All,

First, the Common Ringed Plover at the Davis Wetlands appears to have moved on. 
Also, the shorebird habitat is drying up. (The westernmost pond at the Davis
Wastewater Treatment Plant looks like it will be good for shorebirds soon,
though.)

The Davis Wetlands is open 7am-1pm MONDAYS ONLY from Sept 1 (tomorrow) thru Feb
15. This was the arrangement when the acquisition was made because hunting
occurs on adjacent lands. Note that dove hunting season starts tomorrow.

On a related note, the EASTERN KINGBIRD just found by Mary Schiedt at the Yolo
Bypass Wildlife Area (Yolo's first in 38 years!) will also be in a closed
section starting tomorrow. The kingbird might be viewed from the east levee of
the East Toe Drain, presumably accessed from the end of Marshall in West Sac and
walking south. I've never done that before, but I have accessed it just north
of there before.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax

As of 10:00 AM when I left the Davis Wetlands, the Common Ringed Plover had not
been seen today.

Dan Strait
Roseville, CA

--- In CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com, "Tiwari, Vivek"  wrote:
>
> Have not seen any reports come through today (8/27).
> Is the bird still being seen?
>
> Sun AM (8/28) is the only chance I have to get up there so hoping that it was
seen today.
>
> Thanks for any updates - positive or negative.
>
> Vivek Tiwari
> Sunnyvale, CA
>

I just talked to Todd. He saw it at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (aka Vic
Fazio W.A.) this evening. He watched it fly to the south, but?.it could easily
return, so you should look in the morning there. Perhaps it may even reappear
at the Davis Wetlands?

John Sterling

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

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

On Aug 26, 2011, at 7:34 PM, Matthew Dodder wrote:

> Folks,
>
> Has anyone seen the Common Ringed Plover at the Davis Wetlands since
> this morning?
> I'm hoping to make the trip tomorrow morning.
>
> Thanks in advance for any word of the bird this afternoon/evening.
>
> . . .
>
> Matthew Dodder
> Mountain View, CA
> http://www.birdguy.net
> http://www.zazzle.com/mdodder
>
> 

Folks,

Has anyone seen the Common Ringed Plover at the Davis Wetlands since
this morning?
I'm hoping to make the trip tomorrow morning.

Thanks in advance for any word of the bird this afternoon/evening.

. . .

Matthew Dodder
Mountain View, CA
http://www.birdguy.net
http://www.zazzle.com/mdodder

Hi Birders-

The Common Ringed Plover was still at the Davis Wetlands this morning, in view
from 7am to 8:20 when I left. Lots of birders there from all over.

Dave Weber,
Milpitas

I drove all night from the WFO conference in Arizona and was relieved to see
that the Common Ringed Plover was still at the Davis Wetlands in Yolo County. 
Todd had called me moments after he found the bird so I was a bit nervous about
missing it, knowing that it would have to stick around until this morning. Was
able to get a few photos and share the bird with quite a few fellow birders.

Thanks again Todd for finding and documenting such an amazing bird!

PS Todd had called me on Thursday night and said that he was going to find the
best shorebird ever found in the Central Valley on Friday?..and he actually
did!!!!!

We may schedule another shorebird workshop for September 10-11 if there is
enough interest.

John

John Sterling

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

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

Since no one else has posted an update thought I'd let folks know that Todd
Easterla's awesome find is still present in the same location for a fourth day.
Take county road 28H to the end, sign in and the yellow gate is open til 1 p.m.
The bird was in the drying up pond on the south side of the Auto Tour road just
before it takes the last right turn back to the start when I was leaving around
9 a.m.
Just look for all the birders.
Thanks Mr. Easterla!!

Dominik Mosur
San Francisco

Sent from my iPhone

Plover is present this morning...

Scott Smithson

On Aug 20, 2011, at 11:42 PM, "tertial" <shampton@...> wrote:

> Today an apparent COMMON RINGED PLOVER was being seen at the Davis Wetlands in
Yolo County. The bird was found yesterday by Todd Easterla and confirmed today.
>
> My photos are posted at
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/7202050@N04/
>
> A photo showing the wingbar was posted by Sonny Mencher at
> http://www.flickr.com//photos/sonnyjeff/sets/72157627480583106/
>
> Todd Easterla has additional photos, including showing lack of webbing between
the inner toes.
>
> The bird was also heard, but alas, was silent during 45 minutes of audio
recording.
>
> The Davis Wetlands are open daily 7am to 1pm at the west end of Rd 28H ne of
Davis. Drive past the red gate and the yellow gate (which will be latched, but
not locked, during these hours).
>
> An adult RUFF was also present.
>
> good birding,
>
> Steve Hampton
> Davis, CA
>
>

Today an apparent COMMON RINGED PLOVER was being seen at the Davis Wetlands in
Yolo County. The bird was found yesterday by Todd Easterla and confirmed today.

My photos are posted at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7202050@N04/

A photo showing the wingbar was posted by Sonny Mencher at
http://www.flickr.com//photos/sonnyjeff/sets/72157627480583106/

Todd Easterla has additional photos, including showing lack of webbing between
the inner toes.

The bird was also heard, but alas, was silent during 45 minutes of audio
recording.

The Davis Wetlands are open daily 7am to 1pm at the west end of Rd 28H ne of
Davis. Drive past the red gate and the yellow gate (which will be latched, but
not locked, during these hours).

An adult RUFF was also present.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

Today an apparent COMMON RINGED PLOVER was being seen at the Davis Wetlands in
Yolo County. The bird was found yesterday by Todd Easterla and confirmed today.

My photos are posted at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7202050@N04/

A photo showing the wingbar was posted by Sonny Mencher at
http://www.flickr.com//photos/sonnyjeff/sets/72157627480583106/

Todd Easterla has additional photos, including showing lack of webbing between
the inner toes.

The bird was also heard, but alas, was silent during 45 minutes of audio
recording.

The Davis Wetlands are open daily 7am to 1pm at the west end of Rd 28H ne of
Davis. Drive past the red gate and the yellow gate (which will be latched, but
not locked, during these hours).

An adult RUFF was also present.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

Hi All,

NO Doubt about the Common Ringed Plover at the city of Davis Wetlands!

First I have to apologize for this late post but I just got home fifteen
minutes ago as some of my birding friends and I had a celebratory dinner
(Thanks Mathew M.). The cell phone coverage is horrible out there so that is
one of the reasons that I could not call the NOR CAL-RBA until later
tonight. I thought others would have posted it earlier in the day but no one
did.

We were able to hear the bird around 9:30 AM clearly give its POOOH-EEE type
call and I heard it intermittently throughout the day. My self and others
were able to get some descent photos of the inner toes lack of webbing and
very limited on the outer web, and we were able to compare this field mark
with several nearby Semipalmated Plovers more noticeable toe webbing.

The bird is very striking as it is an alternate plumaged male and very easy
to pick out due to its obvious white (Nike Swoosh) above the eye that flared
out nicely, the very wide breast band, dark face and loral line to the gape
of the lower mandible. The bill was longer and somewhat thinner based than
the Semipalmated's, with good looks. The bill and legs are very orange in
appearance compared to all the male Semipalmated Plovers present today. The
bird is noticelably bigger than any of the Semipalmated Plovers and slightly
longer looking posteriorly. The white forhead wrapped around almost to the
eye. The eye ring was blackish most of the time unlike the Semipalmated's
more yellowy/orange color.

The wetalnds open at 7AM and close promptly at 1PM. Please follow all of the
directions and check in at the kiosk first.

Thanks and GOOD LUCK!

Todd Easterla

From: CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of jfholmes@...
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2011 5:59 PM
To: CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CALBIRDS] Common Ringed Plover

I have gotten a couple of emails about the identification of this bird since
it is far from straightforward.

From what I saw in the field it looks consistent with Ringed Plover. I have
seen plenty.

It is an alternate plumage bird, perhaps male(?) . The dark breast band is
very broad and this combined with a slightly lighter brown back color made
it surprisingly easy to pick out from the Semi Plovers.

In addition, the white supercillium was long and extended quite far. The
dark lores extended to/below the gape. The orbital ring was dark. My only
concern was that I could not discern differences in bill size between it and
the Semi Plovers. I never heard it call but people did and said it was
consistent with Ringed.

I believe people have photos showing these characteristics and the feet/
lack of webbing.

I think it is very likely California's first Ringed Plover. Once people get
good studies of the photos on computer screens we should know for sure.

Hope this helps those trying to decide to chase on Sunday.

Jim Holmes

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

----- Reply message -----
From: "jfholmes@...  "
<jfholmes@...  >
Date: Sat, Aug 20, 2011 1:39 pm
Subject: [CALBIRDS] Common Ringed Plover
To: <CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com  >

Trying to send again.

Found yesterday by Todd Easterla. Present all Saturday morning.

At the Davis Wetlands. Southcentral part of wastewater lagoon. Open 7am-1pm

Good luck,

Jim Holmes

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

----- Reply message -----
From: "Sally Walters & Don Schmoldt" <BajaOwl@...>
Date: Fri, Aug 19, 2011 10:29 pm
Subject: [CALBIRDS] birders SongFinder 4 sale
To: <CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com>

Todd Easterla found an adult LITTLE STINT at the Davis Wetlands just before
closing today. Photos to follow.

The Davis Wetlands are open daily 7am to 1pm, access via the east end of Rd 28H
(ne of Davis) at the end of the long driveway to the Davis Wastewater Treatment
Plant. Go past the treatment plant entrance to the yellow gate. It will be
latched, but not locked, from 7am to 1pm.

For more information and a map of the wetlands, see:
http://cityofdavis.org/pw/water/wetlands.cfm

The bird is with other peeps in the southeast corner of Tract 2, which is in the
southwest corner of the complex. The auto loop will take you clockwise around
the Wastewater Pond and Tracts 6 and 7. Park around the southwest corner of the
loop and then walk south past Stormwater Pond to Pond 2.

An adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was also present.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

(sorry for cross-posting)

All,

Yesterday, Todd Easterla and others found a number of excellent gulls
at the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is ne of Davis at the
corner of Rds 28H and 105. Highlights:

1 apparent 1st year "Glaucoides" ICELAND GULL (1st county and perhaps
3rd or 4th state record, although I'm not sure the CBRC tracks
subspecies)
1 apparent 1st year "Kumlien's" ICELAND GULL (regular here)
1 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1st county record)
1 potential adult VEGA GULL
1 very pale 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL
3 adult and 1 1st year WESTERN GULL (rare locally)

The location also has hundreds of THAYER'S and GL-W GULLS and many GL-
W x HERRING hybrids.

Todd posted photos of the Glaucoides and the LBBG at CalGulls Yahoo
group. Look for the Feb 12 date on the folders.

All of the gulls were viewed from Rd 28H along the driveway into the
treatment plant. Be sure to pull as far to the side of the road as
possible, as trucks use this road.

Access into the treatment plant is allowed. You must sign in at the
office and then you can walk all around the ponds-- however, this
would flush the gulls, so it's best to stay on the road.

Access to the adjacent Yolo County Landfill, where the birds feed, is
VERY sensitive (and muddy). This should only be done in coordination
with local birders who know the staff there and know the property.

The birds typically roost on the treatment plant levees, with numbers
building thru the day, so best in the afternoon. With south winds,
which we expect with the current storms, the birds move to the south
end (close to Rd 28H) seemingly to avoid the wind fetch across the
ponds. The LBBG was very close to the road. With north winds, they go
to the north side, which is too far from the road for satisfactory
views and requires entering the plant.

The Davis Wetlands are adjacent as well-- just continue east thru the
yellow gate. The gate is closed but not locked during open hours
(daily 7am to 1pm); sign in at the kiosk next to the gate.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
Davis, CA

(sorry for cross-posting)

All,

Yesterday, Todd Easterla and others found a number of excellent gulls at the
Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant. This is ne of Davis at the corner of Rds 28H
and 105. Highlights:

1 apparent 1st year "Glaucoides" ICELAND GULL (1st county and perhaps 3rd or 4th
state record)
1 apparent 1st year "Kumlien's" ICELAND GULL (regular here)
1 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (1st county record)
1 potential adult VEGA GULL
1 very pale 1st year GLAUCOUS GULL
3 adult and 1 1st year WESTERN GULL (rare locally)

The location also has hundreds of THAYER'S and GL-W GULLS and many GL-W x
HERRING hybrids.

Todd posted photos of the Glaucoides and the LBBG at CalGulls Yahoo group. Look
for the Feb 12 date on the folders.

All of the gulls were viewed from Rd 28H along the driveway into the treatment
plant. Be sure to pull as far to the side of the road as possible, as trucks
use this road.

Access into the treatment plant is allowed. You must sign in at the office and
then you can walk all around the ponds-- however, this would flush the gulls, so
it's best to stay on the road.

Access to the adjacent Yolo County Landfill, where the birds feed, is VERY
sensitive (and muddy). This should only be done in coordination with local
birders who know the staff there and know the property.

The birds typically roost on the treatment plant levees, with numbers building
thru the day, so best in the afternoon. With south winds, which we expect with
the current storms, the birds move to the south end (close to Rd 28H) seemingly
to avoid the wind fetch across the ponds. The LBBG was very close to the road. 
With north winds, they go to the north side, which is too far from the road for
satisfactory views and requires entering the plant.

The Davis Wetlands are adjacent as well-- just continue east thru the yellow
gate. The gate is closed but not locked during open hours (daily 7am to 1pm);
sign in at the kiosk next to the gate.

good birding,

Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax

Calbirders-

I posted a similar message from work yesterday, but don't know if it worked, so
I'll try once more.

The Northern Shrike was at Davis Wetlands Thurs AM. It flew south out of tract 7
onto the west levee of tract 5. Will Wilson and I watched it for about 40
minutes until 9 AM. A dozen others showed up but the bird was temporarily
vanished when we left.

Hope someone saw it.

Dave Weber,
Milpitas.

Hi Calbirders-

Just want to report that the Northern Shrike was present this morning
at the Davis Wetlands in Yolo County. Yesterday it was seen on tract
7. Today at 8:20 AM I, and Will Wilson, found it flying south out of
tract 7 into tract 5, where it frequented the levee which runs north-
south down the middle of the tract or else is the west edge of the
tract.

Good luck
Dave Weber,
Milpitas

At the Davis Wetlands in Yolo County, where Blue-winged Teal are regular
year-round, I too have seen, in the past month, these female-type birds
with pale blurry crescents on the face. They are present at the same
time as regular females and regular plumage males. I was wondering if
they could be first year males, slow moulting males, or females of some
stripe.

Steve Hampton
________________
Resource Economist
Office of Spill Prevention and Response
California Dept of Fish and Game
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
-----------------------------------
(916) 323-4724 phone
(916) 324-8829 fax

>>> "Bruce Deuel" <bdeuel@...> 12/10/02 09:03AM >>>
Les's report of the eclipse male Blue-winged Teal prompts me to follow
through on my thought to query the group (s) about this. I saw birds
in
essentially female plumage, but with prominent white crescents in the
face at both Gray Lodge and Sacramento NWR this weekend. Maybe it's
because I don't live where Blue-wings commonly winter, but I had never
seen this plumage this late in the year before. Sibley's guide
indicates males should be in full adult looking plumage by now, also.
Is this just a gap in my experience, or are these birds somewhat
unusual?

Cheers,
Bruce Deuel
Redding

>>> Les Chibana <les@...> 12/09/02 10:21PM >>>
Thanks to all who responded to my RFI for these areas.

My group had a great time this weekend. Saturday's warm weather was
unreal! We had similar sightings as reported by Bruce Deuel from SNWR
and GLWA. The evening fly out at SNWR in the relatively clear Saturday
twilight was incredible.

At SNWR, we had AMERICAN WHITE-PELICANs, a few WHITE-FACED IBIS,
4 blue morph SNOW GEESE, one EURASIAN WIGEON, one eclipse male
BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and the adult BALD EAGLE stirring up waterfowl.

TUNDRA SWAN were along Z Road near the Llano Seco Unit, SANDHILL
CRANE were along the Colusa-Gridley Rd. west of Butler Rd.

At the Colusa Refuge, there were at least 4 EURASIAN WIGEON and
several LESSER SCAUP. A birder/hunter mentioned that there was also
a HOODED MERGANSER and a Eurasian race GREEN-WINGED TEAL in the
ponds by the entrance.

As mentioned by several people, the diving duck numbers were low,
indicated in the survey numbers at the SNWR headquarters.

Near the Road 14 (Zamora) exit off Hwy 505, we saw a GOLDEN EAGLE,
a BALD EAGLE, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK and 2 BURROWING OWLs. When
I stopped here on Friday, 12/6/02, I saw a dark morph male and a light
morph female ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK, a PRAIRIE
FALCON and a MERLIN.

Les
--
Les Chibana
BirdNUTZ(TM) - Ornigasmic Birding
em <les@...> - web <http://www.birdnutz.com>
ph 650-949-4335 - fx 650-949-4137
snailmail: SR 2, Box 335, La Honda CA 94020

Central Valley Birds[CVBirds]messages are searchable and archived at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/central_valley_birds/messages.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Central Valley Birds[CVBirds]messages are searchable and archived at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/central_valley_birds/messages.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

...a couple of exciting upcoming events.

Please join Yolo Audubon and the CVBC in Davis on August 10th for an
outing that will focus on the region's migratory waterbirds,
Swainson's hawks, and wetlands; an outstanding list of speakers are
scheduled for this full day event which promises to be fun and
educational (the agenda is posted at the bottom of this e-mai).

The Central Valley birding Symposium is scheduled for November 21-24
in Stockton. This year's agenda is once again outstanding! Featured
speakers will include Kevin Karlson, Shawneen Finnegan, and Ed
Harper. Workshop and day programs will be presented by Jon Dunn
(gulls), Kimball Garrett(warblers), Andy Engilis (bird specimens),
John Robinson (computer programs for birders), Kelley Sorenson
(Condor Recovery), and Keith Hansen (bird sketching).

Hope to see you there,

Leo

Yolo County 10 August 2002

Agenda for August 10th - Davis Wetlands Trip

Join CVBC and Yolo Audubon on August 10th for a birding day
concentrating on shorebirds and other wetland birds. We will meet in
Davis at 7:30 am at the Burger King on Mace Boulevard at I-80. We
will spend the morning visiting local hot spots, such as the City of
Davis Wetlands and Yolo Basin Wildlife Area, along with flooded
alfalfa fields. Besides migrating shorebirds there should be
concentrations of Swainson's hawks, whit-faced ibis, herons, and
egrets.

After grabbing lunch, we will regroup from 2 to 5pm at the Yolo Basin
Wildlife Area Headquarters on East Chiles Road for presentations and
dessert. Topics include water, shorebird, and ibis distribution in
the Central Valley in late summer (Dave Shuford), Swainson's Hawk
clustering and foraging in late summer (Jim Estep), the expanding
Yolo Basin Wildlife Area (David Feliz/Mary Schiedt), and a look at
the birds of the City of Davis Wetlands (John McNerney). We'll
finish off the day with a CVBC Board Meeting.