June 2024

June is arguably the slowest month on the birding calendar for the flats of the Central Valley. The Sierra, in all its glory, lures many out of the Valley heat. While June is a period of relatively low species diversity, it is a key time for many of our local breeding birds, and it is also a time that a stray rarity or two may show up. The Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) continued to hold seasonally rare ducks, including up to ten Redheads, up to eight Canvasbacks, and, most surprisingly, a female-type Red-breasted Merganser (eBird Checklist S180186304) from 6/8 to 6/10. An Allen's Hummingbird was reported at a traditional spot on private property to the southwest of Clarksburg through 6/19.

Southbound migrant shorebirds began turning up in the second half of the month, including a few scattered Willet reports. Up to three Least Terns were present at the Woodland WTP from 6/17 to 6/27 (eBird Checklist S183761896 and eBird Checklist S184067103), raising suspicions that they might breed locally, though that did not come to pass this year. Two Brown Pelicans at the Stockton WTP on 6/9 were a nice surprise. Least Bitterns were reported at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area on 6/29, mid-month at the Davis Wetlands, and from a wetland west of the town of Nicolaus in Sutter County on 6/30.The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that was present much of last month at North Natomas Regional Park was reported only once this month, on 6/9, and a Little Blue Heron was photographed (eBird Checklist S182775363) at the same location on 6/18.

A Grasshopper Sparrow was found at Deer Creek Hills, off Latrobe Rd, on 6/2, though they have been absent from their traditional location along Meiss Rd for the past two seasons. A Black-chinned Sparrow continued into early June along Rayhouse Rd. American Redstarts were found at Whitney Oaks Golf Course on 6/11 to the south of Lincoln, and along Old Davis Rd south of Putah Creek on 6/13. A gorgeous male Magnolia Warbler (eBird Checklist S182673628) on private property to the southwest of Clarksburg was seen and photographed by many on 6/19. A second-year male Summer Tanager was present along the American River Parkway in the vicinity of the William B. Pond and River Bend access points from 6/11 to 6/22. Another second-year male Summer Tanager, with a red head and a mostly yellow body (eBird Checklist S181490666), was downstream of the Pedrick Rd bridge from 6/11 to 6/15. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found along Wood Duck Slough near the Tall Forest of Cosumnes River Preserve on 6/16, and an Indigo Bunting first detected at the Bufferlands on 6/27 continued into July.

The Sacramento Area as covered here lies 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 we thank the following for their reports: Steve Abbott, Tara Collins, Lyann Comrack, Lisa Couper, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Stephen Fettig, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Mackenzie Hollender, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Sarah Mayhew, Zane Pickus, Steve Scott, Michele Swartout, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Tom Uslan. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

July 2023

More than anything, July is a month to be anticipated for its shorebird migration. It's best to get out early before the heat makes the day uncomfortable and heat shimmer makes it hard to clearly see the birds you are looking for. Songbird migrants begin to trickle through by month's end, and unexpected birds can turn up any time of year. Up to eight Snow Geese spent the month at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP) Bufferlands, with two seen at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP). Up to 250 Snow Geese were reported to the north at the Sacramento NWR, establishing what must be a local record for the summer. A lingering Canvasback and up to nine Redheads continued through the month at the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Among the shorebird highlights was a Marbled Godwit at CRP on 7/28; there were several godwits reported from Yolo County, where the species is more often encountered. A Sanderling was found at the Lincoln WTP on 7/28 (eBird Checklist S145844098), and one was also found at CRP on 7/29. A Snowy Plover was a nice find southeast of Dixon along Robben Rd on 7/1 and 7/2. Among the regular Western and Least sandpipers, a Baird's Sandpiper was reported at the Yolo County Central Landfill Pond, visible from Yolo County Rd 28H. This species is typically found later in the season. Also quite early was a Pectoral Sandpiper along County Rd 104 on 7/31. The only Semipalmated Sandpiper report in July was at the SRWTP on 7/31 (eBird Checklist S146150867). A Solitary Sandpiper was found at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve from (eBird Checklist S145323754) 7/19 to 7/24.

A Least Bittern family group with at least two young (eBird Checklist S143857055) was seen throughout the month at the Davis Wetlands and accounted for the only reports of this species for the region this month. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron seen for one day in May (5/11) in Natomas was refound at the nearby North Natomas Regional Park on 6/11 and continued through at least 7/2. Songbird migration didn't produce anything unexpected, but did begin to pick up before month's end. While at least two Yellow Warblers continued near the Accidental Forest at CRP, a small breeding outpost for the species in our region, migrant Hermit and Wilson's warblers were reported in the last few days of the month. As early as the second week of July, reports of migrating Western Tanagers were widespread.

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 we thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Justin Dunbar, Andy Engilis, Jr., Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Jim Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Jeri Langham, Manfred Kusch, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Roger Muskat, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Lynette Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

June 2023

June can be a challenging month for birding in the Central Valley. It has the lowest species diversity of any month, with migrants and wintering birds leaving us by May, and many not returning until August, September, or later. By the last week of the month, the first of the southbound shorebirds begin to arrive, but real shorebirding doesn't pick up until July. Odd things can turn up, though few did this June. One might be tempted to say June is a quiet month, but that's not quite true. In lusher areas, bird song is quite evident. It is one of the most important times for our local nesting birds as many wrap up their breeding efforts, with some carryover into July. The effects of the record flooding this year persisted, with melt water from the heavy snow pack keeping rivers high, and leaving some sites in the low floodplain partially flooded through the first half of June and beyond.

Least Bitterns continued to be found on surveys at the western tip of Sherman Island, but weren't reported elsewhere in the region. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron seen for one day in May (5/11) in Natomas was found at the nearby North Natomas Regional Park on 6/11 (eBird Checklist S141308493) among a huge nesting colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons, Snowy Egrets (eBird Checklist S141566212), and Cattle Egrets numbering well over 500 total ardeids. It was only a little easier to find than a needle in a haystack, but was reported sporadically into early July. There was no sign reported that it was paired with another night-heron. Aside from one site in Yolo County and a few reports south of Dixon, Burrowing Owls were absent from the region this June. In just the past ten years, this species has gone from uncommon but regular as a summer resident to almost completely absent--quite shocking! We do expect an influx of wintering owls by October. Now to a regionally increasing bird, Peregrine Falcons once again nested at the UC Davis Med Center, producing four young this year.

With multiple wintering Townsend's Solitaires in the Valley earlier this year, perhaps one found on 6/9 at Stone Lakes NWR is a little less surprising than it otherwise would have been. For the first time in more than two decades, Grasshopper Sparrows were unreported from their usual haunts in eastern Sacramento County. On 6/9, up to three Yellow-breasted Chats were singing near Fishing Access #1 (eBird Checklist S141035315) in the Putah Creek canyon, upstream from Winters; a chat was also singing at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 6/21 near where one had been found on 5/30. A heard-only American Redstart was reported near Fishing Access #1 in the Putah Creek canyon on 6/13, and three to four Yellow Warblers were on territory near the Accidental Forest at CRP continuing the local recolonization in the past few years of this small portion of the Central Valley.

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 we thank the following for their reports: Steve Abbott, Dan Airola, Lyann Comrack, Justin Dunbar, Andy Engilis, Jr., Gil Ewing, Frank Fabbro, Joshua Greenfield, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Mackenzie Hollender, Jim Holmes, Stanton Hunter, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Tom Pritchard, Steve Scott, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Kevin White, and Bart Wickel. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

July 2022

Shorebirds save July from being a really slow month like June. They are about a month ahead of songbird migrants, and July has a track record of producing some of the most interesting shorebird records each year. Even though it happens every year, it's an amazing spectacle to see these birds coming through our area, with many of the species having bred in the Arctic. The first songbird migrants, such as Warbling Vireos, Wilson's Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Western Tanagers were coming through by the end of the month. Back to shorebirds, the most notable finds included a Snowy Plover at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife on 7/22 (eBird checklist S115690333), and one at the Woodland WTP on 7/24. A Stilt Sandpiper was an excellent find at the Woodland WTP on 7/27-28 (eBird checklist S115915662). A Franklin's Gull in breeding plumage was a nice surprise on 7/19-20 (eBird checklist S115410598), also at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.

Detections of secretive Least Bitterns are always a highlight. One was found along the Sutter Bypass west of Bobelaine in Sutter County on 7/1-5, and two were seen at the Davis Wetlands on 7/18. Twelve Burrowing Owls (ages unspecified) on a property without public access southeast of Dixon were reported on 7/7. This month there were only four sites with Burrowing Owls reported in the Sacramento Area, with two locations in Sacramento County and only one site in Yolo County. None of the Sacramento or Yolo sites appeared to have produced any young this year.

On 7/13, an adult Say's Phoebe was found feeding three full-grown juveniles at the Northstar Park in north Davis (eBird checklist S115268697). The species seems to be establishing itself as a local breeder, but there are still just a handful of nests in our area. Up to 200 Common Ravens were reported in early July staging or roosting on high transmission utility towers north of Keifer Blvd, between Sunrise Blvd and Grant Line Rd. These birds appear to be drawn to the area by the Keifer Landfill. As recently as ten years ago, this species was much harder to come by in our area. A Varied Thrush at the William B. Pond access to the American River Parkway on 7/22 by an experienced observer was more than two months earlier than expected. In terms of true songbird rarities, a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was photographed at a feeder in El Dorado Hills; it was first seen on 7/2 and stayed for about four days. And finally, an Indigo Bunting was seen singing along the Sutter Bypass, west of Bobelaine, on 7/1.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Image by Jennifer Schmal

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 we thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Lyann Comrack, Konshau Duman, Chris Dunford, Gil Ewing, Robert Furrow, Josh Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Marcel Holyoak, Emmett Iverson, Jeri Langham, Cathie LaZier, Andrew Lee, Eric Liskay, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Jennifer Schmal, Steve Scott, Jim Thomas, John Trochet, Todd Wills, and Meirun Zhang. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

June 2022

June is a very important time for birds in the Sacramento Area, with many species wrapping up or still in the middle of their annual breeding efforts. That said, it can be a tough time for birders, with uncomfortably warm days and less local species diversity than any other time of year. In many years, we get a late June record of an eastern vagrant warbler or the like, providing an exclamation point for the annual spring migrant. This year, we were not so lucky. Consequently, many birders head to the mountains to enjoy cooler temperatures and species that pass through our area in April and May. Blue-winged Teal continue to be widely reported throughout the year, suggesting they are established to a degree that would have been astonishing a decade ago. A calling Common Nighthawk was a nice surprise in the River Park neighborhood, north of Sac State, on 6/13 (eBird checklist S112879744). An Allen's Hummingbird continued at a private yard southwest of Clarksburg through at least 6/6.

The break in the June doldrums begins around the third week of the month with the arrival of migrating shorebirds. Least Sandpipers and Western Sandpipers are usually among the earliest. A Snowy Plover was a nice find for the area, at the Woodland WTP, on 6/25 (eBird checklist S113789671). A Marbled Godwit was at the same location on 6/22-23, as were three Willets on 6/23; another Willet was found in the Yolo Bypass on 6/27. For only the second time since 2008, a pair or two of Least Terns failed to show up at the Sacramento Regional WTP. A Glossy Ibis reported on 6/3 was an apparent first Yuba County record (eBird checklist S112052831). It was found among a big White-faced Ibis flock along Plumas Arboga Rd, south of Marysville.

Sadly, it appears that Burrowing Owls are nearly extirpated as breeders in the Sacramento Area, with about five known individuals continuing into June. Typically, there is an influx in the fall, with most migrating out of the area by the end of March. After decades of declines and plateaus, numbers in the breeding season have nearly dried up, starting about ten years ago. Habitat loss is certainly a factor, but declines are likely tied to a reduction in prey base because of drought and, perhaps, pesticides such as neonicotinoids (Burrowing Owls are partially insectivorous). A few species of songbirds have a migration pattern lingering into June. These include Willow Flycatchers (last reported on 6/17) and Swainson's Thrushes (last reported on 6/19). Warbling Vireos and Wilson's Warblers were also found into early June. A juvenile Dark-eyed Junco was an interesting find at Sailor Bar on 6/29. A junco pair was reported in Davis throughout the month, and there are previous breeding records for the city. Yellow Warblers continue to breed in small numbers in remote portions of Cosumnes River Preserve, reclaiming their historical breeding territory after decades of absence caused by forest clearing and brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds

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 we thank the following for their reports: Max Brodie, Aidan Brubaker, Lyann Comrack, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Linda Gal, Leif Gallagher, Cliff Hawley, Liam Huber, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Asher Perla, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Steve Scott, Cameron Tescher, Jim Thomas, John Trochet, Tom Uslan, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

July 2021

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.

June 2021

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.

July 2020

As is often the case in July, most of the highlights came in the form of shorebirds. By month's end, songbird migration had also picked up, with fair numbers of Wilson's Warblers, Western Tanagers, and even a few Hermit Warblers reported. A good collection of summering ducks was found at the Woodland WTP, including  Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, and Common Goldeneye. A Bufflehead also spent the month at Sailor Bar along the American River Parkway (ARP), and a young male Common Goldeneye did the same downstream, below the Gristmill access. A Red-necked Grebe was quite a surprise at the Woodland WTP on 7/26.

Among the good numbers of migrating shorebirds, the highlight of the month was a Pacific Golden-Plover at CRP on 7/26. A photographed Snowy Plover was a nice find at the Woodland WTP on 7/9. Single Semipalmated Sandpipers were reported from the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area from 7/16-29, with two on 7/24, at the Woodland WTP on 7/12, the Davis Wetlands on 7/25, and along Desmond Rd at CRP on 7/19. A Solitary Sandpiper was found at the Sacramento Regional WTP (SRWTP) on 7/20, with likely a different bird on 7/29-30; another was found at the Sutter NWR on 7/22. Reports of single Willets came from the Woodland WTP for much of the month after 7/18, SRWTP on 7/15, CRP on 7/18, as well as 7/24-25, and five were found at Beals Point, Folsom Lake, on 7/27. After a couple of failed nesting attempts, two pairs of Least Terns each raised a single chick to full size (ebird checklist) at SRWTP (under the watchful eyes of Swainson's Hawks and Common Ravens), with at least one of them seen flying strongly before departing in August. The terns at this site are the only regularly nesting pairs (one pair since 2008, with two pairs for the past two years) of the species in the Central Valley.

Over 100 Swainson's Hawks were reported on 7/23, attracted to ag fields east of I-5, between Lambert Rd and Twin Cities Rd. A photographed hatch-year Hermit Thrush was an interesting find at River Bend Park, ARP, on 7/22 (ebird.org checklist). The species doesn't breed in the Valley, so it likely travelled from the Sierra or points north well before this species is typically found around Sacramento. A Yellow-breasted Chat continued from June until at least 7/10 at Sailor Bar, ARP. A Black-and-White Warbler was an excellent find at Ancil Hoffman Park, ARP, on 7/28-29 where they have been found before in recent years, and a Summer Tanager was quite a surprise in the Sutter Buttes on 7/28.

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 listserve (cvbirds.org) and in eBird (ebird.org). It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Brian Acord, Max Brodie, Lyann Comrack, Farley Cross, Todd Easterla, Maureen Geiger, Eli Gross, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Ron Pozzi, Peter Sands, Steve Scott, John Toldi, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

June 2020

June is undoubtedly the slowest birding month in the Sacramento area in terms of species diversity, but this month had more surprises than one would expect. By June, nearly all of the songbird migrants have passed through, though any lingering migrants found are likely as not to be something of interest. By the last week of the month, the first wave of shorebird migrants signal that the slow times are about over. A Snow Goose photographed at the Davis Wetlands on 6/9 was quite unexpected. Also on 6/9, two female Hooded Mergansers with young were found at the normally closed Valensin portion of Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP), confirming continued breeding by this species in our area. 

A presumed Vaux's Swift was found near the I St Purple Martin colony, adjacent to the Railroad Museum, into the second half of the month. By then, it seemed just as likely to be a Chimney Swift, but a convincing decision on the bird's species has yet to be rendered. Vaux's Swifts are regular migrants through the area, but there are summer records of Chimney Swifts, and one record of presumed breeding in Yolo County, after nearly all of the Vaux's have passed through. Among a smattering of early shorebirds, two Willets were a nice find at CRP on 6/20. A young Bald Eagle fledged from a nest in the Tall Forest at CRP by 6/19, provided the first successful nesting record for the lower Preserve.

For June, there were some really notable songbird records. A Pine Siskin  photographed in a Davis yard on 6/9 was unexpected for the date. The area's first nesting Chipping Sparrows along the edge of CRP's Tall Forest fledged at least two young (ebird. checklist) and continued to be found through 6/21. A Dark-eyed Junco feeding a recently fledged young bird on the UC Davis campus was a surprise on 6/12 and the first nesting record for the campus. A Yellow-breasted Chat was reported almost daily at Sailor Bar along the American River Parkway (ARP) throughout the month and into July. For the second month in a row, a Kentucky Warbler was found; this time it was Sacramento County's first on 6/10 at a closed portion of CRP. A female American Redstart along Babel Slough on 6/8 was a nice find. Up to 10 Yellow Warblers were singing in the vicinity of the Accidental Forest, northeast of the Tall Forest at CRP, with breeding confirmed by early July. This is an unprecedented number for the area, but the forest quality continues to improve, with well over a mile of unbroken, early successional riparian forest. A gorgeous singing male Chestnut-sided Warbler along ARP (ebird checklist), downstream of the Gristmill access, was found on 6/10 and briefly on 6/11. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found at a closed and seldom-visited portion of CRP on 6/6. On the same day and in the vicinity, among at least 15 Lazuli Buntings, was a hybrid Lazuli x Indigo that was blue except for white wing bars and a white belly. A young male Indigo Bunting was seen and photographed by many from 6/10-15 at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (ebird checklist).

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 listserve (cvbirds.org) and in eBird (ebird.org). It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Lyann Comrack, Lily Douglas, Andy Engilis, Irene Engilis, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, James Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Emmett Iverson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Jason Riggio, Mark Sawyer, Steve Scott, Jim Thomas, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2019

June and July can be slow months for birding in the Valley. While there are fewer species to see, it is a very important time for our local breeding birds. The hoped-for rare songbirds in late spring were not found, but a good showing of shorebirds added interest to the period, and a few common songbird species began to trickle in along their post-breeding migrations by late July. Summer records of Redheads continued, with a high of 12 at the Woodland WTP, and one to two at Bridgeway Island Pond. A calling Yellow-billed Cuckoo was reported along the American River upstream of Watt Ave on 7/27; unfortunately, it wasn't seen.

Shorebird reports dominated the period, with some excellent finds. Marbled Godwits are fairly regular in Yolo County during the period, where there were many reports, but four at Beals Point, Folsom Lake, on 7/30 (eBird checklist) were much less expected. A Red Knot (eBird checklist) was an excellent find at the Woodland WTP on 7/21-22. A Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Solitary Sandpiper were nice reports from 7/15 at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve off of Sunrise Blvd. A Dunlin at the Davis Wetlands on 7/1 was very early for this species, which is typically one of the later-arriving shorebirds. A single Willet was found at the Lincoln WTP on 7/10, while there were multiple July reports from regular Yolo shorebird sites. Up to three Western Gulls were reported in July from Sherman Island.

Two pairs of Least Terns nested at the Sacramento Regional WTP, and while a total of five chicks were hatched, none persisted for more than a week. No predation was observed, but likely culprits included a family group of five Common Ravens (which have begun nesting locally), Red-tailed and Swainson's hawks, and two Peregrine Falcons that were observed several times near the nest sites. There were multiple  Least Bittern reports throughout the period from Davis Wetlands (eBird Checklist), the Yolo Bypass, and the Putah Creek Sinks. A Brown Pelican seen along Hwy 160 south of Rio Vista on 7/28 was a nice surprise. Unusual songbirds were not reported during this period, though a high of 87 Bank Swallows among a congregation of post-breeding swallows on Sherman Island in the last half of July was a nice report for Sacramento County. While regular in Yolo County in migration, this species is often missed in Sacramento County, even in migration, since they ceased breeding near Rossmoor Bar along the American River more than 15 years ago. Perhaps there are regular at Sherman Island in July, but few people have looked in recent years.

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 (cvbirds.org) and in eBird (ebird.org). It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Dan Airola, Max Brodie, Brant Brumbeloe, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Terry Hodapp, James Holmes, Scott Hoppe, Afton Kern, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Ron Melcer, Gary Mele, Michael Perrone, Steve Scott, John Sterling, Jim Thomas, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2018

June and July can feel like the doldrums for birding around Sacramento, but it is a critical period for many of our local nesting species. By the end of June, shorebirds begin returning and early songbird migrants arrive a month later. Up to three Least Bitterns were reported throughout July (eBird checklist) from the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) and the Glossy Ibis continued at a nest from May through at least 7/19 (eBird checklist) at the Woodland WTP.

 Among the shorebird highlights, YBWA hosted a Pacific Golden-Plover from 7/12-13 (eBird checklist) and a Snowy Plover on 7/18. Marbled Godwits are rare elsewhere in the Central Valley, but are fairly regular in Yolo County. They were reported throughout the period, with a high of 21 at YBWA on 7/7.  Single  Semipalmated Sandpipers were found among large flocks of peeps at YBWA on 7/25, White's Slough (Lodi) WTP (eBird checklist) on 7/30, Woodland WTP on 7/28, and Abel Rd at Colusa NWR on 7/29. The only Solitary Sandpipers reported were singles at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve on Sunrise Blvd from 7/27-28 and the Arbuckle WTP on 7/29. A Franklin's Gull was seen and photographed by many at the Woodland WTP from 6/26-29 (eBird checklist). Four Least Terns were found at the Sacramento Regional WTP on 7/3. One pair stayed to nest along with a single adult that was regularly seen. 

 As has become expected, Allen's Hummingbirds turned up on private property along Putah Creek between Davis and Winters in late June to early July; one was a green-backed male. Indicating a possible breeding season range expansion, in addition to the Yolo and San Joaquin County records mentioned in the previous column, two Say's Phoebes were found in Elk Grove near Bilby Rd, not far from the small town of Franklin on 7/15. A single Say's Phoebe was also found on 7/28 near Rancho Cordova along the dirt portion of Kiefer Blvd. A "Solitary Vireo" (Cassin's or Plumbeous) was reported on 7/18 at the South Fork Putah Creek Preserve off of Mace Blvd. A juvenile Steller's Jay in Davis on 7/8 was a real surprise and likely wondered down from the Coast Range. A Gray Catbird on 6/19 was a late vagrant downstream from Stevenson's Bridge near Winters, and an adult male Chestnut-sided Warbler along Putah Creek downstream from Pedrick Rd was a surprisingly early vagrant on 7/31, continuing into August. Also downstream of Pedrick Rd were a surprisingly early immature Golden-crowned Sparrow on 7/22 and a male Indigo Bunting (eBird checklist) from 7/26 into August.  The male Summer Tanager continued from May through at least late July at the Orr Ranch portion of Cosumnes River Preserve, but despite much singing, did not appear to have attracted a mate.

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: Stuart Angerer, Keith Bailey, Mario Balitbit, Kathy Blankenship, Holly Coates, Ore Carmi, Dan Cook, Lily Douglas, Andy Engilis, Stephen Fettig, Robert Furrow, Douglas Hall, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Terry Hodapp, Joan Humphrey, Stanton Hunter, Logan Kahle, Dan Kopp, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Calvin Lou, Tim Ludwick, Mark Martucci, Bruce Mast, Michael Perrone, Steve Scott, Dan Singer, Shannon Skalos, John Sterling, Kirk Swenson, Jim Thomas, John Trochet, and Liz West. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2017

As expected, shorebird reports dominated the period, with Arctic migrants showing up in our area by the last week of June. Much more surprising was a report and distant photographs of a possible Neotropic Cormorant on 7/8-9 at the Stockton Sewage Ponds. This species has been expanding its range north, so we should keep an eye out for them in the future. Least Bitterns were found at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) from 6/14-7/16, with a high of two, at Bridgeway Island Pond in West Sacramento from 7/18-27, and at Mather Lake from 7/9-21 (eBird checklist). A very vocal Black Rail was a nice surprise at Bridgeway Island Pond from 7/18 through at least 7/27.

A Snowy Plover on 7/9 at the YBWA was a nice find, although this species usually turns up a few times in the summer. Solitary Sandpipers were well represented, with one at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Reserve off of Sunrise Blvd on 7/23, one at the Woodland WTP on 7/28, and a high of four at the Sacramento Reg. WTP (SRWTP) Bufferlands from 7/25-8/3 (eBird checklist). There were good numbers of Marbled Godwits at YBWA in July, with a high of over 50. A Willet was at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Reserve on 7/21, and one was at SRWTP from 7/6-10. A Red Knot was a really nice find at the Davis WTP from 6/28-30, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper found on a tour of the SRWTP Bufferlands on 7/29. A Least Tern pair nested again at SRWTP (as they have in all but two years since 2008), but the three chicks that hatched by 6/11 disappeared in their first week, surely by way of an unknown predator. A Black Skimmer found at YBWA on 7/4 (eBird checklist) was a first for Yolo County and a really nice surprise. It was likely the same bird that was reported the previous day from Sacramento NWR, to the north of our area, but it was not found again after 7/4.

 A Say's Phoebe in juvenile plumage was a surprise at the North Mather Drive Wetlands on 7/29. This species is not known to nest in our immediate area. A late singing Swainson's Thrush was found in the Orr Forest of Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 6/24, but not on followup visits, and Yellow Warblers were singing and seemingly on territory there, and may have nested. The only real songbird vagrant of the period was a singing male Northern Parula at William B Pond along the American River Parkway on 6/4.  Up to five Grasshopper Sparrows at CRP in the pasture off of Bruceville Rd were a nice find in mid-July. The singing male Summer Tanager at CRP's Orr Forest found on 5/27 continued through at least late July, but there was no indication that he found a mate despite singing incessantly throughout the day.

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: Keith Bailey, Paul Cordero, Hugh Dingle, Lily Douglas, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Stephan Fettig, Ted Gilliland, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, John Harris, Cliff Hawley, James Holmes, Stanton Hunter, Logan Kahle, Dan Kopp, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Michael Perrone, Jason Riggio, Jim Rowoth, Steve Scott, John Sterling, John Trochet, Adam Warner, Rick Williams, and David Yee. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2016

With the heat of summer, June and July are two of the most uncomfortable months to be in the field; nevertheless, excellent finds are made during this period each year. On 6/2, a Blue-winged Teal pair was seen with nine young along the auto loop at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA). A Least Bittern was photographed at Mather Lake on 6/26 (eBird checklist), where this species is found just about every summer; it was reported again on 7/3. A Least Bittern was also seen along the YBWA auto tour on 7/10, with continued reports throughout the month, and another was at the Bridgeway Island pond on 7/21. A small Green Heron nesting colony was found in planted live oaks along La Riviera Dr near the Howe access to the American River Parkway (eBird checklist). While nests are found regularly in the area, most have been single nests rather than colonies.

Songbird migration doesn’t pick up until right at the end of the period, but “fall” shorebird migration is well underway by the last week of June. The shorebird report of the season was a Stilt Sandpiper seen by many at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Reserve on 7/22 (eBird checklist). This is a great find anywhere in the Valley, but this is one of few Sacramento County records. A Pacific Golden-Plover was a nice find at YBWA on 7/10 (eBird checklist) and a Snowy Plover was found at YBWA on 7/21. Two Willets were seen at the Davis WTP on 7/17, and a single was at the Sacramento Regional WTP (SRWTP) on 7/15. Marbled Godwit reports from the period include one on 6/4 at YBWA, a high of 24 at the same location on 7/16, as well as multiple reports from the Davis Wetlands. Single Semipalmated Sandpipers were found at SRWTP on 7/6-7 (eBird checklist) and 7/28-29 (eBird checklist). There were several reports of single Semipalmated Sandpipers in July from YBWA and the Davis Wetlands. On 7/11, a Baird’s Sandpiper was found at YBWA, with another reported from the same location on 7/31. The pair of Least Terns found nesting at SRWTP continued through July, and fledged two young.

A couple of locally rare kingbirds were good finds for Sacramento County. On 6/5, an Eastern Kingbird (eBird checklist) was found along Payen Rd on both sides of the Sacramento/El Dorado County line, and was seen by many who searched for it through 6/10. A Cassin’s Kingbird found on 7/9 along the River Walk at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) was one of a very few ever reported for the county. Unfortunately, that bird did not stick around. The first solid report of a Gray Catbird (with a date and location!) for the county came from the Tall Forest area of CRP on 6/14. A Red-breasted Nuthatch on 7/31 at Slide Hill Park in Davis was a nice find for the season.

Another great songbird report was of a Worm-eating Warbler singing and briefly seen on 6/4 from an area of excellent habitat west of Latrobe Rd, south of Hwy 50, in El Dorado County. The site is publicly accessible along a portion of the closed railroad track paralleling Deer Creek and continuing to Payen Rd (the El Dorado Trail: http://eldoradotrail.com/trail-map/). Yellow-breasted Chats were among the interesting birds found by those looking for the Worm-eating Warbler. A singing Ovenbird was reported along Goethe Rd in Rancho Cordova on 6/15 and an American Redstart was found in a backyard near Madera Park off Sunrise Ave on 6/3. Six Yellow Warblers singing at the Cache Creek Settling Basin on 6/20 is an encouraging sign of local breeding. A Black-throated Gray Warbler on 6/12 at CRP was either a little late or early. On 6/18, at least 14 Savannah Sparrows were on singing along the YBWA where this species has previously been documented nesting. This site appears to be near the limit of inland expansion from the SF Bay region, where they are regular nesters. A streaky juvenile Dark-eyed Junco was found on 6/13 along Babel Slough and another was found at Reichmuth Park on 6/16 (eBird checklist), indicating local nesting. A few pairs are detected each summer at CRP, but they are exceedingly rare nesters elsewhere in the Central Valley. The singing male Summer Tanager from the Orr Forest at CRP continued on 6/25, but was not found on a subsequent visit in July. On 6/7, there was an intriguing report of an Evening Grosbeak along Desmond Rd at CRP.

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: Keith Bailey, Terry Colborn, Farley Cross, Lily Douglas, Todd Easterla, Bob Ellis, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Frank Fogarty, Ted Gilliland, Kevin Guse, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, James Holmes, Rosa Jimenez, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Frances Oliver, Michael Perrone, Jim Rowoth, Sonia Santa Anna, Mark Sawyer, Steve Scott, Shannon Skalos, Lindsey Smith, John Sterling, Kirk Swenson, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2015

June is a very important month for birds, as it is one of their most active breeding months, but for birders in the Sacramento area it is the slowest month in terms of diversity. But the birding drought doesn't last too long, as by the end of June and into August is the best time for shorebird diversity and numbers--plus there usually are a few vagrants to spice things up. Least Bitterns (eBird checklist) were detected at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) from May into July, with adult and juveniles seen in early and mid-July; a single was also found at Mather Lake on 6/12. Ospreys are locally scarce as breeders, so a pair working on a nest along the Sacramento River near Elverta Rd on 7/10 was notable. The two to three Black Rails found singing and calling along the River Walk at CRP continued from 5/23 to at least 6/6. 

Shorebird highlights included a Pacific Golden-Plover at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) 7/25-27 (eBird checklist) and a Snowy Plover at the same location on 7/14. There were a handful of Willet and Marbled Godwit reports in mid-July at both YBWA and Woodland WTP. A molting adult Sanderling found at the Sacramento Regional WTP (SRWTP) on 7/21 (eBird checklist) continued for an impressive eight days. Most of the Baird’s Sandpiper reports in our area are of juveniles, so the 7/14-17 report of an adult photographed at the Woodland WTP was notable for its age and for arriving about a month before most of our records for that species. Another early Baird's Sandpiperwas reported at Cosumnes River Preserve on 7/22. A Ruff in partial breeding plumage was found at the Davis Wetlands on 6/29, with another reported from CRP on 7/6. A pair of Least Terns was found at SRWTP on 7/5 (eBird checklist); they nested despite the late date and had two chicks by early August. A single pair nested at SRWTP from 2008-2012, made a brief appearance in 2013, and did not return in 2014, so their reappearance was a pleasant surprise. Another Least Tern was found and photographed on 7/17 at the Woodland WTP.
 
A Long-eared Owl at West Pond in Davis on 7/24 was an unexpected surprise, and a male Costa’s Hummingbird put in an appearance along Putah Creek between Davis and Winters on 6/23. ALewis’s Woodpecker at Babel Slough on 6/6 was quite a surprise for the date, and the femaleHairy Woodpecker, found with a male earlier in the year along Lake Natoma downstream of Young Wo Circle, continued through at least 6/6.

After an intriguing backlit photo of a kingbird was posted to Facebook the previous day, an experienced birder heard a Cassin’s Kingbird call several times at the William B Pond access to the American River Parkway (ARP) on 6/24, but it was not subsequently detected. A Red-eyed Vireo was a nice find on 6/8 along Cache Creek upstream of Woodland and Rd 94B, accessed from Wild Wings County Park. A California Thrasher photographed at Sailor Bar on 6/21 provided the only record for Sacramento County this year. A Northern Parula was found at the William B Pond access to ARP on 6/25 and a singing male Northern Parula was recorded at the Sacramento Bypass (Yolo County) on 6/29. Grasshopper Sparrows, including recently fledged young, were found along Yolo County Rd 104, south of Rd 38A on 6/29. For the second year in a row, aSummer Tanager took up residence along Wood Duck Slough at the Tall Forest of CRP. This year one was seen and heard singing from at 6/16 to 7/18. A second-year male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was a nice find near the Tall Forest at CRP on 6/19, as was a singing male Indigo Bunting at Spenceville Wildlife Area from 5/30 through at least 6/6.

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: Stuart Angerer, Keith Bailey, Ted Beedy, Brent Campos, Lily Douglas, Leo Edson, Gil Ewing, Claire Gallagher, Melissa Gates, Maureen Geiger, Ian Gledhill, Steve Hampton, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, Stanton Hunter, Afton Kern, Dan Kopp, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, John Luther, Phil Lutz, Michael Perrone, Ron Pozzi, David Rial, Jim Rowoth, Steve Scott, John Sterling, Gene Trapp, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2014

June through July is an important period for breeding birds, but, aside from shorebirds, it can be pretty slow for birders, with overall diversity quite low. This year was an exception with many interesting finds. Among the most enjoyable was a Little Blue Heron seen by many in Natomas at a large rookery at an apartment complex near San Juan Rd and Azevedo Dr (eBird checklist).  The bird was discovered on 6/22, where it was arranging sticks in a nest and displaying among Snowy Egrets and Cattle Egrets; it continued through at least 7/7.  Perhaps this was the same bird seen at the Conaway Ranch in Yolo County on 5/30.  Breeding evidence of Hooded Mergansers  continues to accumulate, with two young birds at the Lost Slough portion of CRP on 7/13. A Least Bittern was seen by several observers throughout the period at Mather Lake, and a Glossy Ibis was found at the Davis Wetlands on 6/27 among the White-faced Ibises.

There was an excellent assortment of shorebirds found in the region this summer, including an adult American Golden-Plover reported at Woodland WTP on 6/27 and an Golden-Plover unidentified to species at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 7/20. A Pacific Golden-Plover mostly in breeding plumage was reported along Desmond Rd at CRP on 7/21 and 7/27. A Snowy Plover was found at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) on 7/20 and continued through the end of the month, and a Snowy Plover was also at CRP on 7/20. A Willet was found at the Woodland WTP on 6/23, while two were at CRP along Desmond Rd (photo on flickr) on 7/26, with at least one continuing through the end of month.  Up to ten Marbled Godwits were reported on several occasions in Yolo County, while six were found at CRP along Desmond Rd on 7/23. A Ruddy Turnstone was an excellent report along with a couple of very early Dunlins at YBWA on 7/28. A Stilt Sandpiper (eBird checklist) was found at YBWA on 7/23 and perhaps the same bird was reported on 7/30. A Semipalmated Sandpiper was a nice find at YBWA on 7/20 (eBird checklist) and a Wilson’s Phalarope chick at YBWA on 7/19 was a nice breeding record.

A Greater Roadrunner was reported calling from the Solano County side of Putah Creek west of Winters near Fishing Access 4 off Hwy 128 on 6/19. The male Costa’s Hummingbird continued at a south Sacramento yard from 5/31 into August. A female or immature Calliope Hummingbird was reported from a private residence near North Highlands on 7/20. Among the good songbird reports was a Red-eyed Vireo reported singing in east Davis on 7/4, an American Redstart at the Regional San Bufferlands on 6/4, and an Ovenbird (eBird checklist) enjoyed by several observers on the boarder of the Sacramento Zoo on 6/7. A juvenile Chipping Sparrow was found at CRP on 7/12. Another highlight of the season was two Summer Tanagers (eBird checklist) counter-singing on 6/21 near the Tall Forest. One of the birds continued into August and was seen by several observers. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak(eBird checklist) was found on 7/26 and continued through at least 8/1, and an immature or early molting male Indigo Buntingwas at the Bufferlands on 7/23.

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:  Dan Airola, Ashley Casey, Terry Colborn, Lyann Comrack, Bob Ellis, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Eli Gross, Steve Hampton, Joan Humphrey, Jenner Junghans, Afton Kern, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Susie Nishio, Charles Smith, John Sterling, Fritz Steurer, Michael Strom, John Trochet, Dan Williams, and Sharon Wisecarver. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2013

This is one of the most important periods for our local nesting birds, but, as a rule, it is the slowest time of year for birding in the Sacramento Area. Often a songbird rarity or two will spice things up, like the Putah Creek Gray Catbird (see below), and by mid-July shorebird migration is in full swing.  An impressive list of summering waterfowl was noted at the Davis Wetlands on 7/12, including Greater White-fronted Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and Canvasback.  A Snow Goosespent the summer in the wetlands along Desmond Rd at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) and a female Hooded Merganser with three fully grown young was found at the Valensin portion of CRP on 6/16.  An adult Glossy Ibis was seen by many observers at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) on 7/28-30.  A Prairie Falcon was reported near Esparto on 6/10, not far from where the species has been documented nesting in the Capay Valley.

Interesting shorebird reports included an American Golden-Plover at YBWA on 7/21, very rare for the Central Valley, a Snowy Plover at CRP on 7/18-20, a Solitary Sandpiper at Davis WTP on 7/22, a Willet at the Sacramento Reg. WTP on 7/29, a high of 14 Marbled Godwits at Davis WTP on 7/17, a Marbled Godwit at CRP on 7/14, where they are much rarer than in Yolo County, and a Semipalmated Sandpiper at Davis Wetlands on 7/25.  A first-cycle Heermann’s Gull, extremely rare for the Central Valley, was found at the Davis WTP on 7/21-22.  Once again Least Terns visited the Sacramento Reg. WTP, with four adults on 6/28 and one continuing on 6/29.  For the first time in six years, they did not attempt to nest.

An adult male Costa’s Hummingbird was seen by many from 6/23-7/25 in residential Natomas.  Visitors were graciously hosted by Kevin Guse as the bird visited his yard and hummingbird feeders.  

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Costa's Hummingbird by Kevin Guse on 23 June 2013

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Costa's Hummingbird by Kevin Guse on 23 June 2013

A Hairy Woodpecker on 7/16 at Sailor Bar, American River Parkway, was an excellent find for Sacramento County.  Songbird migration trickled into June, including a Warbling Vireo in West Sacramento on 6/7.  A Gray Catbird was an excellent find along Putah Creek east of Pedrick Rd on 6/9 and is perhaps a first for Solano County.  Horned Larks were confirmed nesting for the first time at Lower CRP, with newly fledged young found at the Twin Cities Unit on 6/6.  They are regular breeders in the eastern foothills of Sacramento County, as well as nearby portions of San Joaquin County near Staten Island and at the YBWA.  Brown Creepers were once again confirmed nesting along Putah Creek to the west of Winters.  A Yellow-breasted Chat at the Humbug/Willow Creek Parkway in Folsom on 7/9 was found where one was seen and heard earlier this spring.  Several Grasshopper Sparrows were noted on territories in the Putah Creek Sinks (the southern portion of the Yolo Bypass).  A lingering White-crowned Sparrow was found along the Garden Hwy in Natomas on the very late date of 6/22, and an impressive 30Lawrence’s Goldfinches were at Sweetwater Creek and Folsom Lake on 7/17.

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 eBird. It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports:  Steve Abbott, Andy Engilis, Ron Cole, Todd Easterla, Gil Ewing, Cory Gregory, Kevin Guse, Steve Hampton, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Mark Martucci, Linda Melching, Ed Pandolfino, Michael Perrone, Linda Pittman, William Rockey, Jim Rowoth, Sonia Santa Anna, John Sterling, Michael Strom, Kirk Swenson, Craig Swolgaard, John Trochet, and Daniel Welsh. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2012

Brown Pelicans were found in unprecedented numbers in the Sacramento area this summer. In addition to the individual that has been in West Sacramento since 8/24/11, two others were at the Port of Sacramento on 7/14. On 7/6, two Brown Pelicans flew over Rd 103 and were later found at the Yolo Landfill on Rd 28H. One was found at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) on 7/15 and 7/21. At Sherman Lake Marina in southwestern Sacramento County, one was found on 7/8 and continued in the vicinity, with sporadic reports along W Sherman Island Rd through the end of the month. Aside from the continuing bird in West Sacramento, all of the Brown Pelicans reported have been hatch-year birds. Prior to 2004 there was only one record for Sacramento County—the first, in 1976, was only the second for the entire Central Valley!—and the first Yolo County record wasn’t discovered until 2008. The recent influx is likely due to a combination of a high population that rebounded since the banning of DDT and periodic shortages of anchovy and sardine schools close to shore, such as have been reported this year. The inexperienced juveniles of this almost exclusively coastal species are far more likely to turn up inland looking for food than are adults.

Gil Ewing's eBird checklist and Brown Pelican photo: eBird checklist

Brown Pelican reports in eBird.

Out of season Horned Grebes were found at the Davis Wetlands on 6/3-10 and at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 6/10. Both birds appeared to be molting out of breeding plumage. A Least Bittern was detected at Mather Lake from 7/4 into August. Two Willets were found in rice fields at CRP on 6/27. Two Marbled Godwits were along E Levee Rd in Natomas on 7/1 and another two were at CRP along Desmond Rd on 7/13; up to 50 were found in Yolo County on 7/21 (29 at YWA and 21 at the Yolo Landfill Pond), where they are far more regular. A juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was found at the Woodland WTP on 7/29. On 6/22 there were 800 California Gulls and a first-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull at the Davis WTP. A near-adult Herring Gull summered nearby. One to two Western Gulls were reported at Sherman Island from 7/8 onwards. Least Terns nested for the fifth straight year at the Sacramento Reg. WTP, but failed to fledge young. Two chicks were detected on 7/19, but only one was seen on 7/22, and after 7/24 there were no additional sightings. The adults continued at the site into August. A single adult was seen along E Levee Rd in Natomas on 7/4.

Two adult male Allen’s Hummingbirds were captured and banded along Putah Creek upstream of Davis on 6/28. This species has proven to be rare but regular, though very difficult and often impossible to separate from the much more common Rufous Hummingbird. An immature male Calliope Hummingbird was found in Fair Oaks on 7/31. A Gray Catbird was found singing in Solano County along Putah Creek between Davis and Winters on 6/19. A very ratty hatch-year Northern Parula was found near the Tall Forest at CRP on 7/21, leading to speculation about the origin of this bird; was there a nest nearby? A Northern Waterthrush was found in Colusa County on 6/7 along Sand Creek Rd. Breeding by Lazuli Buntings was confirmed at CRP and the Sacramento Co. Bufferlands, where they only breed sporadically, and Dark-eyed Juncos were detected breeding in at least two sites at CRP, as they have since first detected in 2000.

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 are included. Many reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserve and eBird. It is impossible to list everyone, but I want to thank the following for their reports: Dan Airola, Gil Ewing, Brandi Gartland, Maureen Geiger, Cory Gregory, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Dan Kopp, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Phil Lutz, Linda Pittman, Dennis Pleau, Jim Rowoth, John Sterling, John Trochet, Magill Weber, Dan Welsh, and Ed Whisler. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2011

With abundant late rain this spring it is not too surprising that migrant songbirds were somewhat delayed, with fair numbers coming through well into June. A sample day on 6/5 at Slide Hill Park in Davis included a Hammond's Flycatcher, a Dusky Flycatcher, a "Western” Flycatcher, an Olive-sided Flycatcher, a Swainson's Thrush, a Wilson's Warbler and a Townsend's Warbler. Also surprising for this summer season were a few unusual and/or unprecedented breeding records. Hooded Mergansers were confirmed nesting for the first time in Sacramento County at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) near the Valensin Forest, and Yellow Warblers were found to have nested successfully for the first time at CRP, with an adult feeding two recently fledged young. The first solid nesting record of Yellow-breasted Chat at CRP was less heartening: a chat was seen feeding a young Brown-headed Cowbird. A pair of Least Terns nested for the fourth year in a row at the Sacramento Reg. WTP (SRWTP), fledging three chicks. At least two Bell’s Vireos were found singing at the Yolo Wildlife Area for the second year in a row, but no solid evidence of nesting was discovered, and the last detection was on 7/10.

The unchallenged highlights for the period were a couple of rare shorebirds, both first records for the Central Valley. An Upland Sandpiper was found along Waverly Rd to the east of Stockton, just south of the area typically covered by this column, on 6/25. It was seen by many, with some seeing and hearing its wonderful flight display. At other times during its stay through 6/28 it remained out of sight, disappointing many others.  Linda Pittman's photos, including flight shots, may be found here.  On 7/15-17, an adult Little Stint was found and seen by many at the Davis Wetlands and photographed by Roger Adamson. Additional photos  at http://radamson.smugmug.com/

Upland Sandpiper by Linda Pittman

Little Stint by Roger Adamson

On 6/1 a juvenile Brown Pelican was found in West Sacramento. The following day it was on the front lawn of the Post Office on Industrial Blvd. It was picked up by a wildlife rehabber that afternoon since it was walking into traffic. Another Brown Pelican found on 6/3 at the Folsom Dam did not survive. A juvenile Brown Pelican found at the Lodi WTP on 7/20 continued into August. This species is quite rare in the Valley, but it has become more regular over the past two decades. On 6/3 an adult Western Gull was among over 300 California Gulls at the Davis WTP. The California Gulls nested for the second year in a row, but none of the chicks survived to fledging, likely because of the sustained efforts by aerial and ground predators.

A male Allen’s Hummingbird was observed performing a display flight at CRP on 6/19 and Allen’s Hummingbirds were captured and measured (the only safe way to separate this species from Rufous Hummingbirds aside from the display flight) along Putah Creek between Davis and Winters. Other highlights included an adult Snowy Plover at the Lincoln WTP on 6/15-16, 21 Willets at SRWTP on 7/22, a Semipalmated Sandpiper at the Davis Wetlands on 7/15-17, three Common Nighthawks along Meiss Rd in eastern Sacramento County on 6/11, an unprecedented June record (6/12) of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in full song on Yolo County Rd 98, north of the town of Yolo, and an immature male Summer Tanager on Todhunter Ave near Riverbank Road in West Sacramento on 7/20. The Steller’s Jay that wintered in Curtis Park continued through at least 6/18. Adult Purple Martins and their recently fledged young were noted in impressive numbers at Paradise Beach along the American River Parkway, with 65 on 7/26, a high of 92 on 7/27, and 40 or more continuing into mid-August.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserve.  Visit cvbirds.org and click "Listserve" for details. With more than 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, Dan Airola, Mel Bolinder, Dawn DeBerry, Todd Easterla, Gil Ewing, Nancy Gronert, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Pablo Herrera, Dan Kopp, Manfred Kusch, Frances Oliver, Michael Perrone, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Jennifer Rycenga, John Sterling, John Trochet, and Ed Whisler. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

June - July 2010

These are months that many birders choose to skip in the Valley—a good time to go on vacation, to visit the Sierra.  Nonetheless, there are always some interesting reports.  The period is bookended by a couple often highly productive weeks.  Early June is late spring migration, a time when interesting songbirds can be found, and the latter half of July is among the most active stretches of shorebird migration.

While the birding might be considered blasé, it is a most important time for our local breeding birds, and those trying to establish a breeding presence.  The Bell’s Vireos found singing from two separate locations south of Parking Lot G at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) beginning on 4/16 were seen with likely females, but nesting was never confirmed.  California Gulls attempted to set up a colony at the Davis WTP for the first nesting in Yolo County and the first for the Central Valley since the 1920s.  While a high of 76 nests were detected and a few chicks hatched, predators (coyotes, raccoons, Great Horned Owls) ultimately destroyed the colony.  On a happier note, the Least Tern pair returned to the Sacramento Regional WTP for the third year in a row and successfully fledged one chick.  A Turkey Vulture nest was found on the ground in thick vegetation at the Orr Forest of Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 6/18.  Nests of this species are rare, or at least rarely found, on the Valley floor.

June songbird highlights were less numerous than in previous years and there were no real standout rarities in July, which often occur, and are not always easy to explain.  This year we had to be contented with two Northern Parulas on 6/3 from the Trestle Pond area east of I-5 near Woodland, an American Redstart along Jefferson Blvd south of West Sacramento on 6/5, a striking male Chestnut-sided Warbler in Loomis along King Rd on 6/11, and a Red-eyed Vireo in Galt on 6/24. 

Photos by Don Baylis.  This male Chestnut-sided Warbler was found in Loomis on 6/11/10.  Like many warblers, it remained partially hidden by vegetation, but its bright colors shone through.

Interesting shorebirds included a Snowy Plover from the Woodland WTP on 7/13 and two adult Semipalmated Sandpipers at YWA the same day, a Snowy Plover, a Solitary Sandpiper, and a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper at the Lodi WTP on 7/23, and two Sacramento County Marbled Godwit reports, where they are far less regular than in Yolo:  a pair at Sherman Island on 7/12 and four at the Sacramento Reg. WTP Bufferlands on 7/19.  An early “fall” Wilson’s Warbler was found at CRP on 7/16, and single juvenile Grasshopper Sparrows were found at CRP and along Chamberlain Rd north of Lincoln on 7/17.  An Indigo Bunting was also at CRP on 7/17.  Outside our area but worth a mention was the very unexpected find of a Mexican Whip-poor-will (recently split from Eastern Whip-poor-will) calling and occasionally seen on a ridge above Lake Oroville from 6/26 to mid-July.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.  Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details.  With nearly 200 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, Dan Airola, Ruth Baylis, Dan Brown, Todd Easterla, Gil Ewing, Dave Feliz, Steve Hampton, Scott Huber, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Frances Oliver, Ed Pandolfino, Tim Ruckle, John Sterling, John Trochet, Ed Whisler, Dan Williams, and David Yee.  Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible. 

June - July 2009

After an unremarkable spring, what is usually considered to be the slow season was quite interesting, as the list of highlights below will attest.  Migrants are typically few until the shorebird migration really kicks in by mid-July (with the first showing up in late June), but the slow times are often punctuated by a big surprise or two.  One of these came on the first day of June in the form of a singing Ovenbird where Strong Ranch Slough crosses Alta Arden Expressway, just west of Watt Ave.  The bird was heard by many and seen by some through 6/8.  This is only the third record for Sacramento County.

Red eyed Vireo photo by Roger Adamson on 8/8.

Other marquee finds for the period included a Brown Pelican seen flying over I-5 north of Laguna Blvd on 7/6 for Sacramento’s third record (the first was in 1976), and a Franklin’s Gull at the Davis WTP on 7/30, continuing into early August.  A Red-eyed Vireo at North Pond in Davis on 7/18, like the Ovenbird, was easier to hear than see, but gave plenty of opportunities to look as it stayed well into August.  Also at North Pond, a Northern Parula was found on 7/29 and continued into August; another Northern Parula was found in Vacaville on 6/17.  A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was photographed at an Orangevale backyard feeder on 7/8-9, and a male Indigo Bunting was found east of Auburn on 6/4, and stayed long enough, singing vociferously from the hillside above Old Auburn Rd, for many people to see it.

The first “fall” shorebirds for the region, Western and Least Sandpipers, were reported on 6/28, with excellent habitat and numbers noted at Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) in July.  On 7/10, four Willets, eight Marbled Godwits, and two  Semipalmated Sandpipers were found there.  At the Galt WTP on 7/11 there were six Marbled Godwits, which are much harder to come by in Sacramento County than in Yolo.  On 7/24 at the Davis Wetlands, a Snowy Plover and four Willets were found, with another 11 Willets at YWA. 

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Least Tern at Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Photo by Chris Conard. Click here photo for video of Least Tern chicks.

Last year, Sacramento County’s first Least Terns attempted to nest at the Sacramento Reg. WTP.  The pair returned this year on 5/29, and succeeded in fledging two young on 7/13.  This normally coastal species has expanded its range in recent years into the Delta at the Montezuma Wetlands in Solano County.  There has been a general positive trend with the protection of breeding colonies in the state:  in 1973 there were an estimated 624 pairs, and by 2006 there were over 6,700—good news on the conservation front is always welcome.  It will be interesting to see if they continue to move inland in the coming years.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo photographed on 7/1 by Steve Abbott. For more on the story, click here.

Other interesting finds include a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that was brought to a wildlife rehabber in Shingle Springs in late June.  Apparently it sustained minor injuries from a house cat.  This species is now very rarely reported in the  Sacramento area, though it does breed in small numbers farther north in the Valley along the Sacramento River.  A White-winged Dove was a nice find north of Lincoln on 7/4.  Red-breasted Nuthatches were found out of season, with one in Davis on 6/7 and at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 7/12.  A White-crowned Sparrow was a real surprise in West Sacramento on 7/8, and a Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler was similarly unexpected at CRP on 6/26.  Once again there was a large White-faced Ibis breeding colony at YWA, visible from the Yolo Causeway, and a pair or two of Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos continue to breed at CRP, the only confirmed location in the Central Valley.

 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:  Steve Abbott, Roger Adamson, Dave Bell, Tom Cadle, Margaret Crawford, Chris Dunford, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Dave Feliz, Steve Hampton, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Tim Manolis, Kurt Mize, Ed Pandolfino, Michael Perrone, Phil Robertson, John Sterling, John Trochet, Bill Wade, Jim Weigand, Dan Williams, Bruce Webb, and Ed Whisler.  Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.