June is a notoriously slow month for birding around Sacramento, though it is a very important time for local breeders. With the severe drought, early drying out of vegetation, and drying up of local wetlands, there were still a fair number of interesting reports. Up to 40 Redheads were seen at the Woodland WTP throughout the month, representing the only dependable local occurrence of this species in the breeding season. Two male Allen's Hummingbirds coming to a feeder mid-month to the west of Clarksburg made for nice yard birds.

A Snowy Plover at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 6/7-8 was a nice find, as was another at the Sacramento Regional WTP on 6/28. More than 500 Wilson's Phalaropes (eBird Checklist) were seen at the Woodland WTP on the fairly early date of 6/21. Perhaps these early arrivals were there because of the region-wide drought. Thirteen Willets were at the nearby North Regional Pond on 6/19, and nine Willets were found at Beals Pt, Folsom Lake, on 6/18. The Neotropic Cormorant first found at Ellis Lake in Marysville on 5/28 continued into late June. Single Least Bittern reports included one at Cache Creek Wild Wings Park on 6/21, singles from the Conaway Ranch, and reports throughout the month at the Davis Wetlands (eBird Checklist). A Glossy Ibis was photographed along Catlett Rd to the west of Lincoln on 5/29, and there were continued reports on both sides of the Sutter/Placer line through at least 6/4. Only one bird was reported each time, though there could be more than one accounting for these reports.

A first spring male American Redstart was seen singing at a normally closed portion of the Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 6/16, representing the only "Eastern" warbler found in the Sacramento area this spring. Continuing from last year, multiple singing Yellow Warblers were detected at the "Accidental Forest" portion of CRP, and fledged young were seen getting fed by an adult; with the drought and a litany of absences, it's nice for some good news: a native bird beginning to reclaim its former nesting range in the region.

To view photos of some of the highlights, click on the highlighted eBird checklists.

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, Brent Campos, Lyann Comrack, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Jane Griffith, Scott Hoppe, Emmett Iverson, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, John Luther, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Nora Papian, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Jim Rowoth, Steve Scott, Sara Sweet, Jim Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, Zeke VanZante, and Bart Wickel. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.