Any kingbird after early September is a rare find in the Central Valley.  These two kingbirds were first records for Yolo County. 

The Yolo County winter kingbird show got even more interesting:  on 11/20 a Tropical Kingbird was found at North Pond in Davis, and it continued through at least 11/26 ( more pictures at http://radamson.smugmug.com/ ).  While Tropical Kingbirds are rare but regular to the coast in fall, this is perhaps just the third for the Central Valley, and certainly the first for Yolo.  The similar Couch’s Kingbird, with only one documented record for the state, can only be confidently separated by voice.  To remove all doubt, this bird called in response to a fly-by Red-shouldered Hawk. The Cassin’s Kingbird, first found on 10/15 north of Winters at Rds 27 and 88, continued through at least 11/21 (more photos at flickr). 

Sherman Island in extreme southwestern Sacramento County produced some good waterfowl records last winter, and regular coverage has turned up some more good finds.  Sacramento County’s fifth Brown Pelican record was found on 11/29 and continued into early December (the first was in 1976, the second in 2004, and the next two were just last summer—the increase of records in recent times is perhaps tied to this species’ DDT-induced population crash and subsequent recovery).  Also reported during this period was a Pacific Loon flying by on the Solano County side of the river on 11/29, a Red-throated Loon in both counties on 11/30, and a couple of Western Gulls, apparently regular here in low numbers, but rare farther inland.

The invasion by montane species continued with good numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches persisting where conifers are planted, three Mountain Chickadees at the East Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento on 11/15, continuing into December, and a Steller’s Jay in Curtis Park near the Sierra II Center from 11/14 into December.  Other interesting reports include a “Common Teal” (the Old World version of Green-winged Teal) at the Yolo Wildlife Area on 11/28, a female Surf Scoter on Folsom Lake on 11/8 near Granite Bay, a female Red-breasted Merganser on Folsom Lake at Beals Point on 11/21, a female Red-breasted Merganser at the Winters Wastewater Ponds on 11/22 to at least 11/29, a late Wilson’s Phalarope at the Lodi Sewage Ponds on 11/6 through the end of the month, a Western Gull along the American River Parkway (ARP) at Ancil Hoffman on 11/1 and at the Nimbus Hatchery on 11/10, and a very late Warbling Vireo along the ARP upstream of Howe Ave.  A survey of Lewis’s Woodpeckers at Audubon’s Bobcat Ranch near Winters produced an astounding 402 individuals.  This attests to the impressive numbers found this fall throughout our area’s foothill oak woodlands.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.   Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details.  With nearly 100 reports, it is impossible to list everyone; however, I want to thank the following for reports on the above species and for providing additional information:  Roger Adamson, Dan Airola, Chris Dunford, Maureen Geiger, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Dave Johnson, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, John Luther, Tim Manolis, Mary Beth Metcalf, Ed Pandolfino, Kathy Parker, Ron Pozzi, Deren Ross, Vance Russell, John Sterling, John Trochet, and Dan Williams.  Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.