Camp Pollock, 7/17

Leader Bill Bianco reported: The summer morning actually felt like a spring one. Six of us enjoyed a slow walk around Camp Pollock, with many birds singing and no other visitors. Our total species count was 24. Top views being Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager, many Western Bluebirds, Cooper’s Hawk, and White-breasted Nuthatch. Also, good looks at California and Spotted Towhees, and American Robin. A large dark bird at a distance was identified as an immature bald eagle from a photograph taken by Dana Miller-Blair. It may have fledged from the nest on the pond by the Camp Pollock property. Altogether a great morning! 

Migration Hotspots, 7/21

Leader Kevin Thomas reported: A group of intrepid Sacramento Audubon birders braved the early morning start to avoid the relentless heat that has gripped the Central Valley for several weeks now. Our goal was to see as much as we could and be home in time to enjoy a pool or air-conditioned room when it hit triple digits later in the day. We started at Mather Lake and were immediately greeted with what would be the theme for this location, a bunch of raptors. Mather Lake has some outstanding grassland habitat adjacent to a lake with limited riparian habitat and that combination makes for good raptor conditions all year. We finished the morning with multiple Red-tailed and Red-shouldered hawks, White-tailed Kite, Swainson's Hawk, Northern Harrier, and a single Cooper's Hawk. Many of the raptors were juvenile individuals making for an interesting learning experience in identifying them. We also had good looks at some of our migrant breeders— Bullock's Oriole, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Western Kingbird—that will soon be departing for their wintering grounds south of here. Although we didn't see any today, we all learned, from one participant, about how Black-headed Grosbeaks are one of the few birds that can eat the toxic monarch butterflies and do so in cycles as they feed on them on their wintering grounds.

After a few hours spent wandering the trails at Mather Lake we headed over to Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve to scan the area for migrating shorebirds. Finding habitat in Sacramento for migrating shorebirds can be difficult but this site, in some years, has shallow water during the summer. There were a large number of Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs on site with lesser numbers of Black-necked Stilt and Least Sandpiper. The Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets were in good numbers jockeying for the best position in the deeper pools. We also had good looks at a dozen or so Barn Swallows and many Cliff Swallows foraging out over the open water. It was a wonderful morning with a great group of folks who shared in their love of birds and being outdoors.

Napa/Sonoma Marshes, 7/27

Leader Dan Williams reported: Twelve of us had a very excellent, cool, mostly overcast day birding two locations in the Napa Marshes area. We started at Wetlands Edge Park in American Canyon, where right off the bat from the parking lot, we got scope views of a White-tailed Kite and a family of recently fledged juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks in the coyote brush. A little bit down the trail, we were also treated to views of Western Bluebird parents feeding their young in a nest box, and a noisy pair of American Kestrels in the eucalyptus grove. The brackish water ponds had the customary Red-winged Blackbird colony (and the unfortunately ever more customary Mute Swan families), as well as singing Marsh Wrens and Common Yellowthroats. Among a smattering of eclipse plumage Mallards were a few Gadwall and a pair of Cinnamon Teal. As we reached the Napa River mouth tidal flats, the tide was still high but rapidly receding. We got to watch as a few shorebirds flying by here and there, gradually became a teeming mass of Western and Least Sandpipers, both Dowitchers, both Yellowlegs, Willets, Marbled Godwits, Long-billed Curlews, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, and Black-necked Stilts. A few squadrons of American White Pelicans loafed on distant sandbars, and an Osprey wheeled around giving its piping whistle while we scanned through the horde.

Next, we ventured a bit north to Napa-Sonoma Marshes NWR - Huichica Creek Unit which had significantly fewer birds overall, but a few notable species that we had not picked up at our first location. Perhaps the most notable of these being at least two pairs of LEAST TERNS that would patrol the shallow waters right along the trail we were walking, allowing us spectacular views of their wheeling dives for tiny fish. At the far south end of the trail, there were hundreds of oversummering California Gulls along with an adult and juvenile Caspian Tern on the dike, and in the pool to the south, we were treated to a close-up flock of Wilson's and Red-necked phalaropes. All told, our group observed 82 species on this day with a nice variety of highlights.

Cosumnes River Preserve, 8/3

Leader Rich Howard reported: Ten birders with a wide diversity of experience joined me for an early morning stroll along the River Walk at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP). Docent Mike from CRP opened the gates early and provided trail maps. Resident oak woodland species like Nuttall’s Woodpecker, California Scrub-Jay, Anna’s Hummingbird, Oak Titmouse, Spotted Towhee, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Bushtit were most numerous, offering plenty of opportunities to learn their vocalizations. We had nice views of water birds along Middle Slough and a single pond, including Black-crowned Night Heron, Great and Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron and Greater Yellowlegs. A single female Bullock’s Oriole and three (or more) Ash-throated Flycatchers were the only neotropical passerine visitors, while a close flyover Swainson’s Hawk was nice to see before they take off for the winter. We had 32 species in all, before turning around to stay on shady trails before the heat got too intense. Our eBird list can be found here: ebird.org/checklist/S190082247

Several folks saw shorebirds on the flooded fields along Bruceville Road near the corner with Desmond Road as we used the detour to Cosumnes River Preserve still in place due to bridge construction on Franklin Blvd. Most of us paid a short visit on the way home for scope views of Long-billed Dowitcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, and Least Sandpiper. Unfortunately, most folks left (reasonably, given the heat!) before small flocks of Barn Swallows and Semipalmated Plovers came in. See our eBird list here: ebird.org/checklist/S190082555. Cosumnes River Preserve once again showed why it is one of the premier birding locations in Sacramento County, even in the dog days of August.

Tahoe Hotspot, 8/4

Leader Sonja Sorbo reported: With Sacramento temperatures breaking into the triple digit range, birding in the Tahoe area was a delightful escape for the day. Four birders began the trip at the Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail near Incline Village. The 1.2 mile loop trail and the nearby Ophir Creek meadow yielded almost two dozen species of birds. Dark-eyed Junco won the award for most members present, with White-crowned Sparrow in second place, and Brewer’s Sparrow in third. Several Mountain Chickadees buzzed by, and one almost landed at our feet to poke at some seeds located just off the trail. We were later serenaded by the raucous calls of Clark’s Nutcracker as they flew from tree to tree also searching for nuts and seeds. A flock of Pine Siskin swept by, passing next to a tree where a Western Wood-Pewee was sallying out and about. A couple of Cassin’s Finch preened on a branch farther down the trail.

Three species of warblers were spotted, including one MacGillivray’s, one Yellow, and a plethora of Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s). A handful of species showed up as singles, including Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Green-tailed Towhee, Dusky Flycatcher, and House Wren. A lone Red-tailed Hawk floated over us but was soon joined by two others, perhaps a family on a Sunday outing. Woodpeckers were not cooperative, the only ones sighted were Northern Flickers. Our second stop was at Martis Creek Lake where we discovered a veritable nursery of baby Coots and Pied-billed Grebes. We watched while a mama Grebe fed a small fish to one of her four babies, then dived back down to find more food for the other three. While this was going on, three Osprey circled overhead, one with a fish in its talons. Also in the air were several swallows including Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and Cliff. A female American Kestrel zipped by so fast we almost missed her! As we were scanning the sky once more before departing, we saw half a dozen White Pelicans drifting down onto the lake, providing a nice finale to the day.

Paradise Beach Migration Watch, 8/8

Leader Rodd Kelsey reported: The first day of migration watch at Paradise Beach was a great start. You never quite know when migration will start and what might show up when. After scouting earlier in the week, I knew there were at least a few migrants around. It was a beautiful morning, calm, partly cloudy and cool. Eight of us in total meandered through the willow thicket at first and this was really where the greatest activity was. Right off the bat, we had great looks at Hermit Warbler and fleeting looks at a Nashville Warbler foraging actively among the willows alongside a large group of Bushtits, Oak Titmice, and other usual suspects. As we moved through the more mature oak and cottonwood forest, we encountered a few Wilson's Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, and Black-throated Gray Warbler, all foraging in their own preparations for migration much further south. All in all we had 33 species and it was a lovely morning.

Sierra Discovery Trail, Emigrant Gap, 8/10

Leader Paul Miller reported: Mindful birding or “slow birding” is an alternative to typical birding trips focused on observing, identifying and listing birds. Mindful birding trips are more immersive, allowing participants to use all their senses to appreciate not only our magical birds but their environment. Our newest Board member, fourteen year old Mackenzie Hollander and her father Kevin, joined me on this trip. Mackenzie has amazing skills both locating and quickly identifying a wide array of bird species. We started the trip with a centering exercise and indigenous peoples affirmation. The location is situated at the 5,000 foot elevation in a conifer forest with stream and meadows. The birds were happy to oblige and we observed or heard the following species: Western Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-headed Grosbeak, Townsend’s Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, and a Steller’s Jay.

American Canyon Wetlands, 8/12

Amy McDonald, co-leader with Nancy Gronert, reported: Fall was in the air for the American Canyon Wetlands trip on August 12. A chilly and overcast start provided welcome relief from the recent valley heat, while thousands of shorebirds kept us busy and challenged as the tide receded from the mudflats. Highlights included Western Sandpipers with their spiffy, rufous scapulars and crowns, the continuous whistled calls of Black-bellied Plovers in all stages of molt, and large numbers of Long-billed Curlews throughout the flats and ponds. A trio of Forster’s Terns foraging on the main pond included a repeatedly chirping juvenile. A good raptor day began with two American Kestrels just west of the parking area. As we neared the mudflats, two White-tailed Kites flew by. And once we arrived at the flats a pair of Peregrine Falcons made several passes, followed later by a Northern Harrier. Finally, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks jostled near the edge of the eucalyptus grove as we headed back to our cars. Thanks to everyone for contributing to a fun and productive trip to kick off the Fall season. The complete checklist—55 species (+3 other taxa)— can be found here: ebird.org/checklist/S191227368.