Crystal Basin, 6/15

Leader Dan Williams reported: Eight of us had an exhilarating, sun-splashed, pleasant day in the middle elevations of the Sierra.  Our first stop along Ice House Road was Cleveland Corral where we had a vireo sweep: singing Cassin's and Hutton's Vireos and a recently fledged juvenile Warbling Vireo closely following and begging at its parent. We also had a musically calling Steller's Jay and a flyover Band-tailed Pigeon at this location. Next stop was the Silver Creek Campground road junction followed by a hike to the Aspen Grove. At the junction, a family group of Golden-crowned Kinglets put on quite a show. The Aspen Grove hike was very productive, with Hermit, Nashville, Yellow, Wilson's, Orange-crowned, and MacGillivray's Warblers all singing away, Mountain Quail calling in the distance, an Olive-sided Flycatcher in the high treetops, Pine Siskins, Cassin's and Purple Finches, AND Calliope Hummingbirds stealing the show zipping every which way and treating us to extended views atop the pines and in the flowering shrubs.

After lunch at the Ice House Store (and enjoying the nesting Barn Swallows and trilling Brown Creepers), it was off to the Big Hill Lookout where we took in the breathtaking views of Union Valley Reservoir, Bassi Falls, and the high alpine peaks. We also enjoyed well-earned views of singing Thick-billed Fox Sparrows and Green-tailed Towhees in the scrub surrounding the view points. Last but certainly not least, we finished our outing along a service road just outside the Ice House Reservoir campground and picnic area. Seemingly slow at first, activity slowly started to pick up as a family troop of Red-breasted Nuthatches made their presence known. Then Mountain Chickadees, a White-headed Woodpecker, a Hammond's Flycatcher, a pair of Hermit Warblers, a Hairy Woodpecker, then a Red-breasted Sapsucker all put in appearances. All told, we had 46 species, fair weather, gorgeous wildflowers, and a most excellent day of birding in the mid-Sierras.

Sailor Bar, 6/16

Leader Mary Forrestal reported: 9 birders set out bright and early to appreciate the morning bird activity and cooler temperatures. Things started off well in the parking lot with Western Kingbirds, Bullock’s Orioles, and a variety of swallows. Then down to the boat ramp where Green and Great Blue Herons perched nicely in nearby trees and an Osprey glided over the river. The walk on the trail treated the group to an abundance of very active Ash-throated Flycatchers, a pair of Phainopepla, and a Bald Eagle flying overhead with its morning catch. The highlight of the trip may have been a group of Tree Swallows, Cliff Swallows, and White-throated Swifts flying low over the trail and our heads, allowing the group to easily observe and appreciate the differences between these three species. Overall, 42 species were seen, and this trip leader was reminded how wonderful local summer birding can be when you make the effort to get up and out early enough.

Sierra Discovery Trail, Emigrant Gap, 6/22

Leader Paul Miller reported: The purpose of mindful birding is to broaden our awareness from solely bird identification and listing. We began the trip with a short centering exercise followed by a land acknowledgment and gratitude moment for our natural world. Walking slowly and stopping often we used all our senses to appreciate not only our magical birds but also the rich natural environment. The conifer forest was alive with bird songs accompanied by the babbling sounds of the Bear River. Many of the smaller birds could be seen high up on the tops of the 100 foot tall trees. With the help of binoculars and Merlin sound ID we observed and heard; Black-headed Grosbeak, Nashville Warbler, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, White-headed Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Cassin’s Vireo, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Song Sparrow.

Yuba Gap, 6/22

Leader Sandra Steurer reported: The Yuba Gap trip had beautiful weather with 8 participants. The highlight of the trip was a great look at a male Lazuli Bunting singing at the top of a tree. There were plenty of Common Nighthawks swooping around for the final at the end of the trip. We had a total of 26 species, including Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Common Raven, American Robin, Bald Eagle, Northern Flicker, White-headed Woodpecker, Chipping Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Cassin's Finch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Common Nighthawk, Brewer's Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Stellar's Jay, Turkey Vulture, Brown-headed Cowbird, along with heard birds Red-breasted Nuthatch and Mountain Quail, plus some western fence lizards and a nice look at a Bald Eagle flying by. 

Carpenter Valley, 6/25

Dana Miller-Blair, co-leader with Betty Cooper, reported: Six Participants joined us for our trip to Carpenter Valley. It was raining on the drive up the mountain, but by the time we arrived in Truckee the rain had stopped, and it was 69 degrees and partly cloudy. At the trailhead we enjoyed the ethereal sound of Hermit Thrush and were able to spot one. We walked the 2.75-mile trail along Prosser Creek, hearing and seeing Wilson’s, Yellow, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. MacGillivray’s Warblers were heard but not seen. We heard and saw both Brown Creeper and Golden-crowned Kinglets near the trailhead. We had good looks at Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows and heard Chipping Sparrows. Further along the trail, we heard a Swainson’s Thrush. We had a Cassin’s Finch and a Pine Siskin. Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen and heard but were few in number. Mountain Chickadees and Warbling Vireos were numerous. We heard at least one Cassin’s Vireo. Of the flycatchers, we heard and saw many Western Wood-Pewees, identified one Hammond’s Flycatcher and had another unidentified empid. Steller’s Jays, Ravens, Brewer’s Blackbirds and Flickers and a Turkey Vulture were easy to spot. We only found one Red-winged Blackbird. We also had a Calliope Hummingbird, 2 Sandhill Cranes (they stay in this valley through the summer), 1 Osprey, a Hairy Woodpecker, many American Robins, and a couple of Western Tanagers. We had lunch at the bridge over Prosser Creek. Coming back along a more direct dirt road at a faster clip, the highlight was watching a Black-backed Woodpecker pair feeding young in a nest hole.

Yuba Pass and Sierra Valley, 6/29

Leader Chris Conard reported: We had a really enjoyable trip with a small group of six. On the way to Yuba Pass, we made a brief stop for a Gray Catbird that had recently been found north of Truckee. It perched atop a willow along the Little Truckee River and sang. Yuba Pass was a little quieter than expected, but we had Red-breasted Sapsuckers, a White-headed Woodpecker, excellent views of Dusky Flycatchers, plus Pine Siskins, Cassin's Finches, Evening Grosbeaks, Thick-billed Fox Sparrows, and a Lazuli Bunting. At Bassett's Station we had great, close views of Evening Grosbeaks, and, just up the road at the Sierra Nevada Field Campus, an American Dipper was preening on a rock in the Yuba River. Then on to Sierra Valley, which was teeming with life. Along with a super-abundance of grasshoppers, favorite bird sightings included Redhead and Ruddy Duck ducklings, Sandhill Cranes with young, Willets with young, Wilson's Phalaropes, American White Pelicans, flocks of White-faced Ibis, Horned Larks with food in their bills, huge numbers of nesting Cliff Swallows, Sage Thrashers, Brewer's Sparrows carrying food for nestlings, Vesper Sparrows, nesting Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and a Short-eared Owl right before we headed for home.

Van Vleck Meadow/Tell's Creek, 7/6

Leader Craig Swolgaard reported: Only four people showed up this morning for the bird walk at Van Vleck Meadow, but we had an exceptional morning of birds.  The weather was warmer than usual but not uncomfortable- when we left around noon it was warming up more into the upper 80s. A total 0f 20 species were seen, including a Bufflehead with chicks at the pond we passed on the way up to the meadow. The meadow was alive with birds- singing Lazuli Buntings and Green-tailed Towhees, White-crowned Sparrows, thick-billed Fox Sparrow, chipping Lincoln’s Sparrows, and a nice list of woodpeckers, including White-headed, Hairy, a pair of Williamson’s Sapsuckers, and Northern Flicker. Yellow-rumped and Nashville Warblers were present as well. A pair of Red-tailed Hawks soared over the meadow.

Bodega Bay, 7/13

Leader Ron Storey reported: Five people met me at Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility in Petaluma where we made a quick search for Least Bittern and found no bitterns of any species. From Ellis Creek we drove to Bodega Bay and the first stop was Spud Point Marina where we searched for the Yellow-billed Loon that has been there for a few months now. The first notable bird we saw was a juvenile Bald Eagle that all participants got to see. We saw a large loon where I had seen the Yellow-billed Loon last Monday, but it turned out this one was a Common Loon. As the group was walking to check the waterways between the boat docks, the Yellow-billed Loon gave the group excellent close-up views. We birded our way to Bodega Head where we saw Pigeon Guillemots perched on the cliff, Common Murres, a Peregrine Falcon, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and a Black Oystercatcher. On our way out of Bodega Bay we stopped at the Tides Restaurant and found a Ruddy Turnstone amongst a group of Willets, dowitchers, and three Least Sandpipers. The weather was very pleasant and everyone had a great time.