The Yolo Audubon Society will offer a field trip to observe migrating birds on Sunday. Fall migration starts early for shorebirds, and by now thousands of juveniles will be winging their way south from the Arctic slope or the Great Basin, stopping to refuel on the mudflats around Davis.

Whether they are western or least sandpipers, semipalmated plovers, long-billed dowitchers or perhaps a marbled godwit or Baird’s sandpiper, they’ll be joining resident American avocets and black-necked stilts to create a spectacular avian mosaic, a news release said. Yolo County records more than 30 species of shorebirds annually; last year featured a common ringed plover and a little stint. Interesting gulls, terns, ibises and other wetland species may figure in as well.

The trip leader is Steve Hampton. The destination is dependent on water levels, but candidates include the city of Davis wetlands, Farmer’s Central Pond in Woodland and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.

The group will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Mace Boulevard park-and-ride lot just north of Interstate 80. The trip will last approximately three hours. Participants should bring water and sun protection (there is no shade), and a scope if they have one. There may be some walking on flat terrain.

To learn more about the Yolo Audubon Society and future events, visit yoloaudubon.org.

Comments

comments