August is one of our hottest months, both in terms of temperature and bird migration. Thankfully, after a very slow spring, the beginning of "fall" migration was more typical in terms of days reported with decent movements of birds. Woodland WTP produced regular reports of up to five Redheads throughout the month, and even a Greater Scaup on 8/17. The first returning Sandhill Cranes were reported from Staten Island on 8/30. A female/immature Costa's Hummingbird was an excellent find at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 8/5.
As is often the case, shorebirds stole the show. A Snowy Plover was found at Sacramento Regional WTP (SRWTP) on 8/9, and Snowy Plover reports from the North Regional Pond near the Woodland WTP came on 8/11, 8/16 (eBird checklist) and 8/19-21. There were good numbers of Marbled Godwits throughout the area, especially in Yolo County, and one at the odd location of William B Pond along the American River Parkway (ARP) on 8/5 is worth noting. Baird's Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Solitary Sandpipers were widely reported and too numerous to list individually. A Ruddy Turnstone photographed on 8/16 (eBird checklist) at SRWTP was just the third county record, and one was seen briefly on ag land west of Clarksburg on 8/31; we go many years without any reports of this predominantly coastal species. A Red Phalarope at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 8/8-9 (eBird checklist) was an excellent record for the Central Valley of this most pelagic of the phalaropes. An adult Franklin's Gull was found at Woodland WTP on 8/7-9 and a hatch-year Franklin's Gull was found on 8/31 at the same location. A Brown Pelican seen off Sherman Island on 8/11 in southwestern Sacramento County was a nice find.
A Northern Pygmy-Owl was reported briefly calling at Gibson Ranch Park on 8/14, which is very early for this species to turn up on the valley floor. Very early Merlins were found at Sailor Bar on 8/23 and photographed downstream at Larchmont Park on 8/24. A Lewis's Woodpecker at Sailor Bar along the ARP on 8/31 was a nice surprise, as was a Gray Flycatcher at CRP on 8/10. A Red-eyed Vireo reported at Lake Solano on 8/25 was the only truly rare songbird reported in the area. Keeping on the early bird theme, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet was found at East Portal Park in Sacramento on 8/12. Up to seven Brewer's Sparrows were found at Folsom Point beginning on 8/24, but the report of a very early Sooty Fox Sparrow at CRP on 8/10 was even more unexpected. Finally, Yellow-breasted Chats (eBird checklist) were more widely reported than usual, and always make a nice highlight for any outing.
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 I want to thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Sophia Chau, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Andy Engilis, Marcus England, Bob Greenleaf, Cliff Hawley, Emmett Iverson, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Tim Ludwick, Mark Martucci, Ed Pandolfino, Zane Pickus, Jim Rowoth, Steve Scott, Lucas Stephenson, Mark Stephenson, Craig Swolgaard, John Trochet, Emily Wells, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.