After a couple of months with outstanding new records for the region, things were bound to slow down.  This March received nearly twice the average rainfall total and many low-lying riparian areas were flooded and inaccessible, so it is understandable that bird reports were somewhat reduced.  Harbingers of spring, Western Kingbirds and Bullock’s Orioles were first recorded on the last day of the month—about a week late for the kingbird.

A gorgeous male Tufted Duck was present at a pond with other diving ducks in West Sacramento from 3/11-3/13.  This pond, just one of many potentially productive drainage ponds in the area, is along Stonegate Ave to the south of Linden Rd.  A few Redheads and a Barrow’s Goldeneye, among other divers, have also been reported there.  A male Greater Scaup at the Ione Sewage Ponds and two male Eurasian Wigeons along Sutter Creek-Ione Rd on 3/25 were very nice finds for Amador County.  A Pacific Golden-Plover, molting into breeding plumage on the latter date, was found at the Sac Reg. WTP on 3/8 and 3/22.

Pacific Golden-Plover with Black-bellied Plovers at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant on March 22, 2011.  Photo by Chris Conard.

Once again, the Yolo gull reports were excellent.  The most notable was a second-cycle Slaty-backed Gull reported on 3/9 at the Davis WTP.  Two or more Glaucous Gulls were regular, along with numerous Thayer’s and Glaucous-winged Gulls, and two adult Western Gulls were reported on 3/25.  The Granite Bay access to Folsom Lake also had some excellent reports, with an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (with different bill features from the Nimbus Hatchery bird of a month earlier) on 3/8, along with a first-cycle Glaucous Gull.  The following day, a second-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported, and, on 3/14, the two birds from 3/8 were reported along with a Kumlien’s (Iceland) Gull.  An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (the Nimbus bird?) was found along the American River at Ancil Hoffman on 3/12, and two adult Western Gulls were reported from the Gristmill access to the American River Parkway (ARP) on 3/10, with one still present on 3/13.

Other interesting reports include the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, found on 2/26 at Serrano and Silva Valley Parkways in El Dorado Hills, continuing through at least 3/12; the Eastern Phoebe, found at a closed portion of Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 1/4, was refound on 3/27; a Red Fox Sparrow at CRP’s River Walk on 3/13; the Harris’s Sparrow found near the Gristmill access to the ARP on 1/31, continuing into mid-April along with one (then two) Slate-colored Fox Sparrow(s); and the regular Evening Grosbeak reports in Yolo County continued, with reports in the Village Homes area of west Davis as well as one in Woodland on 3/3.  The Central Valley’s first Painted Bunting, found on 2/1 by Cheri Pillsbury in her Stockton backyard was last reported by her on 3/14.  Cheri, a long-time birder and organizer of the Central Valley Birding Symposium, died suddenly on 3/18.

Evening Grosbeaks have been widespread in the region this winter, but especially so in Davis.  Many reports have been of flying birds giving their distinctive calls with very quick views of the birds; however, Susie Nishio was able to obtain the following nice series of Evening Grosbeak photos at UC Davis on February 21, 2011.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserve.   Visit cvbirds.org and click "Listserve" for details.  With nearly 100 reports, it is impossible to list everyone; however, I want to thank the following for reports on the above species and for providing additional information:  Dan Airola, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Jim Holmes, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Don Marsh, Cheri Pillsbury, John Sterling, John Trochet, and Bruce Webb.  Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.