November sees thousands and thousands of waterfowl flood into the Central Valley, filling our refuges, fields and bypasses with the spectacle and deafening sound of geese as they take flight together. The temperature has dropped and the last few western neotropical migrants trickle through as they try to make their way south to their wintering grounds in Mexico and beyond. Sparrows have descended on backyard feeders as they arrive from the breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. Winter is settling in.
Mountain Plover, a species that was once abundant in the Central Valley just 20 years ago, is now an exceptional find anywhere in Yolo County. So it was exciting news when a flock of 70 Mountain Plovers were found along Highway 45 north of Knights Landing (FF, CT). This is the fourth winter they have been found at this location. If you go to look for this flock make sure to keep an eye out for Rough-legged Hawk and Short-eared Owls, both have been seen regularly here by birders (SL).
An exceptional day at the Yolo Bypass on November 5th turned up a Lapland Longspur, a Grasshopper Sparrow and a pair of golden-plovers (EM). Unfortunately, photos of the plovers were inconclusive to identify to species. In the following days a second Grasshopper Sparrow was found nearby, it will be interesting to see if these birds spend the winter here. Grasshopper Sparrows breed in small numbers in Yolo County but sightings this late are exceptional.
A Red-necked Grebe was spotted at the North Regional Pond in Woodland on November 8th (KS). This bird was Yolo’s third record for 2021, an all-time high count for a single year. A late November Wilson’s Warbler found at the UC Davis Arboretum could spend the winter (CT). There are fewer than 5 records of Wilson’s Warbler between the months of November-December.
A big thanks to the following birders for their reports: Frank Fabbro (FF), Cameron Tescher (CT), Sami LaRocca (SL), Ethan Monk (EM), and Katie Smith (KS).
eBird checklists with photos:
Mountain Plover: https://ebird.org/checklist/S97946539
Rough-Legged Hawk and Short-eared Owl: https://ebird.org/checklist/S98141672
Lapland Longspur, Grasshopper Sparrow and golden-plover: https://ebird.org/checklist/S97201102
Red-necked Grebe: https://ebird.org/checklist/S97305209
Compiled by Emmett Iverson, Davis, CA