Yet another “Indian summer” provided a warm and sunny October, with nary a cloud and not a drop of rain. The best bird was the last, an adult female Vermillion Flycatcher at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) found on Halloween morning (SH). Unfortunately, it proved as ephemeral as the last, quickly disappearing before other birders could arrive. More cooperative was a female Surf Scoter found there on Oct 18 and still present thru the end of the month (KD, LW).
Other late fall migrants included a Blackpoll Warbler seen only on the Solano side at Putah Creek Riparian Reserve on Oct 2 (MP, SS), a Tennessee Warbler that spent at least five days at Babel Slough beginning Oct 4 (SW), and a Long-eared Owl flushed from trees along Sacramento Bypass on Oct 19 (JH, MP).
Noteworthy winter arrivals have included flyovers of a dozen Red Crossbills in east Davis on Oct 27 (MP), followed by a single calling bird two days later, an Evening Grosbeak there on Oct 17 (MP), a scattering of Varied Thrushes, and an increasing tide of Pine Siskins throughout the county. Another early American Dipper was at Cache Creek Campground on Oct 4 (RW).
Finally, two Greater Roadrunners were found. One was at Taber Ranch on Rd 81 (SL) and has apparently been there for several years. The bird is deep in the property and cannot be seen from the road. Ranch owners ask that you enter as a customer—they offer wine and beer tasting. Another was along Rd 2 just west of the hulling operation, where it was seen in years past (KS).
Thanks to the following for their reports: Dan Brown (DB), Lyann Comrack (LC), Konshau Duman (KD), John Hansen (JH), Scott Hoppe (SH), Sami LaRocca (SL), Michael Perrone (MP), Sonjia Shelly (SS), Kirk Swenson (KS), Sally Walters (SW), Lynette Williams (LW), Rick Williams (RW).
Photos/audio:
Surf Scoter: https://ebird.org/checklist/S75505946
Compiled by Steve Hampton, Davis, CA