The new year provided plenty of cooperative rarities to chase. Most of these are still present through the end of the month.
It started on Dec 30, with Mountain Plovers along Hwy 45 just south of the county line (MH, SL). A maximum count of 61 represents one of the higher totals in recent years of this declining species.
A Trumpeter Swan, only the second record for the county, was found and photographed Jan 12 at the corner of Rds 27 and 104 (MS). Despite later reports, this bird was never confirmed again.
The same day a juvenile sapsucker, now thought to be a Red-naped x Yellow-bellied Sapsucker hybrid, appeared in north Davis (SH); it continues to be seen. A Plumbeous Vireo was found Jan 17 in Woodland (KR) and identified on eBird thanks to the excellent photos (RF). It continues to play hide-and-seek with visiting birders.
A bright adult male Tennessee Warbler appeared at a bird bath in north Davis on Jan 25 (SH), where it has remained a daily feature. It represents the first over-wintering record for the Central Valley. Birders have also turned up a Cassin’s Vireo and two different Western Tanagers in north Davis. Another tanager was found in Woodland.
A first cycle Glaucous Gull at the Yolo County Landfill on Jan 12 (KG) represents the only noteworthy gull of the period. Finally, the over-wintering Grasshopper Sparrow continued through the month at Vesper Sparrow corner west of Winters, as did the Northern Shrike at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Thanks to the following for their reports: Rob Furrow (RF), Kevin Guse (KG), Steve Hampton (SH), Marsha Hand (MH), Sami La Rocca (SL), Karen Richardson (KR), Michele Swartout (MS).
Checklists with Photos:
Trumpeter Swan: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51618644
Red-naped x Yellow-bellied Sapsucker hybrid: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51610353
Plumbeous Vireo: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51770422
Tennessee Warbler: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S52037286
Compiled by Steve Hampton, Davis, CA