Good numbers of common Western migrants continued from August, but it was the Eastern warblers this month that really stood out. With a fairly slow fall at Point Reyes and other coastal migrant traps, the Gristmill access along the American River Parkway was one of the hotspots in Northern California. The bird of the month was a Bay-breasted Warbler found at Gristmill on 9/9. Unlike so many rarities that turn out to be one-day-wonders, this bird stayed put for six days. Additional Gristmill highlights included reports of a Northern Parula on 9/10, a Blackburnian Warbler on 9/13, a Chestnut-sided Warbler on 9/21, and a Tennessee Warbler on 9/23.
Other regional songbird highlights included a Northern Waterthrush at Lagoon Lake in Solano County on 9/3, a Red-eyed Vireo at Babel Slough Rd in Yolo County on 9/10, a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak at 25th and Q Streets in Sacramento on 9/14, a Green-tailed Towhee at the Sacramento Reg. County Sanitation Dist. (SRCSD) Bufferlands on 9/17, a Tennessee Warbler at the UC Davis Arboretum on 9/19, and a Bell's Sage Sparrow at the Accidental Forest of the Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) on 9/25. A Least Flycatcher was reported at the Yolo Grasslands Regional Park on 9/20 and stayed through 9/24.
Two Golden-Plovers were reported at the Woodland Wastewater Treatment Plant on 9/12-13—one or both were thought to be American Golden-Plovers. Three juvenile Common Terns were found at the Davis Wetlands (DW) on 9/8 and two stayed through 9/12. The Franklin's Gull found at DW on 7/1 continued through at least 9/9. A Western Gull was reported at the Davis Wastewater Treatment Plant (DWTP) on 9/23. A Sabine's Gull was found in Lake Berryessa on 9/23—from a jet ski!
Additional notable reports include the first Sandhill Cranes of the fall (two birds at CRP) on 9/6, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers along Putah Creek at Fishing Access #1 on 9/23, and four Marbled Godwits and a Baird's Sandpiper at DWTP on 9/17. Forty Vaux's Swifts at the SRCSD Bufferlands on 9/13 was a good number locally. Multiple Hammond's and Dusky Flycatchers were reported on Babel Slough Rd on 9/10. Four Hermit Warblers at Gristmill on 9/21 is a good number for one of the least common of the regular migrant warblers. A Western Kingbird at the Bufferlands on 9/13 and single Olive-sided Flycatcher reports—9/22 from the Sacramento Weir and 9/24 from Lower Sunrise—were on the late side. 250 Violet-green Swallows over the grasslands at the Valensin portion of CRP on 9/14 is of local interest.
Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv. Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details. With nearly 150 reports, it is impossible to list everyone; however, I want to thank the following for reports on the above species and for providing additional information: Brian Acord, Roger Adamson, Ona Alminas, Carlos Alvarado, Tanner Easterla, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Maureen Geiger, Steve Hampton, Joan Humphrey, Tim Jenkins, David Johnson, Manfred Kusch, Jeri Langham, Robin Leong, John Luther, Frances Oliver, Ed Pandolfino, Michael Perrone, Mary Schiedt, John Sterling, Craig Swolgaard, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.