As expected for July, shorebirds accounted for most of the reports, but by month's end, the beginning of the post-breeding migration of songbirds was underway. Ducks that are unusual in the summer for the Central Valley continued at the Woodland WTP. These included up to four Canvasbacks, up to 32 Redheads, including young, a single Greater Scaup, and up to two Buffleheads--with up to two Buffleheads also at Sailor Bar along the American River Parkway. The female Costa's Hummingbird first found at a private yard in Wilton on 8/14 (and possibly as early as a year ago) continued.
Among the shorebird highlights was a nicely photographed Snowy Plover found (eBird Checklist S261712749) at Folsom Lake, Beals Pt, from 7/21 to 7/23. Solitary Sandpiper reports included one on 7/21 at the Wheatland Water Treatment Plant, another on 7/26 at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA), and one on 7/30 along Hwy 45 north of Knights Landing. The only Sanderling reported was at YBWA on 7/27. A Semipalmated Sandpiper was found at the Woodland WTP on 7/3, with up to two Semipalmated Sandpipers at YBWA (eBird Checklist S261712905) from 7/19 to the end of the month, and singles at the Lincoln WTP and the EchoWater Facility (Sacramento Reg. WTP) during the last few days of the month. A Common Tern was found at the Woodland WTP on 7/31, identified by a recording of its call. Neotropic Cormorants are turning up more frequently in the area, and one was found and well photographed at Lagoon Valley Park (eBird Checklist S263879790) from 7/28 into August.
A few common songbird migrants, including Warbling Vireos and Wilson's Warblers, began moving through local woodlands by the end of the month. A pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches continued in Davis, and there was a single at Reichmuth Park on 7/3. At least four Yellow Warblers continued in the vicinity of the Tall Forest at CRP, and the male Summer Tanager found on 6/15 near the Tall Forest continued through at least 7/9. The most notable and widely shared songbird find of the month was a beautiful adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (eBird Checklist S260389651) along Putah Creek near Old Davis Rd, south of UC Davis, from 7/16 to 7/19.
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: Steve Abbott, Dan Airola, Peyton Bounds, Lyann Comrack, Chris Dong, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Marcel Holyoak, Emmett Iverson, Eric Johnson, Julian Johnson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Mark Martucci, Asher Perla, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Ron Pozzi, Samuel Schmidt, Elliot Schoenig, Steve Scott, Sean Smith, Kevin Thomas, and John Trochet. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.