November 2024

November is officially fall, but it feels like winter in terms of birding. While most wintering species are accounted for, numbers of waterfowl are still building well into December, as are numbers of wintering raptors in our local, and shrinking, open areas. On 11/29, at the Sailor Bar access to the American River Parkway, a female-type White-winged Scoter was a nice find (eBird Checklist S204088015) that continued into December. On 11/16, a coincidental 16 Red-breasted Mergansers were photographed (eBird Checklist S202732270) on Folsom Lake from Folsom Pt. Greater Roadrunners are cherished sightings in our region. One was found along Yolo County Rd 8 in the Dunnigan Hills on 11/8 and again on 11/24. One was also reported along Sand Creek Rd in western Colusa County from 11/16-11/18. Sand Creek Rd is the most consistent location for roadrunners in our area. A female Costa's Hummingbird first found at a private yard in Wilton on 8/14 continued into December, an adult male was reported near Citrus Heights on 11/17, and an adult male was visiting feeders at Heritage Oak Winery in San Joaquin County, north of the Mokelumne River and west of Lockeford, on an 11/24 Central Valley Birding Symposium field trip.

Mountain Plovers returned to the two consistent wintering sites in our area: Solano County along Flannery Rd, south of Dixon, with the first report of 21 on 11/7, and to Yolo County along Hwy 45 just south of the Yolo/Colusa County line, with 15 first reported on 11/28, and more than double that number recorded in early December. Beginning on 11/16, a Pacific Loon was consistently reported on Folsom Lake from both Folsom Pt and Beals Pt. While Burrowing Owls have all but vanished as breeding birds in the Sacramento area in the past ten years--part of the evidence used to officially grant them candidate status as threatened or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (a position advocated for by Sacramento Audubon Society and the Central Valley Bird Club, among many others)--there is a considerable influx of wintering birds. This fall, the Bufferlands has hosted at least a dozen Burrowing Owls, which harkens back to totals seen 20 years ago. We can only hope that some will stay to breed, which is possible but perhaps unlikely--the last successful breeding on the Bufferlands was in 2017. About six Long-eared Owls were found at a semi-regular winter roost site on a survey of a normally closed portion of Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 11/30.

A juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found (eBird Checklist S202508087) on 11/14 at the Hwy 128 bridge over Putah Creek to the west of Winters, and a Red-naped Sapsucker was found along Gates Canyon Rd, northwest of Vacaville, on 11/24, continuing into December. An Eastern Phoebe was found (eBird Checklist S204126087) on a survey of a regularly closed portion of CRP on 11/30. This appears to be the third record for CRP and the fifth for Sacramento County. A Plumbeous Vireo was seen by many (eBird Checklist S203516624) at the old Sacramento City Cemetery from 11/10-11/27. The American Dipper found at the traditional wintering location along Putah Creek, near the Hwy 128 bridge west of Winters, continued through the month. Far more surprising was an American Dipper found on 11/19 from the Virgin Sturgeon Restaurant (eBird Checklist S203042383) along the Sacramento River upstream of Downtown. It was seen and photographed by two birders, and not seen after mid-day on 11/19, although the friendly restaurant staff allowed excellent access. This is not quite the strangest location for a dipper in Sacramento County. In September 1990, one was found at the fountain in front of Wells Fargo along the Capitol Mall at 5th St. It is shaping up to be a good winter for Golden-crowned Kinglets, at least on the Valley floor in places like CRP. Varied Thrushes, by contrast, have been in very low numbers. On 11/24, a Red Crossbill was a nice find at the old Sacramento City Cemetery, and a Swamp Sparrow was found on 11/30 at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in the same canal where one has been found in past years. The Summer Tanager returned for its fourth winter to William Land Park and was photographed on 11/1, though it hasn't been reported again so far this season.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Steve Abbott, Jennifer Albright, Dan Brown, Lyann Comrack, Ben DeDominic, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Maureen Geiger, Joshua Greenfield, Shawn Hayes, Emmett Iverson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Kurt Mize, Roger Muskat, Ed Pandolfino, Wendy Pearson, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, and Amy Williamson. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

October 2024

After an amazing September, things were bound to come back down to earth. There weren't a lot of outstanding finds this month, but still a great variety of birds to be seen, with migrants and summer residents getting replaced by wintering waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, raptors, and sparrows. A female Costa's Hummingbird found at a private yard in Wilton on 8/14 continued through at least 10/23. A male Costa's Hummingbird was found in Davis, near Nugget Fields, on 10/19 (eBird Checklist S199709284) and continued into November--it is likely the same bird that wintered in the area last year as a juvenile.

Shorebird highlights also tapered off from last month. There was a good showing of Pectoral Sandpipers, with reports from Tyler Island (eBird Checklist S197952432) in southern Sacramento County, Cosumnes River Preserve, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and N Brewer Rd in Placer County. The only Semipalmated Sandpiper reported was from Tyler Island on 8/8--rather late for the species. Two Sabine's Gulls continued at the Woodland WTP from last month to 10/1. A Red-necked Grebe was a nice surprise along the American River Parkway, downstream from the Gristmill access. It was seen and photographed (eBird Checklist S198787293) by many from 10/13-10/27.

By the last day of the month, an American Dipper was found (eBird Checklist S200945287) at a traditional wintering location along Putah Creek, near the Hwy 128 bridge west of Winters. A Sage Thrasher was a nice find (eBird Checklist S199174689) on 10/16 along Yolo County Rd 104, south of 38A. A late-season Grasshopper Sparrow was found along Michigan Bar Rd on 10/6, a site where they are not regularly reported in breeding season, and a Brewer's Sparrow was found the same day at the Woodland WTP. A Black-and-white Warbler was a nice find at Cosumnes River Preserve on the 10/13 Tall Forest Survey, and a Tennessee Warbler continued at Reichmuth Park from September to through the first week of October.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Steve Abbott, Dan Brown, Lyann Comrack, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Susan Goodrich, Joshua Greenfield, Emmett Iverson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Ed Pandolfino, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Jennifer Raven, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, and Amy Williamson. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

September 2024

September has so many possibilities. Shorebirds, waterbirds, raptors, and all manner of songbirds are on the move during the transition from late summer to fall. This month produced a few regional firsts and there are almost too many great birds to mention! A Red-breasted Merganser on Folsom Lake that was seen from Beals Point for much of August continued through mid-September. A Common Poorwill was flushed from the trail at Bobelaine on 9/23; this species seems to be turning up less often in migration. A female Costa's Hummingbird found at a private yard in Wilton on 8/14 impressively continued through September and into October.

Vying for bird of the year, a Wood Sandpiper was found (eBird Checklist S194649921) at the Woodland WTP on 9/9 through 9/10. It briefly went missing on 9/9 and was found at a small pond nearby, but returned to the WTP on 9/10. This is just the fifth record for the state and the first for the Central Valley. Six Snowy Plovers were found together at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 9/1. A Ruff was photographed (eBird Checklist S193994152) among dowitchers in a field off Hwy 45 and Yolo County Rd 109A on 9/4. There were several reports of Baird's and Pectoral sandpipers from multiple locations, and single Semipalmated Sandpiper reports came from the Woodland WTP on 9/3 and 9/9. On 9/21, an immature Sabine’s Gull was found at the Woodland WTP, with perhaps the same bird continuing on 9/26, and two birds were present from 9/29 to 10/1. A Sabine's Gull was also found at Folsom Lake from Beals Pt on 9/26, and yet another great bird, a Franklin's Gull, was found (eBird Checklist S194887708) at the Woodland WTP on 9/12 through 9/30. 

A Broad-winged Hawk photographed (eBird Checklist S196019306) flying over Reichmuth Park on 9/21 was a big surprise and only the second Sacramento County record. A Pygmy Nuthatch seen at a Citrus Heights yard on 9/7 was quite a surprise away from the coastal or mountain conifer zones, and accounted for one of very few Central Valley records. A Black-throated Sparrow was seen by many from 9/7-9/12 at a private yard southwest of Clarksburg. Green-tailed Towhee reports came from the American River Parkway (ARP) between Howe and Watt avenues on 9/10, a private yard in the Pocket Area of Sacramento on 9/18, and yet another from a private yard in Wilton on 9/28. Rare warblers were well represented this month, with a Northern Waterthrush along Putah Creek, downstream of the Pedrick Rd bridge, on 9/15 through 9/18, and a Tennessee Warbler at the same location from 9/15 through 9/23. Another Tennessee Warbler was found at Reichmuth Park from 9/27 into October. A Black-and-white Warbler was seen at the Ione WTP on 9/20 through 9/21. A Virginia's Warbler was found on 9/17 (eBird Checklist S195522462) and continued through 9/18. It is the first El Dorado County record and was found while following up on the first El Dorado County record of a Magnolia Warbler that was seen (e Bird Checklist S195569107) from 9/16 through 9/18--both were seen from the old RR track trail along Deer Creek off of Latrobe Rd. American Redstarts reported on 9/8 and 9/18 from Lake Solano were different individuals based on plumage. The Northern Parula found at the Gristmill access to ARP on 8/29 continued through 9/7, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler was found at the Putah Creek Fishing Access #1, west of Winters, from 9/18 through 9/20.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Steve Abbott, Dan Blake, Lyann Comrack, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Susan Goodrich, Joshua Greenfield, Emmett Iverson, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Ed Pandolfino, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Mark Sawyer, Adam Searcy, Samuel Schmidt, Elliot Schoenig, Steve Scott, Ian Souza-Cole, Gavin Stacey, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, and James White. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

August 2024

After a July that broke all-time heat records, hard to believe, August was a relief. Temperatures were more reasonable and we settled into what is often one of the most exciting months on the birding calendar. In August, with post-breeding migration in full swing, just about anything seems possible. A few Snow Geese were reported from scattered locations for the second summer in a row, while a few more Greater White-fronted Geese were found in keeping with recent trends. A Red-breasted Merganser on Folsom Lake was seen from Beals Point for much of the month (eBird Checklist S190051506). A Greater Roadrunner photographed at the Davis Wetlands on 8/29 (eBird Checklist S193177378) was an excellent find. This species has declined in the region because of habitat loss, so finding one so close to heavily developed human habitats is a surprise, but not unprecedented. A female-type Costa's Hummingbird was photographed at a private yard in Wilton from 8/14 into September.

Shorebird highlights included one to two Snowy Plovers found at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) during the first week of the month, one reported sporadically at the Woodland WTP throughout the month (probably accounting for more than one individual over time), one at Beals Point on 8/8, and one at the White Slough WTP (Lodi Sewer Ponds) on 8/23. Solitary Sandpiper reports came from Staten Island on 8/11, a couple different reports from YBWA, and one on the edge of our covered region, in the foothills of Nevada County, at the Lake of the Pines WTP on 8/29. Marbled Godwit and Willet records were a bit too many to innumerate, but four Marbled Godwits at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 8/15 were a nice find for Sacramento County, where this species is not nearly so regular as in Yolo County. On 8/17, a Stilt Sandpiper was quite a surprise at CRP (eBird Checklist S191829688). This species only turns up in the Sacramento area every few years. Single, molting adult Sanderlings were found on 8/3 near the Granite Bay Boat Launch at Folsom Lake (eBird Checklist S190049175), on 8/9 at YBWA, and from 8/11-8/13 at CRP. While still rare to uncommon, Baird's, Pectoral, and Semipalmated sandpipers were reported in small numbers from multiple locations throughout the month.

An Eastern Wood-Pewee was found to the south of the area usually covered here, at Oak Grove Park in Ripon, on 8/2. This diagnostically calling bird was seen and, more importantly, heard by many through 8/5 (eBird Checklist S190046803). This is an excellent find anywhere in the state. An Eastern Kingbird found at CRP on 8/18 appears to be a first for the preserve. A Northern Parula seen by many at the Gristmill access to the American River Parkway on 8/29 continued into early September. A Summer Tanager was found by the same party on the same day--interestingly, 8/29 is well-represented in this column--downstream of Gristmill and the Mayhew Drain, near Larchmont Park, and continued to 8/31. The Indigo Bunting found at the SacSewer Bufferlands on 6/27 was last detected on 8/2.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Cavan Allen, Lyann Comrack, Jonathan Eisen, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Joshua Greenfield, Jim Holmes, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Colin Meusel, Dana Miller-Blair, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Rene Reyes, Diane Rose, Steve Rose, Dessi Sieburth, Steve Scott, Gavin Stacey, Cameron Tescher, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and David Yee. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

July 2024

July picks up a bit from June, but is still a hot--this year, a record hot!--time of year to explore the Valley floor. An early morning start is a must. Most breeding songbirds become less vociferous in their songs as the month progresses, but there's still a lot of activity. The first songbird migrants start to show up by the end of the month, and July is one of the best months of the year for shorebirds. If there is good habitat to be found, shorebirding can be excellent. The Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) continued to hold seasonally rare ducks, including a few Redheads and Canvasbacks, which are hard to find anywhere else in the region this time of year; in fact, Redheads can be hard to find at any time of year. A young male Costa's Hummingbird photographed (eBird Checklist S186706171) at a private yard in Wilton from 7/12-7/15 was an excellent find.

 Shorebird highlights included a Snowy Plover at the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) on 7/14, with two at the same location on 7/26. The only Solitary Sandpiper report of the month was from the vernal pool preserve just south of Heron Landing Park, Anatolia (Rancho Cordova), on 7/22. A Sanderling retaining breeding plumage (eBird Checklist S189340534) was found at the Woodland WTP on 7/26, and perhaps the same bird was found at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) on 7/28. A Semipalmated Sandpiper was nicely photographed (eBird Checklist S186266336) at the Davis Wetlands on 7/9. After a fair number of reports last month of up to three Least Terns at the Woodland WTP, there was only one bird reported for one day, 7/15, this month. Least Bitterns were reported from three Yolo County locations this month: YBWA, the Davis Wetlands, and Woodland Regional Park. A Little Blue Heron found at the Davis Wetlands on 7/9 was possibly the same bird found in Natomas last month.

 Songbird migration began as a trickle, with a quite early Hermit Warbler at the SacSewer Bufferlands on 7/17. At least three Yellow Warblers continued to sing near the "Accidental Forest" at Cosumnes River Preserve. By the end of the month, good numbers of common migrants, such as Wilson's Warblers, were coming through the area. A Summer Tanager was a nice find on 7/28 at the Cache Creek Wild Wings Park. The fourth record of Indigo Bunting from the SacSewer Bufferlands was a very cooperative male that sang vigorously (eBird Checklist S186624063 and eBird Checklist S186985136) during most of its stay from 6/27 through at least 8/2. 

 The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Brent Campos, Lyann Comrack, Stephen Fettig, Joshua Greenfield, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

June 2024

June is arguably the slowest month on the birding calendar for the flats of the Central Valley. The Sierra, in all its glory, lures many out of the Valley heat. While June is a period of relatively low species diversity, it is a key time for many of our local breeding birds, and it is also a time that a stray rarity or two may show up. The Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) continued to hold seasonally rare ducks, including up to ten Redheads, up to eight Canvasbacks, and, most surprisingly, a female-type Red-breasted Merganser (eBird Checklist S180186304) from 6/8 to 6/10. An Allen's Hummingbird was reported at a traditional spot on private property to the southwest of Clarksburg through 6/19.

Southbound migrant shorebirds began turning up in the second half of the month, including a few scattered Willet reports. Up to three Least Terns were present at the Woodland WTP from 6/17 to 6/27 (eBird Checklist S183761896 and eBird Checklist S184067103), raising suspicions that they might breed locally, though that did not come to pass this year. Two Brown Pelicans at the Stockton WTP on 6/9 were a nice surprise. Least Bitterns were reported at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 6/29, mid-month at the Davis Wetlands, and from a wetland west of the town of Nicolaus in Sutter County on 6/30.The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that was present much of last month at North Natomas Regional Park was reported only once this month, on 6/9, and a Little Blue Heron was photographed (eBird Checklist S182775363) at the same location on 6/18.

A Grasshopper Sparrow was found at Deer Creek Hills, off Latrobe Rd, on 6/2, though they have been absent from their traditional location along Meiss Rd for the past two seasons. A Black-chinned Sparrow continued into early June along Rayhouse Rd. American Redstarts were found at Whitney Oaks Golf Course on 6/11 to the south of Lincoln, and along Old Davis Rd south of Putah Creek on 6/13. A gorgeous male Magnolia Warbler (eBird Checklist S182673628) on private property to the southwest of Clarksburg was seen and photographed by many on 6/19. A second-year male Summer Tanager was present along the American River Parkway in the vicinity of the William B. Pond and River Bend access points from 6/11 to 6/22. Another second-year male Summer Tanager, with a red head and a mostly yellow body (eBird Checklist S181490666), was downstream of the Pedrick Rd bridge from 6/11 to 6/15. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found along Wood Duck Slough near the Tall Forest of Cosumnes River Preserve on 6/16, and an Indigo Bunting first detected at the Bufferlands on 6/27 continued into July.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Steve Abbott, Tara Collins, Lyann Comrack, Lisa Couper, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Stephen Fettig, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Mackenzie Hollender, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Sarah Mayhew, Zane Pickus, Steve Scott, Michele Swartout, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Tom Uslan. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

May 2024

While April might be the most species-rich month of the year, with a transition from wintering species to migrants and summer residents all within 30 days, May tends to have more wildcards, especially in terms of unexpected rarities. This May seemed a bit on the quiet side, but as always, there were a few surprises. Local duck diversity really thins out as the spring progresses, but the Woodland WTP has a good track record of holding a few diving ducks through the spring and into summer. This May was no exception, with regular reports of both Redheads (eBird Checklist S176382614) and Canvasbacks throughout the month.

Dependable locations for Greater Roadrunners in our area have diminished over the past two decades, with more land in the low foothills getting chopped up for development or turned into vineyards and orchards. One place resisting this trend is Sand Creek Rd in Colusa County, to the west of Arbuckle, where four roadrunners were detected on 5/28. A flyby of two Black Swifts at the Maxwell Rest Area was a nice surprise. As is often the case with these finds, it was a day with unsettled weather. An Allen's Hummingbird was reported at a traditional spot on private property (eBird Checklist S171783974) to the southwest of Clarksburg.

Least Bittern reports were few this spring, and limited to the Davis Wetlands and the western toe of Sherman Island at a restoration site with limited access. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron found at North Natomas Regional Park on 4/1 continued to at least 5/3. A Broad-winged Hawk was quite a surprise at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 5/6. It was perched to the west of the visitor center and then flew off with American Crows in hot pursuit.

Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported more widely than usual, and were confirmed nesting in Davis, with adults feeding young in a sycamore nest cavity (eBird Checklist S175973830). An Evening Grosbeak was a nice find along the Blue Ridge Trail on 5/12. Up to three Black-chinned Sparrows were found nearby along Rayhouse Rd in chaparral habitat, beginning with two found on 4/29, and continuing through May. The only out-of-range warbler of the month was a Northern Waterthrush found on 5/6 at CRP.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Lyann Comrack, Ben DeDominic, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Stephen Fettig, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Mackenzie Hollender, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Ethan Monk, Dominik Mosur, Zane Pickus, Steve Scott, Kirk Swenson, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Tom Uslan. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

April 2024

April nearly has it all. There are many lingering winter birds and, by month's end, most of the regular migrant species are passing through, with some staying to nest. Numbers of groups as varied as ducks and sparrows are much lower than in peak winter season, but most species can still be found. Common Poorwills are detected in low numbers in migration on the flats of the Valley, and are of spotty breeding season occurrence in the chaparral ringing our area. One was found at Deer Creek Hills on 4/20, and another was well-seen and photographed (eBird Checklist S170626541) at Yolo County's Grasslands Regional Park from 4/26-4/27; many were reported singing along Rayhouse Rd in late April.

Just over a decade ago, Black-belled Plovers were expected in the many hundreds to over one thousand individuals. They have been especially hard to come by in Sacramento County in recent years, so a high of 129 on 4/17 at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) was a welcome report. About 300 Black-bellies were at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) when a Pacific Golden-Plover was found (eBird Checklist S169122710) on 4/17. An impressive 245 Semipalmated Plovers, perhaps a new local high-count, were found at CRP on 4/26. There were up to five Snowy Plovers at YBWA from 4/12-4/18 (eBird Checklist S169233584). Solitary Sandpipers were reported from several locations in the region, beginning on 4/10, and a Pacific Loon was found on 4/1 at Folsom Lake from Folsom Point. A Least Bittern was found at Colusa NWR along Abel Rd on 4/9, and another was reported at the YBWA on 4/21. Likely the same Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (eBird Checklist S168646971) returned from last year to the large egret and Black-crowned Night-Heron colony at North Natomas Regional Park. It was found on 4/1 and continued into May.

There were widespread reports of uncommon empids (Hammond's, Gray, and Dusky Flycatchers), but the numbers weren't off the charts like they were last year. Red-breasted Nuthatches appeared to be nesting in Davis, with nesting confirmed in May. At least two Black-chinned Sparrows were found (eBird Checklist S171037621) along Rayhouse Rd in chaparral habitat, beginning with two found on 4/29, and continuing into May; a Green-tailed Towhee was in the same area on 4/29. The Orchard Oriole found at the UC Davis Arboretum on 10/11 ended its stay on 4/10 after an impressively long run.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Lyann Comrack, Lisa Couper, Lucas Corneliussen, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Stephen Fettig, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Mackenzie Hollender, Marcel Holyoak, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Samuel Schmidt, Steve Scott, Dan Tankersley, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Tom Uslan. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

March 2024

One could argue that March has some of the best birding of the year. There are many fine days and there is as much diversity in the Valley in March as any time of year. Yet, after months of winter, most of us really long for the springtime that won't arrive until mid-April. But March does mean Western Kingbirds and Bullock's Orioles before the month ends. The last of our regular swallows, Purple Martins, arrive--this year on 3/17 at the Sutterville Rd overpass near Sacramento City College. The big Red-breasted Merganser season continued, with at least three seen from Beals Point at Folsom Lake. An early Calliope Hummingbird visited a private yard near Galt on 3/18 and, for another season, a private yard in rural Yolo County to the southwest of Clarksburg hosted Allen's Hummingbirds (eBird Checklist S164419111). Ranging a little farther south than usually covered here, a Broad-billed Hummingbird was found on 3/4 in Stockton (eBird Checklist S163745005) and continued through at least 3/9. This species is extremely rare in California, and is one typically looked for in southeastern Arizona, though one was found in Davis in early 2021.

 Good numbers of expected shorebird species began moving through in migration. A Pacific Golden-Plover was a nice find on 3/19 along Woodbridge Rd. They can sometimes be found among large flocks of Black-bellied Plovers, although those large flocks have been increasingly hard to come by locally in recent years. Mountain Plovers continued in the fields along Hwy 45 in Yolo County, just south of the Colusa County line, through at least 3/16. A first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at the Yolo County Central Landfill on 3/4. A Red-throated Loon, likely the continuing bird from last month, was reported on 3/8 along the Deep Water Channel adjacent to Bridgeway Island Pond, and a Pacific Loon was seen on 3/6 on Folsom Lake from Folsom Point.

 The only site in the area this season with Short-eared Owl reports was along Sankey Rd to the west of Hwy 99. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found (eBird Checklist S164924080) downstream of the Mayhew Drain along the American River Parkway on 3/14 through at least 3/19. The continuing Winter Wren was reported from Putah Creek Fishing Access #1 on 3/3. There were no reports of a more expected Pacific Wren this month. A Green-tailed Towhee was a nice find on 3/16 in the vicinity of the Tall Forest at Cosumnes River Preserve. The Orchard Oriole found at the UC Davis Arboretum on 10/11 quite impressively continued into April. An Orchard Oriole also spent a couple of days during the first week of March along Putah Creek between Davis and Winters. The Ovenbird first found on 1/24 continued at William Land Park through at least 3/10, and the nearby Summer Tanager continued through at least 3/5. 

 The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Steve Abbott, Dan Brown, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Susan Goodrich, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, Adam Kucharek, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Frances Oliver, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Rene Reyes, Samuel Schmidt, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, Lynette Williams, and David Yee. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

February 2024

February is still winter, but some birds certainly have spring on their minds. Adding to the early-breeding Anna's Hummingbirds and Great Horned Owls, by February, herons, egrets, and cormorants are working on their nests. Tree Swallows are conspicuous by mid-January, but by the end of the month, all of the regular swallows except for Purple Martins had been reported. A Tufted Duck was reported in early February from the Laguna Lakes area of Elk Grove, but apparently didn't stick around. Up to five Red-breasted Mergansers were on Folsom Lake, mostly seen from Beals Pt, continuing in a season with an unusually high number of this locally rare species. The male Costa's Hummingbird in northeast Davis continued from last month through at least 2/5.

The shorebird highlight was the continuing Mountain Plovers in the fields along Hwy 45 in Yolo County, just south of the Colusa County line. There was a high of over 140 (eBird Checklist S162232392), but the most impressive report was of 113 on the late afternoon of 2/24 (eBird Checklist S163017598). As darkness fell, about a dozen small groups flew east, calling, as they continued into the darkness. Unbeknownst to most local birders, this traditional viewing site, at least that evening, was not where the birds stayed to roost. Perhaps they continued east over the Sacramento River and into Sutter County. At the old hotspot south of Dixon, a high of 38 Mountain Plovers were reported this month. The only Glaucous Gull was found on 2/10 off Yolo CR 104 to the west of the Yolo Central Landfill (eBird Checklist S161174028), and a Lesser Black-backed Gull was at the same location on 2/5. A Red-throated Loon was reported from 2/16-2/20 on the Deep Water Channel west of the Bridgeway Island Pond and farther to the north on 2/26.

There has been a slight uptick of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker reports in recent years, including one on 2/28 at Cache Creek Preserve (eBird Checklist S163226821). Perhaps more people are looking at sapsuckers more carefully. A Hairy Woodpecker, always a nice find in Sacramento County, was on the south side of Lake Natoma near the Willow Creek access during the first half of the month. A female Vermilion Flycatcher was a nice find at the Williams Cemetery on 2/28, as was a Tropical Kingbird in Suisun City (eBird Checklist S163213813) on 2/24-2/28. A Plumbeous Vireo was photographed (eBird Checklist S160570049) Davis Community Park on 2/3. Tapering off from earlier in the season, there was just one Winter Wren report, on 2/16, from Lake Solano. There were several Red Crossbill reports at the Old City Cemetery in Sacramento during the second half of the month, including a recording (eBird Checklist S161859689) on 2/17 of seven with calls consistent with "type-3" or Western hemlock crossbills (eBirdws/recrtype/); 12 Red Crossbills were also found visiting a Roseville yard on 2/23. A Swamp Sparrow turned up at the Bufferlands on 2/1. Despite moderate flooding and a very skulky bird, five people were able to see it through 2/6. It was seen again briefly on 2/27. On the topic of skulky birds, the Ovenbird continued at William Land Park, as did the Summer Tanager. One of the year's highlights so far was a beautiful male Cape May Warbler found on 2/10 visiting an Elk Grove backyard (eBird Checklist S161169243). It was seen by several visiting birders through 2/12.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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: Steve Abbott, Theresa Blue, Dan Brown, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Chris Dunford, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Linda Gal, Susan Goodrich, Joshua Greenfield, Nancy Gronert, Cliff Hawley, Marcel Holyoak, Scott Hoppe, Emmett Iverson, Adam Kucharek, Jeri Langham, Barbara Leary, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Adam Panto, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Samuel Schmidt, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Dan Williams, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

January 2024

This month produced many interesting reports although local Christmas Bird Count (CBC) compilers noted there were relatively low waterfowl numbers this season. Up to three Red-breasted Mergansers were found throughout the month on Folsom Lake, and one was found on the Sherman Island CBC near Brannan Island on 1/2. More impressive was the report of at least 29 Red-breasted Mergansers (eBird checklist S160083362) on a Lake Camanche boat trip on 1/28. Mid-winter Common Poorwills are very rare, but not completely unexpected. Afterall, they are the only birds known to hibernate. One was found on 1/28 along Yolo County Rd 53 to the west of the Capay Valley. A well-seen and photographed male Costa's Hummingbird (eBird checklist S160274430) spent most of the month in northeast Davis.

Mountain Plover reports were a little more encouraging this winter than in recent years. They continued in the fields along Hwy 45 in Yolo County, just south of the Colusa County line, with a high of just over 100 reported. A high of 54 at the old hotspot south of Dixon along Flannery Rd was a pleasant surprise after so few have been found there in recent years. Western Sandpipers appear to be getting a bit more common in winter, with three reported on the 1/2 Sherman Island CBC, up to 13 found at the Sacramento Regional WTP, and 21 on 1/20 at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP). An adult Glaucous Gull was reported as a flyby near the Gristmill access to the American River Parkway on 1/26 and over the nearby Rosemont neighborhood on 1/28. During the first week of the month, Hill Slough Wildlife Area, south of Fairfield, hosted a Neotropic Cormorant (eBird checklist S157909566). This species is marching north into our area and is already breeding in the southern Central Valley.

Most of the recent news about Burrowing Owls has been bad, so the discovery of six on a private ranch in southeastern Sacramento County was a pleasant surprise. This has been a very poor winter for finding Short-eared Owls in the region, and the only reports were of up to three birds along Sankey Rd in Sutter County, east of the Sacramento River. By mid-winter, it became very difficult to find Lewis's Woodpeckers locally. Oddly, one persisted from December at the Orr portion of CRP where they aren't expected. They were mostly absent from their typical, low foothills haunts. It is all the more surprising in a winter season with high numbers of Acorn Woodpeckers at sites on the flats of the Valley (CRP and the Bufferlands, for example) where they are often absent or nearly so.

A Steller's Jay was a nice find on a private ranch in southeastern Sacramento County on 1/29. Earlier in the season they were showing up more widely in our area. At least two different Winter Wrens were reported upstream of Lake Solano along Putah Creek between Fishing Access #3 and Fishing Access #1. Up to three Red Crossbills were at the old Sacramento City Cemetery from 1/21-1/25.

There were surprisingly few Vesper Sparrow reports, with only singles along Robinson Rd, south of Dixon, on 1/14, and along Meiss Rd on 1/20. The Orchard Oriole found at the UC Davis Arboretum on 10/11 continued into February. A Bullock's Oriole, very rare in winter, was found on Brannan Island on 1/2. Perhaps the bird of the month was an Ovenbird (ebird.org/checklist/S159709785) found on 1/24 at the WPA Rock Garden in Land Park. Despite how secretive this bird has been, many were able to see it into February, and some were even able to get nice photos. The first-winter male American Redstart found on 12/31 in El Dorado Hills continued into January. A Wilson's Warbler was found on 1/7 along the Lost Slough portion of CRP; they seem to be turning up more often in winter in recent years. The male Summer Tanager that has spent three winters in Land Park in the vicinity of Fairytale Town continued into February.

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: Steve Abbott, Ralf Baker, Dan Brown, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Kasey Foley, Robert Furrow, Linda Gal, Susan Goodrich, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Marcel Holyoak, Scott Hoppe, Mackenzie Hollender, Emmett Iverson, Logan Kahle, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Dominik Mosur, Roger Muskat, Adam Panto, Ron Pozzi, Samuel Schmidt, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Dan Williams, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

December 2023

Not surprising for a month featuring several of our local Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs), this December produced a lot of interesting birds. There weren't many reports of unusual waterfowl, but up to three Red-breasted Mergansers were found throughout the month on Folsom Lake, both from Beals Pt and Folsom Pt, with two recorded on the 12/31 Folsom CBC. One of the best and most accommodating finds was a Red-necked Grebe seen and photographed (eBird Checklist S155618365) by many from 12/2-12/15 at North Natomas Regional Park--the same site that hosted the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron earlier in the year. A most unexpected report was of a well-seen, small gray swift on the Folsom CBC by an experienced observer as either a Chimney or Vaux's Swift. Vaux's Swifts have been reported from Marin County this season, but are exceedingly rare farther inland in winter.

Mountain Plovers continued in the fields along Hwy 45 in Yolo County, just south of the Colusa County line; a high of 122 was reported. The old hotspot south of Dixon along Flannery Rd produced up to six birds on 12/10. These are the only two sites where this species was reported in the entire Central Valley, with the only other sites in the state being Carrizo Plain and just south of the Salton Sea. Marbled Godwits were unusually persistent in small numbers in Yolo County this month, with up to eight at the Yolo Bypass. On the 12/23 Sacramento CBC, an adult and a first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull were found at the Yolo County Landfill. There were up to three Least Bitterns reported at the Davis Wetlands during the first half of the month.

A Tropical Kingbird was photographed at Natomas Regional Park on 12/6, and the first Placer County record of the species was found on the Lincoln CBC at Sun City Lincoln (eBird Checklist S157371203) on 12/28-12/29. The Steller's Jay incursion seems to have tapered off, but two at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 12/2 were apparently just the second occurence at the lower preserve. Four Barn Swallows were found along Desmond Rd on 12/29. Pacific Wren reports were few and far between, which makes continuing Winter Wren reports all the more notable. Probably the same Winter Wren was back for a second winter near the Lake Solano campground, with another detected on 12/26 upstream along Putah Creek at Fishing Access #3. Two Evening Grosbeaks in Davis on 12/9 accounted for the only report of this species this month. A Red Crossbill was photographed (eBird Checklist S157033193) on 12/24 at the old Sacramento City Cemetery, and up to 30 were reported from the Arden Park neighborhood near Carmichael from 12/25-12/26. A Brewer's Sparrow was a nice surprise on 12/30 in the Putah Creek Sinks, south of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and the Orchard Oriole found at the UC Davis Arboretum on 10/11 continued into January. A Nashville Warbler found on 12/1 at CRP was unexpected for the season, and a first-winter male American Redstart found on the 12/31 Folsom CBC in El Dorado Hills off Silva Creek Parkway was a first for the count; it continued into January. For three winters now, a male Summer Tanager has wintered in Land Park (eBird Checklist S156965980) in the vicinity of Fairytale Town, first reported this month on 12/12.

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: Steve Abbott, Dan Brown, William Clark, Lyann Comrack, Courtney Covington, Jim Davis, Lily Douglas, Konshau Duman, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Tim Fitzer, Robert Furrow, Linda Gal, Daniel Gillingwater, Joshua Greenfield, Steve Hampton, Kirk Hardie, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Larry Hickey, Scott Hoppe, Mackenzie Hollender, Emmett Iverson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Ed Pandolfino, Adam Panto, Ron Pozzi, Ian Souza-Cole, Samuel Schmidt, Steve Scott, Judy Spitler, Kevin Thomas, Vicki Ramsey, John Trochet, Alan Wight, Dan Williams, Lynette Williams, Rick Williams, and Ed Yong. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

November 2023

November is a great time to be in the field. A time for stray water birds, lingering summer residents, and often a few surprises. It is also a time when you get the feel for how the winter season is shaping up. Is it going to be a big finch year? Lewis's Woodpecker year? Rough-legged Hawk year? Unfortunately, the answers to those questions appear to be, "No." There are decent numbers of Varied Thrushes about, still good numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches from the huge influx earlier in the fall, and Steller's Jays are turning up here and there in the lowlands. In terms of stray waterfowl, Beals Point at Folsom Lake produced a Surf Scoter on 11/16 and up to three Red-breasted Mergansers throughout the month, with one of the latter seen from Folsom Point on 11/4. A Greater Roadrunner was a welcome find on 11/25 (eBird Checklist S155199113) in the Dunnigan Hills of Yolo County along Rd 8.

There were a few notable shorebirds, including up to three Semipalmated Plovers lingering at the Sacramento Regional WTP throughout the month, with one at Staten Island on 11/29. The last stronghold of Mountain Plovers in our area appears to be the fields along Hwy 45 in Yolo County (eBird Checklist S155432140), just south of the Colusa County line. A high of 69 was reported. One to two Marbled Godwits were found at Beals Point and up to eight were at the Davis Wetlands. There were unusually widespread reports of Western Sandpipers. They seem to be lingering longer, and at more locations, than they were just a few years ago. A Brown Pelican reported flying over Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 11/19, at the tail end of the Central Valley Birding Symposium, was a nice surprise.

Interestingly, while Lewis's Woodpeckers appeared in single digits, if at all, in their usual haunts, Acorn Woodpeckers were widespread on the Valley floor in places they are not typically reported. On 11/6, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was found at the Cache Creek Preserve west of Woodland. A Western Flycatcher was found on 11/22 at CRP, and single Cassin's Vireos were reported at CRP and from multiple sites in Davis. Single Red Crossbills were reported from Carmichael on 11/15 and from Davis Community Park on 11/25. A Chestnut-collared Longspur was reported along Latrobe Rd in eastern Sacramento County on 11/1, and a Grasshopper Sparrow was found near the Capay Bridge at Cache Creek on 11/4. The Orchard Oriole found at the UC Davis Arboretum on 10/11 continued into December. A late, lingering Yellow Warbler was photographed in Woodland on 11/1. Townsend's Warblers appeared to be more widely reported throughout the region than usual, and a late Wilson's Warbler was found at CRP from at least 11/21-11/25

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: Ralph Baker, Max Brodie, Dan Brown, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Gil Ewing, Linda Gal, Maureen Geiger, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Emmett Iverson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Ron Pozzi, Tom Pritchard, Steve Scott, Dan Tankersley, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Lynette Williams, and Rick Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

October 2023

The excitement and possibility of September gives way to somewhat milder expectations for October. That said, October is still one of the most pleasant times to be in the field and there is plenty of opportunity to turn up interesting birds. It offers an interesting mix of lingering summer residents while nearly all the typical wintering birds have arrived. It won't be until November when large numbers of wintering waterfowl and raptors settle in, but representatives of most of the expected species do turn up by month's end. Band-tailed Pigeons were reported sporadically on the flats of the Valley. On 10/15, a Greater Roadrunner was seen along Hwy 16 between Rumsey and Guinda in the Capay Valley. This species is increasingly hard to find in our area, where grasslands, rolling hills, and chaparral in the low foothills are filling up with vineyards, orchards, and houses. Common Poorwills have also been harder to find, so one along Latrobe Rd adjacent to Deer Creek Hills on 10/14 was a nice surprise.

Shorebirds were relatively low-key for a month that often holds a surprise or two. A late Baird's Sandpiper continued from 10/11-10/17 at the Sacramento Regional WTP, while Pectoral Sandpipers were reported at several regular locations including Cosumnes River Preserve, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, the Davis Wetlands, and the Woodland WTP. The most surprising find among the Charadriiformes came on 10/27 when two Heermann's Gulls (eBird Checklist S153200213 and eBird Checklist S153207345) were among a small flock of California Gulls at the Sacramento County Bufferlands. The birds continued for a few hours, and a handful of people were able to see them, but they flew away in the late afternoon and were not refound. This is a first county record and one of very few records for the Central Valley.

Blue-headed Vireos are extremely rare in California, so the second for our area this fall was a big surprise when it was found and photographed (eBird Checklist S151233525) on 10/1 near Fishing Access #2 on both the Yolo and Solano sides of Putah Creek upstream of Winters. So far this fall it is shaping up to have a decent if not huge invasion of some montane/northern species, with lowland Steller's Jays, decent numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Varied Thrushes, and good numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches and Pine Siskins. On 10/24, a Winter Wren was found at the same site where it spent last winter near Lake Solano. Another was found upstream near the Hwy 128 Putah Creek bridge on 10/30. It is odd that this species is turning up more than ever, while the expected Pacific Wren is found less frequently than it was a decade or two ago. An Evening Grosbeak was a nice find at Sacramento Bar along the American River Parkway on 10/3. An Orchard Oriole was found at the UC Davis Arboretum on 10/11 (eBird Checklist S151955749), and it continued into November. It can be challenging to separate this species from the much more common, larger and lankier Hooded Oriole, but this bird was seen and photographed by many observers. Warbler migration tapered off by mid-month, and no unexpected warblers were found this October.

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, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Gil Ewing, Joshua Greenfield, David Hamilton, Denise Hamilton, Cliff Hawley, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Ethan Monk, Gerrit Platenkamp, Zane Pickus, Steve Scott, Kim Tenggardjaja, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Bart Wickel, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

September 2023

September about tops the list as the most interesting month for birding in our area. This month did not disappoint in terms of rarities, though many noted more slow days in the field than desired and very few days with really high numbers of migrants. There were some interesting shorebirds again this month, but songbird rarities stole the show. Toward the end of the month, many reported flyover Sandhill Cranes, signaling a turn toward fall. A Snowy Plover was a nice find at Staten Island in San Joaquin County on 9/20, and the string of excellent Yolo County shorebird reports continued with a Stilt Sandpiper at the Rd 104 ponds from 9/7-9/20. Pectoral Sandpipers were widely reported, and Solitary Sandpiper reports came from Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 9/2, a different CRP location on 9/3, and from the Bufferlands on 9/7. 

A well-photographed Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (eBird checklist S150244482) was an excellent find at Lake Solano on 9/18. A Least Flycatcher at CRP on 9/15 was an excellent find, as was an Eastern Kingbird along the Natomas Main Drainage Canal, north of Garden Hwy and the Sacramento River, on 9/6-9/8. Even more surprising was a well-photographed Blue-headed Vireo (eBird Checklist S149673549) on 9/11 along Putah Creek near the Pedrick Rd Bridge. Two Pacific Wrens reported at Lake Solano on 9/23 were on the early side. Four Evening Grosbeaks on 9/21 at Sacramento Bar along the American River Parkway (ARP) were a real surprise, as was a male Red Crossbill that perched briefly in the top of a dead tree at Willow Hill Reservoir Community Park in Folsom on 9/3. A Lark Bunting was nicely photographed (eBird Checklist S149336417) at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) on 9/8, and a Green-tailed Towhee was a nice find at Sailor Bar (ARP) on 9/15. A recording of a calling Bobolink was a nice surprise from the Pocket neighborhood of Sacramento on 9/6.

Rare warblers made a good showing this month, with a Northern Waterthrush at YBWA on 9/9, and a Tennessee Warbler at Sacramento Bar (ARP) on 9/24. A Virginia's Warbler, very rare in Northern California, was an excellent find (eBird Checklist S150244482) at Lake Solano on 9/17-9/18. American Redstarts were found on 9/1 near the Pedrick Rd bridge, along Babel Slough from 9/2-9/7, and in North Davis on 9/19. A Northern Parula was a nice find at Lake Solano on 9/6, as was a Chestnut-sided Warbler on 9/19 at Sacramento Bar (ARP). Rounding out the list of rarities, Summer Tanager reports included one at CRP on 9/9, two different birds at CRP on 9/15, and one at William Land Park on 9/26.

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, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Chris Dunford, Jonathan Eisen, Frank Fabbro, Tim Fitzer, Joshua Greenfield, Mike Guard, David Hamilton, Denise Hamilton, Cliff Hawley, Jim Holmes, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Jenny Luo, Mark Martucci, Bryce Parker, Zane Pickus, Rene Reyes, Steve Scott, Kim Tenggardjaja, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

August 2023

While still fully in the grips of summer weather, August is prime migration time for shorebirds and many songbirds. Based on scattered impressions, it appears songbird migration was a little slow. Shorebirds, on the other hand, produced some of the best records ever for the area. Snow Geese continued at multiple sites in the region, which, prior to this year, was very unusual. A White-winged Dove (eBird Checklist S147349713) was a surprise on 8/15 on the Solano County side of Putah Creek at Fishing Access #1 between Winters and Lake Berryessa. On 8/17, a Calliope Hummingbird was coming to a feeder in the Rosemont neighborhood east of Sacramento.

There were excellent shorebird reports this month, and shorebirds accounted for the majority of the area's notable finds. A Pacific Golden-Plover was at the Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) Lost Slough Wetlands from 8/19-8/25. A juvenile Hudsonian Godwit was a first for Yolo County (eBird Checklist S147581855) and one of very few records for the Central Valley. It was found at the CR 104 ponds west of the Yolo Central Landfill from 8/18-8/19. A bright Red Knot (eBird Checklist S146345960) was an excellent find at the Woodland WTP on 8/3. Stilt Sandpiper reports came from the Lincoln WTP, 8/15-8/22, and the Robben Rd ponds south of Dixon on 8/23; both reports were of juvenile birds and the dates suggest it could be the same bird involved, but that's only speculation. An adult Red-necked Stint in fading breeding plumage (eBird Checklist S148580342) was an excellent find at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 8/29-30, providing just the second record for the Sacramento area. A Common Tern (eBird Checklist S147809430) was a nice find at the Woodland WTP on 8/21.

A Short-eared Owl flying in the early morning of 8/20 near the Yolo CR 104 ponds was a nice surprise this early in the season. There appeared to be an early influx of Red-breasted Nuthatches late in the month after a couple of years with few reports in the area. A Gray Catbird was a very nice find along Putah Creek, Solano County, near Mace Blvd on 8/31. A Northern Waterthrush on 8/15 was another nice find for Putah Creek Fishing Access #1, and a Northern Parula (eBird Checklist S148176318) was found along Putah Creek near the Pedrick Rd bridge on 8/26-8/27.

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: Steve Abbott, Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Joshua Greenfield, Susan Harrison, Cliff Hawley, Jim Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Jasen Liu, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Steve Scott, Kirk Swenson, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Bart Wickel. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

July 2023

More than anything, July is a month to be anticipated for its shorebird migration. It's best to get out early before the heat makes the day uncomfortable and heat shimmer makes it hard to clearly see the birds you are looking for. Songbird migrants begin to trickle through by month's end, and unexpected birds can turn up any time of year. Up to eight Snow Geese spent the month at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP) Bufferlands, with two seen at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP). Up to 250 Snow Geese were reported to the north at the Sacramento NWR, establishing what must be a local record for the summer. A lingering Canvasback and up to nine Redheads continued through the month at the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Among the shorebird highlights was a Marbled Godwit at CRP on 7/28; there were several godwits reported from Yolo County, where the species is more often encountered. A Sanderling was found at the Lincoln WTP on 7/28 (eBird Checklist S145844098), and one was also found at CRP on 7/29. A Snowy Plover was a nice find southeast of Dixon along Robben Rd on 7/1 and 7/2. Among the regular Western and Least sandpipers, a Baird's Sandpiper was reported at the Yolo County Central Landfill Pond, visible from Yolo County Rd 28H. This species is typically found later in the season. Also quite early was a Pectoral Sandpiper along County Rd 104 on 7/31. The only Semipalmated Sandpiper report in July was at the SRWTP on 7/31 (eBird Checklist S146150867). A Solitary Sandpiper was found at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve from (eBird Checklist S145323754) 7/19 to 7/24.

A Least Bittern family group with at least two young (eBird Checklist S143857055) was seen throughout the month at the Davis Wetlands and accounted for the only reports of this species for the region this month. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron seen for one day in May (5/11) in Natomas was refound at the nearby North Natomas Regional Park on 6/11 and continued through at least 7/2. Songbird migration didn't produce anything unexpected, but did begin to pick up before month's end. While at least two Yellow Warblers continued near the Accidental Forest at CRP, a small breeding outpost for the species in our region, migrant Hermit and Wilson's warblers were reported in the last few days of the month. As early as the second week of July, reports of migrating Western Tanagers were widespread.

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, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Justin Dunbar, Andy Engilis, Jr., Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Jim Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Jeri Langham, Manfred Kusch, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

June 2023

June can be a challenging month for birding in the Central Valley. It has the lowest species diversity of any month, with migrants and wintering birds leaving us by May, and many not returning until August, September, or later. By the last week of the month, the first of the southbound shorebirds begin to arrive, but real shorebirding doesn't pick up until July. Odd things can turn up, though few did this June. One might be tempted to say June is a quiet month, but that's not quite true. In lusher areas, bird song is quite evident. It is one of the most important times for our local nesting birds as many wrap up their breeding efforts, with some carryover into July. The effects of the record flooding this year persisted, with melt water from the heavy snow pack keeping rivers high, and leaving some sites in the low floodplain partially flooded through the first half of June and beyond.

Least Bitterns continued to be found on surveys at the western tip of Sherman Island, but weren't reported elsewhere in the region. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron seen for one day in May (5/11) in Natomas was found at the nearby North Natomas Regional Park on 6/11 (eBird Checklist S141308493) among a huge nesting colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons, Snowy Egrets (eBird Checklist S141566212), and Cattle Egrets numbering well over 500 total ardeids. It was only a little easier to find than a needle in a haystack, but was reported sporadically into early July. There was no sign reported that it was paired with another night-heron. Aside from one site in Yolo County and a few reports south of Dixon, Burrowing Owls were absent from the region this June. In just the past ten years, this species has gone from uncommon but regular as a summer resident to almost completely absent--quite shocking! We do expect an influx of wintering owls by October. Now to a regionally increasing bird, Peregrine Falcons once again nested at the UC Davis Med Center, producing four young this year.

With multiple wintering Townsend's Solitaires in the Valley earlier this year, perhaps one found on 6/9 at Stone Lakes NWR is a little less surprising than it otherwise would have been. For the first time in more than two decades, Grasshopper Sparrows were unreported from their usual haunts in eastern Sacramento County. On 6/9, up to three Yellow-breasted Chats were singing near Fishing Access #1 (eBird Checklist S141035315) in the Putah Creek canyon, upstream from Winters; a chat was also singing at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 6/21 near where one had been found on 5/30. A heard-only American Redstart was reported near Fishing Access #1 in the Putah Creek canyon on 6/13, and three to four Yellow Warblers were on territory near the Accidental Forest at CRP continuing the local recolonization in the past few years of this small portion of the Central Valley.

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: Steve Abbott, Dan Airola, Lyann Comrack, Justin Dunbar, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Joshua Greenfield, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Mackenzie Hollender, Jim Holmes, Stanton Hunter, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Tom Pritchard, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Kevin White, and Bart Wickel. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

May 2023

May has many faces. The first week or ten days are often the most exciting period for migrant songbirds all spring, if not all year. Migration is highly variable, so some days can be very slow, while others are much better. This month, the large flow of migrants quickly dried up by Mother's Day, though there were a few surprises to come. Melt water from the heavy snow pack kept rivers high, and left some sites in the low floodplain connected to the high Delta waters and with limited access. By the end of the month, reports of migrants had really slowed, though mild temperatures and breezy days made for pleasant if not bird-filled outings. 

A few widely scattered Calliope Hummingbird reports came in during the first eleven days of May. Among the unexpected shorebirds, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, much less expected in spring than in July and August, was found at the Robben Rd ponds, south of Dixon, from 5/13-5/15. A Solitary Sandpiper was found on 5/2 north of Vacaville, near the intersection of Leisure Town and Allendale Rds. An adult Franklin's Gull was a nice surprise on 5/21 at the Robben Rd ponds. A Least Bittern was singing from a marsh at a normally closed portion of Cosumnes River Preserve on 5/27; three were found on surveys at the western tip of Sherman Island, though this site doesn't have public access. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in Natomas was an excellent find on 5/11 (eBird Checklist S137129604) at River Birch Park, just east of Truxel Rd at Terracina Dr. It was only seen for one day until almost certainly the same bird was found nearby in June.

A Northern Saw-whet Owl was photographed roosting in a tree in Davis on 5/22 (eBird Checklist S138928769). Slowly but surely, Dark-eyed Juncos are establishing themselves as breeders in the Sacramento area. Two singing males, one with a family group, were found at Willowbank Ditch in Davis. Another was singing at Slide Hill Park, and a pair has nested for four years in a row on the UC Davis campus. Another pair was regularly noted in Sacramento near U and 42nd Streets, and fledged young of this pair were confirmed in June. Single Brewer's Sparrows were found on 5/5 at Sacramento Bar along the American River Parkway (ARP), and from more expected grassland sites along both Michigan Bar and Meiss Rds on 5/13. A Vesper Sparrow was a bit of a surprise at Mississippi Bar on 5/1, with another in more expected habitat along Payen Rd on 5/6. Hoped-for vagrant warblers came in the form of two Ovenbirds, both on the same day, and a Palm Warbler. The Ovenbirds were both found on 5/21, at Bobelaine in Sutter County and along Deer Creek off Latrobe Rd (eBird Checklist S138659807) in El Dorado County. The Palm Warbler was on Rayhouse Rd on 5/7, found during an all-day hike that began before 3 AM along this remote Yolo County Rd. A female-type Summer Tanager was photographed on 5/26 near the Glenbrook Park access to ARP between Howe and Watt Aves.

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: Dan Airola, Michael Barnett, Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Kristi Carr, Lyann Comrack, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Robert Furrow, Cliff Hawley, Jim Holmes, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Nora Papian, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Karen Richardson, William Rockey, Steve Scott, Sean Smith, Kirk Swenson, Kevin Thomas, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

April 2023

Many commented that much of this April felt more like March. This has been an uncommonly cool early spring and several low-lying areas remained flooded from the very wet winter. With warming temperatures and bulging rivers expected for the next two months, some of our local sites like Cosumnes River Preserve may not be fully accessible until June or later. In March, Band-tailed Pigeon numbers increased, and for most of April they were quite regular in Sacramento County from about Orangevale east into the low foothills. A flock on 4/4 was photographed at Deer Creek Hills documenting (eBird Checklist S132742463) a staggering 177 pigeons!

It is not that often our region produces rarities of statewide significance. Those records are typically reserved for coastal areas, the ocean, and desert oases. A Ruddy Ground-Dove visiting a rural yard southwest of Clarksburg (eBird Checklist S135193295) was certainly an exception. It was first heard on 4/26, seen and photographed by many on 4/27, but not detected thereafter. A Common Poorwill was found along Babel Slough on 4/26; they seem to be turning up less frequently in migration than a decade ago. An Allen's Hummingbird was found at the same site as the ground-dove on 4/27-4/28; this location has been consistent in recent years for this locally-rare hummingbird species. On 4/13 along Swan Rd in the vicinity of Winship Rd, there was a group of eight Pacific Golden-Plovers and another two about a half-mile away. This general area, south of Dixon, appears to be a local hotspot for this species. There were few Solitary Sandpiper reports this spring, but a long-staying bird was found on 4/15 that continued through the end of the month near LeisureTown Rd at Allendale Rd, off Hwy 505 between Winters and Vacaville. Another was found on 4/26 through the end of the month at the North Area Drainage Pond in Davis.

Since the widespread adoption of eBird, locally uncommon Empidonax flycatcher reports are proving to be more common than had been appreciated. Especially in the second half of the month, there were impressive numbers of Hammond's, Gray, and Dusky flycatchers; the report of seven Gray Flycatchers from a private ranch in southeastern Sacramento County on 4/17 deserves special mention. Say's Phoebes are consolidating their status as local breeding birds. A nest with three chicks was found at Marysville High School on 4/19, apparently the first breeding record for Yuba County. Coming off an excellent winter for Townsend's Solitaires, singles were reported at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 4/17 and from Slide Hill Park in Davis on 4/27. A few Evening Grosbeaks lingered from the March invasion, with one in Rancho Cordova on 4/1, four in Elk Grove on 4/2 (eBird Checklist S132498047), and one north of Lake Camanche on 4/7. There were several reported Brewer's Sparrows in eastern Sacramento County, where they are regular, and one at Rossmoor Bar on the American River Parkway on 4/22 where they are less expected. On 4/15, a Black-and-white Warbler was reported singing and briefly seen at Effie Yeaw Nature Center. The Summer Tanager found consistently near Fairytale Town in William Land Park beginning on 3/11 continued through at least 4/14. 

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: Dan Airola, Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Lyann Comrack, Gil Ewing, Cliff Hawley, Greg Hemig, Tim Howell, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Barbara Leary, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Ethan Monk, Nora Papian, Asher Perla, Michael Perrone, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.