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Recent Postings from
Central Valley Birds

Updated on Friday, October 19 at 11:05 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Dear Birders,

The next Tall Forest bird survey will take place tomorrow morning.  We will
go through the Farm Center gate at 07:00.  Since I have been away in New
Mexico, I cannot say for sure what sort of footwear will be optimal, or
whether biting insects are still a problem.  Be prepared, to borrow a slogan
from the Boy Scouts.

Best,
John Trochet

-- 
John Trochet
Sacramento, California
trochetj AT cwnet.com


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Howdy,

I have recently heard from a birder that he felt that he shouldn't post
information on habitat/water conditions or on birds of only "local" interest
on CVBirds.  These are exactly the types of posts that we should all
encourage on CVBirds.  Very few posts will be of interest to everyone on
this listserve, but that should never keep one from submitting a post.  I
only ask that a post should have information that is relevant to a Central
Valley or adjacent location, whether it is about locally or seasonally rare
birds that few people would be directly interested in such as White-throated
Sparrow in Yuba, regionally rare birds that everyone would want to know
about; such as Blue Jay in Solano, habitat conditions such as current water
levels in shorebird habitat as well as issues that affect local bird
conservation etc..  Let's keep the posts informative and they will serve as
a valuable resource for future birders/researchers even if they are of
interest to only a few of us at the present time.  Also, if you feel the
need to share bird lists from birding trips then please use Ebird and submit
your lists via Ebird's email posting tool.

Have fun birding!

John

John Sterling

26 Palm Ave

Woodland, CA 95695
 (cell)
 ext 102 (work)





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Having set two pictures to Ed Pandolfini to peruse, and he doing so, I hereby 
acquiesce to his expertise and accept his response that the birds were instead 
Black Throated Grey (females) . Sorry if I misled anyone, but I was sure I was 
correct in my diagnosis. It was a serendipitous day anyway. 

   
  Dave Pearson, Lincoln Ca.


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On a brief scouting trip to the north part of Yolo Co I found a pair of Adult 
Ferruginous Hawks above County Line Rd about 2 mi west of State Highway 45. I 
also noted two Say's Phoebe's on the trip--can winter be far behind? 

 
Roger Adamson
Davis

Fellow birders,

After 3 weeks of not birding the American River Parkway (2 1/2 weeks
spent in the state of Washington), it was rather nice to bird Lower
Sunrise today, 10/18/07.  In 4 3/4 hours I tallied 53 species of
birds, the highlights being:  1 Sharp-shinned Hawk circling over the
American River; 1 adult Cooper's Hawk; 13 female Wild Turkeys foraging
on the lawn at Ambassador Park; 1 White-throated Swift; 1 Red-breasted
Sapsucker; 2 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, one foraging in riparian scrub
about 50 yards downriver from the low-level Jim Jones Bridge downriver
from Sunrise Bridge and the other one 2 1/2 hours later just southwest
of the lawn at Ambassador Park, a first October record for me for both
Lower Sunrise and the American River Parkway; 4-5 Phainopeplas; 1
Yellow-billed Magpie, my first one at this location since 6/5/07; 6-7
Lark Sparrows; and 1 Sooty Fox Sparrow.

In the mammal department, a melanistic Eastern Fox Squirrel was observed.

                               Good birding,

                                    Dave Johnson
                                    Fair Oaks 

 Did you know there are about 1.5 million Bushtits in California,but 
only about 900 Gray Jays? For landbird population estimates by state, 
check out the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) web site, and 
click on The Landbird population Estimates Database on their 
homepage.Makes great reading on a rainy day!  Craig Miller, Sutter 
Creek, Ca

At Dell Webb, Lincoln Hills, along the path above Anglers Cove where it takes a 
90 degree turn is a pair of Black and White warblers. They are mostly in two 
small oaks, but move over to the only Eucalyptus tree and then seem to return 
to the oaks. Also a Ruby Crowned Kinglet was in the oaks as well. Anglers Cove 
is on the east side of Ingram, off of Ferrari Ranch Road. 

   
  Dave Pearson Lincoln Ca.


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Hi Birders

I took +/- 20 college students (all non-science majors) on a class
field trip today (10/17 at roughly 12:30 pm) to see Chinook Salmon at
the Feather River Fish Hatchery.  After checking out the fish, we
wandered down to the river, downstream of the green bridge less than
1/8 mile.  I was introducing them to common mergansers, which were
abundant.   

In with the mergansers, there was an 'odd duck'.  I am fairly
confident that it was a female or immature white-winged scoter.  The
bird was very dark and bulky, with two pale (whitish) patches on the
face; one at the base of the bill and the other behind the eye.  The
shape of the bill was consistent with white-winged and not surf
scoter.  There was a hint of white on the wing, but not nearly as
extensive as shown in the National Geo. guide.  

A few (maybe 4) of my mostly apathetic group were eager to note field
marks and seemed to enjoy the puzzle of field identification.       

Good birding,

Shelly Kirn
CSU, Chico Biology Dept.
Butte Co.

Hello,

Friday I will be on my way to California for 10 days of birding.  I am
stuck and asking for advice.  I am trying to find a location for
countable chukar.  While searching the archives I came across "Shotgun
pass," but I am unable to locate this area on a map.  Can anybody give
me directions?  I also came across postings of the long eared owls
Mercey Hot Springs.  Does anyone know if they are there now? Is there
any place else in the area I should include?  I planned on stopping in
Fresno for the spotted doves, if they are around.  Can someone confirm
this?

Melissa Ricketts
St. Joseph, Il

Dear Birders,

Ed Pandolfino and I wish to extend an invitation to participate in
the Placer County Big Year in 2008. Currently, a handful of maniacal
birders have expressed an interest and we hope others will too.

For myself, it will not only be about chasing birds but it will be
an occasion to meet other birders and to learn more about the
county's birdlife.

To chronicle my birding adventure, I have a created a 'Placer Big
Year' blog. It may be viewed at http://placerbigyear.blogspot.com/

In addition, the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society's will be hosting
information on its website: http://www.sierrafoothillsaudubon.com/

If interested, send an email to Ed or myself.

Deren Ross
Auburn, Ca

Folks,

This mid-morning (10/14/07) Kimya Lambert and I spent an hour and a half
between the Gristmill Access and the Mayhew Drain along the American River
Parkway.  Of moderate interest were several Tree Swallows, at least one
Violet-green Swallow, two Barn Swallows, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, an
Orange-crowned Warbler, and a Black-throated Gray Warbler.

On Friday (10/12) after the rain in the afternoon I saw a sharp looking
Chipping Sparrow just upstream from the Mayhew Drain.

In the old news department, on 9/17/07 I found a Green-tailed Towhee at the
Sacramento Reg. County Sanitation Dist. Bufferlands (www.bufferlands.com).
I didn't have time to try to show it to anyone that day and didn't find it
in subsequent days (photo here:  http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/cconard/).

All the best,

Chris Conard
Sacramento


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CVBirders,

 

Mark your calendars!   

When:  9:00 AM Saturday, November 24th, 2007

Where:  Meet at Carl's Jr. in Marysville at the corner of Hwy 70 and 9th
Street (next to Ellis Lake).  From there we will carpool to District 10.  

Leaders: Jim Snowden and Bruce Deuel, two of California's leading waterfowl
experts.  

 

The agricultural areas east of Marysville, known as District 10, will
provide the perfect opportunity for extensive study of Tundra Swans in many
plumages.  Both Jim and Bruce have found many Trumpeter Swans in this part
of California and we will look for Bewick's Swans by scanning the thousands
of Tundras.  There will be various identification tools on hand including
photographic comparisons and a selection of vocalizations.  Jim Snowden has
been searching swan flocks since 1975 for banded swans and for both Bewick's
and trumpeters. This will be his 3rd season as a federal volunteer searching
wintering flocks for banded swans (2 seasons) and Trumpeters (1 season).
Bruce Deuel worked as a waterfowl biologist for 20 years, first with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Malheur NWR in Oregon, then for 18 years
with the California Department of Fish and Game.  His jobs involved census
work, banding, neck collaring, and spending hundreds of hours looking for
neck collars in flocks of geese.  Don't miss this wonderful opportunity!
See you in Marysville!

 

 

 



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CVBirders,

On Thursday 11 Oct 2007, Richard Jeffers, Mike Mammoser, Francis 
Toldi, and I did a Big Day for SFBBO's Fall Challenge in Merced 
County. Sorry for taking this long to post, but this is the first 
free hour I've had since then.

We started out just after midnight listening to a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL 
on the road to Dinosaur Point before getting four hours sleep at the 
San Luis Creek Campground (Basalt Campground was closed for 
construction). At 6:15am, we were back at the Basalt Campground 
looking for migrants. Two ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and a flyover 
PRAIRIE FALCON were the best birds here, although finding GOLDEN-
CROWNED, FOX, and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS right at the start of the day 
was nice.

From Fisherman's Point we spotted a CACKLING GOOSE, 2 HORNED GREBES 
(along with the four more expected species of grebes), and a perched 
GOLDEN EAGLE.

At the Day Use Area on the west side of the O'Neill Forebay we added 
2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, and 
another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. From the Medeiros area on the east 
side of the Forebay we added 1 male CANVASBACK, 1 male RING-NECKED 
DUCK, 8 GREATER SCAUP, 1 LESSER SCAUP, and another HORNED GREBE.

Santa Fe Grade had the usual shorebirds and ducks, but also 21 
MARBLED GODWITS (4.7 miles south of Gun Club Road), a GREEN HERON 
(7.0 miles south of Gun Club Road), 4 lingering BARN SWALLOWS, an 
adult PEREGRINE FALCON, and a flock of 21 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE 
overhead. Near the junction with Gun Club Road Richard spotted an 
AMERICAN BITTERN.

As always, the Gustine sewage ponds were great for our list, adding a 
first-winter FRANKLIN'S GULL, a first-winter BONAPARTE'S GULL, the 
continuing PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, and a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, among 
the more expected gulls and shorebirds.

Driving to Merced NWR, we added another PRAIRIE FALCON and a 
BURROWING OWL (0.4 miles north of Greenhouse Road on Dan McNamara 
Road). At the refuge we added 240 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, 1 female 
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, 13 more CACKLING GEESE among many more White-
fronteds, a YELLOW WARBLER, and at least 2 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS.

Heading out to Snelling on highway 59 and added the usual oak 
woodland birds, as well as 4 WOOD DUCKS at milepost 31.25, a BLACK-
THROATED GRAY WARBLER at milepost 32.00, and 6 CHIPPING SPARROWS at 
Henderson Park. Our 131st and last species for the day was CANADA 
GOOSE, 25 of which were on the Merced River at Merced Falls (actually 
2 more up in Mariposa County there). While driving home along 
Snelling Road we stopped northwest of Lake Yosemite and saw a stream 
of 670 CANADA GEESE heading north in near darkness (ID'd by call) - 
seemed like a surprisingly high number to us.

Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale

My wife & I played tourist yesterday & drove down to Old Sac from 
Sutter Creek. Of course, I couldnt resist an occasional skyward glance. 
At about 110clock a large swirl of Vaux's & White-throated Swifts 
appeared overhead. Does anybody know if these birds are downtown 
residents or were these birds likely migrants? While dining outside at 
Rio City Cafe about 3oclock a Peregrine flew south along the river , 
putting all the pigeons in a tizzy.A Kingfisher was also working the 
shoreline, appearing to do better than the salmon fishers. Craig 
Miller, Sutter Creek

Earlier posting left off the date.  We will meet 7:30 PM Wednesday 
October 17th at the Veterans Memorial Center in Davis (14th Street 
next to the library).  Jack Laws is a dynamic speaker and educator.
Mary Schiedt

Hi Everyone,

Birded Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area today and, while many birders were 
looking around midmorning, no one was able to find the Ruff at the 
impoundments where it was seen earlier in the week. However, there 
were many shorebirds in the flooded area between the hunters station 
parking lot and the first berm to the east. The most populous among 
them being Dowitchers, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Long-billed 
Curlew, Least Sandpiper and Wilson's Snipe. In this mix were 1 
Dunlin, 1 Black-bellied Plover, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and 2 juvenile 
Western Sandpipers.
The third impoundment east of the hunters check station held many 
Egrets, more Long-billed Curlew and Ibis. They were at too great a 
distance to pick out any Glossy Ibis among them.
I went from there to the Lot D location where I had found 2 Pectoral 
Sandpipers last Sunday (park in Lot D and walk up the Nature Trail 
about 100 yards), and there were 2 more Pectorals. While I couldn't 
say if these were the same birds as last week, one of them seemed to 
be more sparsly streaked on the breast and the streaks came to more 
of a V on the lower breast (presumed female).
Also of interest was a fly-over of a small flock of Gr. White-fronted 
Geese with 1 Snow Goose among them.

Good Birding,
Scott Hoppe
Newcastle, CA
 

Last winter, I initiated a survey of wintering raptors in the Central
Valley. This bioregion supports one of the largest and most diverse
winter raptor populations in the U.S. I am hoping to gather baseline
data on abundance, species divesity and to quantify habitat-use
patterns in different areas of the valley. 
 
Three general areas were covered by driving routes done once per month
from December through February. Four routes were done near Davis, one
near Lincoln (Placer Co.) and one near Fall River Mills (not actually
in the valley, but the Yutzys were enthusiastic, so I included the
data). This was basically a pilot-study to make sure the project was
feasible and to see how the survey protocol worked. It all went
smoothly, and I presented some initial results at the Raptor Research
Foundation annual meeting in Pennsylvania last month along with future
goals. The reception was positive and there is interest (and some
action) in establishing a continent-wide winter raptor survey. In
addition to my study, data collected will be made available to this
larger-scale database. 

This season, with the considerable help of Ed Pandolfino, I am trying
to expand the survey to include more routes. Thus far, we have
volunteers running routes in the following areas: 

1. Redding (1 route- Ken Burton)
2. Tehama Co. (2+ routes- Bruce Deuel)
3. Placer/Sutter (2 Routes- Ed Pandolfino)
4. Yolo Co. (1 route- Julie Dinsdale)
5. Solano Co. (2 routes- Zach Smith)
6. San Joaquin (posssibly 1 route- Cheri Pilsbury, hopefully??)
7. Carrizo Plain Natl. Mmnt (2 routes- Kathy Sharum)

For each route, we will be collecting fairly detailed habitat data. 
This will be organized in GIS as a backdrop on which to plot the
location of all birds recorded on routes. Hopefully, this will help in
elucidating what areas are important for raptors in winter.
Eventually, a model might be developed to aid in the conservation of
important habitats/land covers to raptors and even other wildlife. 

If anyone would like to assist in this project by running a route in
areas not on the above list, please contact me at this email address
or the phone number below asap. I have protocols, data codes and a
datasheet I will send. Routes can be from 20-50 miles in length and
are to be run at least 1x per month. 

Thank you, 

Zach Smith
Davis, Ca.

Those of you near Davis / Sacramento?are invited to?enjoy our speaker at Yolo 
Audubon's?October general meeting.? John Muir (Jack) Laws has just published 
his Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada, illustrated with over 2700 water-color 
illustrations done in the field.? He's a dynamic speaker and educator.? 

We meet at the Veterans Memorial Center in Davis (14th Street) at 7:30 PM.? You 
are all welcome! 

Mary Schiedt
Yolo Audubon Programs Chair
________________________________________________________________________
Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- Unlimited storage and industry-leading 
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Forgot to add my name!

While doing a biological survey last Tuesday (Oct. 9) on the middle
fork of the Tule River above Springville I saw a male Kentucky Warbler.
The warbler was foraging in a willow. The approximate location was
~250ft east of the intersection of Mountain Road 190-A and Highway 190.
The middle fork of the Tule River is the residency of at least 12 pairs
of American Dippers. The easiest area to observe the dippers would be
off the lower coffee camp parking area. Parking cost is $5.00

Carlos Alvarado
Sacramento, CA

Hi,  I leave for my california bird trip in one week.  I would like to 
see the spotted doves. I happened to catch a posting regarding the 
spotted doves in your area.  I did a search and came across the 
location in Fresno near Hunginton Blvd.  At some point I came across a 
location in Bakersfeild, but since can not relocate.  Anybody know that 
location might be.  Any other areas I should visit if these fail to 
produce?

Thanks in advance!
Melissa Ricketts
St. Joseph, Il 

While doing a biological survey last Tuesday (Oct. 9) on the middle 
fork of the Tule River above Springville I saw a male Kentucky Warbler. 
The warbler was foraging in a willow. The approximate location was 
~250ft east of the intersection of Mountain Road 190-A and Highway 190. 
The middle fork of the Tule River is the residency of at least 12 pairs 
of American Dippers. The easiest area to observe the dippers would be 
off the lower coffee camp parking area. Parking cost is $5.00

Hi Mary,

How stable is the road on the auto loop after rainy
weather.

Ann Yasuda
Davis

--- maryolo1  wrote:

>     It's that time of year when the hunt zones at
> YBWA will be closed 
> to the general public.  Beginning Monday, October
> 15th you can use the 
> Auto Loop and the "skinny" area between the freeway
> and the railroad 
> tracks, but will not be able to go east of the south
> end of the Auto 
> Loop (where the Hunter Check Station trailer will
> soon be parked).  
>     The site where the Ruff and the Glossy Ibises
> were found may be 
> visible via bins or scope from the Check Station
> parking lot.  Access 
> on foot will not be permitted.
>     Between now and Monday morning you can enjoy all
> the regular 
> access roads and parking lots.  Enjoy!
> Mary Schiedt
> YBWA staff 
> 
> 



 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Don't let your dream ride pass you by. Make it a reality with Yahoo! Autos.
http://autos.yahoo.com/index.html
 

    It's that time of year when the hunt zones at YBWA will be closed 
to the general public.  Beginning Monday, October 15th you can use the 
Auto Loop and the "skinny" area between the freeway and the railroad 
tracks, but will not be able to go east of the south end of the Auto 
Loop (where the Hunter Check Station trailer will soon be parked).  
    The site where the Ruff and the Glossy Ibises were found may be 
visible via bins or scope from the Check Station parking lot.  Access 
on foot will not be permitted.
    Between now and Monday morning you can enjoy all the regular 
access roads and parking lots.  Enjoy!
Mary Schiedt
YBWA staff 

I too have noticed Western Tanagers lingering awhile in the Valley. Yesterday 
morning, I spotted a fading male calling high up in an old sycamore in the city 
limits. 


Lisa Moraga
Sacramento-just south of CSUS

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Just when I had concluded that tanagers and our migrating warblers had 
completed their 

exodus from our area I keep turning up migrants on my walks along the creek. 
Yesterday I 

spotted one more Western Tanager, 2 Black-throated Gray Warblers, 1 
Orange-crowned 

Warbler and 1 Townsend's warbler. Today I found a mixed group feeding in small 
valley 

oaks: 3 Black-throated Gray, 2 Wilson's, 3 Orange-crowned, and 1 Yellow 
Warbler. I had 

not seen a Yellow W. since September 17. In addition, there are numerous 
woodpeckers 

( Northern Flickers, Nuttall's, Downy), Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned 
Kinglets, 

and Bushtits. Black Phoebes seem to have had a great year judging from their 
numbers 

along the creek. Today I saw my first Lincoln's Sparrow of the fall and the 
first Black-eyed 

Juncos. Two Swainson's Thrushes were again where I had seen them a few days 
ago. 

Upstream, in their usual location, I counted 36 Wood Ducks, some in the water, 
others 

roosting on a half-submerged snag, and others yet lined up along the bank. They 
have 

used this secluded segment of the creek as their gathering place for several 
weeks now. 



P.S. Does anybody know what the status of Lewis's Woodpeckers is in our area? I 

remember seeing them regularly during their migration in oaks along Putah Creek 
Road 

between Davis and Winters when I was taking training rides for the 
Double-Century in the 

late seventies and early eighties. And I would see them perched in the tops of 
the tall 

eucalyptus trees behind my house when we first moved here in the late eighties, 
but I have 

not seen one for many years now.

Manfred Kusch
Davis/Winters

I was able to refind the female Ruff this morning around 9:30.  (I was
not able to find her from about 8:30-9, left for a while and returned to
see her standing prominently in the open.)  Bright yellow/orange legs
make her really stand out among the other shorebirds.   It was resting/
preening in the first pond east of the hunter check-in site with
hundreds of Greater Yellowlegs.  I watched it for about 20 min and then
it flew off, alone, to the south.  It appeared to come down only about
200 yds south into the open field immediately south of the large
east-west channel.  Thanks to Zach Smith for reporting this very pretty
little bird.  

 

Roger Adamson

Davis, California

 



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It�s no glossy ibis, grin, but for the record, I had my first of season
dark-eyed junco in the back yard today.

Other fun backyard birds recently: black-throated gray warbler, western
tanager, two hermit thrushes together at the fountain, two heard but not
seen nuthatches, a small flock of bushtits gleaning aphids from the
butterfly rose, and increasing numbers of crowned sparrows and goldfinches.

Good fall backyard birding,
Sylvia Wright
Southeast Davis, near El Macero (Yolo Co)

 


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I have applied for a new CBC centered on Hiway 49 South of Moccasin, 
CA so as to include a major portion of Lake Don Pedro, and the Big 
Oak Flat and Groveland communities. This includes parts of Mariposa 
and Tuolumne Counties. The count will take place on December 29th.

I have posted a map of the count area in the "New Groveland Area CBC 
Map" album on CSAS_birds. I can provide the map by e-mail to those 
interested.

The area consists of three major habitat types:

a.	Grasslands:	45% of the area is ranch and Federal lands 
covered by manzanita and other scrub brush and grasses at elevations 
from 1400 ft to 1800 ft.
b.	Forested:	45% of the area is heavily forested by 
multiple varieties of pine and oak trees at elevations from 1800 ft 
to 3200 ft.
c.	Water: Lake Don Pedro and Pine Mountain Lake occupy 10% of 
the area of this circle; Lake Don Pedro is at 1500 ft elevation and 
Pine Mountain Lake is at  2900 ft elevation; both are major wintering 
areas for waterfowl;

These areas, especially the water areas, have not been covered by any 
surveys or record-keeping of bird counts as far as I can determine 
except by dedicated birders familiar with the area.

If you are interested in helping to count in this area please respond 
off-group to whzerd AT whzerd.com.

Bill Zachman
Groveland, CA
Tuolumne County

I saw hundreds of Ibis on the west side of Hwy 99 in Dingville. The
flock was there about noon today and I saw them there again at about
3pm. They are about a mile north of Laurel Ave which is the access
road to Bobelaine Sanctuary.

Roger Davies 
Yuba City

This evening while looking for the Ruff found yesterday at Vic Fazio, 
I found two possibly three adult (almost completly in basic now)
Glossy Ibis. The birds were East of the hunter check in along the 
road that runs East/West toward parking lot H and G, I think. There 
are alot of Ibis, herons and egerets along this road. Just stop when 
you see a flock and first make sure they are adults when I.Ding them 
as the juvs have dark faces as well. Most of the adults still have 
some random, faint reddish feathers in the scapulars and coverts. The 
juvs are pretty much all green and brown with dark faces....most of 
them any ways. Good light is a must here!

The Ruff still resides in the same area but stays hidden very well. 
This Ruff has NEON orange legs you can't miss it! This is just East 
of the hunter check in the third flooded cell (sm.field) with tall 
vegatation.

There are hundreds of Swainsons hawks in the area as well.

Good Luck 

Todd Easterla

A red-breasted nuthatch has been calling in conifers just south of  
the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center for the past three days. This is  
over the Solano County line on Old Davis Road in Davis.

Alison Kent
Davis, CA




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This morning at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant:

45 Aleutian Cackling Geese flying over

Shorebirds: 
Black-bellied Plover     30
Pacific Golden-Plover     1
Semipalmated Plover     1
Killdeer     25
Black-necked Stilt     1
American Avocet     40
Greater Yellowlegs     1
Western Sandpiper     20
Least Sandpiper     10
Dunlin     40
Long-billed Dowitcher     10
Red-necked Phalarope     1


Swallows:
Tree Swallow     50
Violet-green Swallow     25
Barn Swallow     75

and
Great-tailed Grackle     1

good birding, 

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

Yesterday afternoon between 4-6 PM, I spent some time around the Tracy
Sewer Ponds and the Tom Paine Slough area looking for LB Curlews.  No
Curlews, but hundreds of Red-Winged, Brewer's, and Ring-bills feeding
in the disked tomato fields.  While scanning one large flock, a bright
yellow head popped up in the middle of it all.  It was a single
Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Do they occur commonly down there?

I also found 2 Yellow-billed Magpies near the same location.  Since I
haven't lived in Tracy for 25 years, I don't remember ever seeing them
in that neck of the woods. Do they occur as far west as Tracy on a
regular basis?

I'm interested in keeping track of LB Curlews from the Tracy area to
north of HWY 4 between Discovery Bay and Stockton.  If people could
post to me off-list, I'd appreciate it.  PRBO and Cal Audubon are
doing a CV wintering survey of LB Curlews. I don't know if this
assumption is correct, but I'm thinking that the large flocks will
show up more easily once the fields are harvested and disked.

Cheers,

Patricia Bacchetti
Oakland
But always a Tracy girl

Hi all,
Did some birding after dropping off my daughter at Sac Metro this morning. At 
Sacramento NWR I found a couple of interesting species on the tour route, 2 
Greater Scaup about 1/2-way between the platform and the north end of the tour 
route, and 2 Redheads in the last open pond on the south side of the road 
before reaching the parking lot in the northwest corner. 


In Tehama County, In the pond across from the Farm Animal Refuge, below Black 
Butte Reservoir, I had 2 Dunlin. The interesting thing in Yolo was a Fox 
Squirrel in the oaks at the corner of SH 45 and Road 98H. I didn't know there 
were any around outside of Sacramento. 


Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Red Bluff

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With the coming weather, I headed to the Bypass to see what was about.
I hoped to pick up the Pectorals seen Sunday, but found a female Ruff
instead. She was foraging with yellowlegs in the second pond east of
the Hunter Check Station lot, which is just east of Lot D. The pond
was flooded and had a fair amount of weedy veg, and this bird was just
east of the berm dividing this pond with the larger pond to the west. 

Zach Smith
Davis, Ca.

All,

Yes, Mr. Feliz has done an excellent job this year!

T. Easterla


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John McNerney 
  To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com 
  Cc: John Sterling 
  Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 9:36 PM
  Subject: [SPAM] Re: [CVBirds] Pectorals at Yolo


  All,

  I'm sure that hunting shorebirds would be great sport,
  but I think I'll stick with more hearty waterfowl and
  Galliformes for my family's dinner table.

  Kudos to Dave Feliz for balancing the many interests
  in the Wildlife Area and creating a diverse array of
  habitat for us nature lovers (i.e. birders, hunters,
  educators, etc.) to enjoy. All this with a skeleton
  crew!(pardon the seasonal pun)

  Keep up the good work Dave!

  John McNerney

  --- Todd Easterla  wrote:

  > Birders,
  > 
  > Scotte Hoppe wrote:
  > 
  > "partially flooded, plowed area"
  > 
  > I wouldn't be suprised if they return, though, 
  > as they like this type of habitat (partially
  > flooded, disturbed 
  > earth), and this appeared to be the only section
  > like it in the whole 
  > Wildlife Area.
  > 
  > Maybe we should open up hunting for shorebirds? Then
  > we could plow up a larger section for the shorebirds
  > to congregate and feed on?
  > 
  > Just a thought
  > 
  > More and more birds showing up everyday there now.
  > 
  > Todd Easterla
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: shoppeco 
  > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com 
  > Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 4:37 PM
  > Subject: [SPAM] [CVBirds] Pectorals at Yolo
  > 
  > 
  > Hi Birders,
  > 
  > Found 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at Yolo Basin Wildlife
  > Area today. They 
  > were in kind of an out-of-the-way corner. You have
  > to park in Lot D, 
  > which is off the southwest corner of the auto
  > loop, and walk up the 
  > hiking trail about 100 yards to the partially
  > flooded, plowed area.
  > There were also Wilson's Snipe, Greater and Lesser
  > Yellowlegs, Least 
  > Sandpipers, Dowitchers and Killdeer at this
  > location. I watched the 
  > Pectorals for some time until a Prairie Falcon
  > came over and 
  > everybody scattered. I wouldn't be suprised if
  > they return, though, 
  > as they like this type of habitat (partially
  > flooded, disturbed 
  > earth), and this appeared to be the only section
  > like it in the whole 
  > Wildlife Area.
  > Also of note were probably close to 100 Swainson's
  > Hawks kettling 
  > over and on the ground in a field to the west of
  > the Wildlife Area 
  > (and west of Lot D).
  > Don't be fooled by how dead and dry the Wildlife
  > Area looks from the 
  > freeway. Most of the action is farther back, in
  > and around the actual 
  > auto loop. I tallied 57 species for the visit,
  > including an early 
  > wave of Gr. White-fronted Geese, numerous Sandhill
  > Crane fly-overs, 
  > at least 50 Long-billed Curlew and 100s if not
  > 1000s of ducks.
  > 
  > Scott Hoppe
  > Newcastle, CA
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been
  > removed]
  > 
  > 

  __________________________________________________________
  Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. 
  http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/


   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

A small group of us did Babel Slough and a few other sites in Yolo Co on
Sunday morning (Oct 7).  The best at Babel Slough was a Black-throated
Gray Warbler (also a Yellow Warbler and a Chipping Sparrow on Saturday
at Babel) and some fly-over Sandhill Cranes.  We had 2 Marbled Godwits
at the Davis oxidation ponds and 5 first-of-season Cackling Geese
(minima race; on Rd 103 at the pond a quarter mile north of Rd 28H).
While birding was slow, we did manage to see/hear 79 species in about 4
hours.  

 

Roger Adamson

Davis, California

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Visited CRP this am;thought there might be some bird movement ahead of 
the incoming rain. Passerines were very slow. Rc Kinglets are 
increasing,no warblers(except Yellowthroat). Best were 2 Sooty Fox 
Sparrows.Wetlands are continuing to fill.Best birds of the day were an 
American Bittern and Virginia Rail both in the tules along the River 
Walk at the pond next to the slough, right at the small bench along the 
trail.  Craig Miller, Sutter Creek

I'm seeing a dramatic increase in the number of Pine Siskins at my 
finch feeder today (10/09). Maybe 50% of the visits are Siskins and the 
rest are the usual Lesser Goldfinches. Its been below freezing the last 
week or so at night - and warm during the days (70's).

Bill Zachman
Groveland, CA 
Tuolumne County
3000 ft

Folks,

For years you've been reading reports about birds at the Sacramento Regional
County Sanitation District Bufferlands and some of you have joined us for
tours.   This Saturday we are having a behind-the-scenes tour of our habitat
restoration and monitoring programs, including on-site bird monitoring
programs.  I hope some of you can join us.

 *SRCSD Bufferlands Habitat Restoration Workshop*
*Saturday, October 13th
8:30am - 1:00pm*

In 1990 the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District began numerous
ongoing habitat restoration projects on its 2,650-acre Bufferlands between
Sacramento and Elk Grove. Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour.  We will spend
the morning visiting several sites and will primarily discuss field
implementation
and management of our riparian, grassland, and seasonal wetlands projects.
There we be plenty of time for questions and we expect a wide range of
experience and backgrounds.
 We will provide water and snacks.  Bring a lunch, since we plan to eat and
have a wrap-up at the end.  We will be walking one to two miles in the
course of the morning, but the terrain is flat and fairly even.
From I-5 south of Sacramento, exit at the Meadowview/Pocket Rd exit (the
first exit north of Laguna Blvd, and the first exit south of Florin Rd).
Head east on Meadowview, then turn right (south) on Freeport Blvd.  In one
mile, just before the town of Freeport, turn left on Stonecrest and follow
it over the freeway and south to a locked gate.  Attendance is free.  RSVP
appreciated but not required.
For more information, call , or e-mail: conardc AT saccounty.net

Chris Conard
Sacramento


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

All,

I'm sure that hunting shorebirds would be great sport,
but I think I'll stick with more hearty waterfowl and
Galliformes for my family's dinner table.

Kudos to Dave Feliz for balancing the many interests
in the Wildlife Area and creating a diverse array of
habitat for us nature lovers (i.e. birders, hunters,
educators, etc.) to enjoy. All this with a skeleton
crew!(pardon the seasonal pun)

Keep up the good work Dave!

John McNerney
 
--- Todd Easterla  wrote:

> Birders,
> 
> Scotte Hoppe wrote:
> 
> "partially flooded, plowed area"
> 
> I wouldn't be suprised if they return, though, 
> as they like this type of habitat (partially
> flooded, disturbed 
> earth), and this appeared to be the only section
> like it in the whole 
> Wildlife Area.
> 
> Maybe we should open up hunting for shorebirds? Then
> we could plow up a larger section for the shorebirds
> to congregate and feed on?
> 
> Just a thought
> 
> More and more birds showing up everyday there now.
> 
> Todd Easterla
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: shoppeco 
>   To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 4:37 PM
>   Subject: [SPAM] [CVBirds] Pectorals at Yolo
> 
> 
>   Hi Birders,
> 
>   Found 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at Yolo Basin Wildlife
> Area today. They 
>   were in kind of an out-of-the-way corner. You have
> to park in Lot D, 
>   which is off the southwest corner of the auto
> loop, and walk up the 
>   hiking trail about 100 yards to the partially
> flooded, plowed area.
>   There were also Wilson's Snipe, Greater and Lesser
> Yellowlegs, Least 
>   Sandpipers, Dowitchers and Killdeer at this
> location. I watched the 
>   Pectorals for some time until a Prairie Falcon
> came over and 
>   everybody scattered. I wouldn't be suprised if
> they return, though, 
>   as they like this type of habitat (partially
> flooded, disturbed 
>   earth), and this appeared to be the only section
> like it in the whole 
>   Wildlife Area.
>   Also of note were probably close to 100 Swainson's
> Hawks kettling 
>   over and on the ground in a field to the west of
> the Wildlife Area 
>   (and west of Lot D).
>   Don't be fooled by how dead and dry the Wildlife
> Area looks from the 
>   freeway. Most of the action is farther back, in
> and around the actual 
>   auto loop. I tallied 57 species for the visit,
> including an early 
>   wave of Gr. White-fronted Geese, numerous Sandhill
> Crane fly-overs, 
>   at least 50 Long-billed Curlew and 100s if not
> 1000s of ducks.
> 
>   Scott Hoppe
>   Newcastle, CA
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> 
> 




       

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. 
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

Maureen Geiger and I birded Sand Creek Road from Arbuckle over to Capay
Valley late Sunday morning.  We got a great view of a Sage Sparrow
watering at the edge of a large puddle in the gravel road about 2/3'rd
of the way up to the top of the ridge.  At the same puddle we also
observed several Hermit Thrushes and a Wrentit.

Other birds of interest along the drive up on the east side of the
ridge were a Rock Wren, several Lark Sparrows, and a Cooper's Hawk.  No
Roadrunners were observed.  Unfortunately, we also found a recently
killed Screech Owl in the middle of the road.  The gate was open at the
top and we only saw two other vehicles along the entire drive.

Ken Poerner, Fairfield, CA

All:

Please join the San Joaquin Audubon Society and the Delta-Sierra Group of the 
Sierra Club for?our third annual joint meeting, tomorrow night, Tuesday, 
October 9th, at 7:30 p.m.? The meeting location is at Central United Methodist 
Church, 3600 Pacific Avenue (across from UOP), in Stockton.? Everyone is 
welcome. 


This month our meeting features the co-authors of the brand new Field Guide to 
Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions?(University 
of California Press, 2007), Arthur M. Shapiro and Timothy D. Manolis,?who will 
share?their extensive knowledge of butterflies in the Central Valley. 




Arthur M. Shapiro is professor of evolution and ecology at the University of 
California, Davis.? Arthur received his BA in biology from the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1966 and his PhD in entomology from Cornell University in 1970. 

??

Timothy D.?Manolis is an artist, illustrator, and biological consultant who 
received his PhD in biology from the University of Colorado.? He is the author 
and illustrator of Dragonflies and Damselflies of California (University of 
California Press, 2003).? Timothy is?the former president of the Central Valley 
Bird Club and current editor of the Central Valley Bird Club Bulletin. 


Hope to see you there!



________________________________________________________________________
Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - 
http://mail.aol.com 



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Had my first Merlin of the fall on Saturday, and got to watch it take a
House Sparrow from a flock in my front yard in Corning.

 

Michael Rogner

Restoration Biologist

RIVER PARTNERS

580 Vallombrosa Ave

Chico, CA 95926

phone: x33

www.riverpartners.org

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Birders-

I found a singing California Thrasher at Mississippi Bar, north side of Lake 
Natoma this morning. This is a first for me for Lake Natoma, though not a real 
surprising find. I think Dave Johnson sees them downstream occasionally. It was 
perched at the top of a dead alder, just off the bike trail, where it crosses 
the canal that leads back to the dredge ponds. Best access is parking near the 
gated road that leads from the intersetion of Sunset and Main Aves. in 
Orangevale. 


Craig Swolgaard
Folsom, CA



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Birders,

Scotte Hoppe wrote:

"partially flooded, plowed area"

I wouldn't be suprised if they return, though, 
as they like this type of habitat (partially flooded, disturbed 
earth), and this appeared to be the only section like it in the whole 
Wildlife Area.

Maybe we should open up hunting for shorebirds? Then we could plow up a larger 
section for the shorebirds to congregate and feed on? 


Just a thought

More and more birds showing up everyday there now.

Todd Easterla










  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: shoppeco 
  To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2007 4:37 PM
  Subject: [SPAM] [CVBirds] Pectorals at Yolo


  Hi Birders,

  Found 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at Yolo Basin Wildlife Area today. They 
  were in kind of an out-of-the-way corner. You have to park in Lot D, 
  which is off the southwest corner of the auto loop, and walk up the 
  hiking trail about 100 yards to the partially flooded, plowed area.
  There were also Wilson's Snipe, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least 
  Sandpipers, Dowitchers and Killdeer at this location. I watched the 
  Pectorals for some time until a Prairie Falcon came over and 
  everybody scattered. I wouldn't be suprised if they return, though, 
  as they like this type of habitat (partially flooded, disturbed 
  earth), and this appeared to be the only section like it in the whole 
  Wildlife Area.
  Also of note were probably close to 100 Swainson's Hawks kettling 
  over and on the ground in a field to the west of the Wildlife Area 
  (and west of Lot D).
  Don't be fooled by how dead and dry the Wildlife Area looks from the 
  freeway. Most of the action is farther back, in and around the actual 
  auto loop. I tallied 57 species for the visit, including an early 
  wave of Gr. White-fronted Geese, numerous Sandhill Crane fly-overs, 
  at least 50 Long-billed Curlew and 100s if not 1000s of ducks.

  Scott Hoppe
  Newcastle, CA



   

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Birders,

Found 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at Yolo Basin Wildlife Area today. They 
were in kind of an out-of-the-way corner. You have to park in Lot D, 
which is off the southwest corner of the auto loop, and walk up the 
hiking trail about 100 yards to the partially flooded, plowed area.
There were also Wilson's Snipe, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least 
Sandpipers, Dowitchers and Killdeer at this location. I watched the 
Pectorals for some time until a Prairie Falcon came over and 
everybody scattered. I wouldn't be suprised if they return, though, 
as they like this type of habitat (partially flooded, disturbed 
earth), and this appeared to be the only section like it in the whole 
Wildlife Area.
Also of note were probably close to 100 Swainson's Hawks kettling 
over and on the ground in a field to the west of the Wildlife Area 
(and west of Lot D).
Don't be fooled by how dead and dry the Wildlife Area looks from the 
freeway. Most of the action is farther back, in and around the actual 
auto loop. I tallied 57 species for the visit, including an early 
wave of Gr. White-fronted Geese, numerous Sandhill Crane fly-overs, 
at least 50 Long-billed Curlew and 100s if not 1000s of ducks.

Scott Hoppe
Newcastle, CA

Hi all,
I've been checking for saw-whet owls above Nevada City this week and
have gotten quite a few responses around Skillman campground (Burley
Ridge Rd)and Omega Rd just above it.
The two posted recordings (MP3's) were recorded early this morning
along Burley Ridge Rd.  They were of the same bird ~5min apart.  I
don't know
what caused the wailing call which followed some short time after the
territorial call.  I assume it was the same bird as the calls emanated
from the same direction and elevation.

These and other owl recordings are in the files section.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/central_valley_birds/files/


Barney Kroeger
Nevada City

I visited the ponds in the afternoon, and initially missed the Rock Wren,
but found it on my way coming out.  There were two Pectoral Sandpipers and
one adult Pacific Golden-Plover on the levees about three ponds to the south
of the large pond.  Only two Barn Swallows were present.  Also, 100s of
Greater White-fronted Geese were on the levees.

 

John Sterling

26 Palm Ave

Woodland, CA 95695
 (cell)
 ext 102 (work)

 

  _____  

From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tertial
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 1:55 PM
To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CVBirds] Woodland WTP

 

11 species of shorebirds at Woodland Wastewater this morning, plus 40
Eared Grebes, 15 Violet-green Swallows (mixed in with Trees and Barns
and the imms. are tough to tell as their faces are rather dusky), and
1 Rock Wren in the sw corner of the main pond. Also, 80 Black-bellied
Plovers, but no goldens. I heard a second-hand report of 7 goldens
(sp?) a few days ago. 

good birding, 

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Last evening, Mike Skram heard an unusual bird song coming from the 
cattails by platform 2 at Llano Seco. He pished, a male indigo bunting 
flew up to the platform, saw Mike, and fled in terror to whence it 
came. After an hour of further looking, Mike could not find it again.

An odd place for an indigo, which was a 2nd Butte record.

It was not found in two hours of bird gawking this morn.

Jim Snowden, Butte Co.

11 species of shorebirds at Woodland Wastewater this morning, plus 40
Eared Grebes, 15 Violet-green Swallows (mixed in with Trees and Barns
and the imms. are tough to tell as their faces are rather dusky), and
1 Rock Wren in the sw corner of the main pond.  Also, 80 Black-bellied
Plovers, but no goldens.  I heard a second-hand report of 7 goldens
(sp?) a few days ago. 

good birding, 

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

Met up with a rice farmer while scoping out his flooded fields. He said 
that the water district has told the rice farmers that they will get to 
flood their fields only once this fall due to the water shortage. The 
farmers flood their fields at this time to help the leftover stubble to 
rot since they can't burn it anymore. Usually they can periodically 
reflood to keep the water level up, but not this year. Did find a nice 
pure flock of 40 CACKLING GEESE in one of his fields of off Lyons Rd. 
in Colusa Co. on Sunday.

Kathy Parker
Los Gatos