1979 Ronald L. Mumme Journal CALIFORNIA, Contra Costa and Sutter Counties 6 Jan David Winkler led me on an exceptional Birding extravaganza. We started early in the AM in some flooded fields in Contra Costa Co., where I saw 1 Whistling Swan, plus several Glaucous-winged and Thayer's Gulls. Herrings, California, and Ring-billed Gulls were also present, so I got a lot of good practice with #wmm gulls. Thayer's have a more rounded head and darker eye than Herring Gulls. Cinnamon Teal (1 ♂, 3 ♀♀) were also present. Also saw Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Water Pipit, Western Meadowlark, Savannah Sparrow, plus an imm. Broad-winged Hawk nearby. We then headed north up the Central Valley, and after stopping at Davis folks' house, we drove up toward Gray Lodge NWR. Enroute saw incredible numbers of Red-tailed Hawks (very abundant!) and Kestrels, plus 1 White-tailed Kite. Around Sutter Buttes we saw about 30 Lewis Woodpeckers (very gregarious, "groups" of 5 and 10 in very localized areas. Very slow, crow-like flight, flycatching) plus one Prairie Falcon soaring with Red-tails and Turkey Vultures. Gray Lodge was incredible. About 150,000 Snow Geese, 10,000 Ross' Geese, 3 "Blue Geese" 15 white-fronted geese, 75 Canada Geese (plus about 5,000 that flew overhead near Sutter