Sightings for Jun-Jul 2006
This period covered a lot of the avian calendar, with hints of spring, summer, and fall. Due to the late rains and extended flooding, it was an atypical season. Many observers noted an extension of the songbird migration well into June. Much of the best shorebird habitat that had been underwater during April and May was finally available in late May and June. Most of the birds had already passed us by, but there were a few new records for early June at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) of species such as Black-bellied Plover, Marbled Godwit, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Dunlin. There were a number of excellent rare songbird finds. As is often the case, Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) was the location of several, including a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on 6/21, a Red-eyed Vireo on 6/23, and a Hooded Warbler on 7/15.
An Eastern Wood-Pewee was reported and seen by several observers on 6/4 in Solano County where Mace Blvd crosses Putah Creek. A male Black-throated Green Warbler was found on 6/23 in Solano County on the UCD Reserve, just upstream from the campus. A late Warbling Vireo was found on 6/16 at Slide Hill Park in Davis; its song indicated that it was likely an eastern bird. An adult male Indigo Bunting and an apparent female were present at the Fremont Weir from 6/9 to 6/19. A singing male Indigo Bunting was present at the Sac. Reg. Sanitation District Bufferlands from 7/10 through press time. Yellow-billed Cuckoos were found at the Fremont Weir on 6/16 and 7/30. This species has been reported a bit more regularly in Yolo County for the past couple of years. Singing Yellow Warblers were widespread in Sacramento County into June—especially at CRP, where a nest was found, though it was ultimately unsuccessful.
Fall migration for shorebirds starts early, with the first adults returning from their breeding grounds by the last week of June. The highlight of the early migration was eight Willets at the Davis Wetlands on 7/1. A Solitary Sandpiper was found at CRP on 7/26. The best migrant finds came from the Stockton Sewage Ponds, where a Red Knot, two Semipalmated Sandpipers, and a Ruff were reported on 7/31. The nesting Snowy Plovers at YWA, first found on 5/14, continued through June. Snowy Plovers and Least Terns (up to 100) were also found at Grizzly Island, just west of the area typically covered here.
Other interesting reports include a small heron with patchy “calico” plumage, consistent with immature Little Blue Heron, seen flying at CRP on 7/2; a late Sandhill Crane at CRP on 6/4, and a surprising five Sandhill Cranes over the Davis Wetlands on 6/10. One to three Common Nighthawks were found along Meiss Rd (where they were present last year) from 6/4 through at least 7/12, and Common Poorwills were heard along Latrobe Rd, just up from Stone House Rd, where the species is a potential breeder. A Say’s Phoebe at the Valensin portion of CRP on 6/25 was a real surprise for the season. A Bishop (likely an Orange Bishop —an African species sometimes kept as a pet) near Cal Expo and Bushy Lake in June and July was a real eye-catcher.
The majority of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.Visit www.cvbirds.org and click “Listserv” for details. Thanks to the following for their reports:
Roger Adamson, Jessica Blickley, Summer Brasuel, Brent Campos, Neil Clipperton, Diane Colborn, Terry Colborn, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Rob Fowler, Maureen Geiger, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Waldo Holt, Joan Humphrey, Dave Johnson, Jon King, Marianne Kirkland, Jeri Langham, Erica Lindgren, Jim Lomax, Neil Losin, John Luther, Ron Melcer, Roger Muskat, Fleur Ng’weno, Frances Oliver, Ed Pandolfino, Mark Paulus, Michael Perrone, Eric Pilotte, Don Roberson, Stefan Schlick, John Sterling, Craig Swolgaard, Irene Torres, John Trochet, Sally Walters, and Neil Whiting.
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