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Unknown hummingbird, Solano County.
Eric LoPresti
Hugh Dingle and I stopped at a small patch of flowering Eucalyptus on the corner of Pleasant's Valley and Pleasant Hill Ranch Way where there were 5-6+ Anna's Hummingbirds and one other, which we saw briefly, but despite looking for another ~15-20 minutes, but it never came back. We saw it fly in and perch, very briefly, at an angle to us, about 3/4 of the way up a Euc (so probably 20-25' from our vantage point). It was obviously white underneath, in stark contrast the nearby Anna's, this is what made us both pick up on it immediately. The chin was dark, though I am not sure whether it was reflective. I did not get a good view of the head, but it had some white on the sides of the neck or nape (unfortunately, as we were below and at an angle, I am not sure where this was, exactly). The white below was extensive, nearly the entire belly and chest. Hugh thought it was shinier than the surrounding Anna's, though I did not notice this. Unfortunately, we did not get a view of the tail, nor any vocalizations. While I saw the bill, I do not recall any characteristics. Neither of us saw buffy flanks, either. We watched it for probably about 8-10 seconds, so it was not a fleeting glance, but neither did we have time to carefully study it. It stuck out from the other Anna's (including females) around, so I don't think it was an abnormally light female, but I also can't rule that out. The only other bird of note was a Loggerhead Shrike near the bottom of Mix Canyon. The top of the ridge was completely dead this morning - barely anything moving, despite being warm and sunny. Eric LoPresti, Davis, CA
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Palm Warbler still at Woodland WWTP
ldwarbler
The Palm Warbler was still present this morning (11/28) at Woodland WWTP. It was in the farthest southeast pond in the northeast corner. While I was there it spent most of it's time on the ground and in the weeds occasionally perching on rocks and the railing of a nearby concrete structure. It was still there when I left at 10:55. Laura Davis Davis, CA
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Yolo Bypass & Lake Solano 11/27
Denise and David Hamilton
Hi all, Highlights at Yolo Bypass today, 11/27- a single REDHEAD and a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL on the far side of the large pond (seeing from the auto route) south of Parking Lot B. There was also a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS. A lot of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flying overhead along with several flocks of SANDHILL CRANES. Searched for the SWAMP SPARROW a while but did not see it. At Lake Solano, there was a lone male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE with several COMMON. Seen over by the dam. MANY Buffleheads, several pairs of WOOD DUCKS & HOODED MERGANSERS were also in the creek. PHAINOPEPLA guarding mistletoe in the park. Lovely day! Denise & David Hamilton Napa
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Woodland wastewater plant--warbler and gull, yes; plover no
Michael Perrone
This morning at Woodland WWTP, after much searching, John Luther, Jim Lomax and I found the palm warbler about where it was reported on Friday, along the west levee of the second-to-last pond of the eastern row of ponds south of the big pond near the entrance. It later flew north to the west levee of the third-to last pond, where we promptly lost it. A rock wren was in the same area. The Franklin's gull was in the second pond in that same row for perhaps an hour, mixing with Bonaparte's and other gulls. It later flew to the big pond. A flock of about 75 black-bellied plovers was on a levee between two of the ponds in the western row of ponds, but no golden plover was apparent. A prairie falcon strafed the more northerly ponds at about 8:45. Michael Perrone Davis
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Tall Forest bird survey this Saturday
Glennah Trochet
Dear Birders, I must advance the date of the next monthly Tall Forest bird survey at the Cosumnes River Preserve in southern Sacramento County. What works best for me is this coming Saturday, 02 December. This month it cannot go on the usual third Saturday of the month owing to conflicts that routinely arise at this time of year. The Christmas bird count season runs from 14 December to 05 January every year. And I have a competing commitment on the 16th. We will go through the Farm Center gate, corner of Bruceville and Desmond Roads, promptly at 06:30. Rubber knee boots will be necessary to keep one’s feet dry. I also urge participants to have insect repellent. Mosquitoes were surprisingly pesky despite the overcast last Friday. Recent birding has been rather unusually rewarding. On the Saturday field trip of the Central Valley Birding Symposium, a chestnut-backed chickadee was found at the Point on the River Walk trail. That’s a new species for the preserve. The same day, on the Tall Forest survey, we heard a chickadee call one time only, but we never saw it. More recent, mostly woodland goodies, in the last week or so, include an adult bald eagle, cattle egrets, brown creeper, Pacific wren, blue-gray gnatcatcher, varied thrush, black-throated gray warbler, Townsend’s warbler, white-throated sparrow, purple finch and pine siskin. The trail of former years east of the pump station on Wood Duck Slough is only a memory. I have rerouted the track around numerous deadfalls, and the current trail is pretty difficult. Until I have the opportunity to cut a substantially different route, folks with any sort of balance issues should probably give this part of the survey a miss. One can still participate, waiting for the rest of the party to return to the pump station (usually 30-45 minutes). The pump station is actually a pretty good spot to sit and observe. The trees thereabouts frequently host nice mixed flocks, and the waterway often has river otters near and crossing over the berm. Best, Sacramento
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Rough-legged Hawk in Placer County 11/25
Ann
Maureen Geiger asked me to post this. "Sorry for the late post. Yesterday afternoon during a Sac Audubon Lincoln Grasslands field trip led by Richard Barbieri and Tim Fitzer a Rough- legged Hawk was found on Camp Far West Road near where Karchner Road intersects. It was on a power pole, seen by all participants and well photographed. See eBird list for Lincoln Grasslands, Nov. 25." Ann Burris West Sacramento
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Mercey to Merced
daviddiller
We just got back from Yosemite NP last night , a trip cut short because of the horrendous crowds and traffic ( should have known better) , but all was not a loss, we stopped on the way up at Merced NWR Friday and on the way back yesterday and enjoyed exceptional Sandhill Crane and Ross’ Geese overhead aerial maneuvers. Other highlights at Merced were a blue phase Snow Goose, a Ferruginous Hawk , 2 Tundra Swans, a Peregrine Falcon and two Sora.
We spent Thursday night at Mercey Hot Springs, with very limited time for birding, but I did have a great close encounter with a Long- eared Owl, 2 Great Horned Owls , and we saw a San Joaquin Kit Fox after dark on the drive in through Panoche Valley, appropriately close to the sign that alerts drivers to the presence of Kit Foxes, but it was camera shy. Must have been a hundred Lark Sparrows at Mercey. David Diller Mountain View Here’s some photos :
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Yolo rarities this fall
Steve Hampton
All, I've updated my Yolo Birding website with the blizzard of rarities this fall. It's great to have so many birders around! Steve Hampton Davis, CA
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Swamp Sparrow and Eur Green-winged Teal at Yolo Bypass
Steve Hampton
This afternoon I found a Swamp Sparrow at what is becoming the traditional "Swamp Sparrow spot" at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area-- the slough that runs west from the "Y" before lot B. The bird was at the end where canals form a T-junction by the west levee of the bypss. I also refound the Eurasian Green-winged Teal I found a couple weeks ago-- it was with many teal in the 2nd check east of the Y. good birding, Steve Hampton Davis, CA
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Vermilion Flycatcher @ TUL Co. 11/25
Frances Oliver <hummer52@...>
Today, Jim R., Kurt M., Liz W., and I traveled down to Colonel Allensworth Historical Park in Tulare Co. For the last month a young male Vermilion Flycatcher has been reported around the Visitor Center. We looked carefully at all the trees. Unfortunately, with both a Merlin & Sharp-shinned Hawk working the area, we never found it. But, Jim eventually found a first year female Vermilion in the Campground! I’ve not seen any reports of this bird. So it appears, for now there are at least 2 birds in the Park.
Good Birding! Frances
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Re: [CVBirds] Palm Warbler at Woodland WTP
Still there right now. Also franklins Gull refound on northernmost eastern pond along north shoreline
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
John Sterling 530 908-3836 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695
On Nov 24, 2017, at 11:26 AM, Stanton Hunter stanton.hunter@... [central_valley_birds] <central_valley_birds-noreply@...> wrote:
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Palm Warbler at Woodland WTP
Stanton Hunter
While looking for the Franklin's Gull at the Woodland WTP (unsuccessfully), we found a Palm Warbler feeding in a group of tall weeds at the southwest corner of the pond that is second-to-last on the east set of ponds (second from the south end). Photos and an eBird checklist to follow as soon as I get home.
Stan Hunter Davis CA
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Re: [CVBirds] Scaup in Roseville
Judy Spitler
Ed Pandolfino feels it is a Lesser Scaup with marvelous reasons why.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Thanks Ed. Still the first I’ve seen a Scaup in Sun City Roseville. Judy Spitler. Roseville
On Nov 23, 2017, at 9:27 AM, Judy Spitler judyspitler@... [central_valley_birds] <central_valley_birds-noreply@...> wrote:
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Scaup in Roseville
Judy Spitler
Yesterday Wednesday 11/22, Denise Maziarz photographed a scaup in the golf pond at the corner of Del Webb and Blue Oaks in Roseville. It looked like a Greater to me and I sent a couple photos to a local expert.
This morning when I viewed it, I wasn't so sure. Anyone in the area, pre or post turkey, have a look and see what you think. Judy Spitler, Roseville "In what manner does tyranny arise? - That it has a democratic origin is evident." Plato "When you understand interconnectedness, it makes you more afraid of hating than of dying ." Robert A. F. Thurman
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White-tailed Kite Roost in Woodland
Sami
For many year there has been a roost in Woodland, Yolo County during the winter months. I have recently seen them here again this week. From my yard I can see them fly in, 4 were seen yesterday. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6696277,-121.7583639,17.5z This is an open area just NE of the Yolo County Fairgrounds. From time to time I'll repost observations as I see if the numbers increase. In the past the count was near 50 birds. Sami LaRocca Woodland, CA
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Hybrid Sapsucker from last week
Mark Sawyer
I am a little late to posting this because ID was up in the air but nonetheless, here is the belated report. Sunday at Babel Slough, 250 yards west of the River road, on the south side of the road I had an unusual sapsucker. My initial thought was Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, although I have never viewed this bird before, because of the facial patter in conjunction with the lack of any red in the nape. Always weary of hybrid sapsuckers I solicited some responses from more seasoned birders and the responses were mixed. With opinions ranging from Red-Naped Female, Juvenile Red-Naped, Yellow-Bellied, and finally a hybrid Juvenile Yellow-Bellied x Red-Naped. I have ammended my ebird report to show the latter, although I have also been told ID of a juvenile bird can be somewhat impossible. I would love to hear opinions from anyone else on this matter. As for the bird, it was viewed later the same day but not since. Pictures below MARK SAWYER Homeless Outreach & Services Coordinator West Sacramento Police Department 550 Jefferson Blvd. West Sacramento, CA 95691 Telephone: (916) 617-5035 Cell: (916) 532-0922 Fax: (916) 372-2377 marks@...
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Tricolored Blackbirds
Ken
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Cordelia sector of Benicia CBC, Monday, December 18
Denise and David Hamilton
Hi everyone,
The Benicia CBC is on Monday, December 18.
My husband David and I are the sector leaders for the Cordelia area, which
includes Chadbourne Road – mainly grassland/rangeland, hunt-clubs, and some
riparian areas. Our usual ‘teams’ can’t make it this year, so right now
Robin Leong (compiler) is working on getting some more people for
us.
Our sector birds consist mainly of raptors,
waterfowl, and shorebirds, but do have a few areas for passerines.
We really could use some knowledgeable birders to help out!
We generally average 100+ species for the area and usual find one surprise or
2!
We meet as a group at 7:00 am, pass out all the
paper work, and then go out for the day in separate teams (meeting up if
necessary.) You can bring your own lunch or take a break at one of the
many fast food places in Cordelia Junction. You can come for part of the
day, or the whole day – what ever fits
your schedule!
Please contact me if you are interested in
helping out, OR contact Robin Leong, compiler for the Benicia Count -
robin_leong@... and let him know you are interested in the
Cordelia sector.
Thanks so much!
Denise Hamilton
Napa
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Re: [CVBirds] White-throated sparrow Question
Denise and David Hamilton
OK, not very scientific at all, but when I looked at the picture of the
bird, my overall impression is White-crowned Sparrow, with some bizarre
feathering. See enough White-throats coming and going in my yard, and the
bird in questions, just doesn’t look like one at all.
Please don’t cast me out of the CV Birds tribe!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Denise Hamilton
Napa
From: YLIGHTFOOT@...
[central_valley_birds]
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2017 7:12 PM
To: central_valley_birds@...
Subject: Re: [CVBirds] White-throated sparrow
Question I have photos of a somewhat similar (but not identical) bird to the one
Mark reported, which I observed (and banded!) in my backyard a few year's
ago.
The thing is, both of these birds did NOT show a bright orange/pink
bill. I think the bright bill color of the recently-reported one, typical
of a White-crown, offers less support for a hybrid.
But an interesting bird, none-the-less.
Cheers,
Tim
-----Original
Message----- From: arelist12@... [central_valley_birds] To: central_valley_birds Sent: Mon, Nov 20, 2017 6:04 pm Subject: Re: [CVBirds] White-throated sparrow Question Normally I don't like the H word but here's something to
consider-
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20372068 Rudy W SF
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Franklin's Gull continues at Woodland WTP
William Rockey
I'm currently looking at the Franklin's Gull reported on eBird yesterday by Ed Harper. It's at the end of the gravel spit of the main pond southeast of the parking area. -William Rockey Esparto, CA
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