Despite (and to some degree because of) travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a lot of bird observation was happening--much from near home and some a little farther afield. The male Eurasian Green-winged Teal continued through at least 4/3 at the Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on the Lost Slough Wetlands. Band-tailed Pigeon reports included one from a Wilton yard on 4/19 and two flying on the west side of Lake Natoma on 4/24. Unprecedented numbers of Calliope Hummingbird reports came in this April (eBird checklist) with at least 18 distinct individuals reported from Sacramento County alone.
A Golden-Plover not identified to species was among hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers on 4/7 at the Robben Rd Ponds southeast of Dixon. Good numbers of shorebirds were reported at CRP, highlighted by 145 Semipalmated Plovers on 4/22. A Semipalmated Sandpiper, very rare for spring (and perhaps the first for Sacramento County in spring) was found at CRP on 4/25. On 4/14, a Stilt Sandpiper was reported among good numbers of other shorebirds (eBird checklist), including five Willets, and a Marbled Godwit at the Woodland WTP. Solitary Sandpipers were found at CRP on 4/14 and 4/20 and at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) from 4/16-19. A winnowing flight display by two Wilson's Snipe at the marsh at the end of Payen Rd, just into El Dorado County, was a nice surprise on 4/12. The only two Least Bittern reports came from the Cache Creek Wild Wings Park on 4/12 and YBWA on 4/27. A possible Glossy Ibis was seen at YBWA on 4/11.
Nesting Bald Eagles are increasing locally, and now include a nest with a chick at the Tall Forest portion of CRP. A Northern Pygmy-Owl was an excellent find on 4/17 at a private ranch in southeastern Sacramento County. One of the biggest surprises was a Long-eared Owl photographed as it was being harassed by crows in the Curtis Park neighborhood of Sacramento on the late date of 4/29. A Hairy Woodpecker was found on the east side of Lake Natoma on 4/21 where they have been found in recent years. There were impressive numbers of rare to uncommon empids reported, including Hammond's, Gray, and Dusky flycatchers; many of the reports came from sites along the upper portion of the American River Parkway, such as Sailor Bar. A Plumbeous Vireo was reported at Willowbank Ditch in Davis on 4/15. On a busy morning for migrants along Putah Creek near Fishing Access #1 on 4/18, an American Dipper was a nice surprise, especially so late in the season. A Townsend's Solitaire was found at the Old Fellows section of the Sacramento City Cemetery on 4/21, and there was a flurry of reports of Red-breasted Nuthatches from multiple sites toward the end of the month. There were continued reports of good numbers of Chipping Sparrows, such as along the upper ARP, and an impressive 25 were found over a long day at a private ranch in southeastern Sacramento County on 4/17; a Brewer's Sparrow was found on the same visit. Single Brewer's Sparrows were also reported on Meiss Rd on 4/16 (eBird checklist) and 4/26. While good numbers of regular species were reported, there were no unexpected warblers detected this April.
The Sacramento Area is roughly defined as lying between Hwy 20 to the north, Hwy 12 to the south, and the 1000-foot contour to the east and west, plus all of Sacramento and Yolo Counties. Many reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club listserve and in eBird. It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Elliot Chasin, Leo Edson, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Desiree Haight, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Will Hemstrom, James Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Jeri Langham, Michael Perrone, Linda Pittman, Steve Scott, Mark Stephenson, Craig Swolgaard, John Trochet, Bart Wickel, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.