William Pond Beginner Walk, 12/15
Highlights included good looks at a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Image by Mary Forrestal
Larry Hickey, co-leader with Nancy Kapellas and Jane Van Kessel, reported: In heavy fog and cold temperatures 8 brave beginning birders joined us to go birding at the William Pond section of the American River Parkway. We managed to record 40 species despite the conditions due to the sharp eyes and ears of a great group of new birders. We were able to discern enough from loud calls and distinctive features to identify large numbers of Yellow-billed Magpies, American Crows, Canada Geese, California Scrub-Jays and the American Coots that inhabit the waterways in this part of the parkway in winter. We were also able to see and hear Acorn Woodpeckers, a very cooperative Nuttall’s Woodpecker and a pair of Northern Flickers engaged in what appeared to be some sort of squabble with each other. Highlights included good looks at a Red-breasted Sapsucker and a beautiful Green Heron once the fog started to dissipate a little.
Cosumnes River Preserve, 12/15 (unusual parts)
Leader Rodd Kelsey reported: We had six intrepid souls show up at 7:30 a.m. (with four cancellations). It was cold and very foggy, making for tough birding conditions. We spent time time walking along wetlands and rice fields in the back of the preserve. Lots of water birds around and in the air with a few shorebirds visible, but overall very low visibility. So, we called it an early day and I promised to make it up to them with a future trip :).
Bridgeway Island Pond, 12/15
The Blue-winged Teal were in great abundance with an estimated 125 Blue-winged Teal on the pond at 8 am. Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Leader Cliff Feldheim reported: Despite a cold, muddy, and foggy morning, 4 of us enjoyed a walk along the Bridgeway Wetland and the Deepwater Shipping Channel. We observed 41 species of birds and had good looks at 3 River Otters. The Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal were in great abundance with an estimated 525 Cinnamon Teal and 125 Blue-winged Teal on the pond at 8 am. We were delighted to get really good looks at an adult Common Yellowthroat that hopped around in the tules for a couple of minutes at only 15-20 feet from us.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center Family Walk, 12/21
We were instantly rewarded with a Red-shouldered Hawk that flew in and perched right over the pollinator garden. Image by Mary Forrestal
Rich Howard, co-leader with Rachael Cowan, reported: A stormy forecast meant only three of the 12 registrants showed up, but they were enthusiastic and well-dressed for the weather. While Rachael helped staff the Visitor Center and engaged young and old with views of birds in a scope from the back deck, Rich took the mom and two boys on an hour-long loop walk down to the River and back. We were instantly rewarded with a Red-shouldered Hawk that flew in and perched right over the pollinator garden. Other highlights included Acorn Woodpeckers at a granary tree and gulls eating salmon on a gravel bar. Mom bought the ARNHA 150 Birds of the Valley book and the SAS Checklist, and an excited girl showed her dad the Acorn Woodpecker pin that she bought after seeing one through Rachael’s scope, so the EYNC Nature Shop benefitted, too. We were glad we hadn’t canceled based on the weather forecast!
Cosumnes River Preserve, Young Birders, 12/22 (rescheduled from 12/14)
We traveled down the boardwalk, getting nice views of a group of Ring-necked Ducks resting and preening. Image by Chris Conard
Leader Mackenzie Hollander reported: Two other young birders and three parents joined my father and me at the preserve on this very foggy morning. A female Downy Woodpecker foraging on the small parking lot trees and a Say’s Phoebe hunting from low perches were nice first birds. We walked down to the first wetland section and identified Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and Gadwall. We had a brief glance at either a Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s Hawk dashing into a cluster of trees behind the wetland, and we got great looks at an energetic Oak Titmouse in a cottonwood, a valley specialty. We ran after a very active Belted Kingfisher to catch views of it flying over the wetland and circling back towards the woods. As we moved on to the second wetland patch, we noticed Black-necked Stilts, a small group of diving Bufflehead, and a resting American Wigeon. Right before we headed down the boardwalk, three Sandhill Cranes flew by! We traveled down the boardwalk, getting nice views of a Greater Yellowlegs and a group of Ring-necked Ducks resting and preening. We had stellar glimpses of male Common Yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens on the edges of the reeds along the boardwalk. We were surprised by how close we could get to White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows before they fled! Ruby- crowned Kinglets, Song Sparrows, and an elusive Lincoln’s Sparrow were highlights of the boardwalk. On our way to the woods, we paused to watch a White-tailed Kite hover in the same spot for about two whole minutes. We spent about 40 minutes in the woods along the Cosumnes River Walk. We finally saw brilliant male Cinnamon Teal, a White-breasted Nuthatch in an oak, and a Northern House Wren near the forest floor. A Red-tailed Hawk perched on a telephone wire was a great addition to our list, and when a Red-shouldered Hawk flew by, the Red-tailed Hawk dove at it and shrieked in an exciting territorial defense. A Cooper’s Hawk perched in a faraway cottonwood was a great last bird of the trip.
Yolo Bypass, 12/28
We passed a Great Egret who was enjoying a fish snack. Image by Mary Forrestal
Leader Rachael Cowan reported: We had 14 adults join with a broad range in birding experience, which made for a really nice group of sharing and learning. And one of the adults brought his 8 year old daughter, who was a great flock spotter. We started at 8am with a temperature in the low 50s, partly cloudy, and calm wind. White-crowned and Golden-crowned sparrows greeted us in Lot A before we started our auto tour. We passed a Great Egret who was enjoying a fish snack along the road, then we spent a good amount of time with scopes on the ponds south of Lot A. We were hoping to see the Eurasian Green-winged Teal recently reported at that location, but no luck. We did see a Eurasian Wigeon as well as the American Wigeon, and Green-winged and Cinnamon Teals, and a Red-tailed Hawk on the ground preening. Also spotted were the usual Northern Shovelers, Northern Pintails, Black-necked Stilts, and American Coots, and great flocks of Snow Goose flying over throughout the morning. A pair of Northern Harriers put on great views throughout the morning, and the roadsides were busy with Western Meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Savannah Sparrows. Before we arrived at Lot C we saw a number of sunlit White-faced Ibis foraging with Greater Yellowlegs in some mud flats, and then we enjoyed a magnificent view of a mature Bald Eagle perched with a Common Raven in the treeline along the road. This was a "Lifer" for four of our birders!! And at Lot C we saw a solo Tree Swallow and a surprise group of 10 Bonaparte’s Gulls, which was a lifer for an attendee who was visiting from the East Coast. As we rounded out our tour we caught a glance at a pair of Tundra Swan flying over before they dipped below the western levee, and a beautiful male American Kestrel was on a utility line as we headed back. We had a great day out birding and wrapped the trip with a total of 57 species.
Gray Lodge WLR, 1/4
Leader Sonja Sorbo reported: A beautiful winter day welcomed six birders to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. We began at the large wetland next to Parking Lot #14 and enjoyed views of greater White-fronted Geese and multiple duck species. We achieved a “grand slam” of the teal family, seeing Green-winged, Cinnamon, and Blue-winged all swimming in proximity to each other. There were good numbers of Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwall, and Northern Shoveler plus a smattering of Bufflehead and Ring-necked ducks. A nearby pond sported a Great Blue Heron and a feisty Green Heron. Both Snowy and Great Egret were busy stalking prey at the edges of the ponds. A pair of Double-crested Cormorant soaked up sun while perching on a large log in the water.
We were treated to amazing views of five Sora. Image by Craig Swolgaard
Only two shorebird species were noted — Black-necked Stilt and Killdeer. However, we couldn’t complain because we were treated to amazing views of five Sora and at least fifteen Common Gallinule. Several raptor species crossed our path, including eight Red-tailed Hawk, a Cooper’s Hawk, two Red-shouldered Hawk, and an American Kestrel. Woodpeckers were rather scarce, but we managed to find one Nuttall’s and a couple of Northern Flicker. Sharing a tree with one of the flickers was a Phainopepla, happily flitting in some mistletoe at the treetop. Songbirds included Black and Say’s Phoebe, California Scrub Jay, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Western Meadowlark. We paused for several minutes to enjoy a covey of two dozen California Quail scooting back and forth from one side of the trail to the other. Driving the auto loop gave us views of many more of the ducks mentioned previously, plus approximately two thousand Snow Geese, with at least ten Ross’s Geese visible among them. Song Sparrows and Marsh Wren sang from the reeds surrounding the goose ponds. Just after leaving Gray Lodge, we spotted about three dozen Sandhill Crane in a nearby agricultural field. It brought our species tally up to 60 and was a fitting end to a wonderful birding outing.
Teal Bend, 1/5
A Barn Owl was sitting in a palm tree and flushing out for all to see as it flew around from tree to tree. Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Leader Richard Barbieri reported: There were 13 of us on this morning's walk through Teal Bend Golf Course and surrounding properties. The bird activity seemed to ebb and flow throughout the morning but offered us a decent amount of species. All told 56 species with a few highlights such as several Orange-crowned Warblers, one Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Great-horned Owl, and a Barn Owl sitting in a palm tree and flushing out for all to see as it flew around from tree to tree.
Cosumnes River Preserve, 1/11
Although a good look at the tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet was a thrill! Image by Mary Forrestal
Leader Paul Miller reported: Although the day was very windy and a bit cold, the group of eight had an enjoyable time. The outing was specifically planned to allow those with mobility challenges to enjoy the wonderful diversity of waterfowl this time of year. Mindfulness was the theme, which highlights the pure enjoyment of seeing and being close to birds. While the wind kept many birds hunkered down, we enjoyed seeing many of our migrant birds up close, including: Buffleheads, Green-winged Teal, Greater White-fronted Geese, Black-necked Stilts and Long-billed Dowitchers. Absent were the Sandhill Cranes, and surprisingly no Yellow-rumped Warblers either. Although an unclose good look at the tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet was a thrill!
On the way back from the pond, we had exceptional looks at a male Downy Woodpecker foraging in a small bare oak. Image by Chris Conard.
Sailor Bar, Young Birders, 1/11
Leader Mackenzie Hollander reported: Two other young birders and two parents joined my father and me at the parkway on this windy yet sunny morning. We birded around the fish pond behind the parking lot first. We quickly located Canada Geese, a Mallard flock with 1 Northern Pintail, 2 Pied-billed Grebe, and a Double Crested Cormorant. In the open oak woodland surrounding the pond, California Towhee were abundant, and a very vocal Bewick's Wren foraged under fallen branches. 4 Purple Finches perched on the top limbs of an oak were a nice surprise, and we admired the male's rosy face. We got great looks at White-breasted Nuthatches, and noted their rusty sides. Deeper in the woods, we spotted a Hermit Thrush perched still on a fallen tree underneath a berry bush. On the way back from the pond, we had exceptional looks at a male Downy Woodpecker foraging in a small bare oak. In the woods, Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows, Anna's Hummingbird, Great Egrets, Northern Flickers, Oak Titmouse, and a Red-shouldered Hawk were also present. After the pond, we turned and headed into the riverside open grassland with patches of oak and cottonwood. On the way to the river, we paused to watch Acorn Woodpeckers and a Nuttall's Woodpecker. At the river we scoped Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Common Merganser diving in the open water. A small flock of Western Bluebirds made multiple appearances flying above us and landing in adjacent cottonwoods. One of our highlights of the day was an Osprey that flew over the river and landed in a cottonwood right in front of us! The excitement from the large raptor was quickly followed by an extensive search of an oak for a male Phainopepla, one of our target species, that we watched fly in. Just when we thought we had lost our Phainopepla for good, a female flew into a mistletoe patch in an adjacent cottonwood! We got amazing looks at the smooth gray bird and her "mohawk". We even got to show the bird to two hikers! After the Phainopepla, the Osprey flew by again, and immediately after, a brilliant adult Bald Eagle flew right over our heads! We also noted Say's Phoebe, and a small group of high flying White-throated Swifts. A fly by adult Peregrine Falcon ended a spectacular outing full of many surprises.
William Pond Beginner Walk, 1/12
The highlights, however, were the raptors including a sub-adult Bald Eagle. Image by Ron Storey.
Larry Hickey, co-leader with Jane Van Kessel, reported: Sixteen enthusiastic beginning birders joined us on a beautiful clear winter morning at the William Pond part of the American River Parkway. The relatively large group was made up of sharp-eyed birders who helped us identify 51 different species. There were some delightful surprises, including a flock of about 25 Wood Ducks flying into the pond while we were watching, Yellow-billed Magpies already attending to their nests, and a Black Phoebe right at eye level close to us executing fly-catching behaviors just as we were describing what they typically do. The highlights, however were the raptors – Red-shouldered, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, a sub-adult Bald Eagle, Two Osprey acting like a pair, a Peregrine Falcon and a full adult Bald Eagle who soared above us for most of our walk back along the trail.
Bridgeway Island Pond, 1/12
A morning count of Cinnamon Teal yielded 217. Image by Larry Hickey.
Leader Cliff Feldheim reported: We had 13 birders on a very chilly morning with moderate winds at the Bridgeway Island Pond. Despite the cool weather and relatively low bird activity, we managed 37 species of birds and had a nice but cold walk. A morning count of Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal yielded 73 Blue-winged Teal and 217 Cinnamon Teal, very few if any 20-acre wetlands in the Pacific Flyway have numbers like that right now! We had nice looks at a foraging White-tailed Kite, male and female Common Mergansers, and a fly over of a small group of Tundra Swans that was low enough to hear the wind going around their wings.