This February was fairly quiet, with many of the reports being continuations of birds found earlier in the season. One to two Surf Scoters continued off of Sherman Island E Levee Rd from early January into late February, while the cooperative male White-winged Scoter first found on 12/13 near the Nimbus Hatchery continued into March. A male Costa's Hummingbird was seen by many in a south Davis yard from 2/7 through the end of the month (eBird checklist).
Mountain Plovers continued along Hwy 45 in Yolo County, just south of the Colusa County line, with up to 14 through the first week of February. An immature Glaucous Gull has been reported sporadically this season in Yolo County, including on 2/16 from the Central Landfill along County Rd 28H. The report of an adult Black-headed Gull (a CA Bird Records Committee review species) was a nice surprise off of Hwy 12, west of the town of Terminous, on 2/22. A Red-throated Loon was found along the Deep Water Channel between Bridgeway Island Pond and the turning basin on 2/27, and was seen by many into March (eBird checklist). It was likely the proximate cause of the discovery of a major rarity that was found nearby on 3/1 (check back next month).
A Hariy Woodpecker was found off of Young Wo Circle along Lake Natoma on 2/12, a little upstream of the reports from recent years. The Northern Shrike (eBird checklist) found near Yolo County Rds 25 and 103 on 11/15 continued in the general area through February, and what is likely a different bird was found across I-5 to the northeast at the Trestle Ponds on 2/7. Mountain Bluebirds were widely reported, with the largest local flock (up to 35) found along Meiss Rd from 2/24 into March (eBird checklist). The bright male Tennessee Warbler photographed in a north Davis yard on 1/25 continued into March along the greenbelt in the vicinity of Elk Place and Falcon Ave. A Palm Warbler was seen by many, beginning on 2/12, near the corner of Covell Blvd and Pole Line Rd in Davis. It foraged on or near the ground in various locations at the nearby office park, parking lot, and apartment complex (eBird checklist).
The Sacramento Area is roughly defined as lying between Hwy 20 to the north, Hwy 12 to the south, and the 1000’ contour to the east and west, plus all of Sacramento and Yolo Counties. Many reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club listserve and in eBird. It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Keith Bailey, Lyann Comrack, Dave DeSante, Leo Edson, Sid England, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Rob Fowler, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Terry Hodapp, James Holmes, Joan Humphrey, Afton Kern, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Jason Riggio, Steve Scott, Sean Smith, John Sterling, Kirk Swenson, Craig Swolgaard, Robert Traverso, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.