After the first weekend of the month, it was a mostly dry period, though many days in the flats of the Valley were dominated by dense fog. The waterfowl highlight was five Red-breasted Mergansers seen on the north side of Camanche Reservoir on 1/24 among a flock of Common Mergansers. The only Greater Roadrunner reported was from Yolo County Rd 81 off of Hwy 16 in the Capay Valley (eBird Checklist S297345909). A Common Poorwill was a nice surprise at Bobcat Ranch, west of Winters, on 1/19. Another was found in Mix Canyon, northwest of Vacaville, on 1/25; finding this species in winter is a rare treat.
Mountain Plovers continued to be found in ag lands along Flannery Rd, south of Dixon, with a high of 49 reported (eBird Checklist S293582000). The species was not found this winter at the regular Yolo County site along Hwy 45 near the Colusa County line, adding to concerns that it could disappear from our area. A Stilt Sandpiper found on 1/12 at Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) is likely the same bird that has been seen in the area sporadically since September. Two Red-throated Loons were found on Folsom Lake, seen from Folsom Point, beginning on 1/29. Several years often go by between sightings of this species. A Least Bittern was heard at the Stonegate Ave pond in West Sacramento on 1/7 where the species has been regularly detected. At least nine Long-eared Owls were found on a sporadically used winter roost during a survey to a closed portion of CRP on 1/24. One of the highlights of this winter has been the impressive numbers of Short-eared Owls in many open areas throughout the region (eBird Checklist S294579649).
Apparently the same Yellow-bellied Sapsucker present last season was found at Gibson Ranch County Park on 1/26 (eBird Checklist S296473652), continuing into February. A Tropical Kingbird was seen on 1/1 north of Davis on County Rd 101. Another was found at Bridgeway Lakes Community Park in West Sacramento on 1/17. It was seen and photographed (eBird Checklist S296318209) by many into February, and a second individual was found there beginning on 1/18. A Cassin's Vireo was an excellent find at the North Davis Farms greenbelt on 1/25, and a Harris's Sparrow was seen well but briefly on 1/1 in the vicinity of Cottage Way and Eastern Ave. Probably the same Summer Tanager that has wintered in Land Park since early 2022 was reported at the Sacramento Zoo this month, visiting the Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill enclosure.
The Sacramento Area as covered here lies between Hwy 20 to the north, Hwy 12 to the south, and the 1000-foot contour to the east and west, plus all of Sacramento and Yolo counties. Many reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club listserv (groups.io/g/centralvalleybirds) and in eBird (ebird.org). It is impossible to list everyone, but we thank the following for their reports: Scott Cannon, Nicole Chan, Lyann Comrack, Zac Denning, Chris Dong, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Todd Easterla, Anis Ehsani, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Stephen Fettig, Robert Furrow, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Jack Hayden, Greg Hemig, Mackenzie Hollender, Harrison Horn, Emmett Iverson, Julian Johnson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Eric McKinley, Roger Muskat, Ruth Pagano, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Mark Sawyer, Samuel Schmidt, Elliot Schoenig, Steve Scott, Frank Severson, Sean Smith, Gavin Stacey, Kirk Swenson, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, and Dan Williams. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.