Rare Sighting Of Bird Has People Flocking To Davis

DAVIS (CBS13) - There has been a rare sighting of a bird never seen before in California, and now people from all over are flocking to Davis for a firsthand look.

Bird watcher Todd Easterla gets excited every time he plays back the sound. "That's it that just called. That's it that just called," he said as he listened to his recording.

That's it all right. It's the common ringed plover.

For Easterla, it's just about the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. The only other time he's been this proud? "I'd say when my kids were born. That's about it," he said.

The discovery is not just a first in the city of Davis' wetlands, it's the first time the common ringed plover has been spotted in the state of California.

"This is the bird we came to see. The first California record of the common ringed plover," said Easterla.

How rare is the sighting? It's only the fourth time it's been spotted in the lower 48 states.

Easterla talked about the first time he saw the bird.

"Right there, I was like, 'Oh gosh, I gotta get my camera,'" he said.

He has the images, but up until today, he hadn't recorded the sound.

"It just called, that tweet -- that's it," said Easterla.

We were rolling to capture the rare bird's call. For bird lovers, this is more than a homerun; it's like winning the World Series. It's a first of its kind found in our own backyard.