Costa’s Hummingbird ©Jennifer Raven
A rather rainy January was brightened by the discovery of a young male COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD, the first in the county in three winters, in a north Davis backyard on 1/5 (JR). The bird has been frequenting a backyard feeder and continues to be enjoyed by observers almost daily. Upon its initial report, the Costa’s had a patchy, incomplete gorget characteristic of an immature. But in the weeks that followed it has molted in a full adult gorget, turning into a stunning purple gem.
Additional wintering birds in Davis include at least two BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. Both individuals have been seen in backyards and observed visiting seed feeders. One in central Davis may be a wandering bird first reported in December, and seen this month a few streets over on 1/13 (RF). The other second individual was reported in southeast Davis beginning on 1/20 (JT). Yolo County has only two prior winter records of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, so this year has already doubled the historic tally.
The Capay Valley has habitats much unlike the rest of the county, and offers fantastic winter birding. The hot-streak of YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS in the Capay Valley continued with one in a Guinda yard beginning on 1/4 (ES). It is unclear whether this may be the same immature found four miles north in November or if this is a new individual. Regardless, at least three different YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have been documented in the Capay Valley in the past two winters. Yolo County got in on the montane-finch action with a group of four EVENING GROSBEAKS in the town of Guinda on 1/7 (ES). Outside the same town on 1/18, a group of three CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were found on County Road 53 (JG). These are the first chasable chickadees in the county in three years. Also on County Road 53, a COMMON POORWILL was flushed by a birder hiking in the dark, an unusual record for the 1/28 date (JG).
The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area still holds as many as six MARBLED GODWITS, and at least one WHIMBREL has been reported amongst a curlew flock (BW). Both exceptional winter records, neither of either of these shorebirds have been documented in January in the county prior to this year. Additionally, at least one “EURASIAN” GREEN-WINGED TEAL has been picked out of the thousands of ducks present (CC).
As far as continuing birds, the MOUNTAIN PLOVERS off Highway 45 are still reported regularly. The ORCHARD ORIOLE continues to be seen at the UC Davis Arboretum, as is a less-reported CASSIN’S VIREO. The putative WINTER WRENS continue at Fishing Access #2 and #3, respectively, and have been documented by a host of photos and audio recordings. The banded adult WESTERN GULL remains at Davis Wetlands, reported every Monday during the area’s public hours. It or another was also seen at the main Yolo County Central Landfill pond on 1/23 (LH, MS). The strange BUFFLEHEAD x COMMON GOLDENEYE hybrid remains in West Sacramento, and the family of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED x CACKLING GOOSE hybrids have been seen on occasion at Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant. Up to six hybrid offspring have been reported with their CACKLING GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE parents this season.
Thanks to the following for their reports:
Bart Wickel (BW), Chris Conard (CC), Elliot Schoenig (ES), Jennifer Raven (JR), Jim Thomas (JT), Joshua Greenfield (JG), Liam Huber (LH), Mike Skram (MS), Rob Furrow (RF)
Photos and Audio Recordings:
Costa’s Hummingbird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S159508697
Black-headed Grosbeak (Central Davis): https://ebird.org/checklist/S158811130
Black-headed Grosbeak (South Davis): https://ebird.org/checklist/S159392237
Chestnut-backed Chickadees: https://ebird.org/checklist/S159307722
Marbled Godwits: https://ebird.org/checklist/S158947373
–Zane Pickus