May is one of the most exciting times of year for birding, especially the first ten days of the month, with shorebird numbers still good (though rapidly tapering off), and perhaps the very peak of songbird migration. As compared with fall (and late summer) migration, spring songbird migration can come through in just a few quick bursts. This didn't turn out to be a rarity-laden month, but there were still excellent, and some astounding, numbers of migrant songbirds. Redheads are quite rare in the region, but the Woodland WTP is the local stronghold (eBird checklist S110744062), with a high of 30 individuals reported this month. Remarkably, the Long-tailed Duck found last November near the Nimbus Hatchery continued to 5/10. The only Common Poorwill reported was along Rayhouse Rd in Yolo County on 5/13. A male Allen's Hummingbird was photographed at a private residence on 5/8 to the southwest of Clarksburg (eBird checklist S109413002).
The only somewhat unusual shorebird of the period was a Snowy Plover along Desmond Rd at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 5/1. There were continuing good numbers of uncommon migrant Empidonax flycatchers (eBird.org checklist S109052114), especially, Hammond's, but also Dusky and Gray flycatchers in the first half of the month, with multiple Willow Flycatcher reports in the second half of the month; the latter are much easier to find in August and September, while the former three are much easier to find, though still not easy, in April and early May. CRP was the site of some outstanding counts for several species. On a survey of the Tall Forest on 5/7, impressive to astounding numbers included 40 Warbling Vireos, 121 Swainson's Thrushes (likely a local record, and 68 were reported on 5/9), six Yellow-breasted Chats, 40 Bullock's Orioles (which should be on territory at this point, but this high number suggests some movement), 41 Wilson's Warblers, 16 Western Tanagers, and 60 Black-headed Grosbeaks!
In terms of local rarities, a Gray Catbird banded at Stone Lake NWR on 5/6 accounts for just the third record for Sacramento County. A Chestnut-sided Warbler was a very nice find at the South Fork Putah Creek Reserve near Mace Blvd on 5/25 and proved to be the only rare warbler of the month. Finally, the Summer Tanager first reported at William Land Park on 2/16, feeding on bees at hives in Fairytale Town, continued through at least 5/3.
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 listserv (groups.io/g/centralvalleybirds) and in eBird (ebird.org). It is impossible to list everyone, but we thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Cheryl Cobbs, Lyann Comrack, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Linda Gal, Cliff Hawley, Eric Hope, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Nora Papian, Michael Perrone, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, Beatrix Treiterer, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, and Stan Wright. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible