River Otter at Yolo Bypass (Deb Ford)
An abandoned railroad trestle in the southern part of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area is getting a new look as part of a habitat restoration project led by the Yolo County Resource Conservation District. The earthen mounds originally designed to elevate a train track will now provide refuge from rising floodwaters for animals that otherwise […]
Plumbeous Vireo, © Karen Richardson
The new year provided plenty of cooperative rarities to chase. Most of these are still present through the end of the month. It started on Dec 30, with Mountain Plovers along Hwy 45 just south of the county line (MH, SL). A maximum count of 61 represents one of the higher totals in recent years […]
photo Stan Hunter
Five intrepid birders joined hike leaders Stanton Hunter and Joe Zinkl for a 2.75-mile hike at Audubon Bobcat ranch this morning, despite the prospect of heavy rain and cold temperatures. Though the rain was never very heavy, it was a constant drizzle, and the temperature never got above 45 degrees F, but it was still […]
Fremont Weir Wildlife Area
As noted here before, the conservation goals of Yolo Audubon are to protect and expand local bird habitat and ensure public access to that habitat, wherever possible. The situation at Fremont Weir Wildlife Area is unusual in that a formerly accessible public recreation area is now much harder to get to. Fremont Weir Wildlife Area […]
Long-eared Owl, © Rick Williams
A sprinkling of rarities brightened up December. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at the Yolo County Central Landfill on Dec 26 and remains present (TE). A Long-eared Owl was photographed on private property near Esparto on Dec 13 (RW). A Lapland Longspur was heard among a thousand Horned Larks near Rds 27 and […]
Northern Shrike (Immature), © Dan Murphy
The star of November was a young Northern Shrike, found Nov 15 along Rd 25 near the Conaway Stock Pond (DM). The bird moved to Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant and East Regional Pond (at Farmer’s Central Rd) and was enjoyed by many thru Thanksgiving. A Pacific Loon, photographed Nov 7 in the Sacramento River near […]
Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project
Projects that involve water or flood management are typically contentious almost anywhere in California. Nevertheless, a plan to widen the Yolo Bypass on its east side, in the lower Elkhorn Basin, is heading smoothly toward construction. It has support from the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and the affected landowners. The project was conceived about […]
YAS FT Lake Solano nov 3 2018
2018 Lake Solano Field Trip Trip Leader: Sharon Kirkpatrick Sat, Nov 3rd A group of seven birders took a chance that Lake Solano would be much calmer than the 20+ mph winds Davis and Winters experienced that day. Luck was on our side! The day was unseasonably warm, sunny, slightly breezy with a few minor […]
Lesser Nighthawk at Capay Open Space, © Deb Ford
Last winter I discussed the Cache Creek Parkway Plan and the Cache Creek Conservancy and Nature Preserve as parts of an effort to improve and expand habitat and public access along the reach of the creek between Roads 85 and 96B. I can now report on a second on-the-ground element of the nascent Parkway corridor, […]
Vermillion Flycatcher, Maxwell cemetery 2017, Deb Ford
On the way, we stopped at the Maxwell cemetery, where we eventually saw a Vermillion Flycatcher at about 9:15. Good looks were shared by all.
Water levels at both Colusa and Sacramento Reserves were good, but many areas were not yet flooded. Good numbers of waterfowl in flooded areas. Snow Geese greatly outnumbered Greater White-fronteds. There were large numbers of Pintails and Shovelers, fewer of other species.
Temperatures were in mid to high 70s, sunny, not windy.
A very pleasant birding day,
5 participants, 56 species of birds.
American Redstart, © Linda Gal
October opened with another first county record, unfortunately in the form of a roadkill. A deceased Magnolia Warbler was found on Mace Blvd near Putah Creek on Oct 3 (AE). It now resides in the UC Davis collection. This was somewhat offset by the county’s first chaseable Vermilion Flycatcher, found Oct 20 at the Davis […]
Western Bluebird, photo Deb Ford
Davis Cemetery, Yolo, California, US Oct 28, 2018 8:00 AM – 10:20 AM Protocol: Area 28.0 ac Comments: I lead a Yolo Audubon Soc bird walk in the back portion of the cemetery, Calm, slightly misty then clear, cool to warm. 31 species Wild Turkey 9 I observed them on the way out. […]