Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (and Killdeer), 10 Oct 2010, by Daniel Lee Brown
Sabine's Gull, 7 Oct 2010, by Daniel Lee Brown
Sabine's Gull, 7 Oct 2010, by Daniel Lee Brown
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Yolo County was the hotspot for rarities in the Sacramento area, if not Northern California. Topping the list was a gorgeous and mostly cooperative Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA), seen by many despite its furtive habits from 10/7 to at least 10/16. A Red-throated Pipit was reported by a couple of parties on 10/20 in the same area as the sandpiper, but was far less cooperative, and a Glossy Ibis was reported on 10/9. A fairly common bird off the coast on pelagic trips, but a real treat inland was an adult Sabine’s Gull at Woodland WTP from 10/6 to 10/8; a juvenile was at the same location from 10/27-28. This site held an adult Pacific Golden-Plover for most of the month and a late Bank Swallow on 10/8. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found in Davis on 10/30, and a first county record for Cassin’s Kingbird was found on 10/15 north of Winters at Rds 27 and 88; it continued through press time. Rounding out the list are a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Babel Slough on 10/3, a Northern Waterthrush along Putah Creek above Lake Solano on 10/6, and a Green-tailed Towhee at the Yolo Grasslands Region Park archery range on 10/10.
Following a few reports in and around Davis beginning on 9/25, there was a flurry of Evening Grosbeak reports. Most came from north Davis and UCD, with the last on 10/28. There were also several Sacramento County reports into the second week of the month from the American River, Carmichael, and East Lawn Cemetery, as well as numerous reports from low elevation sites throughout the state. This flurry of reports is unprecedented in the past two decades, and may go in hand with the unusually abundant Red-breasted Nuthatches just about anywhere there are ornamental conifers and in some riparian areas. Other interesting finds included two Golden-Plovers near Jepson Prairie not identified to species on 10/11, a Willet flying over a Rosemont home (east of downtown Sacramento) on 10/3, two Red Phalaropes flying by at close range at Sherman Island (only the second report for Sacramento County) on 10/25, a bright Red Fox Sparrow at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 10/31, and a calling flyover Chestnut-collared Longspur at CRP on 10/9.
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, Dan Brown, Chris Dunford, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Kevin Guse, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, John Luther, Jeff Mangum, Ed Pandolfino, Michael Perrone, Zack Smith, John Sterling, John Trochet, Ed Whisler, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.