Date: 4/16/26 9:36 pm From: John Fulton via groups.io <merced_birding...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] Garganeys reported in Merced County
Steve Johnston photographed a male Garganey Monday 4/13. It has not been seen since despite intensive searches by at least a half dozen experienced birders. Steve is retired from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and has been a longtime volunteer at the San Luis NWR complex where he has given birding tours and talks. I have found him reliable. I also know several of the chasers. They are all, without exception, excellent reliable careful observers.
As Chris said, there was more habitat on Monday. The ponds are all being drained. The numbers of Blue Winged teal at the Hollister Club dropped on Wednesday from 14 down to 4. The numbers of GWFG increased to well over 100 as the geese grazed on the sprouting vegetation on/in the drying ponds. Dale Swanburg reported seeing 140 Hudsonian Whimbrels. There was one field with 62 Swainson's Hawks following an alfalfa swather.
The pin placement on the original post, as previously noted, may not be accurate. I do not know where exactly Steve saw the Garganey. The report says Gun Club Rd but the pin is a ahlf mile south of that road and is 5 wiles west of the Santa Fe Grade and the Hollister Club. There is not any wetland habitat at the pin placement. The best wetland habitat on Gun Club Rd is to the east of Santa Fe Grade, over 5 miles away from the pin. The multitude of duck clubs along Santa Fe Grade include some resident caretakers' homes. Some of them may raise exotic waterfowl which may escape or be released from time to time.
If I see the Garganey, I will report it on eBird and let somebody else determine the provenance.
