After the amazing finds of last January, a more typical month was expected and came to pass, but not without some nice surprises, including several continuing birds from previous months. Both the Curve-billed Thrasher in Woodland and the Worm-eating Warbler at Reichmuth Park were reported through at least 2/17. A Red-necked Grebe was found at Lagoon Valley Regional Park on 2/24 and continued into March. Over a dozen Ferruginous Hawks were reported near Plainfield Elementary School, while the few reports of Rough-legged Hawks included singles at Conaway Ranch on 2/7, south of Payen Rd mid-month, and off of Latrobe Rd on 2/24.
Single Pacific Golden-Plovers were found at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) from 2/10 into March and along Poundstone Rd near Arbuckle on 2/18. Other notable YBWA shorebirds included a Stilt Sandpiper on 2/12, an early small flock of Western Sandpipers on 2/17, and a Ruff from 2/17 through the end of the month (eBird checklist). A Greater Roadrunner was found along Yolo County Rd 57 in the Capay Valley on 2/3, and a Long-eared Owl was found roosting in Veteran's Memorial Park in Roseville on 2/5, continuing through at least 2/13. A male Red-naped Sapsucker, one of few Yolo County records, was found along Hwy 128 near Positas Rd on 2/21 (eBird checklist).
A Hammond's Flycatcher was found in West Sacramento near the Port of Sacramento Barge Access on 2/3-4 (eBird checklist), and a Cassin's Vireo was found in east Davis on 2/3, perhaps continuing from last fall. A Sage Thrasher was an excellent find near Slide Hill Park in Davis on 2/8. The Northern Waterthrush continued along Putah Creek near the Hwy 128 bridge through the end of the month, and the Palm Warbler first found at the Woodland WTP on 11/24 was reported into March. A Wilson's Warbler was an unexpected winter find in a Davis yard on 2/5. The Swamp Sparrow found just off the auto tour at YBWA on 11/25 continued through the end of February, and a Red Fox Sparrow was found in a closed portion of CRP on 2/27.
The Sacramento Area is roughly defined as lying between Hwy 20 to the north, Hwy 12 to the south, and the 1000’ 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: Roger Adamson, Stuart Angerer, Keith Bailey, Terry Colborn, Lisa Couper, Chris Dunford, Leo Edson, Gil Ewing, Tim Fitzer, Steve Hampton, James Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Stan Hunter, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Bruce Mast, Roger Muskat, Michael Perrone, William Rockey, Steve Scott, John Sterling, Kirk Swenson, John Trochet, Mara Weston, Dan Williams, and Rick Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.