Sightings from April - May

April and May are synonymous with spring migration.  April is a period of incredible diversity, with lingering waterfowl, migrating shorebirds and songbirds, local residents breeding, and a few lingering winter residents.  By mid-May, the shorebird migration is pretty much over and all but the breeding waterfowl are gone, though songbirds are still coming through.  This year, the full force of spring songbird migration was slow to build, and it wasn't until the first part of May that good numbers of flycatchers, warblers, and other songbird migrants were regularly recorded. 

Despite some impressive numbers of common western migrants, there were relatively few real surprises.  Highlights include a male Indigo Bunting on 4/17 along Pleasants Valley Rd near Lake Solano, and a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak from the Yolo Grasslands on 5/21.  A Summer Tanager returned for a second year to private property near Colfax on 5/14 through at least 5/19.  A Black-chinned Sparrow was found singing on the Blue Ridge in Solano County on 5/12 through at least 5/14, and, on 4/28, a Black-throated Sparrow was found at Spenceville Wildlife Area.  The sighting of four Black Swifts was a nice surprise over the Freemont Weir on 5/14.

A Common Nighthawk was reported on 5/31 along Meiss Rd, about three miles from Dillard Rd in eastern Sacramento County.  This is the third year in a row that this species has been present there along with the expected Lesser Nighthawks.  Grasshopper Sparrows were regularly reported along Meiss Rd as well, but more unexpected was a Brewer's Sparrow on 4/29, with three to four reported on 5/4.  Single Brewer's Sparrows were reported from the Valensin portion of Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 4/29, and to the south of Dixon on 5/7.  Rounding out the more unexpected songbirds was a Sage Thrasher on 4/25 at the Sacramento Reg. County Sanitation Dist. Bufferlands.

Among the hundreds of Least Sandpipers and thousands of Western Sandpipers and Long-billed Dowitchers, there were a few less common species.  On 4/29, a Solitary Sandpiper was found in the Natomas East Main Drain, a Willet was found at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) on 4/11, two Marbled Godwits were at YWA on 4/1 and 4/2, and, on 4/29, there were two Sanderlings in breeding plumage at CRP.  Two gulls stayed late into the season along the American River Parkway (ARP):  a first-cycle Glaucous-winged Gull on 4/1 at Goethe Park and a Bonaparte's Gull at Upper Sunrise on 4/24 (continuing from 4/18).

Other notable reports include a pair of Osprey found at a large nest on a high voltage transmission tower south of Meiss Rd on 4/24 and continuing through the end of May, a Northern Goshawk along Rayhouse Rd on 4/26, a late Merlin at CRP on 4/22, a Calliope Hummingbird at the CRP visitor center on 4/22 in addition to several reports from Davis and Winters, and a Rock Wren pair found at a nest in the gravel tailings at Upper Sunrise on 5/25 and 5/31.  Uncommon species such as Olive-sided, Hammond's, Gray, and Dusky Flycatchers were reported more frequently than usual (Ten Hammond's Flycatchers from Rayhouse Rd on 4/15 was especially impressive).  Chipping Sparrows were also widely reported, including a 4/18 report of 12-14 at Sailor Bar.  A very late Fox Sparrow was reported at the Stone Lakes NWR HQ through 5/19, though it may have stayed so late because it was unable to fly well.  A Golden-crowned Sparrow was very late, 5/23, at the Bufferlands.  Lawrence's Goldfinches were widely reported, including one on 4/7 at Bushy Lake along ARP, near Cal Expo.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.   Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details.  Thanks to all for their reports.