rarities continued into February. Of particular note was the rediscovery of a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER at Cache Creek Preserve on 2/28 (JG). It is almost certainly the same individual reported there back in November, but has since molted into adult plumage.
The MOUNTAIN PLOVERS off Highway 45 continue to be seen frequently, with a high count of 143 being reported. The ORCHARD ORIOLE at the UC Davis Arboretum continues, as do a couple of CASSIN’S VIREOS at the Arboretum and in North Davis. The GREATER WHITE-FRONTED x CACKLING GOOSE family is observed occasionally around Woodland WTP. Finally, last month’s COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD was seen for the last time on 2/5.
Thanks to the following for their reports:
Ed Harper (EH), Frank Fabbro (FF), Josh Greenfield (JG), Lyann Comrack (LC), Mark Martucci (MM), Rob Furrow (RF), Sam Schmidt (SS), Zane Pickus (ZP)
Photos and Audio Recordings:
Plumbeous Vireo: https://ebird.org/checklist/S160566933
Western Kingbird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S161479466
Red-throated Loon: https://ebird.org/checklist/S161761352
Lesser Scaup x Ring-necked Duck: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/198853671
Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal: https://ebird.org/checklist/S162914715
Lesser Black-backed Gull: https://ebird.org/checklist/S160757927
Glaucous Gull: https://ebird.org/checklist/S161174028
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: https://ebird.org/checklist/S163226821
–Zane Pickus