Migrating shorebirds will be the stars of a public tour of the city of Davis wetlands on Saturday, Sept. 3. Community members are invited to experience the first hints of fall in the wetlands with docents from the Yolo Basin Foundation.

The free tour — the first afternoon tour of the season — runs from 3 to 5 p.m.

September signals the beginning of migration for many birds. Since its completion in 1998, the city wetlands northeast of Davis has provided habitat for a variety of wildlife, including thousands of migrating shorebirds.

Some of the commonly observed shorebirds seen at the wetlands are least sandpipers, greater yellowlegs and long-billed dowitchers. More recently, the wetlands has attracted several unexpected visitors. One such recent rarity is the common ringed plover.

Similar in appearance to the more common semipalmated plover, the adult common ringed plover, is a small, dark gray-brown plover, with white under parts, a black mask and a distinct black chest band.

In its North America range, the common ringed plover breeds near the coasts of Greenland, Baffin Island and Ellesmere Island. Occasionally, it is seen as a spring migrant to the Aleutian Islands.

“The opportunity to observe the common ringed plover in the Davis wetlands is exceptional and such a sighting is always unpredictable,” a Yolo Basin Foundation spokeswoman said in a news release.

All those wishing to join the tour should meet a few minutes before 3 p.m. at the gate in front of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, east of the Yolo County Landfill on County Road 28H. Participants should take their own binoculars, water (there is no potable water on site) and field guide. Docents will have spotting scopes to enhance wildlife viewing.

Most of the tour is by car on firm gravel roads, with a couple of optional short walks in the wetlands. A portable toilet is available on the route. Tours run rain or shine.

To reach the wastewater treatment station, head north from Davis on Pole Line Road, turn right on Road 28H and go 3 miles east, just past County Road 105. The group meets at the gate east of the intersection.

This is a free tour; no reservations are required. For more information, call Heidi Satter at (530) 757-4828 before the day of the tour, or visit the Yolo Basin Foundation website at www.yolobasin.org.

The Yolo Basin Foundation works in cooperation with the city of Davis to offer the Davis wetlands tours. Yolo Basin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the appreciation and stewardship of wetlands and wildlife through education and innovative partnerships.

CommonRingedPloverW

The extremely rare common ringed plover visited the city of Davis wetlands earlier this month. John Sterling/Courtesy photo

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