July 1, 2004
Davis Wetlands and Yolo Bypass
My colleague Caz is hoping to start work on a project modelling Western Sandpiper movements, and when the first reports of returning migrants appeared on Central Valley Birds yesterday, she didn't need much persuading to head out to the wetlands! Our first stop today was the City of Davis Wetlands. Hundreds of swallows were already gathering on the wires around the treatment ponds, including my first US Bank Swallows (aka Sand Martins). Unfortunately both birds I tried to photograph decided to preen at exactly the wrong moment. The diagnostic breast band is just about visible in the first photo, and the size difference between the larger Cliff and Tree Swallows and the smaller Bank Swallow is hopefully apparent.
In spite of a wealth of suitable shoreline, we failed to locate any migrant shorebirds (though I had a flock of 15 very distant peeps flying off). Instead we had to content ourselves with the resident Avocets and Stilts.
Other birds of interest here included Clark's Grebe, several Redhead and White Pelicans, and one drake each of Goldeneye, American Wigeon and Lesser Scaup. Huge numbers of dragonflies were swarming over the road, inlcuding this fine Variegated Meadowhawk.
The Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area was much quieter, with very little in the way of suitable shorebird habitat (though I believe this is soon to change). Highlight was probably a first-summer male Blue Grosbeak, a life bird for Caz and a plumage tick for me!
Posted by rjhall at July 1, 2004 8:10 PM