[Caudawg]

I live in the north east Elk Grove area and saw numerous flights of specks heading north last week. I am way off the flyway so it was quite a surprise to see these flights almost daily last week.

Anyone else notice flights like these? Are they headed back to Canada?

 

[Spoony]

I also live in Elk Grove. During the past several nights I have been woken up several times between 1:30 am and 3:30 am by low flying Specks! I have seen a bunch crowded in what little water is left @ the Consumnes area off of twin city road and I-5.
Specks are the last geese to reach the breading grounds and they are the first to leave the breading grounds... Busy Birds! to say the least. :thumbsup:

 

[Spoony]

Oh yea, I think Elk grove is part of a small flyway, We have the Stone lake refuge next to us and the Consumnes area South of us.(which holds thousands of waterfowl!) I see Lots of snows, specks, and sandhills flying over my house on a regular basis.

 

[Caudawg]

I live east of Bradshaw off of Vineyard and that is pretty far east of those preserves. I have seen a flock of specks every now and then but to see 8-10 flocks in a week was a first.

I am also seeing more local honkers than ever before. It's a nice trend unless you are a golfer.

This time of year is great! The mallards are doing their wacky hen chasing everywhere you go. I think the local mallard population is growing nicely.

Turkeys are also showing up in area I have never seen them. What on earth is happening? I love it!

 

[J Fromm]

I live in the north east Elk Grove area and saw numerous flights of specks heading north last week. I am way off the flyway so it was quite a surprise to see these flights almost daily last week.

Anyone else notice flights like these? Are they headed back to Canada?

Most of the pacific flyway specks breed in Alaska.

 

[Artois]

Sure alot more than usual in Glenn County for the end of April. I think they saw the farmers dropping rice on their fields and thought:

Hey, they'll feed us if we say around long enough. :smile:

Seriously though, they are poising a pretty big problem stomping down freshly flooded/planted fields. In some cases, yields will go down appreciably.

 

[Fieldstomp]

I live in Elk Grove and seen and heard those flocks lately also. I agree with Spoony in that there's a Stone Lakes/So. Sac Co. flyway. It's late and I think it'll stay that way through the next years. The rice is planted earlier in the north and they'll stay and feed as long as they can. Their northern breeding areas are getting crowded and they may feel there's no rush to get up there when it's still good down here. My .02 cents. Maybe we'll get a late season speck hunt like the cak's!