Steve Hampton's on-line guide to

birding in Yolo County, California
because all birds are more beautiful when seen in Yolo County

There's not much original habitat left around here-- all ag fields, channelized rivers, and a whole lot of non-native vegetation. Four of the historically prominent riparian breeders (Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Willow Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Yellow Warbler) are extirpated or only pass through as migrants. But there are --and deservedly so-- quite a few habitat restoration projects, some very large, that provide great birding opportunities.

Local specialties? Lots of Swainson's Hawks in summer, plenty of Yellow-billed Magpies, Tricolored Blackbirds and Ross' Geese if you do some searching, good spots for Common Poorwill, Bell's Sparrow, and Lesser Nighthawks, some of the best shorebirding in North America when water levels are right, and impressive songbird migration (especially May and September).

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An important resource is the 2019 revision of the Checklist of the Birds of Yolo County, which can be ordered at the link. An on-line version will also be available at some point in the future. It has every species' status thru the year in bar graphs-- and is guaranteed more accurate than eBird!

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RECENT RARITIES OBSERVED METHODOLGY (what birds are included): For all records after Jan 1, 2019, this list only includes Code 5 species from the 2019 edition of the Yolo County Checklist. For records from spring 2004 thru 2018, it includes Code 5 species (i.e. species with individual records, not dotted lines) from the 2004 edition. For records before spring 2004, it uses the 1993 edition. EXCEPTIONS These are not included: Least Bitterns after 2004 all Western Gulls Lesser Black-backed Gulls after Jan 2014 Eurasian Collared-Doves after 2005 Grasshopper Sparrows after 2002 Great-tailed Grackles after May 2000 Additional note: Iceland Gull now includes thayeri, kumlieni, and glaucoides. All three have occurred in the county. For posterity, the white-winged individuals resembling nominate glaucoides are included here. * First county record Kentucky Warbler * audio May 27, 2020 Grasslands Park Michael Perrone Virginia's Warbler * Apr 26, 2020 Rayhouse Rd Adrian Hinkle Slaty-backed Gull photos Jan 31, 2020 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Garganey photos Jan 3, 2020 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento Lucas Stephenson, Mark Stephenson Barred Owl * photos Dec 11, 2019 south Davis Emmett Iverson Pygmy Nuthatch Nov 21, 2019 West Sacramento Mark Sawyer Brant * photos Nov 7, 2019 Woodland/Davis Clean Water Facility Todd Easterla Worm-eating Warbler * photos Oct 27, 2019 Willowbank Ditch, south Davis Zane Pickus Buff-breasted Sandpiper photos Sept 28, 2019 Woodland/Davis Clean Water Facility Scott Hoppe Black Turnstone (2) photos May 4, 2019 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Michael Perrone, Steve Hampton, Bart Wickel Garganey photos Mar 1, 2019 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento Gil Ewing Red-throated Loon photos Feb 27, 2019 Sacramento Deep Water Shipping Channel Keith Bailey Palm Warbler photos Feb 12, 2019 east Davis Sean Smith Trumpeter Swan photos Jan 12, 2019 Rds 27 and 104 Michele Swartout Lapland Longspur Dec 20, 2018 Rds 27 and 103 Keith Bailey Pacific Loon photos Nov 7, 2018 West Sacramento Dan Kopp American Redstart photos Oct 29, 2018 Rd 98A Steve Hampton Least Flycatcher photos Oct 21, 2018 Cache Creek Wild Wings Park Brent Campos Vermilion Flycatcher photos Oct 20, 2018 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Jim Thomas Costa's Hummingbird Oct 18, 2018 south Davis Rob Furrow Lapland Longspur (3) Oct 14, 2018 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Rob Furrow Magnolia Warbler * Oct 3, 2018 Mace Blvd near Putah Cr [found dead by Andy Engilis] Common Nighthawk * Sept 29, 2018 east Davis Ed Whisler Brewer's Sparrow Sept 28, 2018 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Perrone Franklin's Gull photo Sept 20, 2018 Woodland/Davis Clean Water Facility Holly Coates, Steve Hampton Franklin's Gull Sept 20, 2018 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Holly Coates American Redstart Sept 13, 2018 Wood Duck Ponds Leo Edson Gray Catbird photo Sept 9, 2018 Babel Slough Rob Furrow Eastern Kingbird photos Sept 3, 2018 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve John Colbert, Erica Rutherford Brewer's Sparrow photo Sept 3, 2018 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Buff-breasted Sandpiper photos Aug 31, 2018 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Steve Hampton Yellow-billed Cuckoo Aug 20, 2018 Rd 116A Holly Coates, Emmett Iverson Chimney Swift Aug 19, 2018 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Steve Hampton Summer Tanager photos Aug 18, 2018 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Kirk Swenson Chestnut-sided Warbler photos July 31, 2018 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Dan Cook Indigo Bunting photos July 26, 2018 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Kathy Blankenship, Douglas Hall Franklin's Gull photos June 26, 2018 Woodland/Davis Clean Water Facility Kathy Blankenship Gray Catbird June 19, 2018 Putah Creek (Stevenson Bridge) Andy Engilis Glossy Ibis photos May 24, 2018 Woodland/Davis Clean Water Facility Holly Coates, Emmett Iverson Harris's Sparrow photos May 7, 2018 Davis Wetlands Jim Thomas Marsh Sandpiper photos Apr 15, 2018 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Steve Hampton Harris's Sparrow photos Apr 14, 2018 Clarksburg Dan Williams Harris's Sparrow photos Apr 3, 2018 Putah Creek Fishing Access #3 Emmett Iverson Red-naped Sapsucker photos Feb 21, 2018 Putah Creek Canyon (Positas Rd) Keith Bailey Curve-billed Thrasher * photos Jan 8, 2018 Woodland Kelly Childress Northern Waterthrush photos Jan 4, 2018 Putah Creek (Hwy 128 Bridge) Jason Riggio Citrine Wagtail * photos Dec 15, 2017 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Maurice DeMille Orchard Oriole photos Nov 30, 2017 north Davis Steve Hampton Swamp Sparrow photos Nov 25, 2017 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Steve Hampton Palm Warbler photos Nov 24, 2017 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Stan Hunter Franklin's Gull photo Nov 20, 2017 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Jon Dunn Sagebrush Sparrow * photos Oct 20, 2017 Rd 27 east of Rd 103 Rick Williams Sage Thrasher photo Oct 11, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Stuart Angerer Chestnut-sided Warbler Oct 6, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Dan Cook Cassin's Finch Oct 6, 2017 east Davis Michael Perrone American Redstart Sept 28, 2017 Putah Creek, Winters Andy Engilis Northern Waterthrush Sept 25, 2017 Putah Creek, Winters Andy Engilis Clay-colored Sparrow photo Sept 24, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Steve Hampton Brewer's Sparrow photo Sept 16, 2017 Davis Wetlands Jim Thomas Brewer's Sparrow Sept 16, 2017 Babel Slough Michael Perrone Indigo Bunting photo Sept 15, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Perrone Chestnut-sided Warbler photo Sept 15, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michelle Garcia Tennessee Warbler Sept 15, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Hugh Dingle Blackpoll Warbler Sept 14, 2017 Rd 16, east of Yolo Bypass Keith Bailey Lark Bunting photo Sept 12, 2017 Rd 16, east of Yolo Bypass Kirk Swenson Clay-colored Sparrow photo Sept 9, 2017 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Eric Tennessee Warbler Sept 6, 2017 Cache Creek Wild Wings Park Brent Campos Brewer's Sparrow photo Sept 2, 2017 north Davis Arav Karighattam, Aranya Karighattam Hooded Warbler photos and call Aug 16, 2017 north Davis Steve Hampton Gray Catbird Aug 13, 2017 Cache Creek Wild Wings Park Will Hemstrom Summer Tanager Aug 5, 2017 Cache Creek Wild Wings Park Steve Hampton Black Rail call July 18, 2017 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento Jason Riggio Black Skimmer * photo July 4, 2017 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Hugh Dingle, Ed Harper Northern Parula May 28, 2017 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Ted Gilliland, Jessie Godfrey, Karen Velas Baltimore Oriole May 26, 2017 Putah Creek, Winters Andy Engilis, Irene Engilis Surf Scoter photo Mar 4, 2017 Putah Creek Fishing Access #4 Chris Wills, Teri Wills Surf Scoter photo Feb 3, 2017 Winters Wastewater Treatment Plant Keith Bailey Trumpeter Swan (4+)* photo Jan 5, 2017 north of Knight's Landing Todd Easterla Red Phalarope photo Nov 27, 2016 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Kathy DeFay Surf Scoter photo Nov 12, 2016 Frog Pond, Rayhouse Road Ken Britten Yellow-bellied Sapsucker photo Nov 5, 2016 Rd 78A, Capay Valley Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Plumbeous Vireo photo Nov 5, 2016 north Davis Chris Dunford American Redstart photo Oct 2, 2016 Babel Slough Gil Ewing Blackpoll Warbler Sept 23, 2016 Babel Slough Mark Sawyer Plumbeous Vireo Sept 22, 2016 north Davis Lara Davis Ovenbird Sept 18, 2016 Woodland Ian Souza-Cole Northern Waterthrush photo Sept 16, 2016 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Matt Davis Long-tailed Jaeger photo Sept 2, 2016 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Kirk Swenson Summer Tanager photo Aug 5, 2016 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Kirk Swenson Allen's Hummingbird July 16, 2016 north Davis Steve Hampton Franklin's Gull photo May 16, 2016 Rd 25 near Rd 103 Rick Williams Cassin's Finch May 13, 2016 Sacramento Bypass Michael Perrone Franklin's Gull May 4, 2016 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Michael Perrone Franklin's Gull photo Apr 28, 2016 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Keith Bailey Marsh Sandpiper photo Apr 16, 2016 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Frank Fogarty, Dan Welsh Glossy Ibis photo Apr 2, 2016 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area John Ehrenfeld Cassin's Finch call Oct 23, 2015 Rayhouse Road Eric LoPresti, Jason Riggio Black-and-white Warbler Sept 29, 2015 UC Davis Arboretum Alan Krakauer Glossy Ibis photo Sept 18, 2015 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla, John Luther, John Sterling Black Turnstone photo Sept 15, 2015 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Mark Sawyer Black Rail * Sept 14, 2015 Babel Slough Gil Ewing Chimney Swift (3) Sept 13, 2015 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Blackpoll Warbler Sept 12, 2015 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Scott Hoppe Northern Parula photo Sept 5, 2015 Babel Slough Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Indigo Bunting Aug 8, 2015 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Ed Harper Least Tern photo July 17, 2015 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Keith Bailey Northern Parula song June 29, 2015 Sacramento Bypass Steve Hampton Red-eyed Vireo June 8, 2015 Cache Creek Wild Wings Park Brent Campos Brown Pelican May 12, 2015 west Davis Susan Nishio Brewer's Sparrow photo May 1, 2015 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Eric Clay-colored Sparrow Apr 27, 2015 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Leo Edson Emperor Goose Feb 1, 2015 County Line Rd Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Swamp Sparrow photo Jan 23, 2015 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Leo Edson Cassin's Finch photo Jan 3, 2015 north Davis Ken Ealy Red-breasted Merganser photo Dec 31, 2014 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento Kirk Swenson Black-and-white Warbler photo Dec 27, 2014 Babel Slough Robin Tigred Swamp Sparrow Oct 29, 2014 Wild Wings Park, Cache Creek Brent Campos Harris's Sparrow Oct 26, 2014 north Davis Chris Dunford American Redstart photo Sept 21, 2014 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Eric LoPresti, Jessie Godfray, Helen Chmura Tennessee Warbler Sept 16, 2014 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve John Sterling Blackpoll Warbler Sept 16, 2014 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Least Flycatcher Sept 16, 2014 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Least Flycatcher photo Sept 7, 2014 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Blackpoll Warbler photo Sept 7, 2014 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Perrone Northern Waterthrush photo Sept 1, 2014 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Roger Muscat Allen's Hummingbird photo July 27, 2014 north Davis Steve Hampton Glossy Ibis photo June 27, 2014 Davis Wetlands Michael Strom Allen's Hummingbird June 14, 2014 Rayhouse Rd Keith Bailey Little Blue Heron photo May 30, 2014 Conaway Ranch Bruce Lyon, Cara Thow, Tez Stair Indigo Bunting May 25, 2014 Sacramento Bypass Michael Strom Northern Waterthrush May 15, 2014 north of Winters [specimen at UCD] Marsh Sandpiper * photo Apr 11, 2014 Liberty Island Rd (found in Solano Co. on Apr 9) Roger Muscat Black-throated Sparrow photo Mar 8, 2014 Rd 16 & Knight's Landing Ridge Cut Sami LaRocca Swamp Sparrow Jan 16, 2014 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Sarah Mayhew Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Jan 7, 2014 Yolo County Landfill William Rockey Plumbeous Vireo photo Dec 22, 2013 Old River Rd Jeri Langham Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Dec 7, 2013 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Black Scoter * photo Nov 25, 2013 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Ken Ealy Costa's Hummingbird photo Nov 3, 2013 Esparto William Rockey Franklin's Gull photo Oct 21, 2013 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Steve Hampton Harris's Sparrow photo Oct 20, 2013 north Davis Chris Dunford Franklin's Gull Sept 30, 2013 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Steve Hampton Tennesee Warbler Sept 22, 2013 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Chestnut-sided Warbler Sept 22, 2013 Babel Slough Dan Airola, Todd Easterla Northern Parula Sept 12, 2013 Cache Creek Riparian Preserve Brent Campos Orchard Oriole Sept 6, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Claire Gallagher Indigo Bunting Sept 3, 2013 Babel Slough Andy Engilis, Irene Engilis Blackpoll Warbler Sept 2, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve John Sterling Tennesee Warbler photo Sept 1, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Chestnut-sided Warbler photo Sept 1, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Franklin's Gull Aug 27, 2013 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Dan Williams Tennessee Warbler Aug 24, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Perrone Baltimore Oriole photo Aug 19, 2013 Sacramento Bypass Steve Hampton Yellow-billed Cuckoo Aug 16, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Claire Gallagher Glossy Ibis photo July 28, 2013 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Gray Catbird June 9, 2013 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Strom Plumbeous Vireo May 9, 2013 Willowbank Ditch, south Davis Steve Hampton Lark Bunting (2) May 6, 2013 Rd 38 near Rd 106 Andy Engilis Red-naped Sapsucker * photo Feb 12, 2013 Putah Creek Resort Todd Easterla Slaty-backed Gull Jan 27, 2013 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Gil Ewing Iceland Gull photo Jan 19, 2013 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Long-tailed Duck photo Dec 14, 2012 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Jenn McKenzie, Dan Smith Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Dec 8, 2012 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Winter Wren * photo Nov 20, 2012 Putah Creek Canyon (Positas Rd) Jon Dunn, Ed Harper, Dan Tankersley Surf Scoter photo Oct 30, 2012 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Claire Gallagher Franklin's Gull photo Oct 28, 2012 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Claire Gallagher Harris's Sparrow Oct 26, 2012 north Davis Chris Dunford Tennessee Warbler Sept 23, 2012 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Brewer's Sparrow photo Sept 20, 2012 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Bay-breasted Warbler * photo Sept 19, 2012 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Tennessee Warbler Sept 16, 2012 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Will Rockey, Michael Strom Blackpoll Warbler photo Sept 14, 2012 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Indigo Bunting Sept 12, 2012 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve John Sterling Blackpoll Warbler photo Sept 11, 2012 Putah Creek near Stevenson Bridge Manfred Kusch Orchard Oriole * photo Sept 11, 2012 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Todd Easterla Least Flycatcher Sept 9, 2012 Babel Slough Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Yellow-bellied Flycatcher * photo Sept 2, 2012 Grasslands Park Todd Easterla Least Flycatcher photo Sept 2, 2012 Grasslands Park Todd Easterla Yellow-billed Cuckoo Sept 1, 2012 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Brewer's Sparrow (2) Aug 28, 2012 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Brown Pelican (2; 1 dead) Aug 23, 2012 Davis Wetlands Alejandro Garcia Summer Tanager Aug 15, 2012 north Davis Steve Hampton Summer Tanager photo Aug 10, 2012 Putah Creek downstream of Stevenson Bridge Manfred Kusch Indigo Bunting photo Aug 4, 2012 Sacramento Bypass Kevin Guse Brown Pelican (2) July 6, 2012 Yolo County Landfill (later in W. Sacramento) Maureen Geiger, Mary Beth Metcalf Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel * photo Apr 28, 2012 Yolo County Landfill Peter Armstrong, Hugh Dingle, Marcel Holyoak Crested Caracara * photo Apr 15, 2012 South Fork Putah Creek Mary Schiedt Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Mar 30, 2012 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Slaty-backed Gull photo Mar 9, 2012 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Iceland Gull photo Mar 9, 2012 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Common Redpoll * photo Feb 22, 2012 Woodland Jackie Shulters Brown Pelican photo Feb 8, 2012 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Vega Gull photo Jan 9, 2012 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Dec 10, 2011 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Harris's Sparrow photo Dec 4, 2011 north Davis Chris Dunford Vega Gull photo Nov 26, 2011 Yolo County Landfill Todd Easterla Black-throated Sparrow photo Oct 21, 2011 Rd 22 near Esparto Steve Hampton Chimney Swift (2) Oct 6, 2011 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Rose-breasted Grosbeak Oct 7, 2011 west Davis Alison Kent Rose-breasted Grosbeak Oct 6, 2011 Putah Creek Canyon (Positas Rd) Steve Hampton Clay-colored Sparrow Oct 1, 2011 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Andy Engilis Tennessee Warbler Oct 1, 2011 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Strom Plumbeous Vireo Sept 23, 2011 Babel Slough Todd Easterla Indigo Bunting Sept 18, 2011 Babel Slough Andy Engilis Blackpoll Warbler Sept 16, 2011 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Steve Hampton Brown Pelican photo Sept 4, 2011 Farmers Central Pond Todd Easterla Eastern Kingbird photo Aug 30, 2011 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Mary Schiedt Arctic Tern * photo Aug 24, 2011 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant John Sterling Common Tern (12) photo Aug 24, 2011 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant John Sterling Brown Pelican photo Aug 24, 2011 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento fide Cliff Feldheim Common Ringed Plover * photo Aug 19, 2011 Davis Wetlands Todd Easterla Little Stint * photo July 15, 2011 Davis Wetlands Todd Easterla Brown Pelican photo June 1, 2011 West Sacramento fide Nancy Gronert Black Swift photo May 17, 2011 Monticello Dam John Sterling Black Swift (2) May 14, 2011 Monticello Dam Todd Easterla Black Swift May 12, 2011 northwest of Winters Scott Terrill Brewer's Sparrow May 11, 2011 northwest of Winters Scott Terrill Slaty-backed Gull Mar 21, 2011 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Tufted Duck Mar 11, 2011 West Sacramento Jim Holmes Vega Gull Feb 21, 2011 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Mike Bumgartner, Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Feb 21, 2011 Yolo County Landfill Mike Bumgartner, Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Iceland Gull photo Feb 19, 2011 Yolo County Landfill Todd Easterla Slaty-backed Gull photo Feb 5, 2011 (confirmed Feb 19) Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla, Steve Hampton, John Sterling McCown's Longspur Jan 23, 2011 County Line Rd Steve Hampton Zone-tailed Hawk * photo Jan 22, 2011 Babel Slough Rachel Gardiner, Ron Melcer, Michael Perrone Sage Thrasher photo Jan 4, 2011 Rd 142 and South River Rd Gary Langham Red-breasted Merganser Nov 22, 2010 Winters Wastewater Treatment Plant Jon Dunn, Ed Harper, Joan Humphrey, Dan Tankersley, Robin & Richard Wolcott Tropical Kingbird * photo Nov 20, 2010 north Davis Chris Dunford Lesser Black-backed Gull Nov 9, 2010 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Red-throated Pipit Oct 19, 2010 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area John Sterling Cassin's Kingbird * photo Oct 15, 2010 Rd 27 w of Rd 88 Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Oct 7, 2010 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Scott Hoppe Chestnut-sided Warbler Oct 3, 2010 Babel Slough Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Blackpoll Warbler Sept 27, 2010 Babel Slough Andy Engilis Black Swift (3) Sept 19, 2010 Lake Solano Ron Melcer Red-eyed Vireo Sept 14, 2010 Babel Slough Gil Ewing, Louise McCullough Baltimore Oriole Sept 11, 2010 Sacramento Bypass Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Common Tern (3) Sept 9, 2010 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Brewer's Sparrow Sept 4, 2010 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Glossy Ibis July 25, 2010 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla American Redstart photo June 5, 2010 northwest of Babel Slough Todd Easterla Northern Parula (2) June 3, 2010 East Toe Drain Levee north of Rd 22 Steve Hampton Indigo Bunting May 31, 2010 Fremont Weir Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Plumbeous Vireo photo May 14, 2010 South Davis Todd Easterla, Lisa Jorgensen, John Sterling Surf Scoter Apr 20, 2010 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Bell's Vireo photo Apr 16, 2010 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Craig Swolgaard Black-and-white Warbler Apr 14, 2010 Putah Creek Preserve Irene Engilis, Alan Hitch Vermillion Flycatcher * photos early Mar, 2010 Rd 28 ne of Winters David and Linda Batcheller Tufted Duck photo Jan 16, 2010 Davis Wetlands Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Jan 16, 2010 Yolo County Landfill Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Costa's Hummingbird Oct 18, 2009 Davis Jim Tietz Brewer's Sparrow Oct 10, 2009 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Scott Hoppe Bobolink October 6, 2009 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Andy Engilis Tennessee Warbler Sept 28, 2009 north Davis Steve Hampton Blackpoll Warbler Sept 26, 2009 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Michael Perrone Least Flycatcher Sept 14, 2009 Grasslands Park Todd Easterla Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Sept 4, 2009 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Red-necked Stint * photo Aug 30, 2009 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Black-and-white Warbler Aug 4, 2009 South Davis Robin Kulakow Northern Parula July 29, 2009 North Pond, Davis Steve Hampton, Toby Ross Red-eyed Vireo July 18, 2009 North Pond, Davis Chris Dunford, John Sterling Summer Tanager photo May 17, 2009 north Davis Steve Hampton Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Feb 28, 2009 Rd 29 near Catfish Ponds Steve Abbott Lesser Black-backed Gull photo Feb 27, 2009 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Slaty-backed Gull * photo Feb 27, 2009 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Iceland Gull * photo Feb 12, 2009 Yolo County Landfill Todd Easterla Lesser Black-backed Gull * photo Feb 12, 2009 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Todd Easterla Brown Pelican * Dec 23, 2008 Rd 102 Ron Cole, Andy Engilis, John Trochet Vega Gull Dec 5, 2008 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Steve Hampton Costa's Hummingbird Nov 20, 2008 UC Davis Arboretum Andy Engilis, Irene Engilis, Melanie Truan Red-throated Pipit (2) * Oct 20, 2008 Rd 105 Todd Easterla Red-necked Grebe Oct 19, 2008 Winters Wastewater Treatment Plant Gil Ewing, Louise McCullough Chestnut-sided Warbler Oct 5, 2008 north Davis Steve Hampton Blackpoll Warbler Oct 5, 2008 Putah Creek Fishing Access #2 Tavis Forrester, Rachel Harris, Mark Kudrav, Bobby Walsh Yellow-bellied Sapsucker late Sept, 2008 Davis Joan Humphrey Costa's Hummingbird Sept 17, 2008 Davis Steve Hampton Common Tern Sept 9, 2008 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plan Toby Rohmer Tennessee Warbler Sept 9, 2008 Putah Creek (downstream of Winters) John Trochet Plumbeous Vireo Aug 31, 2008 South Putah Creek Preserve Steve Hampton Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Apr 6, 2008 Rumsey Maureen Geiger, Ken Poerner Cassin's Finch Jan 29, 2008 east Davis Michael Perrone Emperor Goose Jan 13, 2008 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Michael Perrone McCown's Longspur Dec 30, 2007 County Line Rd Todd Easterla Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (2) Oct 25, 2007 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla, Joan Humphrey Red-necked Grebe Oct 21, 2007 Lake Solano John Sterling Baltimore Oriole * Sept 22, 2007 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Todd Easterla Least Flycatcher Sept 20, 2007 Grasslands Park Todd Easterla, Joan Humphrey Tennessee Warbler Sept 19, 2007 UC Davis Andy Engilis Red-eyed Vireo Sept 10, 2007 Babel Slough Andy Engilis Common Tern (3) Sept 8, 2007 Davis Wetlands Steve Hampton Long-tailed Jaeger Aug 25, 2007 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area many Glossy Ibis *photo Aug 25, 2007 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Brewer's Sparrow Aug 24, 2007 Putah Creek Picnic Area Andy Engilis Indigo Bunting Aug 7, 2007 Capay Bridge Todd Easterla Curlew Sandpiper July 29, 2007 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla Common Tern July 26, 2007 Davis Wetlands Joan Humphrey, John Sterling Least Tern July 7, 2007 Davis Wetlands Joan Humphrey, Kinga Kaminska Franklin's Gull July 1, 2007 Davis Wetlands Roger Adamson Summer Tanager June 12, 2007 Fremont Weir Joan Humphrey, Sami LaRocca Yellow-throated Warbler * June 6, 2007 north Davis Laura Davis Black Swift (4) May 14, 2007 Fremont Weir Andy Engilis Vega Gull Feb 13, 2007 Yolo County Landfill Steve Hampton Vega Gull Jan 29, 2007 Yolo County Landfill Todd Easterla, John Sterling, Fritz Stuerer Ovenbird photo Jan 9, 2007 South Putah Creek Preserve Uzelle Williams McCown's Longspur (3+) Jan 7, 2007 County Line Rd Todd Easterla Eastern Phoebe Dec 17, 2006 Putah Creek, Winters Brent Campos Taiga Flycatcher * photo Oct 25, 2006 Putah Creek Fishing Access #2 John Sterling, Scott Terrill American Tree Sparrow (2) * photo Oct 20, 2006 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Veronica Armijos, Ann Pellegrini, Mary Schiedt, Sara Wheeler Eastern Phoebe Oct 14, 2006 Davis Michael Perrone Blackpoll Warbler Oct 6, 2006 north Davis Steve Hampton Long-tailed Jaeger Sept 15, 2006 Davis Wetlands Steve Hampton Common Tern Sept 3, 2006 (5 by Sept 5) Davis Wetlands Joan Humphrey Hudsonian Godwit * Sept 1, 2006 Davis Wetlands Jon King Rose-breasted Grosbeak Aug 16, 2006 Babel Slough Andy Engilis Little Blue Heron Aug 8, 2006 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Tim Fitzer, Cathie La Zier Yellow-billed Cuckoo July 30, 2006 Fremont Weir Mary Chambers, Neil Clipperton, Erica Lindgren Yellow-billed Cuckoo June 16, 2006 Fremont Weir Jessica Blickley, Brent Campos, Marianne Kirkland, Erica Lindgren, Neil Losin, Ron Melcer Indigo Bunting (2) June 9, 2006 Fremont Weir Michael Perrone Chestnut-sided Warbler May 31, 2006 Sacramento Bypass Erica Lindgren, Ron Melcer Red-necked Grebe Jan 10, 2006 Winters Sewage Ponds Roger Adamson, Joan Humphrey Eastern Phoebe Dec 8, 2005 South Putah Creek Preserve Brent Campos Mountain Chickadee Nov 23, 2005 Davis Michael Perrone Ovenbird Nov 5, 2005 South Putah Creek Preserve Jim Dunn Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (2) Oct 31, 2005 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Daryl Coldren Blackpoll Warbler Oct 10, 2005 Babel Slough Steve Hampton, Marianne Kirkland, Michael Perrone Ovenbird * Sept 22, 2005 Babel Slough Andy Engilis Northern Parula Sept 18, 2005 Babel Slough Marianne Kirkland Rose-breasted Grosbeak Sept 12, 2005 Davis Marcel Holyoak Rose-breasted Grosbeak Sept 11, 2005 Babel Slough Yolo Audubon Field Trip Eurasian Collared-Dove * Sept 11, 2005 north Davis Steve Hampton, Michael Perrone Blackpoll Warbler Sept 2, 2005 Putah Creek Sinks Ron Melcer, Erica Lindgren, Andy Engilis Yellow-billed Cuckoo July 23, 2005 Cache Creek Settling Basin Steve Hampton Yellow-billed Cuckoo June 22, 2005 Putah Creek Sinks Ron Melcer Least Tern (2) June 20, 2005 (3 on June 22) Davis Wetlands Oscar Johnson, Daryl Coldren, Cliff Hawley, Ed Pandolfino Plumbeous Vireo * Apr 22, 2005 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Andy Engilis, Irene Torres Red-necked Grebe Jan 28, 2005 Catfish Ponds (Rd 29) Jim White Harlequin Duck * Jan 23, 2005 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area [shot by hunter] Eastern Phoebe Dec 2, 2004 Putah Creek, Winters Irene Torres Common Tern Oct 6, 2004 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Richard Hall, Joan Humphrey Blackpoll Warbler Oct 1, 2004 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Richard Hall Least Flycatcher * Aug 31, 2004 Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Andy Engilis Eastern Wood-Pewee * June 26, 2004 Putah Creek, Winters Andy Engilis Red-eyed Vireo * May 28, 2004 north Davis Steve Hampton Least Bittern May 23, 2004 Rd 30 Marsh Steve Hampton, Richard Hall Tufted Duck Jan 18, 2004 Yolo Bypass at Rd 124 Steve Abbott Chestnut-collared Longspur Jan 6, 2004 Rds 104 and 27 Steve Hampton Chestnut-collared Longspur (10) Dec 22, 2003 Rd 16 and I-505 Steve Hampton Clay-colored Sparrow Dec 14, 2003 west of Winters Joan Humphrey, Doug O'Bannon Long-tailed Duck Dec 14, 2003 Winters Sewage Ponds Mary Schiedt Scissor-tailed Flycatcher * Dec 12, 2003 UC Davis Sylvia Wright Northern Waterthrush Nov 27, 2003 Putah Creek near Stevenson Bridge Manfred Kusch Rusty Blackbird Nov 16, 2003 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Gary Fregien Ruff (2) Nov 8, 2003 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Les Lierance Tennessee Warbler Oct 3, 2003 Grasslands Park Steve Hampton Clay-colored Sparrow Oct 2, 2003 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant John Sterling Blackpoll Warbler Sept 20, 2003 w. of Davis Marcel Holyoak Ruff Sept 6, 2003 North Pond, Davis Chris Dunford Chestnut-sided Warbler Sept 6, 2003 Babel Slough Roger Adamson Least Bittern (2) July 12, 2003 Rd 30 Marsh Steve Hampton, Joan Humphrey Least Bittern June 12, 2003 Conoway Ranch Andy Engilis Gray Catbird * June 12, 2003 e. end of Rd 25 Andy Engilis Veery * May 16, 2003 Davis Walter Howard [specimen] Brewer's Sparrow May 10, 2003 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Dan Tankersley, Ed Harper, Bill Grenfell Least Bittern May 7, 2003 Rd 30 Marsh Marcel Holyoak Garganey Apr 5, 2003 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Andy Engilis Red-throated Loon Mar 25, 2003 Lake Solano Maureen Geiger, Marilyn Hemmeter Swamp Sparrow Dec 25, 2002 Davis Wetlands Jon King Clay-colored Sparrow Dec 1, 2002 Solano Park Gardens Steve Hampton Tennessee Warbler Nov 30, 2002 UC Davis Michael Perrone Red Phalarope Nov 26, 2002 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Al DeMartini Surf Scoter Oct 30, 2002 Winters Sewage Ponds Joan Humphrey, Michael Perrone Grasshopper Sparrow Oct 8, 2002 Grasslands Regional Park Jon King, Michael Perrone Grasshopper Sparrow Sept 24, 2002 near Rds 96 & 27 Joan Humphrey Blackpoll Warbler Sept 22, 2002 Babel Slough Leo Edson Sabine's Gull Sept 15, 2002 Davis Wetlands Steve Hampton Chestnut-sided Warbler Sept 15, 2002 east Davis Laura Davis Buff-breasted Sandpiper * Sept 2, 2002 Davis Wetlands Jon King Lark Bunting Mar , 2002 Rd 31 Jamie Fenneman Long-tailed Duck Feb 5, 2002 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Cliff Hawley Tufted Duck Jan 20, 2002 Yolo Bypass at Rd 124 Michael Perrone Lapland Longspur Jan 12, 2002 Longspur Corner Yolo Audubon Field Trip Red-breasted Merganser Jan 5, 2002 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento Gil Ewing Pacific Loon Dec 25, 2001 Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento Dan Williams, Dave Johnson Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Dec 22, 2001 south Davis ... Swamp Sparrow (2) Nov 11, 2001 West Davis Rich Stallcup Lapland Longspur ..., 2001 Rds 13 and 92B ... Ruff Oct 3, 2001 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area ... Sage Thrasher ..., 2001 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Dave Feliz Blackpoll Warbler Sept 23, 2001 north Davis Steve Hampton, Laura Davis Tennessee Warbler * Sept 21, 2001 north Davis Steve Hampton Least Tern * July 10, 2001 Davis Wetlands Bill Grenfell, George Waldie Northern Parula June 10, 2001 Wood Duck Ponds Leo Edson Hooded Warbler * May 16, 2001 east Davis Michael Perrone American Redstart Apr 25, 2001 UCD/Putah Creek Andy Engilis Ruff (2) Feb 5, 2001 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Joan Humphrey Lapland Longspur Nov 19, 2000 Rds 16 and 90B Todd Easterla McCown's Longspur Nov 19, 2000 Rds 16 and 90B Todd Easterla Chestnut-collared Longspur Nov 19, 2000 Rds 16 and 90B Todd Easterla Clark's Nutcracker Nov 12, 2000 Thompson Canyon Michael Perrone Clay-colored Sparrow * Oct 25, 2000 Solano Park Gardens Steve Hampton Clark's Nutcracker Oct 14, 2000 Davis Michael Perrone Palm Warbler Oct 9, 2000 Solano Park Gardens Steve Hampton Common Tern Aug 25, 2000 Davis Wetlands Gil Ewing Franklin's Gull July 19, 2000 Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant Joan Humphrey Long-tailed Jaeger * June 9, 2000 Davis Wetlands Dan Stoebel Great-tailed Grackle (2) June 1, 2000 north Davis Steve Hampton Great-tailed Grackle May 18, 2000 Davis Municipal Golf Course Jean Broadhvest Great-tailed Grackle May , 2000 Woodland John Sterling Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 21, 2000 (3 by Apr 22) Rd. 12A Laura Davis Great-tailed Grackle Apr 14, 2000 North Pond, Davis David Stoebel Chestnut-collared Longspur Feb 25, 2000 County Line Rd. Todd Easterla Tufted Duck * Feb 4, 2000 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Steve Hampton Lark Bunting late Dec, 1999 Rd 82B David Schwedler Grasshopper Sparrow Nov 26, 1999 Rds 16 and 90B Steve Hampton, Todd Easterla Dylan Holstein-Radin, Glen Holstein Joan Humphrey, Michael Perrone Lapland Longspur (2) Nov 24, 1999 Rds 16 and 90B (1 on Rd 11) Todd Easterla McCown's Longspur (4) * Nov 23, 1999 Rds 16 and 90B Steve Hampton Chestnut-collared Longspur (9) Nov 21, 1999 (50 by Dec) Rds 16 and 90B (1 more on Rd 85) Todd Easterla Ruff Oct 10, 1999 (on Apr 8, 2000 at YBWA) Davis Wetlands Laura Davis Common Tern Sept 11, 1999 (3 on Sept 12) Davis Wetlands Laura Davis Franklin's Gull Aug 8, 1999 (2 on Aug 30) Davis Wetlands CVBC field trip Least Bittern June 8 and 12, 1999 Conaway Ranch Bill Hamilton Red-breasted Merganser (2) Apr 29, 1999 Lake Solano Michael Perrone Grasshopper Sparrow Apr 15, 1999 Rd 12A Kevin Guse Lark Bunting Apr 11, 1999 Rd 12A Brian Williams Little Gull * Mar 10, 1999 Davis Wetlands Steve Hampton Ruff Dec 26, 1998 Conaway Ranch Dan Stoebel, Joan Humphrey, John Broadhvest, Michael Perrone Black-and-White Warbler Dec 26, 1998 Elkhorn Park ... Franklin's Gull Sept 16, 1998 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Joan Humphrey, Jean Broadhvest Sabine's Gull Sept 13, 1998 Yolo Bypass at Rd 124 Steve Abbott Brewer's Sparrow Sept 10, 1998 Rd 27 and Willow Slough Michael Perrone Lapland Longspur Jan 24, 1998 Rd 34A Steve Hampton, Joan Humphrey Chestnut-collared Longspur Dec 27, 1997 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Swamp Sparrow Dec 27, 1997 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Todd Easterla, Kevin Guse Black-throated Sparrow * Nov 9, 1997 East Toe Drain Levee north of Rd 22 Richard Redmond Brewer's Sparrow Oct 31, 1997 Rd 103 near Rd 27 Steve Hampton Summer Tanager Aug 30, 1997 Wood Duck Ponds Leo Edson Indigo Bunting July 29, 1997 Wood Duck Ponds Leo Edson Grasshopper Sparrow June 27, 1997 Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Steve Hampton Grasshopper Sparrow May 19, 1997 Rd 26 Steve Hampton Grasshopper Sparrow May 14, 1997 Rd 25 Michael Perrone Red-necked Grebe Jan 1997 Lake Solano Gil Ewing Red-breasted Merganser Jan 1997 Monticello Dam Michael Perrone Sage Thrasher Dec 25, 1996 Mace Ranch, Davis Carl Schwedler Clark's Nutcracker * Nov 30, 1996 Davis (another in east Davis Dec 8, M. Perrone) Joan Humphrey Surf Scoter Oct 28, 1996 Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant Sonia SantaAnna Brewer's Sparrow * Oct 7, 1996 Solano Park Gardens Steve Hampton Curlew Sandpiper * May 5, 1996 Trestle Ponds Todd Easterla Sage Thrasher Apr 1996 Rd 41 Hugh Dingle, Marcel Holyoak Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Jan 13, 1996 Putah Creek Canyon, Positas Rd Michael Perrone Surf Scoter Dec 17, 1995 Winters Sewage Ponds Mary Schiedt Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Oct 31, 1995 east Davis Michael Perrone Bobolink Oct 27, 1995 Solano Park Gardens Steve Hampton

PLACES TO GO BIRDING In addition to these sites, the Yolo Audubon website has a recently revised extensive list of birding locations (with eBird links). WOODLAND/DAVIS CLEAN WATER FACILITY and WOODLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT These are two separate facilities, with separate access rules, but they are immediately adjacent, some of the birds move back and forth, and they share an eBird hotspot. Go east from the intersection of Rd 102 and Gibson. As you reach the ponds, the Woodland/Davis Clean Water Facility is on your left; it features a large stormwater retention basin, called North Regional Pond. You may drive onto the gravel road next to the pond and park at the north end or anywhere along it. Access is 24/7. To the south (on your right as you drive in), is the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Facility. Park by the chain link fence where a small brown sign says "Birder Parking". Do not go to the office; do not drive around the ponds. You may walk around the ponds, but must stay 100 yards away from the office area. Access is only M-F 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Closed weekends and holidays. DAVIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Located on Rd 28H east of Rd 105, birders are no longer allowed to enter the facility. However, you can bird from the road. A scope is helpful. If the red gate is closed, you can park on the driveway near it. If it's open, you can drive down and park near the office in the parking area outside the fence. DAVIS WETLANDS Continue east down the driveway past the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant. There is a small kiosk at the yellow gate to sign in as you leave the pavement. Proceed east along the gravel levee top, then angle down and continue east. Open daily 7am-1pm Feb 16-Aug 31; Mondays only Sept 1-Feb 15. YOLO COUNTY CENTRAL LANDFILL Just west of the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant, access is restricted and the rules change often. Birding can be done from the gravel road on the levee above Rd 28H; a scope is needed. There are fewer gulls present on weekends, as there are fewer garbage deliveries. YOLO BYPASS WILDLIFE AREA (also called Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area) Access is from the frontage road on the south side of I-80, on the west side of the Yolo Causeway. Drive up and over the levee. The auto tour loops are well-marked. The old (main) loop take off south from Lot A. The new loop takes off east from Lot A and joins the old loop. Access beyond the hunter check station is restricted during hunting season. There is no public access south of Lot G. GRASSLANDS REGIONAL PARK Located at the corner of Mace (Rd 104) and Tremont southeast of Davis. The best birding is among the trees of the archery links (arranged like a golf course). To avoid archers, it's best to go only on weekdays before 9am. Always walk downrange toward the targets; do not suddenly appear behind a target. SACRAMENTO BYPASS Access from the River Road north of West Sacramento. Go west on Rd 126 and park where the road drops off the levee; do not block the gate on the levee. The main birding area is the riparian strip that runs west from the parking area to the Yolo Bypass. You can walk on the levee or below it next to the trees. BABEL SLOUGH This popular riparian strip is along Babel Slough Rd from River Rd running southwest. The shoulders on Babel Slough Rd are private, thus there is no parking; park along the River Rd. The best birding is often in the first 1/4 mile closest to River Rd. UC DAVIS PUTAH CREEK RIPARIAN RESERVE The primary birding area is a path along the river between Pedrick Rd and Hopkins Rd. There is parking at each end: just east of Pedrick as well as along Levee Rd near the picnic area. The best birding is typically between Pedrick and the rope swings, although sometimes a culvert flowing into the creek in line with Hopkins Rd attracts birds. Note the Yolo/Solano County line leaves the river and follows the old river bed just west and north of Brooks Rd, running thru the middle of the sheep pens (see map above). VESPER SPARROW CORNER The famous spot is the large curve of Hwy 128 west of Winters. There is a large pull off on the northwest (westbound) side of the road. In recent years, the birds have been east-northeast of the parking area, often on the low barbed wire fence that runs north, perpendicular away from the road. PUTAH CREEK FISHING ACCESSES There are five fishing accesses, operated by California Dept of Fish & Wildlife and Yolo County, along Hwy 128 in Putah Creek Canyon between Pleasant Valley Rd and Lake Berryessa. Most have parking lots and bathrooms. All have trails along the river. Parking along the highway is also possible at pullouts. They are numbered #1 thru #5, with #1 being furthest upstream. #2 is unmarked and closed with a gate, but can be easily accessed on foot from #1. GRAY'S BEND/FREMONT WEIR WILDLIFE AREA Gray's Bend refers to the various county roads west of the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area. These can be birded by car, bike, or foot. The Fremont Weir Wildlife Area can be entered from the west (from Rd 102 or Knight's Landing) or east (from Rd 117). The parking lot at the west entrance is currently closed, as a landowner has asserted it's his land. You can park on the road (although there are no pullouts nearby) and walk or bike in. He may challenge you but will probably let you pass. From the east, you can park at the west end of Rd 16 accessed from Rd 117, and walk or bike north up the levee to the weir, where you can access the wildlife area proper, as well as the riparian woods in that area. Note the Yolo/Sutter County line follows the historic Sacramento River channel, which are now oxbow lakes. Thus, the eastern entrance to the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area is in Sutter County. CACHE CREEK WILD WINGS PARK Wild Wings Park offers access to Cache Creek, which is quite limited. Park near the intersection of Wood Duck and Goldeneye and find the trail to the river corridor. There is good riparian habitat both upstream and downstream of the access point. Wearing amphibious shoes will enable you to cross river channels. CAPAY OPEN SPACE PARK Located just north of the town of Capay on Rd 85 on the north side of Cache Creek, this park offers a ramp access down to the river corridor. On summer evenings, this is a wonderful place to watch Lesser Nighthawks. RAYHOUSE ROAD Denoted Rd 40 on most maps, this road emanates from the lower picnic area of Cache Creek Co. Park on Hwy 16 west of Rumsey. This road provides access to chaparral habitat on Blue Ridge, where Bell's Sparrow, Common Poorwill, and Mountain Quail reside. Unfortunately, the road is now closed to vehicles right at the start, at the low water bridge over Cache Creek. It is open to foot/bike only beyond that point. The road climbs through oak woodland for about 3.5 miles before reaching chaparral. After that, it's another 1.5 miles to the crossroads at the summit. From there, if you go straight, the road descends to Davis Creek Res.; to the left (south) it is a half mile to Fiske Creek Lake (a pond). BIRDING THRU THE YEAR mid-April - early June Spring migration! It's not as filled with vagrant potential as fall, but the birds are in their best dress and thus easy to identify. This time of year I'm on the valley floor for shorebirds (Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area is often best now, but other spots can be good-- it just depends on water levels). I'm also checking any riparian or wooded habitat for warblers, flycatchers, and other migrants. While most birders would put Rayhouse Road on the top of their list for passerine migrants, I've had just as good (or better) mornings with warblers in valley oaks on the valley floor (e.g., along Willowbank Ditch in S. Davis). If you know how to identify these trees, you'll find the birds. This May, I'll also be canvassing marshes at dawn in search of Least Bitterns and possibly heading to Berryessa Dam for a Black Swift (if I'm lucky). Migrant songbirds are especially worth looking for after a rainy/stormy night. mid-June - early July This is often thought to be a dead time in Yolo County; the doldrums between spring and fall migration when all that's here is whatever breeding birds we have. My primary activity during this period is to look for Yellow-billed Cuckoos migrating north along the Sacramento River. There are less than 100 left up the Valley, but they must pass by us each year. I've found one so far-- at the Cache Creek Settling Basin. This is also a good time to head up Rayhouse Rd to explore the specialties that nest up there. I enjoy checking water bodies and riparian areas on the valley floor in June, hoping for a surprise, or at least enjoying the Blue Grosbeaks. mid-July - August Fall shorebird migration is in full swing in mid to late summer, and that's pretty much all I focus on here. The key is to find the location with the best water levels and the most birds and to check it as often as possible. The Davis Wetlands is often managed for shorebird habitat, and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area has dedicated "shorebird ponds" for July and August. Songbird migration begins to pick up in late August; see below. September - October I suppose most birders would say these are the best birding months of the year, and who could argue? Lots of birds, with immatures all around, most species in migration, birds dispersing everywhere, and rare vagrants expected any time, any place. If you're not running off to Pt Reyes, you can continue focusing on shorebirds (see above), but also focus on songbirds. Just about any location is worth checking in the fall, but good riparian areas on the valley floor are typically excellent, and even a nice weedy field like the Solano Park gardens offers a fine morning of birding. The most popular spots are Babel Slough and Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, but there's plenty of promise around Winters, Knight's Landing, Cache Creek Wild Wings Park, and even suburban Davis and Woodland. November - early April Winter. For me, that means gulls, which get me through the dark times. For most others, this is the time to focus on sparrows, irruptive passerines, raptors, and waterfowl. I check water bodies (Davis Wetlands, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area) regularly. Any woodsy location could be interesting for songbirds, though I prefer spots on the valley floor. If the Yolo Bypass floods, Rd 155 could be exciting. Winter does bring lots of birds, and they are typically resident for many months, allowing time to methodically canvas the county, whether it be searching for sapsuckers and Lewis' Woodpeckers in Capay Valley, longspurs and Mountain Plovers in the north, rare ducks and mountain birds along Putah Creek, or waterfowl on the valley floor. By February, the birds start to thin out, perhaps because juvenile mortality rates are taking their toll. But February is the best time to focus on gulls, many of which seem to leave the coast and come thru Yolo County. By March, I focus on my garden and watch the newly-arrived Swainson's Hawks tumble overhead... and wait for late April. REPORTING RARE BIRDS The 2019 revision of the Checklist of the Birds of Yolo County introduced rarity codes to provide guidance on what birds to report. Specifically, at a minimum, Code 4 and 5 birds should be reported on local forums quickly (as well as, of course, any species new to the list). Electronic communications evolve, but at the moment birders report on: The email list-serve CentralValleyBirds@groups.io eBird Facebook (Yolo Audubon Society, Birding California, California Rare Birds, and other pages) An informal Yolo County birder's WhatsApp group Code 5 Emperor Goose Trumpeter Swan Garganey Tufted Duck Harlequin Duck Black Scoter Long-tailed Duck Common Nighthawk Chimney Swift Black Rail Common Ringed Plover Hudsonian Godwit Black Turnstone Curlew Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Little Stint Marsh Sandpiper Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Black-legged Kittiwake Little Gull Slaty-backed Gull Least Tern Arctic Tern Black Skimmer Red-throated Loon Pacific Loon Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Wood Stork Little Blue Heron Glossy Ibis Zone-tailed Hawk Snowy Owl Crested Caracara Tropical Kingbird Cassin's Kingbird Eastern Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Vermilion Flycatcher Red-eyed Vireo Clark's Nutcracker Mountain Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Winter Wren Taiga Flycatcher Veery Gray Catbird Curve-billed Thrasher Bohemian Waxwing Citrine Wagtail Red-throated Pipit Common Redpoll Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow Sagebrush Sparrow Bobolink Orchard Oriole Rusty Blackbird Ovenbird Hooded Warbler Magnolia Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Palm Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Code 4 Fulvous Whistling-Duck Surf Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black Swift Costa's Hummingbird Allen's Hummingbird Calliope Hummingbird American Golden-Plover Pacific Golden-Plover Snowy Plover Mountain Plover Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot Ruff Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Sanderling Pectoral Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Red Phalarope Sabine's Gull Franklin's Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Common Tern Common Loon Brown Pelican Northern Goshawk Rough-legged Hawk Flammulated Owl Long-eared Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-naped Sapsucker Least Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Northern Shrike Bell's Vireo Plumbeous Vireo Steller's Jay Chestnut-backed Chickadee Townsend's Solitaire Sage Thrasher Evening Grosbeak Cassin's Finch Lawrence's Goldfinch Lapland Longspur Chestnut-collared Longspur McCown's Longspur Green-tailed Towhee Clay-colored Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Black-chinned Sparrow Lark Bunting Grasshopper Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Baltimore Oriole Northern Waterthrush Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler American Redstart Northern Parula Chestnut-sided Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Summer Tanager Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting

COUNTY LIFE LISTS A life list is simply the total number of species recorded in one's lifetime, in this case, within the boundaries of Yolo County. These numbers below include all ABA species, including these six introduced species: Wild Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasant, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Eurasian Starling, and House Sparrow. These ABA-countable exotics are not established and thus not considered countable in Yolo County: Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Scaly-breasted Munia. Because these numbers are constantly changing, this list will be allowed to constantly change. Please feel free to submit to me your Yolo life list total as often as you see fit. Todd Easterla 346 Andy Engilis 342 Steve Hampton 341 John Sterling 340 John Luther 331 Michael Perrone 330 Frances Oliver 313 Kevin Guse 311 Roger Adamson 297 Fritz Stuerer 293 Emmett Iverson 291 Will Rockey 282 Cliff Hawley 281 Ed Pandolfino 281 Rick Williams 279 Jon King 277 John Kemper 275 Chris Dunford 274 Jason Riggio 274 Ed Harper 273 Ted Beedy 272 Laura Davis 272 Terry Colborn 269 Bart Wickel 269 Louise McCullough 268 Keith Bailey 265 Rich Stallcup 265 Marcel Holyoak 264 Dan Stoebel 264 Jim Lomax 262 Richard Hall 257 Bruce Maxwell 255 Jean Broadhvest 254 Betty Berteaux 253 Roy Carlson 245 Mary Schiedt 243 Sonia Santa Anna 241 Karen Zumwalt 240 Kathy Parker 238 Ed Whisler 236 Bud Widdowson 236 Tim Manolis 235 Dave Johnson 234 Jon Dunn 231 SPECIAL ARTICLES Predicting winter irruptions: Correlating Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, and Red Crossbill winter invasions with previous years' snowfall Spring migration in the Central Valley Fall migration in the Central Valley The decline in Mountain Plovers in two graphs The 2018 flight of the Buff-breasted Sandpipers: Data from the West Coast Birders detect dramatic changes as Davis climate warms The basics of Fox Sparrow identification Why are so many Eurasian Collared-Doves leucistic? How to stop birds from flying into your windows My backyard fountain and the birds that come to it CENTRAL VALLEY BIRD CLUB BULLETIN The Central Valley Bird Club maintains a webpage with past journal articles. While most of the articles are relevant to Yolo County birds, below are direct links to articles with a specific focus on Yolo County. Hampton, 2019. Avian Responses to Rapid Climate Change: Examples from the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count Fogarty and Dunford, 2016. Recent Occurrences and Potential for Establishment of Egyptian Goose and Agapornis Lovebirds in Yolo County, California Brice, 2015. The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area: History, Management and Significance for Birds Hickman and Morrill, 2015. Market Hunting in the Yolo Basin, 1850-1950 Perrone, 2015. Changes in the Status of Bird Species in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in Recent Decades Hampton, 2015. Occurrence of Rare Birds at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Yolo County, California Hampton, 2013. Status of the Iceland Gull at the Yolo County Central Landfill Trochet and Engilis, 2013. Tracy Storer and the Bird Life of Putah Creek in By-gone Days Airola, Hampton, and Brown, 2013. Photo Feature: Identifying Wintering Female Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal in the Central Valley, California Trochet and Engilis, 2010. A Veery Specimen from the Central Valley Hampton, 2010. Passerine Migration Patterns in Davis, Yolo County — 2000-2010 Airola, Hampton, and Manolis, 2007. Effects of West Nile Virus on Sensitive Species in the Lower Sacramento Valley, California: An Evaluation Using Christmas Bird Counts Resseguie, 2007. Nests of Swainson's Hawks in Solano and Yolo Counties Hampton and Yamamoto, 2004. Breeding status of selected open-country species (American Kestrel, Horned Lark, Loggerhead Shrike, and Blue Grosbeak) on the Sacramento Valley floor in Yolo County, California Kent, 2004. A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Yolo and Solano Counties King, 2003. Buff-breasted Sandpiper in Yolo County: first record for the Central Valley Stoebel, 2001. A Long-tailed Jaeger in Yolo County Hampton and Conner, 2000. Managing Shorebird Habitat at a Sacramento Valley Wetland England, 1998. Snowy Plover nesting records from the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Yolo County Easterla, 1998. A first record of Curlew Sandpiper in California's Central Valley Manolis and Webb, 1998. A Rusty Blackbird in Yolo County, California Hampton, 1998. Probable Breeding by Savannah Sparrows in Yolo County, California OTHER LITERATURE Trochet et al., 2017. New and Extralimital Records of Breeding Birds for Putah Creek, California Western Birds 48(3): 154-172.