The following photographs and descriptions are of rare and unusual birds found in the Central Valley. If you have photographs of rare birds recently found in the Central Valley that you would like to contribute, please contact Leo Edson at leoedsonathotmail.com

Click on photos to enlarge.


(1) Third calendar-year (second-winter) Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus with California Gulls L. californicus, at Yolo County Central Landfill, 14 January 2003 © Jon R. King. This bird was first seen at the Landfill on 1 January 2003, and then again on 14 January both at the landfill and at City of Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant. In this image, all the classic features of second-winter Glaucous Gull are obvious: overall pale buffish cream plumage, off-white primary tips, pale whitish iris, long and straight pink bill with broad black subterminal band, and chunky structure with solid head, neck and chest.


(2)The same bird as above, with adult American Herring Gulls Larus argentatus smithsonianus in front and behind, and a first-year Glaucous-winged Gull L. glaucescens to the right. Note the huge size of the Glaucous Gull compared to the other species (strongly suggesting this bird is a male).


(3)Adult Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus surrounded mainly by American Herring Gulls Larus argentatus smithsonianus, at Yolo County Central Landfill, 18 January 2003 © Jon R. King. This bird was found at the landfill on 26 December 2001. Note the white primary tips, the very pale grey upperparts, the rather ‘front-heavy’ structure, the clear pale yellow iris, and weak brownish head smudging (unlike the darker, heavier streaking of the American Herring Gulls).

PLEASE NOTE: the Yolo County Central Landfill has no public access for general birding. However, with a telescope, many gulls can be seen from Road 28 about 0.5 mile east of Road 104, and many are also seen at the oxidation ponds of the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant just east of the landfill.