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02 Sep Artists and Photographers Asked to Help Yolo Basin Foundation ["bypassdave2003" ] 2 Sep Whoo-Hoo! Announcing Our Major Event! [Cheri Pillsbury ] 01 Sep Lincoln WTP and Warblers ["Chad Aakre" ] 01 Sep Marbled Godwits-Lincoln WWTP (PLA) ["rossierran" ] 31 Aug Butte Rusty Blackbird [BRUCE DEUEL ] 31 Aug Solitary Sandpiper at Davis wetlands ["Ruth Rudesill" ] 31 Aug Woodland Sewer Ponds ["Peter B. Armstrong" ] 31 Aug Lincoln WTP - low numbers ["Chad Aakre" ] 31 Aug Re: Clicking Barn Owls Flew Near Each Other Last Night (Pocket Neig... [] 31 Aug Clicking Barn Owls Flew Near Each Other Last Night (Pocket Neighborhood) ["Frank" ] 31 Aug Glossy Ibis sketch ["Steve Hampton" ] 30 Aug Solitary Sandpiper - Davis Wetlands, Yolo Co. [Kathryn Parker ] 30 Aug Re: Red-breasted Nuthatches in Land Park, Sacramento ["Steve Hampton" ] 30 Aug Red-breasted Nuthatches in Land Park, Sacramento ["dan_airola" ] 30 Aug Cedar Waxwings in August - Yolo and Solano Counties ["susan" ] 29 Aug Solitary Sandpiper (Yolo Co.) [] 28 Aug Stilt Sandpiper-Davis Wetlands ["Peter B. Armstrong" ] 28 Aug Putah Creek [Manfred Kusch ] 27 Aug Glossy Ibis in Yolo Co. ["Steve Hampton" ] 27 Aug Stilt Sandpiper in Yolo Co. ["Steve Hampton" ] 26 Aug SWHA's-ElkHorn Rd RioLinda [Sally Walters&Don Schmoldt ] 26 Aug Selasphorus hummer in Folsom ["Craig Swolgaard" ] 26 Aug Amador County Cattle Egrets ["Don Marsh" ] 24 Aug Sacramento Co. - Marbled Godwits [Kathryn Parker ] 24 Aug Woodland WTP die-off ["Steve Hampton" ] 24 Aug banded juv. accipiter [Manfred Kusch ] 23 Aug Re: Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.) ["Todd Easterla" ] 24 Aug Godwits and Sanderlings on Sherman Island ["jaegermaestro" ] 23 Aug banded juv. Sharp-shinned Hawk [Manfred Kusch ] 23 Aug Putah Creek [Manfred Kusch ] 23 Aug Re: Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.) ["Steve Hampton" ] 23 Aug Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.) [] 23 Aug more nuthatch ["Perrone, Michael" ] 22 Aug Colusa co. Migrants/local interest - 8/22/10 [Dominik Mosur ] 23 Aug Red-breasted Nuthatch (Yolo Co.) [] 22 Aug Cosumnes birds this weekend ["John and Glennah Trochet" ] 21 Aug Woodland shorebirds [] 21 Aug Photos of the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge Yellow-billed Cuckoo [] 20 Aug Lincoln WTP - Marbled Godwit ["Chad Aakre" ] 20 Aug Woodland WTP shorebirds ["Steve Hampton" ] 19 Aug Re: More Woodland WTP shorebirds [] 19 Aug Flycatchers, Caswell State Park ["salvatore salerno" ] 19 Aug Fwd: Pectoral Sandpiper at Woodland WTP Aug 19 ["Steve Hampton" ] 19 Aug Pectoral Sandpiper at Woodland WTP ["Steve Hampton" ] 18 Aug Madera WTP ["Frances Oliver" ] 18 Aug Madera WTP - cont. Tern & Stilt Sandpiper [Kathryn Parker ] 18 Aug Fw: Fwd: Mariposa co [Ms Liz West ] 18 Aug RE: early junco? ["Michael Rogner" ] 18 Aug Re:early junco? ["Bruce Cousens" ] 17 Aug Tale of 3 cuckoos ["Ruth Rudesill" ] 17 Aug early junco? [BRUCE DEUEL ] 17 Aug Least Bittern lat-long at YBWA ["Steve Hampton" ] 17 Aug Long-Billed Curlews South of Dixon ["rosita94598" ] 16 Aug At Caswell Park ["salvatore salerno" ] 15 Aug Baird's Sandpiper Yolo YBWA ["Adamson, Roger" ] 15 Aug Cosumnes birds- 15 AUG 10- yellow-billed cuckoo ["John and Glennah Trochet" ] 15 Aug Swarovski Binos for sale ["buckeyes0268" ] 14 Aug Cosumnes birds- 14 AUG 10 ["John and Glennah Trochet" ] 14 Aug Least Bittern at Yolo Wildlife Area ["Steve Hampton" ] 14 Aug Baird's Sandpipers (Yolo Co.) [] 14 Aug Migrants in Carmichael today 8-13-10 ["chuck_brittain" ] 13 Aug More Lawrence's Goldfinches, Odd Buteo - Caswell S.P ["salvatore salerno" ] 13 Aug Davis migrants ["Steve Hampton" ] 13 Aug Baiird's Sandpiper- Lincoln WWTP ["rossierran" ] 13 Aug Re: Solitary Sandpiper-Lincoln WWTP [] 13 Aug Solitary Sandpiper-Lincoln WWTP ["rossierran" ] 12 Aug Yolo Bell's vireos- no luck ["John and Glennah Trochet" ] 12 Aug Broad-winged Hawk S. Stockton [Scott Crosbie ] 11 Aug Lawrence's Goldfinches, Caswell State Park ["salvatore salerno" ] 11 Aug RE: Lodi WWTP Baird's Sandpiper continues ["John Sterling" ] 11 Aug FW: [STA_Birds] Lawrence's Goldfinches, Caswell State Park ["John Sterling" ] 11 Aug Solitary Sandpiper-Lincoln WWTP ["rossierran" ] 10 Aug Lodi WWTP Baird's Sandpiper photos from today ["naturestoc" ] 10 Aug Lincoln WWTP (PLA) 2nd Baird's Sandpiper and L. Yellowlegs ["rossierran" ] 9 Aug Putah Creek - Solano & Yolo Co. & Cont. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER Lodi WTP [Kathryn Parker ] 09 Aug Continuing Barid's sandpiper [Terres Ronneberg ] Subject: Artists and Photographers Asked to Help Yolo Basin Foundation From: "bypassdave2003" <dfeliz AT dfg.ca.gov> Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:29:05 -0000 Thanks for your help. Let's see your photos and art work! Dave Feliz Area Manager Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Yolo Basin Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a show entitled "Art and Photography Wetlands Extravaganza" at Bucks for Ducks on November 12. The Foundation encourages local artists and photographers to support wetlands education by donating pictures for the show. The donated works will be sold to the highest bidders at Bucks for Ducks in a silent auction format. The juried photography exhibit will include the following categories: plants, animals, landscape and abstract. All photos must have been taken at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. Photographs should be submitted by email as jpeg files. The last day for submission of photos is September 17. All media will be accepted for the art portion of the show. Any work submitted must be "Wildlife Area inspired" and done in an 8" square format. Yolo Basin Foundation has wooden blocks available for painting and will deliver them to artists. In previous years artists have created tiles, blown glass and multi-media collages in addition to paintings. The art pieces are due by October 8. Interested people may download the call for entries along with detailed information at www.yolobasin.org or call Ann Brice at 530-758-0530.Subject: Whoo-Hoo! Announcing Our Major Event! From: Cheri Pillsbury <raptorcheri AT att.net> Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 04:41:08 -0700 (PDT) Hey, fellow bird lovers! It’s time to get ready for the 14th Annual Central Valley Birding Symposium to be held at the Hilton Hotel in Stockton, CA, Nov. 18-21, 2010. Sponsored by our own Central Valley Bird Club, we've won a reputation for throwing quite an event. This year for our evening programs we have amazing photographer and author Paul Bannick giving a program based on his book and research into “The Owls and Woodpeckers of the West”. Author of dozens of books and articles and award-winning photographer Moose Petersen will give a presentation on “California’s Threatened and Endangered Birds”. Workshops include Jon Dunn on sparrows and Joe Morlan’s shorebird ID workshop focusing on loons and grebes. There are many others, ranging from Central Valley Raptors to Beginning Birding and digiscoping to bird sketching. Our field trips always turn up exciting birds. Add in the always entertaining and educational Bird ID Panel, the wonderful display of art and gifts for yourself or others at the Birder’s Market and the camaraderie of hundreds of like-minded folks, and you know you’ll have a good time! For more information or registration go to the website at www.cvbs.org or contact Frances Oliver at hummer52 AT sbcglobal.net The hottest field trips fill up really fast, so don't hesitate. See you there! Cheri Pillsbury Central Valley Birding Symposium [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Lincoln WTP and Warblers From: "Chad Aakre" <chadaakre AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:52:06 -0000 Hello all, I swung through the Lincoln WTP at lunch and found everything that Derren Ross had posted previously. Except there were 20 Red-necked Phalaropes in the southeast pond that they are drawing down right now. Not much more to say there... but I also wanted to add that today at a project site near Sheridan, I had one single Wilson's Warbler (that was absolutely stunningly beautiful I might add) and one single Orange-crowned Warbler. Each in the same general area but apart from each other, working a riparian strip. The Wilson's seemed solitary but the Orange-crown was hanging out in an active Bushtit flock (I had pished the flock in and this bird was in with them). I also had a single Western-wood Pewee in the same area and at the same time as the Wilson's. I saw a Western-wood Pewee yesterday at Miners Ravine Nature Reserve in Granite Bay off Auburn Folsom. No warblers were there during my visit (3:45 to 4:45 PM). Other normal oak/riparian regulars were observed. Good birding to ya, Chad Aakre Granite Bay Placer CountySubject: Marbled Godwits-Lincoln WWTP (PLA) From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:35:42 -0000 Hello birders, This morning, there were 2 MARBLED GODWITS in the shorebird pond at the Lincoln Waste Water Treatment Plant. As Chad previously reported, the numbers are low but holding and I've yet to stand out near the entry gate on Fiddyment Road waving a card board sign that reads "Shorebirds Estates Open". Between the east and west ponds, +/- 500 dowitchers about half as many peeps (Western and Least). Half a dozen BN Stilts, 2 Avocets, and maybe a half dozen G. Yellowlegs. Two dead Mallards appeared to be work of a Peregrine. The beautiful Clark's Grebe is still on the west pond. The treatment plant operations staff have been pumping down one of east ponds into the shorebird pond which should keep us in birds through September then it's up Ma Nature for some rain. Deren Ross Auburn, CaSubject: Butte Rusty Blackbird From: BRUCE DEUEL <bdeuel AT wildblue.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:44:39 -0700 Hi all, I just received a third hand report of a Rusty Blackbird (adult male) found in Butte County by a visiting Kentucky birder on 28 August. The description is very good, the photo suggestive (it's a bit small). The location is Nelson Road just west of Wilbur Road. This is an incredibly early record. It's been submitted to the CBRC. I will try to get the photo posted. Bruce Deuel Red Bluff [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Solitary Sandpiper at Davis wetlands From: "Ruth Rudesill" <ruthier AT sonic.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:24:22 -0700 Birded Yolo County today. After stopping briefly at the Woodland Sewer Ponds (missed some of the cool birds previously reported,) I went to the Davis Wetlands. There were zillions of Dowitchers and several folks there looking for the Stilt Sandpiper in the only pond with water. I saw a bird that was a possibility but it was far away behind reeds. The other group found Spotted Sandpiper, and there were 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, both Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes. After everyone left, I went around again to check the ditch near the main parking area and portalet. There were 5 Greater Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers that flew off but a solitary sandpiper remained. I used my truck as a blind and slowly approached it - a tringa - dark brown back, speckled lightly and a white eyering - it was a (well named) Solitary Sandpiper. (If I had my camera, I could've gotten a full frame shot of it.) Best of all, that was my Yolo County bird #150! Went to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife area after lunch, but its mostly dry and there was not much there..... Ruth Rudesill Kenwood (Sonoma County) CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Woodland Sewer Ponds From: "Peter B. Armstrong" <PBARMSTRONG AT UCDAVIS.EDU> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:40:13 -0700 August 31, 2010 Hi All, Hugh Dingle and I visited the Woodland Sewer Ponds over the noon hour today and found Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes, Short- and Long-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Plovers, and a single Baird's Sandpiper. The best shorebirding was in the north-most two ponds in the eastern rank of settling ponds. The first was flooded but had attractive mud along the western bank. The second was nearly dry but had a small pool of water toward its eastern end and a lot of Least and Western Sandpipers scattered about on the drying mud to the west of that pool. The Baird's Sandpiper was found amongst those other peep. Good birding, Peter Armstrong [pbarmstrong AT ucdavis.edu]Subject: Lincoln WTP - low numbers From: "Chad Aakre" <chadaakre AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:02:44 -0000 I just took a lunch spin through the east ponds and although the habitat quality looks good in the NE pond; bird diversity was low. With just Dowitcher's and Least Sandpipers as the stand-out birds. No Westerns, Phalaropes, or Spotty's as had been consistent during recent visits. As I have stated in previous posts, the birds could be moving around a lot and it could be hot earlier or later... my spins through are pretty brief. Lots of Turkey Vultures and Red-tail's were around, but no Peregrine. Anyways, just wanted to let everyone know what was there during my spin through. I took some time to study the Least's... looking at each one. Two groups by looks... brighter colored juveniles and grayer adults. The adults appear to have already molted into nonbreeding plumage. I was interested to see the variation in bill length with some really long looking bills out there. Also, I had two small flocks of Yellow Warblers on Friday at a mitigation bank near Sheridan. Adults and juveniles were apparent. Swainson's hawks there too.. Good birding everyone, Chad Aakre Granite Bay Placer CountySubject: Re: Clicking Barn Owls Flew Near Each Other Last Night (Pocket Neig... From: simwoodduk AT aol.com Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:07 EDT Hi Frank,
What you and Rosalyn were witnessing was a fledgling following one of
the adults begging for food. Barn owl owlets are dependent on their
parents for a period of time after they fledge from the nest site for them to
provide food and the hissing you were hearing is a sound the owlets also make
in the nest site to encourage adults to bring food. Some people say the
"hissing" sounds like a rattle snake, but it is there way of communicating
to the adults, "we want food." The adult was more than likely the one
making the clicking sound that you were hearing, but the owlet may have been
mimicking the adults clicking also thinking it would help in getting a meal.
Quit a few barn owls nested a second time this year which is not
normal here in California , but the late spring rains that we had produced good
food and cover for the prey base that the owls depend on for feeding their
owlets. We did a two year diet study on barn owls back in the late
nineties here in the Central Valley, and a pair of adult barn owls will feed a
family of owlets an average 68 pounds of prey in seven and a half to eight
weeks before they fledge. In one nest box, the adults had brought in 407
gophers to the young owlets which equates to 140 pounds of gophers, they were
well fed owlets and there was one happy farmer in the area with a big
reduction in the gopher population digging in his fields.
Steve Simmons
Merced, CA
In a message dated 8/31/2010 7:29:24 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
frankseverson AT yahoo.com writes:
Last night, at our apartment at Gloria Drive and Florin Road in the
Pocket/Greenhaven area west of Interstate 5, we heard Barn Owls hiss. I went
outside to investigate. Our neighbor, Roselyn, said she heard clicking in a
street-side tree at sunset. When a car started about 9:00 pm, we heard the
hissing again. It sounded like a loose belt on a car. I thought for a moment
that we had been fooled by car sounds. Then Roselyn pointed to two Barn Owls
flying overhead at about 80 feet up. We clearly saw the owls, probably
because of the city lights and the owls' light color. I even saw them with my
binoculars. They flew close to each other and clicked repeatedly. Roselyn
thought one touched the other. I don't recall if they hissed while flying. I
didn't note a difference in color, so I don't know the sex of the two owls.
We probably saw them for a minute or two before they disappeared. Does
anybody know if this was the behavior of enemies or mates?
Frank Severson
6780 Gloria Drive
Sacramento, CA 95831
530-957-2702
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Clicking Barn Owls Flew Near Each Other Last Night (Pocket Neighborhood)From: "Frank" <frankseverson AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:29:05 -0000 Last night, at our apartment at Gloria Drive and Florin Road in the Pocket/Greenhaven area west of Interstate 5, we heard Barn Owls hiss. I went outside to investigate. Our neighbor, Roselyn, said she heard clicking in a street-side tree at sunset. When a car started about 9:00 pm, we heard the hissing again. It sounded like a loose belt on a car. I thought for a moment that we had been fooled by car sounds. Then Roselyn pointed to two Barn Owls flying overhead at about 80 feet up. We clearly saw the owls, probably because of the city lights and the owls' light color. I even saw them with my binoculars. They flew close to each other and clicked repeatedly. Roselyn thought one touched the other. I don't recall if they hissed while flying. I didn't note a difference in color, so I don't know the sex of the two owls. We probably saw them for a minute or two before they disappeared. Does anybody know if this was the behavior of enemies or mates? Frank Severson 6780 Gloria Drive Sacramento, CA 95831 530-957-2702Subject: Glossy Ibis sketch From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:10:05 -0000 No photo, but I've posted a sketch of the Glossy Ibis from last Friday along with some White-faced Ibis faces for comparison. It's an easy ID IFFFFF you get excellent views. good luck, Steve Hampton Davis, CASubject: Solitary Sandpiper - Davis Wetlands, Yolo Co. From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:09:04 -0700 This morning I finally was able to find the SOLITARY SANDPIPER at the Davis Wetlands. It had been seen about 10:00 on the west side of Tract 10. It took me until about 11:30 to finally refind it. This time it was back in the canal that runs up the east side of the wetlands. It had not been here the three earlier times I had checked. There were also at least 5 SPOTTED SANDPIPERs in Tract 10 to keep things interesting. 200 for Yolo! Kathy Parker Los GatosSubject: Re: Red-breasted Nuthatches in Land Park, Sacramento From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:43:16 -0700 RB Nuthatches have been active in north Davis the past two weeks and are now expanding their range across multiple neighborhoods, venturing into eucalyptus trees. Also continuing is a juv HOODED ORIOLE, usually in the ditch west of Falcon. Lots of migrants the past few days: 6 species of warblers, plus Willow and Pac-slope Flycatcher, Warbling Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, grosbeaks, tanagers, etc. and lots of House Wrens. Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 fax >>> dan_airolaSubject: Red-breasted Nuthatches in Land Park, Sacramento From: "dan_airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:51:50 -0000 I heard two Red-breasted Nuthatches in William Land Park today in Sacramento. They were calling together from the top of a very tall Italian stone pine tree along 11th Ave., on the north side of the park's Panhandle (between Riverside Blvd and Land Park Drive). I couldn't locate them visually in maze of branches during the few minutes I had available. For those interested in common birds, Turkey Vulture numbers are climbing at the two roosts in Land Park, on 11th and 13th Avenues. I counted 148 vultures this morning. Look for the whitewash on the roadway. In wind this morning, they began departing at 8:15, but often remain in the roost trees until about 9:00 No migrant passerines seen here this morning. Dan Airola SacramentoSubject: Cedar Waxwings in August - Yolo and Solano Counties From: "susan" <susantorguson AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:45:37 -0000 While birding in the early afternoon yesterday in Winters, we saw a large flock of Cedar Waxwings in the riparian forest along Putah Creek east of the pedestrian bridge. A nice selection of fall migrants were also present: Warbling Vireo, female Western Tanager, Wilson's Warbler, and Yellow Warbler. Susan Torguson and Glen Holstein Davis, CASubject: Solitary Sandpiper (Yolo Co.) From: harpy12 AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:48:04 +0000 (UTC) Good afternoon birders, While looking for the Stilt Sandpiper at the City of Davis Wetlands this morning (I struck out on that one), I found a Solitary Sandpiper. The bird was in the drainage ditch that borders the northern leg of the auto tour loop. I saw the bird between 75 and 100 yards east from the northwest corner of the auto tour loop. Good luck and good birding! Kevin Guse Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Stilt Sandpiper-Davis Wetlands From: "Peter B. Armstrong" <PBARMSTRONG AT UCDAVIS.EDU> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:30:56 -0700 August 28, 2010 Hi All, Hugh Dingle, Margie and I re-found the Stilt Sandpiper first reported by Steve Hampton on August 26. The bird was keeping company with a mixed group of Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers in Tract 4 of the Davis Wetlands and was best viewed from the south east corner of tour route. This is a juvenile bird with a faint rufous wash on the neck and rufous-margined feathering on the nape that closely matches the bird shown in figure 208c of Hayman et al. The bird was quite active, picking food from the water like a phalarope. Peter Armstrong [pbarmstrong AT ucdavis.edu]Subject: Putah Creek From: Manfred Kusch <makusch AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:59:57 -0700 The excessive heat earlier in the week had put a tight lid on bird life along the creek. During my walk on Thursday I found the riparian woodland completely devoid of any birds except the usual woodpeckers, 2 Willow and 1 Pac. Slope flycatchers. Not a single warbler, tanager, grosbeak, oriole, or vireo. But the cooling trend that set in on Thursday had things back to almost normal on Friday when a group of Napa/Solano Audubon birders came to visit. We found good numbers of Wilson's, Yellow, Orange-crowned, some Nashville, 1 Townsend's, perhaps a Black-throated Gray (heard). Also several Pac. Slope, and 2 Willow flycatchers, a couple of Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Warbling Vireos, a number of Downy and Nuttall's woodpeckers, American Goldfinches, and a small group of Cedar Waxwings that joined the many American Robins feeding on wild grapes. Swainson's, Red-tailed, and Red-shouldered (heard) hawks and a Kestrel represented the raptor tribe. Too bad, however, that the group did not visit today when I encountered pretty much the same scene as yesterday but was able to view for an extended period a Yellow-breasted Chat in some sandbar willows on a gravel bar below the Wood Duck gathering spot. A bit earlier I observed an osprey, probably the same I had seen some days ago, flying upstream at tree top level. When I returned a bit later with my camera, the chat had unfortunately moved on or was doing what they do best, i.e., staid out of sight. On a different subject, I was surprised that the hummingbird banding team in my garden caught an Allen's among the 14 hummers they banded in this first session. Manfred Kusch Davis/Winters makusch AT ucdavis.edu 707-678-1027 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Glossy Ibis in Yolo Co. From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:54:25 -0000 This morning there was a group of about 400 White-faced Ibis along Rd 102 just south of Rd 25 (se of Woodland). They were near the road with the sun shining on them, so ideal viewing conditions. I pulled a U-uey and set up my scope. In scoping thru them, I got excellent views of an adult GLOSSY IBIS. The key field marks to look for are the two prominent pale lines between the eye and the bill (located differently than on WF Ibis-- but only a few of those show even an upper line at this point), dark bluish lores, and small black beedy eye. The illustrations in Sibley are pretty good in this regard. Nearby, there were nearly 300 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant. good birding, Steve Hampton Davis, CASubject: Stilt Sandpiper in Yolo Co. From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:39:59 -0000 Today there was a STILT SANDPIPER at the City of Davis Wetlands. The bird was with a group of about 30 dowitchers in Pond 6 (just east of Wastewater). A harrier flushed them into Pond 5 (ne corner of the complex). Water levels are very low now and most of the ponds are bone dry. Wastewater Pond had fewer than 10 ducks, but one was a LESSER SCAUP and one a RING-NECKED DUCK. Both appeared to be flightless. Only Ponds 5 and 6 have any water. A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was calling a lot from Pond 5. The Davis Wetlands are open daily now, but starting Sept 1 they are open Mondays only. Also, Sept 1 is first day of dove hunting season, so be careful wherever you are. good birding, Steve Hampton Davis, CASubject: SWHA's-ElkHorn Rd RioLinda From: Sally Walters&Don Schmoldt <BajaOwl AT SureWest.net> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:07:52 -0700 There is a recently plowed field north of Sacramento and east of 99/70 on the north side of Elk Horn Blvd, bordered on the north side by Ernest Rd/Elverta Rd with a number of hawks feeding on the ground. This area is technically Rio Linda. I got one good look at a SWHA while driving by and noticed a number of hawks out there around ~2PM. Sally Walters Sally Walters Sacramento CA BajaOwl AT SureWest.netSubject: Selasphorus hummer in Folsom From: "Craig Swolgaard" <cswol AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:55:27 -0700 I heard a buzz above my head while walking up to my front door today and got a quick look at a male Selasphorus hummingbird- I imagine its a migrating rufous. Craig Swolgaard Folsom, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Amador County Cattle Egrets From: "Don Marsh" <marsh_don AT att.net> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:02:44 -0000 This morning at 10 am I found a flock of 28 CATTLE EGRETS associating with a herd of cattle near a large pond off of Coal Creek Road near Buena Vista. These are the first Cattle Egrets I've seen in Amador County. I needed my 32x scope to positively identify them since they were 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away. The pond and egrets were not visible from Coal Mine Road until you climb out of the valley past the old coal mine/processing plant. Hopefully they will move to the flooded field next to Coal Mine Road for easier viewing. I will post photos of the distant birds in the Egret and Herons folder. Good Birding, Don Marsh Sutter Creek, Amador CountySubject: Sacramento Co. - Marbled Godwits From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:10:58 -0700 Saw Dan Williams's MARBLED GODWITS this morning on Sherman Island in Sacramento Co. The flooded field is along the east side of Hwy 160 just north of the Antioch Bridge. You cannot really see it going north on Hwy 160. Going south however, there is a pullout or at least a wide spot at a blue callbox where you can pull over and scope the field. I also saw a BARN OWL along Sherman Island Levee Rd. It was, where else, but in a wooden barn along the road perched up in the beams. 92 degrees at 10:30. Kathy Parker Los GatosSubject: Woodland WTP die-off From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:11:50 -0700 Todd et al., I returned to the Woodland WTP this morning to see about the die-off. Indeed there were 33 dead shorebirds (mostly Western Sandpipers) and 4 dying ones, mostly at the mudflat pond. I spoke to the plant manager and appropriate personnel here at Calif Fish and Game. They are investigating. It's probably a biotoxin related to algae and we will likely try to haze the birds off that mudflat with wands with mylar ribbon for now. There were still at least two BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS on that pond. all for now, Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 fax >>> Todd EasterlaSubject: banded juv. accipiter From: Manfred Kusch <makusch AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:26:51 -0700 Zach Smith who has extensive experience banding both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks pointed out to me that the band size used for Sparpies does not have a closure tab, but that Cooper's take the smallest size band that does have a closure tab. I have to assume that the bander had a far better look at the bird than I had (viewing it from the back, tail disorganized) and that the bird I saw was probably a small male Cooper's Hawk. Add this to your list of distinguishing marks: Cooper's with closure tab, Sharpie without :-). So has anybody been banding Cooper's Hawks in the area, as nestlings perhaps? Manfred Kusch Davis/Winters makusch AT ucdavis.edu 707-678-1027 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.) From: "Todd Easterla" <teasterla AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:03:22 -0700 All,
I also tried for the Sanderling in the early afternoon and missed it. In the
drying up ponds to the South East I had 7 juv. Bairds and two Semi-palmated
Sandpipers. Something is going on here as there were many ill or sick
shorebirds. I counted at least 26 recently deceased birds, mostly Westerns.
There was also at least 8 birds that I could have caught running around on the
levees here and there that were very ill. This is not counting the ones that
were hiding or that had crawled off and expired.
In my opinion the pond that is mostly dried up has some thing very toxic (as
if we did not know) in it as this is wher most of the dead birds were. I have
never noticed this many ill and dead shorebirds at a water treatment plant
before. Even the Turkey vultures are cashing in on all of the carcasses. I
would think they too will not do well after eating these dead sandpipers.
At Vic Fazio the fields are flooded just East of parking lot "C" and there are
quite a few peeps. I had an unusual black legged peep here yesterday that was
probably just a very red and black Semi-palmated Sanpiper after all. In Yolo
County this Sumer/fall I have gleaned at least 18 different Semi-palmateds
Sandpipers. It is a good year for these guys.
Todd Easterla
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Hampton
To: harpy12 AT comcast.net ; central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 10:01 AM
Subject: Re: [CVBirds] Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.)
I followed behind Kevin-- never did re-find the Sanderling, but the 3rd pond
back on the left (the mostly dry pond) had 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS.
DIRECTIONS AND ACCESS TO WOODLAND WTP
Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant is southeast of Woodland. At the
intersection of Rd 102 and Gibson, go east thru the gate and park on the right
at the first fence, where it says "Birder Parking". Next to the first pond
there is a little container on the fence where you can report bird sightings
and also see a map where you are allowed to go. Do NOT go up to the buildings
or near them. Also, do not walk out into the ponds. The ponds are open M-F
7:30am to 3:30pm. Years ago, John Kemper of Yolo Audubon negotiated the access
rules and they have been rather tight about it ever since. Recently we lost
access for a year and half while they did some construction; we just got it
back last year. Thanks.
DAVIS MIGRANTS
Picking up, and probably will be very good now with the heat wave and full
moon. Yesterday in north Davis I saw good numbers of YELLOW, MACGILLIVRAY'S,
and WILSON'S WARBLERS. I've also had a HOODED ORIOLE two mornings in a row.
good birding,
Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax
>>>
Subject: Godwits and Sanderlings on Sherman IslandFrom: "jaegermaestro" <jaegermaestro AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:58:08 -0000 There were dozens of MARBLED GODWITS amid about 100 Long-billed Curlews, several White-faced Ibis, both yellowlegs, peeps, and many returning dabblers on Sherman Island this afternoon. The location was a flooded field just south of where the southern end of Sherman Island Levee Road meets HWY 160 (just north of Antioch Bridge). Of course, there was also a PEREGRINE hanging around. I also had a low cluster of 15 SANDERLINGS fly over near this location heading into Contra Costa. Dan Williams SacramentoSubject: banded juv. Sharp-shinned Hawk From: Manfred Kusch <makusch AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:14:05 -0700 During my walk late this morning I found a banded juv. Sharp-shinned Hawk (I assume it was a Sharp-sh. and not a Cooper's judging from its dainty size and somewhat blotchy markings) along Putah Creek upstream from my place. It had a service band on its right leg. It was one of those metal bands with a closure tab sticking out. Of course I was not close enough to it to make out any numbers. I wonder if somebody has been banding these hawks in our area. Manfred Kusch Davis/Winters makusch AT ucdavis.edu 707-678-1027 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Putah Creek From: Manfred Kusch <makusch AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:01:22 -0700 Bird life along Putah Creek (about half a mile below Stevenson Bridge) is kept interesting by the continued passage in small numbers of migrating warblers. During the past few days I was able to add Hermit and Townsend's warblers to the more numerous Orange-crowned, Wilson's, Yellow, and the occasional Black-throated Gray, Mac Gillivray's and Nashville warblers. Also a couple of Common Yellowthroat, one Cassin's and several Warbling vireos, typically 2-3 Pac. Slope Flycatchers, and yesterday a Western Woodpewee. Western Tanagers are present in small numbers every day. Now and then a female/juv. Bullock's Oriole, a female/juv. Black-headed Grosbeak, and somewhat surprisingly, an entire family of Ash-throated Flycatchers in the area on the Yolo side where they bred in a wood pecker cavity for the 3rd year in a row.10-20 Wood Ducks, mostly molting juveniles, are beginning to gather at their traditional assembly spot where I was surprised to find on Saturday an osprey perched on a horizontal branch above the creek, getting my attention with his unmistakable repeated calls. I had not seen one around my place for quite some time. Sibley's characterization of the osprey's calls as "shrill" I think misses the mark by a lot, they are rather melodious and quite beautiful. Four very healthy looking Western Bluebirds of the late second brood I reported earlier left their nest box on Aug. 19 and the only other nests still active that I am aware of are 2 third-brood Barn Swallow nests at my house. I estimate that this year was a banner year for the swallows who produced over 50 fledglings from their numerous nests. Mourning Doves on the other hand were far less productive than in other years. I am not aware of any active nests at this time when in the past they would nest well into September. A few female/juv. Hooded Orioles are still around but none of the late nests were ever occupied. Hummer activity is very high both in my garden and increasingly along the creek. The number of female/juv. Rufous Hummingbirds keeps on increasing. Holly Ernest from UCD will begin a bi-weekly hummingbird banding program in my garden this month and throughout next year which, I hope, will finally clarify, for me, whether Allen's Hummingbirds are among those passing through my garden. Her own research will focus of course on more complex issues, such as analyzing hybridization among hummers through DNA analysis and the tracking of avian diseases. Manfred Kusch Davis/Winters makuscour AT ucdavis.edu 707-678-1027 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re: Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.) From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:01:17 -0700 I followed behind Kevin-- never did re-find the Sanderling, but the 3rd pond back on the left (the mostly dry pond) had 4 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS. DIRECTIONS AND ACCESS TO WOODLAND WTP Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant is southeast of Woodland. At the intersection of Rd 102 and Gibson, go east thru the gate and park on the right at the first fence, where it says "Birder Parking". Next to the first pond there is a little container on the fence where you can report bird sightings and also see a map where you are allowed to go. Do NOT go up to the buildings or near them. Also, do not walk out into the ponds. The ponds are open M-F 7:30am to 3:30pm. Years ago, John Kemper of Yolo Audubon negotiated the access rules and they have been rather tight about it ever since. Recently we lost access for a year and half while they did some construction; we just got it back last year. Thanks. DAVIS MIGRANTS Picking up, and probably will be very good now with the heat wave and full moon. Yesterday in north Davis I saw good numbers of YELLOW, MACGILLIVRAY'S, and WILSON'S WARBLERS. I've also had a HOODED ORIOLE two mornings in a row. good birding, Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 fax >>>Subject: Juvenile Sanderling (Yolo Co.) From: harpy12 AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:34:20 +0000 (UTC) Good morning birders, This morning before work, I refound the juvenile Sanderling that Ed Pandolfino reported yesterday from the Woodland WWTP. The bird was in the pond nearest the birder parking area and was on the second "spit" that juts out from the westernmost levee of the pond. The bird was observed between 7:00 and 7:15 AM. A young Peregrine Falcon flew in and reshuffled all of the birds and the Sanderling flew off to the east. I didn't have a chance to check the easternmost ponds, so the bird may well have flown over there. Good luck and good birding! Kevin [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: more nuthatch From: "Perrone, Michael" <mperrone AT water.ca.gov> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:30:57 -0700 To follow belatedly on Kevin Guse's report, a red-breasted nuthatch was in Slide Hill Park in Davis on Saturday, August 21. Michael Perrone Department of Water Resources Division of Environmental Services 3500 Industrial Blvd. West Sacramento CA 95691 (916) 376-9788 mperrone AT water.ca.gov [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Colusa co. Migrants/local interest - 8/22/10 From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:13:36 -0700 (PDT) Spent several hours this afternoon birding Colusa County for the first time
with Atria Rondone observing the following highlights:
(12-15) Swainson's Hawks were soaring over HWY 5 just north of County Line Rd.
around 1 p.m.
There was an adult MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER in a little stand of cottonwoods at
the edge of ColusaNWR. The stand is on Westscott Rd. just north of where Abel
Rd. ends. Also flushed a GH Owl out of there while pishing up the Mac.
Further north on Westscott, right before it becomes paved again is another much
larger stand of trees, here I had a YELLOW WARBLER and a male BLUE GROSBEAK.
Driving up Westscott a little ways I pulled off next to a tilled field
separating some residential developments (Walnut something or other and an
unnamed patch of housing) there was a red bottlebrush off Walnut that was
attracting several Selasphorus (presumably Rufous) hummingbirds and a female
Bullock's oriole.
My last stop was the Sac. River Rec. Area at the end of levee rd. in Colusa.
Here I had a WESTERN WOOD PEWEE along with a nice assortment of resident birds:
WB Nuthatch, house/bewick's wrens, spotted towhee, belted kingfisher,
black-headed grosbeak.
Finished up with 51 species.
Ironically, I made this trip because a scheduled pelagic out of Half Moon Bay
got cancelled but I couldn't escape fate. Somewhere between the Swainson's
hawks and the NWR my girlfriend and I got sick with some sort of stomach bug
(Iowa eggs??) and had a hellish commute back to the bay area.
Good birding, (but watch you eat)
Dominik Mosur
San Francisco
Sent from my iPhone
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Red-breasted Nuthatch (Yolo Co.)From: harpy12 AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:42:12 +0000 (UTC) Good evening birders, While playing golf at the Davis Community Golf Course today (aka Davis Municipal Golf Course), I had a Red-breasted Nuthatch in the pines at the 9th tee. Good luck and good birding! Kevin Guse Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Cosumnes birds this weekend From: "John and Glennah Trochet" <trochetj AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:14:34 -0700 Dear Birders, Yesterday's Tall Forest bird survey was conducted under windier conditions than desired, but we found some birds of modest interest. In a reversal of the pattern of the previous Sunday, the Accidental Forest area was much less rewarding than Wood Duck Slough and the Tall Forest. Paul Cordero made our best find, a northern parula. Other terrestrial birds included seven other wood warblers, Cassin's and warbling vireos, blue-gray gnatcatcher, Swainson's thrush, western tanager, common raven and a somewhat early sharp-shinned hawk. Shorebirding was likewise decent. The less frequently encountered among the ten species included black-bellied plover (still mostly in alternate dress), lesser yellowlegs, and red-necked phalarope. I did basically the same route this morning, under very similar conditions. The bird encounter rates reversed again, and the Accidental Forest was better than elsewhere. Apparent overnight influxes of cliff swallows, blue-gray-gnatcatchers, American robins (real?), MacGillivray's warblers and western tanagers occurred. Better finds today included dusky flycatcher and Nashville warbler. Shorebirding stunk! Still no Savannah sparrows, usually the first of the wintering sparrows to return to my patch, and they are usually back several days before the turn of September. Best, John Trochet Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Woodland shorebirds From: ERPFROMCA AT AOL.COM Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:51:15 EDT A very brief stop at the Woodland WTP this morning (the plant is officially closed on weekends) produced a juvenile Sanderling and a Marbled Godwit. There was also a single Black-bellied Plover in full breeding plumage. Ed Pandolfino Carmichael, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Photos of the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge Yellow-billed Cuckoo From: sjnishio AT comcast.net Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:58:30 +0000 (UTC) Good morning, I believe there have been a few posts regarding the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, at the Sutter National Wildlife Refuge. A friend from Oakland went by on Thursday and was unable to find it, but forwarded me the text from Jim Lomax's post that evening. He found the bird and included more specific directions to the Cuckoo site. Steve and I set out Friday morning, to the refuge. We got there around 10:30am and hiked south on the levee. Steve found the bird in the trees on the east side of the levee, near the waterway, about 1.5 mi from the locked gate. It had a Praying Mantis in it's bill. It eventually flew over us to a lone willow tree on the west side of the levee and then back. We were able to get a few photos. Below is the link to the uploaded photos. http://snishio.zenfolio.com/p75409200 Susie Nishio Sacramento, CASubject: Lincoln WTP - Marbled Godwit From: "Chad Aakre" <chadaakre AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:12:08 -0000 Hey Folks, I have been swinging through the Lincoln Sewage Ponds on my lunch breaks about once or twice a week as usual; lately often on the same days as Ron or Deren. My searches of late have been on the NE pond which has been the best habitat. While Ron and Deren were pulling Semi's and Baird's out of the peeps, I was not doing so well. I speculate that this is due to the later part of the day when I am there (i.e. noonish) and that the birds get spooked early in the day by the Peregrine or other raptors and move off to better cover for the hot part of the day? Not sure. Anyways, one bird to report from yesterday at lunch (sorry for the late post) was a single Marbled Godwit among the multitude of Dowitchers (no ID problems there!). I feel like I have looked at thousands of individual Least and Western Sandpipers over the last few weeks and have not convinced myself yet that I had a Semi or a Bairds. "Keep seeking" is what I have and will continue to say to myself. And... If I happen to show up when you have one of those two birds in your scope... I would most graciously appreciate a brief glimpse. I have seen both target birds before in MN, but that was many years ago and before kids and I am afraid that the search image is all but gone. Back to birds. A single Lesser Yellowlegs was there on Wednesday and no Yellowlegs at all were there yesterday. At least one Spotted Sandpiper can be found working the edges. I haven't seen that Peregrine this week, but there have been lots of beautiful Swainson's Hawks around and a Red-tail actively hunts the pond. Anyways, I greatly enjoy the search and will try to keep up on posts. Hope your weekend is birdy. Chad Aakre Granite Bay Placer CountySubject: Woodland WTP shorebirds From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:35:21 -0000 An excellent morning at the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant. Michael Perrone and I had 16 species of shorebirds. Highlights: 2 MARBLED GODWITS (first pond) 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (callng; first pond) 3 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS (usually at 3rd pond back on left) 1 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (with 800 Westerns, 3rd pond back on left) also: 900 WESTERN SANDPIPERS 120 WILSON'S PHALAROPES 40 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and 41 CASPIAN TERNS good birding, Steve Hampton Davis, CASubject: Re: More Woodland WTP shorebirds From: ERPFROMCA AT AOL.COM Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:43:15 EDT Deren Ross and I visited the Woodland WTP late morning, I guess a bit after Steve Hampton left. Numbers and diversity had both increased. We found two PECTORAL SANDPIPERs, one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER and a MARBLED GODWIT and one Lesser Yellowlegs. Nearly all of the other species Steve noted were present at 2 -3 times the numbers he found. More birds kept coming in as we left. Stark contrast to Yolo Basin where numbers and diversity of shorebirds in the flooded fields east of Parking Lot C were pitiful. Ed Pandolfino Carmichael [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Flycatchers, Caswell State Park From: "salvatore salerno" <bees2 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:12:03 -0700 I had a PACIFIC-SLOPE and WILLOW FLYCATCHER earlier, as well as the expected
Black Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Western Wood-Pewee. This time, there
were two flocks of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES foraging at separate locations on
Gray Fox Trail. A Warbling Vireo in full song was by the slough, where there
was also a strangely-pattered hybrid WOOD DUCK. Since there are Wood Duck
records of hybridization for many other species, I wouldn't venture a further
conclusion.
Sal Salerno, Modesto
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Fwd: Pectoral Sandpiper at Woodland WTP Aug 19From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:47:11 -0700 Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 fax >>> Steve HamptonSubject: Pectoral Sandpiper at Woodland WTP From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:43:56 -0700 Shorebird habitat is getting good at Woodland WTP, open to the public on weekdays only. 11 species this morning: Semipalmated Plover 2 Killdeer 6 Black-necked Stilt 50 American Avocet 70 Greater Yellowlegs 5 Western Sandpiper 40 Least Sandpiper 100 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 (at tip of the big spit) Long-billed Dowitcher 200 Wilson's Phalarope 3 Red-necked Phalarope 21 (most in the second pond) Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 faxSubject: Madera WTP From: "Frances Oliver" <hummer52 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:03:54 -0700 After birding in Mariposa Co, I decide to go to the Madera WTP. Lots of shorebirds to look through, but eventually I found the juv. STILT SANDPIPER, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and a WILLET. On the drive out I saw 1 BLACK TERN. The Common Tern was MIA! Good Birding! Frances Lodi, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Madera WTP - cont. Tern & Stilt Sandpiper From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:48:03 -0700 This morning about 11:30, the COMMON TERN and the STILT SANDPIPER were still at the Madera WTP in Madera Co. Could not locate the Willet. There was also 1 male CANVASBACK with the ducks. On the way home I swung by the Hollister WTP in San Benito Co. Many of the ponds are dry and most that have water are full. The most interesting bird was 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER with the Killdeer. Kathy Parker Los GatosSubject: Fw: Fwd: Mariposa co From: Ms Liz West <elizwest AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:43:18 -0700 (PDT) I am forwarding this for Frances. Liz West Galt Please forward. Can't send from iPhone yet. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Frances OliverSubject: RE: early junco? From: "Michael Rogner" <mrogner AT riverpartners.org> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:33:23 -0700 Bruce - In the past I've had them on the valley floor as early as July 30, though any pre-September birds I've gotten a good look at appeared to be hatch-year birds. I'm guessing there's some post-breeding dispersal at work, and I'd be interested to see if your bird is an adult or not. Michael Rogner www.riverpartners.org ________________________________ From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of BRUCE DEUEL Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 6:57 PM To: Central Valley Birders Subject: [CVBirds] early junco? Hi all, This morning I saw an adult male "Oregon" Junco just east of my house, about 7 mi W of Red Bluff, in a blue oak woodland, though this bird was right on the edge of a dry creek in some riparian vegetation. Seems pretty early for a migrant, but I pass this spot several times a week and there've been no juncos there since April. Cheers, Bruce Deuel Red Bluff [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Re:early junco? From: "Bruce Cousens" <pmartins AT island.net> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:22:25 -0700 It might be a bit of a stretch to call your early Oregon Junco a migrant, but it's definitely early. If the breeding and post-breeding season movements there are similar to here (sw BC), my guess would be early post-breeding dispersal from nearby higher breeding elevation to lower wintering elevation. I don't know their seasonal movements there (others will) and I haven't searched the archives to check (others won't need to), but given your location, surrounding terrain and local breeding distribution maps, they likely breed within 25-30 miles of you at slightly higher elevation, then drop back to lower elevation in the valley in late summer and fall for the winter. Here on the sw BC coast (Nanaimo, on east Vancouver Is.) the winter flocks - likely a mix of migrants from further north and locally-moving residents that breed nearby at slightly higher elevation - have dispersed to breeding areas by the end of April and begin to return in small numbers by late September, then increase through the fall. My expectation (no band data yet) is that birds returning earlier in fall (and likely the first to leave in early April) breed locally, while the longer distance migrants breeding further north with a later breeding season leave and return later. Courtship, pairing and rival aggression behaviour by some birds starting in mid-late March, presumably the local breeders, also fits that pattern. The local breeders don't go far - locations a few miles away at a few hundred feet higher elevation have birds present all year round (one assumes they are the same birds, vs. the entire population shifting north-south, but again no band data yet to confirm) and the situation may be the same there. Interestingly, the last few years we have had increasing accounts of Or. Juncos breeding at sea level here on the coast (including a pair in my yard, 500m from the shoreline, which I hope to get banded one of these years, then try to find them in my winter feeder flock to confirm). A decade earlier it would have been birder news to find a junco on the coast during the breeding season, let alone a breeding pair, although I see no reason why the habitat would be unsuitable and the nests are successful. This could be interpreted to indicate that their numbers are increasing, perhaps with more feeders, milder winters and better over-winter survival, as the increasing numbers at my feeders each year would suggest, and that they may be expanding their breeding range into lower elevation wintering areas as a result. Another interpretation might be that as more birds congregate at feeders in low elevation wintering areas, a few just don't bother to leave for the breeding season and nothing so far has selected them out of the population. Cheers, ...Bruce Nanaimo, BC, CanadaSubject: Tale of 3 cuckoos From: "Ruth Rudesill" <ruthier AT sonic.net> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:08:44 -0700 Since it was cold and drizzly at my home in Sonoma County, I decided to take advantage of the cooler weather in Central Valley and work on my County lists. I have never been to the Sacramento refuges in late summer and wasn't sure what to expect. Delevan has water but not a lot of birds. Not much was at Colusa NWR which was mostly dry- several Selasphorus hummers (one was an Allen's male) were fighting over the Bottlebrush at the main parking area. I saw a male Blue Grosbeak on a fence near riparian on Hwy 20 south east of Colusa, right near the Sutter County line. I stopped at Sutter NWR. There was water and birds there. Small flock of Long-billed Dowitchers and some White-faced Ibis. It was getting a little warm but I walked around for a while there picking up county birds, including an Osprey. But then while admiring the large riparian woods I heard a familiar croaking call. And the adrenalin surged - it was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, I was sure of it. (They were a common summer bird in my yard when I lived in Maryland...and this habitat looked very much like the bottomlands of Maryland by the Potomac River.) BUT the bird did not show itself and it was in a closed area. So I did not chase it. I waited around for a hour hoping for another call or glimpse - nothing.... Moving on, I drove back through an area that was said to have Roadrunner near the Dunnigan Hills in Yolo County. I drove around and found the area which had interesting habitat, but no Roadrunner. Then I went to west side of 505 and down road 85 near road 12. This had large fields and ranches with natural areas in between. Near a dry creek bed, there was a small puddle of a broken irrigation pipe. There were birds there so I stopped; just then a large bird darted on the ground into the dry creek bed and disappeared into the brush. It was brownish and had a long tail. I tried to find this bird as I quickly realized what it wasn't - not a scrub jay or magpie or pheasant and twice the size of the nearby Mourning Doves. Could it have been the elusive Roadrunner? Probably, but it was a lousy look. My consolation prize was on Rd 16A there was a green field filled with Long-billed Curlews ( approx 300) and White-faced Ibis ( approx 500.) I've never seen so many of either species! Plus a beautiful chocolate Swainson's Hawk was on a pole nearby. So, while I did find some new interesting birding spots and saw new county birds - the two cuckoos were not really countable. I was beginning to think I was going cuckoo. Ruth Rudesill Kenwood Sonoma County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: early junco? From: BRUCE DEUEL <bdeuel AT wildblue.net> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:56:54 -0700 Hi all, This morning I saw an adult male "Oregon" Junco just east of my house, about 7 mi W of Red Bluff, in a blue oak woodland, though this bird was right on the edge of a dry creek in some riparian vegetation. Seems pretty early for a migrant, but I pass this spot several times a week and there've been no juncos there since April. Cheers, Bruce Deuel Red Bluff [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Least Bittern lat-long at YBWA From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:51:08 -0700 Since so many have asked, the exact location of the Least Bittern at YBWA was 38.52896, -121.61006 However, your odds of seeing one exactly here may be tough-- check any stand of tules (not cattails) in the pond-- but it is dense and tough. They can also be found at the ponds near the freeway, and probably any other similar pond (cattails and tules) in the bypass. good luck, Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 faxSubject: Long-Billed Curlews South of Dixon From: "rosita94598" <rosita94598 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:41:10 -0000 About noon today, while returning from an unsuccessful search for Least Bitterns at Vic Fazio, I found about 300, maybe more, Long-billed Curlews in a mown field. This was at the southeast corner of Highway 113 and Casey Road. Also in the field were about 200 White-faced Ibis. Hugh B. Harvey Walnut CreekSubject: At Caswell Park From: "salvatore salerno" <bees2 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:24:16 -0700 There were two bright YELLOW WARBLERS consorting with Bushtits at Willow Beach
earlier today. I also had an early HERMIT THRUSH along the trail. The flock of
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, this time ten birds with no males, continues on the
Gray Fox Trail.
Sal Salerno, Modesto
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Subject: Baird's Sandpiper Yolo YBWAFrom: "Adamson, Roger" <rhadamson AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:46:13 -0700 Kevin Guse left me a phone message yesterday reporting a juvenile Baird's Sandpiper at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. The bird was about 100 yds east of parking lot C and south of the walking path. Sorry for the late report -- I just found the message. Roger Adamson DavisSubject: Cosumnes birds- 15 AUG 10- yellow-billed cuckoo From: "John and Glennah Trochet" <trochetj AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:21:20 -0700 Dear Birders, This morning I visited the Tall Forest and vicnity to seek birds and to do some trail clean up. I started at the Accidental Forest/Wendell's Levee, retreated to the Equipment Pad, then walked down Wood Duck Slough into the forest proper, and finished by visiting the shorebird ponds thereabouts. At the north end of the Accidental Forest I found a yellow-billed cuckoo, my third at the preserve in nearly 16 years, and the first I've actually seen. The roost of about 30 Swainson's hawks seen last weekend at the Accidental Forest has moved on, only a singleton remaining there. I heard two distant common ravens. Along the levee there I also heard a Swainson's thrush. The thrush called for four or five minutes at a distance of two to three meters. But in the dense vegetation I was unable to see it. I would like to have determined which racial group the bird belonged to. I heard another call briefly along Wood Duck Slough, also unseen. This species is much less regular in fall here than in the spring. This part of the area had good numbers of a few other common western migrants, most notably about 20 Wilson's warblers and a big influx of common yellowthroats (also about 20) since last weekend. The overflow channel is now walkable/wadable to the north. In this area just last Thursday, while in a canoe, Jim Dunn and Nancy Sage saw a mountain lion on the river bank. At the pad, singing Cassin's and warbling vireos were audible. But Wood Duck Slough and the forest block itself were disappointingly quiet. The only migrant species not previously seen or heard was an orange-crowned warbler. The shorebirding was much poorer than yesterday owing to the reflooding of almost all the ponds. One of the Wilson's phalaropes from yesterday was still around. On a berm between two ponds was a single cattle egret among other white egrets. Since it is now possible to go north in the overflow channel, I ask all planning to participate in next Saturday's Tall Forest bird survey that you wear rubber knee boots, or be willing to wade in tennis shoes or other footwear you won't mind getting wet. In yesterday's note, I omitted a sighting of note, but one that is not of a bird. Near "the Point," we flushed a small (approx. 3.5 cm) tarantula hawk (a wasp in case some of you don't know) off the trail. We stopped and the animal shortly returned to the same spot in the grass, where it landed next to a plump spider that appeared to be about three times the wasp's mass. It began dragging the spider backwards through the grass, dropping the prey three times to scout a route on the ground, then returning to the paralyzed spider to resume dragging it. At length, it dragged the spider down a hole. The total dragging distance was about 2.5 meters. Best, John Trochet Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Swarovski Binos for sale From: "buckeyes0268" <buckeyes0268 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:49:04 -0000 Birders, Getting ready to upgrade my binos and sell my current pair and thought I would offer them to the group. They are Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42 and are used but in good shape. If you or someone you know is interested give me a call at (530)933-9622. Cheers Jim Laughlin Yuba CitySubject: Cosumnes birds- 14 AUG 10 From: "John and Glennah Trochet" <trochetj AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:26:38 -0700 Dear Birders, This morning John Schick led his monthly River Walk bird survey at the Cosumnes River Preserve. This is the public trail down to and along the river from the Visitor Center. We found about 75 species. Highlights included an osprey at "the Point," a bird that has been seen intermittently all summer, plus a decent mix of woodland birds, including western wood-pewee, western flycatcher, Hutton's vireo, blue-gray gnatcatcher, orange-crowned, yellow, black-throated gray, hermit, common yellowthroat and Wilson's warblers, and western tanager. At the Barn ponds (closed to public visitation) we found an interesting, very dark mallard sort of duck, but it was too far away to afford us adequate looks. After the survey, I checked the shorebird fields near the Tall Forest. Uncommon species there included a lesser yellowlegs, a spotted sandpiper and two Wilson's phalaropes. Next Saturday is the August Tall Forest bird survey. We will go through the locked Farm Center gate (corner of Bruceville and Desmond Roads) at 05:55. The trails are dry except for a variably wet short stretch at the berm into the forest proper. This depends entirely on the farmer's pumping schedule, which varies in ways I can't predict. Be prepared for mosquitoes. We will check the shorebirds, in addition to visiting the woods. Best, John Trochet Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Least Bittern at Yolo Wildlife Area From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:01:32 -0000 This morning Michael Perrone and I set out to find a LEAST BITTERN at YBWA and we were successful. We went to the marsh they were at last year (all the juvs jumping around)-- on the way to the Bell's Vireo spot, but park just after the large pump station after you cross the large canal. Then walk about 300 yards se. The pond is much more overgrown than last year, making viewing difficult. We spotted an adult Least Bittern roosting at eye level in a clump of tules amidst the cattails and got scope-filling views for over 10 minutes. We marked the spot with some dry stalks across the path. There was also an AMERICAN WIGEON there. Davis Wetlands had lots of shorebirds in the nw corner of Wastewater Pond, including two LESSER YELLOWLEGS, one WILSON'S PHALAROPE, and a WHITE-FR GOOSE with a broken wing. good birding, Steve Hampton Davis, CASubject: Baird's Sandpipers (Yolo Co.) From: harpy12 AT comcast.net Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:13:59 +0000 (UTC) Good morning birders, Between 9:45 and 10:15 AM today at the Vic Fazio Yolo Basin Wildlife Area, I had three Baird's Sandpipers. The birds were in a partially flooded field, approximately 100 yards due east of the entrance to Parking Lot C and on the south side of the access road. The birds flew in as I was scanning for peeps and I observed them for about 10 minutes, before first a Peregrine Falcon and then a Northern Harrier flushed them to the west. Good luck and good birding! Kevin Guse Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Migrants in Carmichael today 8-13-10 From: "chuck_brittain" <cbrittain AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:17:54 -0000 This morning at the Effie Yeaw nature area in Ancil Hoffman park migrants were the name of the game with small numbers of Wilson's(2), Orange-crowned(10+), Black-throated Gray(1), Yellow(1), MacGillivray'(1),and Nashville Warblers(3), Pac-slope Flycatcher(2), Black-headed Grosbeak(3), Western Tanager(1), Northern Flicker (1) and one ratty looking Red-breasted Sapsucker. Chuck Brittain Cameron ParkSubject: More Lawrence's Goldfinches, Odd Buteo - Caswell S.P From: "salvatore salerno" <bees2 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:06:21 -0700 Earlier this morning, I saw a larger flock of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at
precisely the same spot on Gray Fox Trail where I'd seen a few on Wednesday.
This time, there were fifteen birds, two of them males.
Just after I had a striking dark-morph adult SWAINSON'S HAWK perched on a snag
on Fenceline Trail, I saw a stocky-bodied buteo with pointed wings, gliding
very high and swiftly to the north. I was struck by the pale underwings, but
the distance was too far, and the glimpse too brief, to get any more. The bird
was an intriguing illusion or something better, considering yesterday's claim
of a Broad-winged Hawk south of Stockton. I'm not calling it! This is just a
heads-up to birders in south San Joaquin County.
Sal Salerno, Modesto
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Subject: Davis migrantsFrom: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:04:52 -0700 Fall migration is a steady trickle now in north Davis. The last few mornings I've tallied Wilson's, Orange-cr, Black-thr Gray, Yellow, MacGillivray's, and Nashville Warblers, Pac-slope Fly, and tanagers, grosbeaks, and buntings, all in small numbers (0-3 per day of each). I've also just returned from a month in Bolivia. I've posted a trip report at: http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=1860 (and have a cleaner Word file available upon request) good birding, Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 faxSubject: Baiird's Sandpiper- Lincoln WWTP From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:47:59 -0000 Hello birders, A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was found this am (0900)-Friday in the shorebird pond at the Lincoln WWTP. Bird Out! Pozzi,Ross,Harper, Marcucci,York,Fitzer. Lincoln, CaSubject: Re: Solitary Sandpiper-Lincoln WWTP From: derenross AT sbcglobal.net Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:04:14 +0000 Please disregard. I do not know how or from where this old message ( Wednesday) was generated. Deren Ross Auburn, Ca Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -----Original Message----- From: "rossierran"Subject: Solitary Sandpiper-Lincoln WWTP From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:42:36 -0000 Hello Birders, Ron Pozzi just called and reported a Solitary Sandpiperin the shorebird pond at Lincoln WWTP-PlacerCo.aprox.0830,wednesday. Bird On! Deren Ross Auburn, CaSubject: Yolo Bell's vireos- no luck From: "John and Glennah Trochet" <trochetj AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:47:50 -0700 Dear Birders, On my way to work this morning I visited the extreme southern portion of the Yolo Wildlife Area to seek the Bell's vireos that had passed the breeding season there. I was there from roughly 07:30 to 08:30, and couldn't detect either. There were, however, a fair number and variety of common songbird migrants, including one western wood-pewee, three willow flycatchers, four or five western flycatchers, two ash-throated flycatchers, two orange-crowned warblers, three yellow warblers, three Wilson's warblers, a western tanager and three lazuli buntings. Best, John Trochet Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Broad-winged Hawk S. Stockton From: Scott Crosbie <urbanmagpie AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:16:23 -0700 (PDT) Birders,
I spotted an adultbroad-winged hawk yesterday in south Stockton at I-5 and the
French Camp Road exit. The bird was circling over the development/ag field
boundary.
Scott Crosbie
Sacramento
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Subject: Lawrence's Goldfinches, Caswell State ParkFrom: "salvatore salerno" <bees2 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:20:55 -0700 Earlier this morning, I walked up to a flock of six adult female LAWRENCE'S
GOLDFINCHES foraging on the trail. This is the first time
I've had those birds at Caswell. I took some video of the birds, which
were just where Gray Fox Trail intersects with Majestic Oaks Trail.
Sal Salerno, Modesto
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Subject: RE: Lodi WWTP Baird's Sandpiper continuesFrom: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:18:28 -0700 The bird was still there yesterday (Tuesday) John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com Birding Classes, photos etc www.sterlingbirds.com From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of naturestoc Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 1:06 PM To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [CVBirds] Lodi WWTP Baird's Sandpiper continues Hi All, the Baird's Sandpiper continues at the Lodi WWTP in the southeast most, nearly dry pond. The Baird's was with Least and Western SP's. The flock was flushed up several times over the hour or so that I was there but they always returned to this pond. I will post photos asap. Dan Brown, Sacramento, www.naturestoc.smugmug.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: FW: [STA_Birds] Lawrence's Goldfinches, Caswell State Park From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:27:40 -0700 John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com Birding Classes, photos etc www.sterlingbirds.com From: STA_Birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:STA_Birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of salvatore salerno Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 11:25 AM To: Stanislaus Yahoo Group Subject: [STA_Birds] Lawrence's Goldfinches, Caswell State Park Earlier this morning, I walked up to a flock of six adult female LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES foraging on the trail. This is the first time I've had those birds at Caswell. I took some video of the birds, which were just where Gray Fox Trail intersects with Majestic Oaks Trail. Sal Salerno, Modesto P.S. I tried sending this message several times to Central Valley Yahoo Group with no success, even though I registered. Hopefully, San Joaquin County birders will pick up on this. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]Subject: Solitary Sandpiper-Lincoln WWTP From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:21:16 -0000 Hello Birders, Ron Pozzi just called and reported a Solitary Sandpiperin the shorebird pond at Lincoln WWTP-PlacerCo.aprox.0830,wednesday. Bird On! Deren Ross Auburn, CaSubject: Lodi WWTP Baird's Sandpiper photos from today From: "naturestoc" <Naturestoc AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:59:54 -0000 Hi again all, below is a link to some photos of the Baird's Sandpiper at the Lodi wwtp. http://naturestoc.smugmug.com/Nature/Shorebirds/4677782_Yd6LA#964630732_z3zuT Dan Brown, Sacramento, www.naturestoc.smugmug.comSubject: Lincoln WWTP (PLA) 2nd Baird's Sandpiper and L. Yellowlegs From: "rossierran" <derenross AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:32:23 -0000 Hello Birders, I'm relaying this report. Today, at the Lincoln WWTP, Ron Pozzi found a second Baird's Sandpiper and a Lesser Yellowlegs. Today's Baird's appears to be an adult in partial molt, whereas last weeks Baird's was a juvenile. Deren Ross Auburn, CaSubject: Putah Creek - Solano & Yolo Co. & Cont. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER Lodi WTP From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 18:30:52 -0700 This morning I birded along Putah Creek Rd. between Solano Lake and Pedrick Rd. I went down to the creek wherever I could. Lake Solano was pretty quiet with the best birds being 2 GREEN HERONS. Along Putah Creek, LAZULI BUNTINGs were at every stop I made, on both sides of the creek. WARBLING VIREOS were also common. 1 lovely male HOODED ORIOLE was on the Yolo side of the creek at an elderberry bush that was full of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, ROBINS and 1 female-type BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were fairly common as were HOUSE WRENS and I had 2 BROWN CREEPERS that also nicely flew across the creek for a double-county bird. There weren't many warblers, but I did find a few ORANGE-CROWNED and WILSONS WARBLERS, 1 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and 1 MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. All of the hummingbirds that I was able to identify were female-type ANNA'S. I managed to just turn Solano Co. pink and added 5 to Yolo Co. SAN JOAQUIN CO. - Went home via the Lodi WTP. The continuing BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was easy to find in the almost-dry small south-east pond. I looked for about an hour for the Snowy Plover. Saw quite a few SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs, but no Snowy. However, there is a lot of available habitat for it to hide in. Also saw WILSONS PHALAROPES. Also took a drive by the Tracy WTP. In the large north-east pond was 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE swimming with 1 WILSONS PHALAROPE. Kathy Parker Los GatosSubject: Continuing Barid's sandpiper From: Terres Ronneberg <tlronneb AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:54:23 -0700 Birders, The continuing Bairds sandpiper was located at the Lodi Wastewater ponds about 3:20 PM today by Jean Ronneberg and me in the smallest (almost devoid of water) S.E pond. It was feeding alone in the middle of the muck, then it was joined by a least sandpiper for a nice size comparison. Terry Ronneberg Tracy, CA |