Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley.
| www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
P. DeBenedetti
1969
Aug. 8.
Sacramento Valley near Davis, Yolo Co., Calif.
Left Berkeley c. 4:30 A.M. and went with Art Wang and Marie Mans out U.S. 40 to St. Rt. 115, then to Woodlands, + east on St. Rt. 6 to Elkhorn Ferry, and out c. 1.8 miles to a spot where some Valley Oaks adjoin the river vegetation and spent about 2 hrs looking at land birds.
There were a number of migrants here, in groups of 3-6 birds which stayed together fairly well. None sang, but most gave an assortment of call notes, including a sharp "chip", a buzz (short, trilling-like), and a very species specific call. One Western Flycatcher gave a position note + the sharp "cheep" note was frequently heard.
The Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen very well as it flew from the river vegetation into the adjoining observers thread to Elkhorn Ferry; I heard no Cuckoo sound but Marie was chasing its calls shortly before I saw it. Only Bifurcated-sided Towhees sang, and many juveniles were seen.
The Two ?Zonitichl's flew into a tree landed briefly, then were lost. Forked tails, faintly streaked below, dull bill - largeish sparrow, wing bars seen but not crown or back, looked late perhaps yg. White-crowns. Burlock's Orioles both imm., but several ? hazeli Buntings were seen.
From here about 8:15 we went back to 16 towards Sacramento c. 2 miles + stopped at two pullout on the E side of this road, and looked for land birds here. Migrants were not as numerous, and in larger groups. Hazeli Bunting and White-headed Nuttall's sang. One of the Western Flycatchers looked very large but not differently colored. Art shot a