The most attention-grabbing bird this November was a Bean-Goose found along Desmond Rd at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 11/14 among the tens of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese. It was seen the following morning by the early birders, but flew off and was refound only briefly. Despite a concerted effort on subsequent days, the bird was not reported again. During long periods when most of the geese had their heads tucked it would be nearly impossible to separate it from the white-fronts. Most observers are provisionally calling this a Tundra Bean-Goose (eBird checklist), though the identification between it and the Taiga Bean-Goose can be tricky, with at least some individuals appearing intermediate. The two Bean-Geese have only been officially treated as separate species since 2007, and the California Bird Records Committee has accepted just two records so far (a Tundra Bean-Goose and a Taiga/Tundra Bean-Goose). The immature Surf Scoter first found on 10/24 downstream of the Gristmill access to the American River Parkway (ARP), continued through 11/4, and another was found off Sherman Island on 11/15. Red-breasted Merganser reports included one off Beals Pt at Folsom Lake on 11/19-30, one at the Woodland WTP on 11/22, plus up to four on Lake Camanche on 11/24.
Flocks of up to 50 Band-tailed Pigeons over Davis may have been fire refugees, as thousands of acres of their Coast Range habitat were burned over the summer. An American Golden-Plover found at the Woodland WTP on 11/28 (eBird checklist), continuing into December, was an excellent find and very late in the season for this species. Winter Golden-Plovers are usually of the Pacific variety. Mountain Plover reports have declined precipitously in the past two decades, so a flock reported for much of the month along Hwy 45 north of Knights Landing, with a high of 37, was encouraging. A report of 200+ along Robinson Rd in Solano County on 11/23 brings to mind the glory days of decades past. Pacific Loon reports included one on Lake Natoma from 11/2-4, one to two between 11/2-13 off Beals Pt, and multiples on Lake Camanche on 11/24 (eBird checklist), along with perhaps record numbers of Common Loons there.
Long-eared Owls were more widely reported than usual, with singles near Esparto on 11/15, from Ryer Island on 11/16, Cache Creek Preserve on 11/17, at Mississippi Bar on 11/20, and near Davis on 11/25. One was flushed at CRP on 11/28 along with two owls that got away unidentified. Spenceville Wildlife Area hosted an impressive 62 Lewis's Woodpeckers on 11/24. An Evening Grosbeak was reported at Sailor Bar (ARP) on 11/19, and Red Crossbills were fairly widely reported, including small flocks in Orangevale on 11/3 and 11/20, nine on 11/9 at Rollingwood Bluffs (eBird. checklist) near Lake Natoma, one at Verde Cruz Creek in Orangevale on 11/10, one at Willowbank Ditch in Davis on 11/8, and another at Slide Hill Park in Davis on 11/23. Purple Finches continue to be more widespread and numerous than at any time in recent memory and Pine Siskins are in very good numbers as well. A Black-throated Sparrow was a nice surprise on 11/30 adjacent to Lake Solano, and single Yellow Warbler reports were very late for the season at CRP on 11/15 and 11/28.
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 Birds Club listserve and in eBird. It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Peter Grunow, Denise and David Hamilton, Steve Hampton, Hugh B. Harvey, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, Logan Kahle, Kathy Kayner, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Steve Scott, Gaven Stacey, John Trochet, and Rick Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.