Sacramento Audubon Society is proud to offer a variety of field trips every month. Here’s some of what birders saw, heard, and experienced on recent field trips. Field trips are open to birders of all abilities. We’d love to have you join us on an upcoming Sacramento Audubon field trip.
We were well rewarded, especially with a pair of Phainopeplas fly-catching, and a great look at a male Western Tanager. Image by Ray Rozema
Sacramento Bar, (9/12)
Leader Darrell Mohr reported: "The trip started early, 7AM. We had nice clear weather. Nine people were ready to go birding. First we worked the parking lot and this is where we located the majority of species on this tour. We spent almost an hour searching for birds.at this location. We were well rewarded, especially with a pair of Phainopeplas fly-catching, and a great look at a male Western Tanager. From the parking lot we proceeded to the bank of the American River. Out in the river we observed Wood Ducks and Common Mergansers and a Spotted Sandpiper. Walking to the far end of the park and around the old burn area many Acorn Woodpeckers have made homes in the old burned out trees.We had a total 43 species. Perhaps the best species were a Western Tanager and a Red-breasted Nuthatch."
The late season elderberries along the path attracted several birds including Phainopepla. Image by Daniel Brown
Sailor Bar, (9/11)
Leader Nicole Barden reported: "17 people gathered at Sailor Bar for a morning stroll through oak woodlands along the river. Right from the parking lot we were rewarded with a small group of Lark Sparrows on the ground and two Cooper’s Hawks were seen dodging into the trees! We sent a small group of folks who had missed the initial Cooper’s Hawks sighting and they luckily caught a glimpse of them as they moved farther into the forest. Along the way it was amusing to see several hummingbirds at a time chasing away other birds, including the Kestrel and a Red-shouldered Hawk. A Little farther down the trail we saw a Kestrel (the same one?) sitting beautifully, showing off its back. When the Kestrel flew, the sun glowed through his gorgeous tail feathers! The late season elderberries along the path attracted several birds including Phainopepla, multiple Anna’s Hummingbirds, Bushtits, California Scrub-Jays, and California Towhees. We picked out an immature Turkey Vulture with fresh feathers and a grey colored head, a treat to find among all the red heads! We also got some warbler action, including Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler. A lone Bufflehead was seen diving across the water, and I was told that it has been seen regularly by others recently.
The only bird that we strangely didn’t see or hear was the Spotted Towhee, which we realized had been absent as we ended our walk. The end of our walk warmed up quite quickly, so we decided to head home. In total we had 37 species and you can find our full list on ebird here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S149733262"
We spied a variety of raptors: perched Great Horned Owl, White-tailed Kite, Red-tailed Hawk with Swainson’s Hawks and Turkey Vultures in the distance. Image of Great Horned Owl by Dana J Miller-Blair.
Putah Creek and Pedrick Road, (9/6)
Leader Nancy Gronert reported: "8 intrepid birders showed up to leisurely stroll the Putah Creek trails and gravel paths. We looked through Yellow, Wilson’s, Orange-crowned, and Black-throated Gray Warblers along the creek path. We had good comparisons of a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Acorn Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers in the distance. Close up we were treated to regular White- breasted Nuthatches and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. A number of flycatchers showed up along the creek path for comparison: Western Wood-Pewee, Willow, and Pacific-slope. The expected Black Phoebes, Yellow-billed Magpies, several Western Kingbirds, Warbling Vireos along with Western Tanagers and a Black-headed Grosbeak showed up. We spied a variety of raptors: perched Great Horned Owl, White-tailed Kite, Red-tailed Hawk with Swainson’s Hawks and Turkey Vultures in the distance. As we looked through the warblers bathing at the creek’s edge we noticed a couple of river otters. It was a great outing!"
Fourteen people attended this accessible outing at UC Davis Arboretum.
U.C. Davis Arboretum, (9/2)
Leader Paul Miller reported: "Fourteen people attended this accessible outing at UC Davis Arboretum. Maureen Geiger joined and helped lead Paul's largest group so far. While UC Davis Arboretum is beautiful and a great place to go birding, it can sometimes be a little sparse on birds. Highlight of the outing was seeing solo Wilson Warblers traveling with large flocks of Bushtits. The hummingbirds never fail to please and the group was able to observed both Anna’s and Rufous species feeding on various colorful flowers."
Bobelaine, (8/24)
Leader Maureen Geiger reported: "Bobelaine was wonderful as always, peaceful and more lush than it has been in late August for years. Eight of us walked to the Rivers’ Overlook enjoying the birds and plants along the way and found the Bear and Feather Rivers beautiful in the light. It was nice to see that the sandbars which seemed to be dominating the River a year ago were almost entirely gone.”
900 Western Sandpipers along with 400 peeps who all scattered when a Peregrine Falcon cruised the mudflats. Image of Western Sandpiper by Chris Conard
American Canyon Wetlands, (8/23)
Nancy Gronert, co-leader with Amy McDonald, reported: "Four birders showed up to enjoy the cooler Bay temps, check out the stand of trees for possibilities and search out seasonal shorebirds. Our group arrived at the mudflats along the Napa River 2.5 hours after a 4 foot high tide for an hour of a close view of shorebirds. We scanned to find Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Long-Billed Curlews, 150 Marbled Godwits, 100 Least Sandpipers, 900 Western Sandpipers along with 400 peeps who all scattered when a Peregrine Falcon cruised the mudflats. The group identified 100 Dowitchers, both Short- and Long-billed, Greater Yellowlegs, and Willets. As we walked along the pond and forest edges, birders were treated to a perched Golden Eagle, an Osprey, egrets and herons, a Belted-Kingfisher, a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, American Kestrel, Western Bluebirds, and California Towhees."