After the amazing list of finds last month, things were bound to settle down a bit, but there were still many interesting reports to go through. An immature Surf Scoter was a very nice find on 10/24 (eBird checklist) along the American River, downstream of the Gristmill access to the American River Parkway (ARP), continuing into November. A Red-necked Grebe was quite a surprise, reported mid-month from the El Dorado Hills WTP. Reports of Common Poorwills in migration this fall were few, but one was found along a service road at the Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 10/6, and another was seen in a driveway adjacent to the east side of CRP, west of Galt, for a few days mid-month. These birds are typically found by their eyeshine in vehicle headlights as they perch on little-travelled roads after dark.
Shorebird numbers continued fairly high, but rarities were limited, with a Red Knot from 10/5-8 (eBird checklist) at the Sacramento Regional WTP (just the third record for the county and the first in twenty years). A Parasitic Jaeger was reported at Folsom Lake from Folsom Point on the early morning of 10/28, and a Long-eared Owl was found in the Sacramento Bypass (Yolo County) on 10/19. Overlooked in last month's column was the report of a dead Flammulated Owl found in the Land Park neighborhood of Sacramento on 9/25. This species is rarely detected in migration, away from its mid-elevation breeding grounds.
A female Vermilion Flycatcher was reported at the Woodland WTP on 10/31, and a "Solitary Vireo" with characteristics pointing toward Blue-headed Vireo was seen on 10/19 at CRP. We might be in for a good winter of irruptive finches, with higher than typical numbers and reports of Purple Finches and Pine Siskins throughout the region. Single Evening Grosbeaks were reported on 10/17 in east Davis and near Cal Expo on 10/28. Red Crossbills were reported from east Davis, with 12 on 10/27, and at least one on 10/29. A late Grasshopper Sparrow was a nice find along Desmond Rd at CRP on 10/31, away from its low foothill, grassland haunts. Late Yellow-breasted Chats were nice surprises from Elk Slough in southern Yolo County on 10/3 and from Sailor Bar (ARP) on 10/16 (eBird checklist). A Tennessee Warbler was reported along Babel Slough on 10/4 and again on 10/9, and a Blackpoll Warbler was found on 10/2 at the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve.
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: Steve Abbott, Bill Avery, Max Brodie, Andy Engilis, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, Emmett Iverson, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Barbara Leary, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Frances Oliver, Michael Perrone, Sonia Santa Anna, Steve Scott, John Trochet, Sally Walters, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.