Yolo Notable Sightings: October 2022

A wide variety of rare birds were found during the month of October, keeping local birders on their toes all month long. The highlights of the month ranged from a pair of sea ducks to a trio of vagrant warblers, with an impressive mix of everything in between.
The month got off to a quick start with the discovery of an adult male SURF SCOTER at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant on 10/6 (BC). Most prior records in Yolo County are of female or immature-type individuals, so this male sporting a fancy orange bill and bold facial pattern was a real treat. The scoter represents the earliest fall record of a Surf Scoter in Yolo County. Not to be outdone, an adult male LONG-TAILED DUCK was discovered at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant ten days later on 10/16 (SHo). This impressive bird still retained much of its long tail and would occasionally show it off to the patient observer. A very rare bird inland, this sea duck represents just Yolo’s fifth county record, as well as the first of an adult male. The previous record of Long-tailed Duck was from almost ten years ago!
Three eastern warblers were discovered during the month. The first was an AMERICAN REDSTART found in a riparian area of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 10/9 (RF). It proved to be a one-day-wonder as it was seen by a few birders throughout the first day but never again. Incredibly, this American Redstart is the fourth recorded in Yolo County this fall, following three reports last month. It also represents the first record of a redstart at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, which boasts a list of over 270 recorded species. The second rare warbler of the month was a crisp young CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER on the UC Davis campus on 10/13 (EM, CT). It hung around a line of cork oaks near Hutchinson Field and delighted many birders from UC Davis and beyond. Despite the exceptional tally of vagrant warblers in the county this year, this is the only Chestnut-sided that has been seen. Two days later on 10/15, a gorgeous fall TENNESSEE WARBLER was found at the west end of the UC Davis Arboretum (GP). It was loyal to a few trees and gave great looks to those who searched for it.
A very exciting find was an adult-male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER found on private property near Guinda in the Capay Valley on 10/10 (ES). The bird was seen off and on for almost a week, but ultimately disappeared. Sapsuckers are notorious for hybridizing but this bird was perfect for a pure bird. There are very few records of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the county. A GREATER ROADRUNNER found and photographed on County Road 2 in the Dunnigan Hills on 10/22 was another exceptional find (ES). Roadrunners are a rare and elusive resident of the grassy hills and rocky washes in the northwestern section of Yolo County.
Another noteworthy bird was a vocalizing SWAMP SPARROW at Elkhorn Slough Boat Ramp along the Sacramento River on 10/18 (SHa, BW). While the bird was never seen, the sharp, Black Phoebe-like call note is diagnostic for the species. At the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was reported at the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve on 10/10 (NP). This hard-to-locate species is found every few years as it migrates south in October and November.
A few lingering migratory species were notable in the month of October. Two RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS were extensively photographed at North Area Drainage Pond in Davis and remained through at least 10/19 (JG). These birds represent the latest record for Yolo County. A SNOWY PLOVER, discovered on 10/12 at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (KF), continued to be seen through at least 10/30. This is the latest record of a fall migrant in the county. If it continues into November, it will represent the third winter record of the species and the first since 2005.
In contrast, a EURASIAN WIGEON was found on 10/2 at Woodland WTP, which is weeks before the expected arrival date of the species (ZP). Amazingly, this is already the second Eurasian Wigeon recorded in the county this fall. Individuals of this species have been arriving earlier and earlier the past few winters, repeatedly breaking the record return date of the species.
Finally, a “YELLOW-SHAFTED” NORTHERN FLICKER was discovered in North Davis on 10/19 (JG). This eastern subspecies of Northern Flicker is quite rare to the county, and most birds seen with yellow wings are actually intergrades between the western “red-shafted” subspecies and eastern “yellow-shafted.” This well-photographed bird appeared to tick all the boxes for a pure “yellow-shafted” individual.

Thanks to the following for their reports:

Bart Wickel (BW), Brent Campos (BC), Cameron Tescher (CT), Elliot Schoenig (ES), Ethan Monk (EM), Gerrit Platenkamp (GP), Joshua Greenfield (JG), Ken Ferguson (KF), Nora Papian (NP), Rob Furrow (RF), Scott Hoppe (SHo), Steve Hampton (SHa), Zane Pickus (ZP)

eBird Checklists with Photos: