As expected for July, many of the highlights came in the form of migrant shorebirds, and by the end of the month, the first of the migrant warblers were being reported. In a summer where water is at a premium, consistent water at the Davis Wetlands and the Woodland WTP produced regular reports of Canvasbacks, Redheads, and Lesser Scaup throughout the month, and even a Greater Scaup on 7/17 at the Woodland WTP. A UC Davis study team captured single Allen's Hummingbirds on 7/23 and 7/30 from a regular study site along Putah Creek between Winters and Davis. Vaux's Swifts are quite rare this time of year, so reports along the American River Parkway from Sailor Bar on 7/13 and from the William B. Pond access on 7/20 were a surprise.

Two adult Snowy Plovers (eBird checklist) found at the North Regional Pond near the Woodland WTP on 7/19 were among the most notable shorebird reports. July Marbled Godwits are fairly regular in Yolo County, but several at Folsom Pt from 7/13-25, and one at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP) on 7/19 were more unexpected. A Baird's Sandpiper photographed (eBird checklist) on 7/31 at Folsom Pt was a little earlier than expected. A Solitary Sandpiper was found at SRWTP from 7/24-26, and several Willets were reported in Yolo County along with one at Folsom Pt on 7/26. Regular Least Bittern reports (eBird checklist), with up to three individuals, came from the Davis Wetlands throughout the month, and two were found at Wild Wings Park at Cache Creek on 7/24. A Prairie Falcon was a nice surprise for the time of year along Meiss Rd on 7/18.

Bank Swallows haven't nested along the American River Parkway for nearly two decades, and now the only site producing good numbers in Sacramento County is Sherman Island, where dispersing birds were found among the swallow flocks toward the end of the month. Rare summer records of Red-breasted Nuthatches came from Davis on 7/1 and 7/23, and from Sailor Bar on 7/18. Dark-eyed Juncos were reported from Davis on 7/5, with two on 7/21, continuing a recent pattern of breeding season records there; oddly, they have been absent the past two years from breeding sites frequented for about two decades at a few sites at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP). Yellow Warblers continued at the "Accidental Forest" portion of CRP, with the last of the season noted on 7/27. Early migrant warblers included Orange-crowned, Black-throated Gray, Hermit, and Wilson's warblers. From outside the area typically covered here, but certainly worth mentioning, were two Great Gray Owls coming to water on private property well south of Hwy 50 and east of Placerville.

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: Penny Bravo, Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Brent Campos, Lyann Comrack, Andy Engilis, Scott Hoppe, Emmett Iverson, Robin Kulakow, Adam Kucharek, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Barbara Leary, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Lisa Moraga, Jack Parlapiano, Zane Pickus, Ina Rommeck, Jason Riggio, Jim Rowoth, Uday Sant, Steve Scott, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.