March 2008

Each March when the spring-like weather arrives, there's a sense of anticipation—if not impatience—for the spring migrants to appear.  We search in vain through flocks of singing and brightly colored Yellow-rumped Warblers for the first of the Neotropical migrants, but it is not until April that good numbers of migrants move through the area.  For the time we must be satisfied with Western Kingbirds and Bullock's Orioles, which arrive in the second half of March.  Yet, nearly every month there is a surprise or two.  For the third year in a row, a gorgeous male Summer Tanager was found in March in El Dorado Hills along New York Creek.  This year, it was first reported on 3/15 and continued for at least 10 days.  The first Pacific-slope Flycatcher of the season was reported from that location on 3/25.  A singing male Western Tanager in fine plumage was a bit early (or perhaps it wintered) on 3/27 at CSU, Sacramento.  Similarly, a Hermit Warbler found on 3/29 was either an early migrant or had spent the winter in the Campus Commons neighborhood across the American River from the CSU.

The two Ruff (a male and a female), first found at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) on 2/27, continued through at least 3/17—though both were not always found throughout the period.  A Marbled Godwit was found there on 3/15.  An adult Western Gull and two Glaucous Gulls (one adult and one first cycle) were found on 3/4 at the Davis Wetlands.  A Horned Grebe was also present.  This species is rare in our area away from reservoirs in the foothills.  The fortunate observer will spot them coming into breeding plumage just before they leave our area.  On 3/31, three Horned Grebes were reported in breeding plumage at Lake Natoma.

Other interesting reports include at least one Northern Saw-whet Owl found on private land at Ryer Island for the second year in a row.  This year one was first reported on 2/18 and it continued through at least 3/13.  On 3/29, a Vaux's Swift and a Bank Swallow at Cosumnes River Preserve accounted for the first reports of the season for our area.  The first Purple Martins in Sacramento were reported on 3/10.  After a good season for Rough-legged Hawks in our area, the last bird was reported at YWA on 3/20 and 3/27.  Another fairly late Rough-legged Hawk was found at Lynch Canyon in Solano County on 3/22.  An adult Mew Gull was found at the Ione Sewage Ponds on 3/2.  It continued through at least 3/4.  Possibly the same bird was found at Lake Comanche on 3/5 in addition to a Red-throated Loon.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.   Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details.  With over 100 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:  Steve Abbott, Roger Adamson, Dan Brown, Paul Buchanan, Subhash Chand, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Maureen Geiger, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, David Johnson, Dan Kopp, Jeri Langham, Robin Leong, John Luther, Karla Meadows, Ed Pandolfino, Deren Ross, Mary Schiedt, John Sterling, Dan Tankersley, John Trochet and Liz West.  Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

February 2008

The report of the month came in the form of two Glossy Ibis in Placer County on 2/16 along Brewer Rd, just to the north of Nicolaus Rd.  This species on the California Bird Records Committee review list has been reported locally several times in the past year.  The first accepted record for the state was as recent as 2000.  A few dedicated birders have been looking very carefully through White-faced Ibis flocks.  The wider application of high quality spotting scopes—in the hands of skilled observers—is a big factor in the increased reports.  There are also many more ibis to look through in recent years.  Just in the past two decades White-faced Ibis have gone from rare to abundant in our area—a little good news for a change!

Continuing on the topic of state review species, presumably the same Emperor Goose reported at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) on 1/13, flying with a large flock of Snow Geese, was seen again on 2/12.  Other waterfowl reports include at least five Eurasian Wigeons on 2/16 along Pleasant Grove Rd, south of Nicolaus Rd, in Sutter County.  A Eurasian Wigeon at the Sacramento County Bufferlands on 2/20 added to the handful of records for that location, and two Greater Scaup were present there on 2/22. 

Two Ruff (a male and a female) were first found at YWA on 2/27, and continued into March.  This rare species has been amazingly regular at this location.  On 2/7, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was reported from Beal's Point at Folsom Lake.  This is a state review species, but has been reported more widely in the state in recent years.  It is still an outstanding find away from the coast or the Salton Sea.  At least one first-year Glaucous Gull was found at the Davis Wetlands on 2/16 during the Central Valley Bird Club's winter gulls tour.

Reports of up to ten Short-eared Owls along Yolo County Rd 28H and 103 (west of the landfill) began on 2/10 and continued through the end of the month.  There have been excellent totals of this species throughout the region this winter.  At least one Northern Saw-whet Owl was found on private land on Ryer Island for the second year in a row.  This year it was first reported on 2/18.  Other interesting reports include several Bald Eagle sightings on the upper portion of the American River Parkway, a Greater Roadrunner along Yolo County Rd 95 near Zamora on 2/15, up to 200 Violet-green Swallows foraging along the American River near the Nimbus Hatchery during a break in a storm on 2/24, at least two of the Lapland Longspurs continuing through 2/9 near the corner of Brewer and Nicolaus Rds in Placer County, and a Black-headed Grosbeak found northeast of Davis on 1/21, continuing through at least 2/6, was determined to be an immature male.  The male Cassin's Finch found near Slide Hill Park in Davis on 1/29 continued through at least 2/1, and Lawrence's Goldfinches were found coming to feeders in Rancho Cordova and Fair Oaks. 

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.   Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details.  With over 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:  Steve Abbott, Roger Adamson, Dan Brown, Paul Buchanan, Subhash Chand, Todd Easterla, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Maureen Geiger, Phil Gordon, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, David Johnson, Jeri Langham, Robin Leong, Shawn Lockwood, Ed Pandolfino, Jim Pearce, Deren Ross, Mary Schiedt, John Sterling, Dan Tankersley, John Trochet, and Bruce Webb.  Thanks to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.

January 2008

Several of the month's highlights were found on the 1/3 Rio Cosumnes CBC, including a Eurasian Green-winged Teal, a locally impressive five Eurasian Wigeon, 70 Eurasian Collared-Doves, two Long-eared Owls, a Hermit Warbler, and a Grasshopper Sparrow.  Over 300 Great-tailed Grackles were reported around Elk Grove—one of the area hotspots for this expanding species.  Scouting trips prior to the count produced a Bald Eagle, a Barn Swallow, and a Yellow Warbler.  A Rusty Blackbird was reported from an Arno Rd dairy on 1/1.  Documentation of this and other state review species should be submitted to the California Bird Records Committee.

Suburban Sacramento County produced a few excellent reports.  A Plumbeous Vireo was found in Elk Grove Park from 1/16 to at least 1/21.  The Land Park neighborhood in Sacramento hosted a Townsend's Solitaire from 1/19 to 1/23 and a Mountain Chickadee from 1/28 to at least 1/30—Brown Creepers, a  Townsend's Warbler, and a Western Tanager were also found by those looking for the locally rarer species.  An unidentified Empidonax flycatcher was found near the Sacramento Zoo on 1/1 (continuing from 12/24).  The Green-tailed Towhee found in a Rancho Cordova backyard on 11/25 continued through January.  

The gull extravaganza continued at the Davis Landfill and Davis WTP.  There were impressive reports throughout the month, exemplified by a 1/10 report of an adult "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull (a state review species), two Glaucous Gulls, and six Western Gulls.  200-300 Thayer's Gulls were reported, adding to the site's reputation as one of the premiere gull watching locations in the state.  The high numbers of Western Gulls (9 were reported on 1/19) may be attributed to storms driving this typically coastal species inland.  An adult Western Gull was also reported from Lower Sunrise on the American River Parkway on 1/15.

There was a spectacular report of an Emperor Goose (a state review species) at the Yolo Wildlife Area (YWA) on 1/13 flying with a large flock of Snow Geese.  Presumably the same bird was seen again on 2/12.  There is one previous record for the county: 1907!  There was a most intriguing report of a Leach's Storm-Petrel flying along Hwy 99 near Stockton on 1/7 after a heavy storm.  A very productive trip to Lake Solano on 1/13 produced reports of a Hairy Woodpecker, a Pileated Woodpecker, five Brown Creepers, a White-throated Sparrow, and 10 Purple Finches. Other good finds included a Red-throated Loon from Comanche Reservoir on 1/5, a Ruff at YWA on 1/19, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Fairfield continuing from 11/18, a dead Long-eared Owl at West Pond in Davis on 1/20, a Pacific-slope Flycatcher at Lake Solano on 1/22, a Black-headed Grosbeak northeast of Davis on 1/21, and up to four Lapland Longspurs continuing near the corner of Brewer and Nicolaus Rds in Placer County.  A male Cassin's Finch was found near Slide Hill Park in Davis on 1/29 and continued through at least 1/31.  This species also staged a minor invasion into the foothills just above the area typically treated in this column.

Many of these reports first appeared on the Central Valley Bird Club Listserv.   Visit www.cvbirds.org and click "Listserv" for details.  With over 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:  Roger Adamson, Dan Brown, Todd Easterla, Leo Edson, Andy Engilis, Gil Ewing, Maureen Geiger, Jeff Gilligan, Steve Hampton, Ed Harper, Cliff Hawley, Scott Hoppe, David Johnson, Alison Kent, Jeri Langham, Laura Look, John Luther, Ed Pandolfino, Deren Ross, Mike San Miguel, Jr., Mary Schiedt, John Sterling, Craig Swolgaard, Gene Trapp, John Trochet, and Bruce Webb.  Special thanks to Steve Hampton for a summary of Yolo County birds and to everyone for their reports—without them, this column would not be possible.