The slow spring migration from April continued into May, though it picked up a bit, in fits and starts. Several diving ducks that lingered at Woodland WTP throughout the month included up to 10 Canvasbacks and 12 Redheads. A pair of Redheads was also reported from the Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve during the first half of the month and the Lincoln WTP from 5/19-5/22. Single Common Poorwills were found at the Mace Blvd bridge on 5/7 and at Grassland Regional Park on 5/21 (eBird Checklist S241052527). An Allen's Hummingbird was reported on 5/1 at a private yard west of Clarksburg where this species has been recorded semi-regularly. The female Costa's Hummingbird first found at a private yard in Wilton on 8/14 (and possibly as early as July) continued. She was tending two nestlings on 5/11 and they both fledged by 5/18. It is likely the male parent, who plays no part in rearing the young, was a closely-related Anna's Hummingbird. Perhaps plumage details of the maturing birds, if they stick around, will make that clear. This could be the leading edge of colonization by this more desert-adapted species north of its typical range. Other Costa's reports included a male seen on 5/18 in a private yard in the Pocket Area of Sacramento and, a little farther afield, a male at a private yard near Colfax from 5/8 through the end of the month.
Two Snowy Plovers were found at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) on 5/3. Solitary Sandpipers were not as numerous as they were in late April, but reports came from Cosumnes River Preserve (CRP) from 5/1-5/4, the EchoWater Facility (Sac. Reg. WTP) on 5/4, and YBWA from 5/1-5/8. A Pectoral Sandpiper at CRP on 5/4 accounts for one of very few spring records of this species that is rare but regular in late summer and fall. Three Franklin's Gulls were reported flying over UC Davis on 5/6. A Least Bittern was reported through mid-month from the pond at Stonegate Ave and Hoopa Rd in West Sacramento, from YBWA throughout the month, and from the Davis Wetlands on 5/16. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron that returned for a third year to the large egret and Black-crowned Night-Heron colony at North Natomas Regional Park on 4/16 continued until at least 5/3.
Reports of Hammond's and Gray Flycatchers were relatively numerous, and there was a smattering of Dusky Flycatcher reports. An adult male Vermilion Flycatcher was a nice surprise (eBird Checklist S234040053) at the Anatolia Vernal Pool Preserve on 5/6, accounting for Sacramento County's fifth record. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was seen and mostly heard at Reichmuth Park throughout the month, and another spent the month in central Davis. Grasshopper Sparrows were regularly reported along the eastern stretch of Meiss Rd in eastern Sacramento County beginning on 4/10 and continuing through at least mid-May (eBird Checklist S237624016). Several Black-chinned Sparrows were found singing (eBird Checklist S239432896) in chaparral northwest of Vacaville where they have been found before, but are a rare surprise. Single Brewer's Sparrows were found at Sailor Bar along the American River Parkway on 5/9, Payen Rd on 5/4 and 5/7, and Meiss Rd on 5/8. A male Lark Bunting was a nice surprise at Jepson Prairie Preserve on 5/17, as was a male American Redstart, found at Reichmuth Park (eBird Checklist S245048586) on 5/31, representing the only rare warbler of the period.
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, Tom Baxter, Chris Dong, Konshau Duman, Lynette Williams Duman, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Marc Fenner, Susan Goodrich, Joshua Greenfield, Cliff Hawley, Emmett Iverson, Eric Johnson, Julian Johnson, Jeri Langham, Andrew Lee, Rondine Mangrum, Mark Martucci, Ethan Monk, Ed Pandolfino, Adam Panto, Michael Perrone, Zane Pickus, Linda Pittman, Nico Schnack, Gregg Schwab, Steve Scott, Frank Severson, Sean Smith, Kevin Thomas, John Trochet, Lynne Tweten, James White, Dan Williams, and Bill Yeates. Thanks to everyone for their reports--without them, this column would not be possible.