September is the heart of fall songbird migration, and this year it did not disappoint. Regular western migrants were reported in good numbers and from many locations. Shorebird numbers and diversity also remained strong. By the end of the month, many returning winter residents, such as Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Hermit Thrushes, and White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows were being recorded.
Highlights begin with eastern songbirds detected along the American River Parkway (ARP). For the second year in a row, a Bay-breasted Warbler was found at the Gristmill access (9/20-21). A Palm Warbler was an excellent find just upstream of the Howe Access (9/23-25). Rounding out the parkway warblers, a male Black-and-white Warbler was found at Lower Sunrise on 9/24. An adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found at Discovery Park on 9/10, while a probable first-year bird was seen the same morning just to the north along Bannon Creek. The male Northern Parula found at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 7/26 continued into October. 9/27 produced a second Northern Parula at a different CRP location. A Tennessee Warbler was a nice find along Putah Creek, upstream of Davis (9/9).
In a month packed with highlights, a Chimney Swift heard calling among a flock of Vaux's Swifts near the UC Davis Med Center on 9/9 is one of few ever reported for the Sacramento area. A first-year Sabine's Gull at the Woodland WTP on 9/25 was another excellent find. A Hairy Woodpecker at CRP on 9/28 was only the fourth record for the preserve in 20 years of surveys. A Chestnut-backed Chickadee at Discovery Park on 9/10 is one of few records for Sacramento County.
Shorebirds were well-represented among the month's reports. A Pacific Golden-Plover was found on 9/24 at the Woodland WTP, and a Snowy Plover was along the shoreline of Folsom Lake at Beal's Point on 9/11. Two Sanderlings were there as well, and they were more widely reported than usual: Lincoln WTP on 9/5, south of Dixon on 9/15, and along the Feather River at Bobelaine on 9/18-19. Two Solitary Sandpipers were at North Davis Farms on 9/8, and one was west of Yuba City (9/16-17). Semipalmated Sandpipers were found along Brewer Rd in Placer County on 9/4 and at the Lincoln WTP on 9/10. Pectoral Sandpipers were widely reported, with 9 or more at the Woodland WTP on 9/24.
Other interesting reports include a first-year Common Tern at the Davis WTP (9/9), an Olive-sided Flycatcher at the Sacramento County Bufferlands on the fairly late date of 9/19, a Dusky Flycatcher at CRP on 9/4, a late Western Kingbird in Davis on 9/22, and a California Thrasher that spent the month near the Howe Access was unusual for ARP.
Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv. Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details. With over 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: Roger Adamson, Todd Easterla, Steve Hampton, James Holmes, Dan Kopp, Manfred Kusch, Mark Martucci, Jeri Langham, Jim Laughlin, Frances Oliver, Ed Pandolfino, Michael Perrone, June Persson, Dave Quady, Toby Rohmer, Deren Ross, Mary Schiedt, Zach Smith, John Sterling, John Trochet, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.