Davis, CA

Sunday, January 05, 2014

Yolo Basin Notes Jan 5, 2014

Another good outing at Yolo Basin Wetlands today.

Went this AM around 11 or so. Spent about two hours there, driving around, hiking and birdwatching. Here are some of the pics I took while there.

Interesting scene here - a Northern Harrier was chasing an American Bittern that had a crawfish in its mouth.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

#DavisCA lockdown update

The following is a joint communication from the Davis Police Department and Davis Joint Unified School District.

On February 21, 2013, at approximately 10:25 am, the Davis Police Department received a call from administrators at Davis Senior High School reporting a male subject possibly armed with a handgun north of the library parking lot. As a precaution, four schools were placed on lockdown: Davis Senior High School; North Davis Elementary School, St. James Elementary School, and King High School. There is no information to indicate that the subject was ever on any of the campuses in the immediate area. The lockdown lasted approximately 35 minutes.

Officers responded and detained a male subject matching the description provided by the reporting party. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the subject had been in possession of a BB gun, which he discarded prior to police contacting him.

The BB gun was located in the vicinity of where the male subject was detained.

A second subject, who was with the male, was detained as well. Both individuals were released from the scene. Due to the fact that the subject was never on any of the campuses and also never threatened or brandished the BB gun, no criminal charges are being pursued at this time. The Davis Police Department will continue to investigate this incident for any legal recourse. The male subject is described as being in his late teens and not enrolled at any of the schools.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400.

#DavisCA lockdown lifted

Just got this email:

The DHS lockdown has been lifted. I want to thank the students, staff and the Davis Police Department for their immediate and professional response during this time. Again, all of our students are safe.
Winfred Roberson
Superintendent

#DavisCA schools on lockdown 2/21/13

Just got this email and thought I would post

Your students are safe. The district received reports that someone was armed in the vicinity of Oak Avenue and B Streets. The police were summoned and the suspects have been detained. We want to assure parents/guardians all safety protocols are in place and all precautions were taken. DHS, North Davis, King High and DSIS schools were on lockdown and have been released. DHS remains on lockdown pending further investigation. Additional information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.
Winfred Roberson
Superintendent

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Harvard Club of Sacramento outing to Yolo Basin #Birds #Birds #MoreBirds

Had a good outing today with the Harvard Club of Sacramento to Yolo Basin. Some pics and notes are below.

Coots

Geese way way up high

Turkey vulture

Add caption

Good day at Yolo Basin - Birds, Otters and more

I love Yolo Basin Wildlife Area. Only a 5-10 minute drive from Davis or a 20-30 minute bike ride. It is phenomenal. For more about it see the links below:

I drove over there there yesterday as a way of clearing my head after a bit of a rough day the day before. Drove around the gravel roads in the park for a bit and got out a few times to look around.

First sighting of something of interest - off in the distance

A little far away for a good pic - but nice American Kestrel

Kestrel again

Some flowers out

Ruddy duck just off the road

Another ruddy duck

A group of Northern shovelers

More Northern Shovelers

Northern Pintails

Northern Harrier (a lot of Northern things I guess)

Coots (they are everywhere in the park)

Northern shoveler

More pintails

Kingfisher off in the distance

Forster's tern (I think)

And then the best moment - there in front of me, running across the road - river otters. They
caught me by surprise but I got this pic through my windshield. Six of them in total.

I went to where they crossed and looked around for 3-4 minutes
and saw nothing. As I was getting ready to go I saw
some rippling in the water. And then ..

One crossed the road.

And off to the other side.

There was a little trail of water in the road.

And then another crossed.

And another

And off into the bushes to the water.

And they then hung out clicking at each other and maybe at me.

They had left a little gift by the side of the road.

I kept watching

And then I realized maybe they were waiting for the other three. So
I backed away and looked across in the water on the other side and there they were.