Folks,

The famed Falcated Duck was present late afternoon, showing beautifully for two
dozen or so birders on the first observation platform at Colusa. On this pond
as
well were a number other interesting birds including 4 drake Eurasian Wigeon,
many Cackling Geese (mostly minima), Greater White-fronted (including a one or
two that looked like "Tule" Geese, but I'd love some verification on that,
Ring-necked Ducks and a Peregrine Falcon.

Matthew Dodder
Mountain View, CA

http://www.birdguy.net
http://www.zazzle.com/mdodder

Dear Birders,



Yesterday and this morning I did transect surveys in the Tall Forest and at
Orr Ranch. Both surveys were very slow, but the befores and afters made the
outings worthwhile. Yesterday I refound the ruff in the first check
northeast of the Equipment Pad. I had missed it on two previous visits
since the CBC on 3 January. About 45 minutes before sunrise, there was a
short-eared owl over the grass/brush east of the forest. I had walked out
there on the CBC but I didn't encounter this one. Over the ponds south of
Desmond Road, especially the pond closest to the railroad tracks near
Franklin Blvd., there were some 500 swallows. Almost all were tree
swallows, but I picked out two barn swallows also. Where were all the
swallows on the CBC? This morning a male prairie merlin was perched on the
perimeter of the ranch house area at Orr Ranch, the sky blue-looking dorsum
and reddish streaking on the breast making this a lovely animal. On the
northernmost pond behind the Visitor Center were rough-winged swallows, at
3-to-2, outnumbering the trees swallows. Forty-five minutes later when I
passed by again, there were roughly 50 tree swallows and only a single
rough-wing. At the south end of these managed wetlands, I heard what
sounded like an abbreviated series of least bittern keks. These may have
been less commonly given notes of Virginia rail. Unfortunately, they
sounded maybe 150 meters out and there was no repeat performance.



Best,

John Trochet

Sacramento

Sorry folks, but a hacker succeeded in hijacking my list of contacts.
Please ignore the "no subject" email, which of course is something we
should all do all the time.

--
Cheers,
Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California
len.blumin@gmail.com
Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 6000
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenblumin/

agreed a couple first year Red-shouldered Hawks.

--






L. Broderick. 707-975-7047

West County Hawk Watch (Sonoma/Marin/Solano)



email. northcoastraptor@gmail.com

info. www.google.com/profiles/northcoastraptor.

pictures. www.flickr.com/photos/west-county_hawk-watch

yes, good call, it is a hybrid


John Sterling

26 Palm Ave
Woodland, CA 95695
530 908-3836
jsterling@wavecable.com

www.sterlingbirds.com (photos, classes, tours, county birding)


On Jan 11, 2012, at 7:23 PM, David wrote:

Hi All,

After reviewing the pictures we took at Lake Solano on Jan. 9, 2012, I took a good look at the sapsucker we saw. (I heard pecking on a tree trunk and discovered the bird close to the ground while we were walking around in the park. I took a quick look, and said Sapsucker and really didn't look at it again. David went and took a picture, but didn't say anything about it looking different.)

I posted the bird in the SAPSUCKER album and would appreciate comments as to whether or not the bird is a Red-breasted-Red-naped Hybrid or ??

Thanks so much!
Denise Hamilton
Napa
Napabirders@att.net

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

Hi All,

After reviewing the pictures we took at Lake Solano on Jan. 9, 2012, I took a good look at the sapsucker we saw. (I heard pecking on a tree trunk and discovered the bird close to the ground while we were walking around in the park. I took a quick look, and said Sapsucker and really didn't look at it again. David went and took a picture, but didn't say anything about it looking different.)

I posted the bird in the SAPSUCKER album and would appreciate comments as to whether or not the bird is a Red-breasted-Red-naped Hybrid or ??

Thanks so much!
Denise Hamilton
Napa
Napabirders@att.net

Hello all. I had a chance to check out the Red-naped Sapsucker frequenting the exotic cedar-type tree in the southwest corner of East Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento yesterday. I think it is, as Gil Ewing suggested a while ago, a hybrid Red-naped X Red-breasted. My photos clearly show some red below the eye, as well as a mostly red malar stripe. Thus, I'd bet that it's not a first generation hybrid, but likely a hybrid backcross. My photos are embedded within my eBird checklist: <http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9563552>. Check them out, and see what you think.

Other birds of interest included a continuing Western Tanager and a fly-over Pine Siskin.

Good birding,

Matt Brady
Potter Valley, MEN

Looks like a first year Red-shouldered Hawk. There was also one at Midway and Esquon Roads by the swans.

Bob Yutzy
Shasta, CA

Thanks Bruce.  I've added an album with the two pictures in the photos section.

Matt



________________________________
From: Bruce Webb <bruwebb@surewest.net>
To: Matt Williams <mattwilliamsjr@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: [CVBirds] Hawks at Colusa NWR


Matt:

This listserv, like most California birding listservs does not allow attachments.  Virus reasons.  You can upload them to our photos section


Bruce Webb (CVBirds list owner)
Granite Bay, CASent from my iPad

On Jan 11, 2012, at 1:07 PM, Matt Williams <mattwilliamsjr@yahoo.com> wrote:


 

The first of the following two photos appears to be a juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk, but the second one is a bit less clear.  What is the concensus about these two raptors seen at the Colusa NWR?

Matt Williams
Davis

P1130079.JPG
 

P1130081.JPG

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

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

The first of the following two photos appears to be a juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk, but the second one is a bit less clear.  What is the concensus about these two raptors seen at the Colusa NWR?

Matt Williams
Davis





P1130079.JPG
 



P1130081.JPG

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

Carol and I looked through about 6-7K Tundra Swans today without finding any Trumpeters. There were a couple other cars/groups out looking and no-one we saw reported seeing any Trumpeters either.

We saw about 4 Tundra Swans with neck collars on Esquon & Midway Roada but we couldn't quite get all the numbers on any one of them.

We looked at swans along all of the short Esquon Road and several miles of Midway Road South of the intersection. We then headed West back towards I-5 and met a group near the closed portion of Road 39/Bayless Blue Gum Road at the Road R intersection and some folks said Trumpeters were reported in this area the day before. The area was also rich with swans - with no Trumpeters.

Bob & Carol Yutzy

The Costa's Hummingbird made a brief appearance at 4:25PM (1/10/12)above the back fence feeder and spent 2-3 minutes exploring the shrubbery behind the back fence. Thank you to the homeowners who have graciously allowed visitors the opportunity to see this bird.

Tom Pritchard
Chico, CA

CV Birders

I returned home today after a 2-week Holiday/Vacation and see that the Costa's is still coming to our feeders. Unlike before Christmas (the last time that I observed it), it seems to use all 4 of the feeders and I've only noticed 1 Anna's today. Before Christmas, the Costa's was only using the feeder by the kitchen window (sort of the east/southeast side of the house).

If you would like to "tick" this bird, you are welcome to drop-by anytime between 8am-5pm (no need to call or email before hand). Our address is 59 Herlax Circle off of W 11th Ave in Chico CA. You can't miss us, we are the only house in the neighborhood without lawn. Come through the gate on the left side of the driveway (near the single garage) and come through the yard. You are welcomed to sit anywhere and make yourself comfortable. Please shut the gate when you leave.

Cheers,

Shelly Kirn
Jay Bogiatto

Chico CA
Butte County

Hi all,

Today, Jan 9: Davis Wetlands- Thayer's Gulls out on the dikes with Herring & CA Gulls (How do you have the patience to go through all those gulls, Steve Hampton & others??) Ponds were FULL of Shovelers. Inside the wetlands, there were Greater White-fronted Geese & two Tundra Swans. The wastewater pond held a nice mix of ducks, including a male Redhead, at least 2 male Blue-winged Teal, and 8 Wood Ducks.

Yolo Bypass- not a lot! Best was the end of the route where we saw 2 American Bitterns chasing each other, and then one of them 'hiding' out in the open.

Lake Solano: Trees in the park and the campground are full of mistletoe berries, so there were Phainopepla all around guarding the mistletoe from waxwings, bluebirds & others. Other birds of note: House Wren, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, & Varied Thrush. Several Barrow's Goldeneyes (and Common), Hooded Mergansers, and others were in the creek.

Re: Falcated Duck: Today, while at the Davis Wetlands, a man in a City of Davis truck, stopped and asked if we have seen the duck. He read about it, and thought it was at the wetlands. Yesterday, 2 non-birding friends asked us if we have seen the duck. It really must be making the news!

Good birding,
Denise & David Hamilton
Napa
napabirders@att.net

Thanks to Chris for refinding the Mountain Plovers near Rd 17 and Rd 101. While he is correct that the farm road provides good access, I would ask that you do not use that road. I have been asked in the past to not use it by the farm management--found out the hard way a few years ago. The manager was very polite, but did not like the unannounced visitor. This area is a traditional site for a dwindling Mountain Plover population and I hope not to aggravate the owners/operators. Another subject might be how to promote this habitat. In short, I recommend staying on the public roads; take a good scope! Good birding.
Roger Adamson
Davis

This morning I scoped a spanking first cycle Vega Gull (Siberian Herring Gull) at the Yolo County Landfill, from the levee above Rd 28H. A distant pic is linked at
http://www.tertial.us/yolobirds/yolorare.htm

While Herrings occasionally show well-checkered coverts, I've never seen one with tertials like this. The clincher, of course, was the tail. This bird showed a well-defined tail band (but too far to get pics in flight).

A lot of new Thayer's have arrived, included some rather pale ones.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

I located Roger's field (the only green field in the vicinity) and 9 of his 14 Mountain Plovers at 3:45 this afternoon. Thanks, Roger! Detectable by binocular, identifiable only by scope. They were in a loose flock about half way across the field on the east-west axis and close to the inaccessible southern border of the field. Best observed from the farm road along the north border of the field. A couple of Killdeer nearby for comparison.

Chris Dunford
Davis

I want to thank the 11 area leaders and 71 observers who helped count the
Rio Cosumnes Christmas Count on Tuesday January 3rd. As it has been all
winter, it was a dry and sunny day with little-to-no fog. As a result we
had a great turnout of observers and better than normal access. All teams
reported a very slow day (by our standards) with low numbers of
insectivorous birds and waterbirds. Riparian teams reported a universal
"slow and quiet" day in the field. It took a lot of effort to shake out the
few riparian birds we could muster. Despite this we had record highs for
Orange-crowned Warbler (68 birds reported) and House Wren (113 birds
reported).



We observed 150 species of birds on count day (5 below our average)
represented by 476,190 individuals. There was one new species found for the
count, a Ruff observed and photographed on the Core Cosumnes River Preserve
(Area 7) by John Trochet and Ed Harper. This is the first winter record of
Ruff from the Preserve. A Phainopepla was observed near the Bogel Winery,
the third record for our count, by Andy Engilis (Area 11 Merritt Island).
Also on Merritt Island was a Red Fox Sparrow (photographed) found by Irene
Engilis (reported fewer than five times on our count). The lone reported
Pacific Wren on the count was in Area 1, the Sacramento Bufferlands. Also in
Area 1 were the count's only Spotted Sandpipers (3 birds) and a hybrid
Red-breasted x Red-naped Sapsucker. Area 2 (Laguna and Elk Grove) found the
counts only White-throated Swifts, and a lone Horned Grebe (third record for
the count) on Laguna Lake West. Area 3 (Old Elk Grove, county roads and
Galt Wastewater Ponds) turned up several great birds including the only
Swainson's Hawk, Lesser Yellowlegs, Barrow's Goldeneye, and Mew Gulls. Area
6 found the only Ravens (I think they were all up on Putah Creek this
year!). Area 7 reported two Long-eared Owls, the fourth record for this
species on the count. Also in area 7 were the count's only Ross's Goose (40
birds). Four Eurasian Wigeons were found in Area 8. These were in the
Preserve wetlands southeast of Twin Cities Road and I-5. Area 8 also
reported 9 American Bitterns (a high number for one area) and a "Brewer's
Duck". This once thought species is actually a hybrid between Mallard and
Gadwall. It is a striking bird and is the third reported from Cosumnes in
the past 20+ years, and a first for our count. Stone Lakes team (areas 9
and 10) turned up the count's only Redheads and a single Mute Swan (which is
becoming nearly annual in our count), and over 200 American White Pelicans
(highest count to date).



Totals for waterbirds across nearly all species were 50% below normal. Most
notable was the very low count of shorebirds - no habitat. We had the lowest
number of Long-billed Curlews (13 birds total-we have had as many as 1,000
in this circle) and Killdeer (360 - we average 2,000 birds). It was so dry
that my team saw 10 Wilson's Snipe feeding in the mowed lawn of a house that
had been recently watered near Galt. I can tell you that the camouflage of
a snipe, which renders them nearly invisible in wetlands, does not work on
green grass! There were no irrigated fields and all of the ag lands were
dry and hard. Gull numbers were also the lowest on record with fewer than
200 birds total among all species. We average 1,000 California Gulls alone
and over 3,500 gulls across all species on previous counts!



All teams worked hard to separate Audubon's and Myrtle warblers in the field
this year. Teams identified almost 50% of the "butter-butts" recorded (108
Myrtle, 670 Audubon's and 785 Yellow-rumped warblers). Grackle numbers were
low this year with only 38 birds in two areas, but Eurasian Collared-Doves
numbers were their highest to date at 265 birds. Unlike what has been
suggested in other count circles, we do not see a correlation of decline in
Mourning Doves in relation to the increase in collared-doves. We recorded
over 1,000 mourning doves this count period. Our observation is that
Mourning Doves are gregarious and nomadic during winter and their numbers
can fluctuate widely from year to year. We found three species observed
during count week but not on count day: Varied Thrush (Area 5), Townsend's
Warbler (Area 6) and Mountain Bluebird (Area 9).



Thanks again for a successful count and will see you all next year.



Andy Engilis





Andrew Engilis, Jr.

Curator

Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology

University of California

One Shields Avenue

Davis, CA 95616

USA



Office Phone: 530-752-0364

FAX: 530-752-4154

E-mail: aengilisjr@ucdavis.edu

Website: <http://mwfb.ucdavis.edu/> http://mwfb.ucdavis.edu

The Harris's Sparrow was present this morning at 9:50 in the shrubs/lawn on the west side of 249 Cortez Ave.

Laura Davis
Davis, CA

The Blue Jay came for its morning pennut at 740 this morning at 1244 Stanley Ave in Chico.

At 815 I had 2 Trumpeter Swans west of midway rd right where Esquon rd intersects into midway. If traveling from north to south on midway they were in the first flooded rice field to the west of midway rd. There was one adult and a juvenile.

Good birding!
Tony Kurz