Bird and Benches: North Natomas Regional Park, 06/13/2026
We had a Great-tailed Grackle fly by. © Daniel Lee Brown
Leaders Ben Graber, Rich Howard, and Michele McCormick reported:This field trip was a joint venture between Sacramento Audubon and the City of Sacramento. We were fortunate to have this field trip co-led by professional photographer Michele McCormick and veteran SAS birder Rich Howard. The highlights were the many Black-crowned Night Herons, Snowy Egrets, and Cattle Egrets at the rookery by the pond. The latter were in breeding plumage and sporting the distinctive apricot-colored highlights on their heads and shoulders. We also had two Western Kingbirds, some juvenile Western Bluebirds, a fly-by of a Great-tailed Grackle, American White Pelicans, and two Caspian Terns. Temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the field trip, which may account for the somewhat low overall numbers and species diversity. Nonetheless, it was a great field trip and a fun group of enthusiastic participants.
SAS Field Trip: Sailor Bar, 06/14/2026
A Black-chinned Hummingbird was seen at the pond. © Daniel Lee Brown.
Leader Michael Curtis reported: Eleven enthusiastic birders showed up for a cloudless, warm morning at Sailor Bar. We made our way to the pond, where we were greeted by the sounds of Bewick's Wrens, Spotted Towhees, and Oak Titmice. There, we observed a pair of Green Herons, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, and a Black-chinned Hummingbird, to name a few. As we moved along, a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead. Later, walking along the east trail, we had great views of Western Kingbirds. When we reached the dock parking lot, we spotted Bullock’s Orioles, Black Phoebes, more Western Kingbirds, and a Green Heron nest with two chicks walking along the branches. As we started our walk along the American River, we had Lesser Goldfinches covering the thistle that bordered the edges of the trail, multiple Anna’s Hummingbirds, a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and a Spotted Sandpiper. Before heading back to the vehicles, we stopped by the Rookery, where we took in the Great Blue Herons. The Central Valley heat started to show itself around this time making it wise to head back to the parking lot. A great trip that, despite the heat, provided many bird species and an engaging group, with lots of entertaining talks along the way.
SAS Field Trip: Stevens Trail, near Colfax, 06/27/2026
Leader Ben Graber reported: 6 intrepid birders joined us today on Sacramento Audubon's rarely scheduled and highly scenic, but infamously physically demanding, field trip to the Stevens Trail. We completed the entire 7-mile hike from the town of Colfax down to the North Fork of the American River and then all 3.5 miles and 1,300 vertical feet back to the trailhead. We had unseasonably cool weather, which is a good thing. At 36 species, bird activity was somewhat lower than usual.
Band-tailed Pigeons cooperatively perched for awhile.© Chris Conard.
The highlights included some very cooperative Band-tailed Pigeons, which perched out in the open and allowed us to get some great looks, along with 2 adult Osprey and one fledgling on the nest. We watched some Brown Creepers climb a tree trunk as well. Some other highlights included Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Western Tanagers. Species heard but not seen included Canyon Wren, Western Warbling Vireo, and Black-throated Gray Warbler.
SAS Field Trip: Loney Meadow, 06/28/2026
A Dusky Flycatcher sallied around. © Daniel Lee Brown.
Leader Sonja Sorbo reported: Five birders met at the crack of dawn to drive to the lovely area at Loney Meadow in the Sierras. The weather was perfect and the birds welcomed the day with song. In the first quarter mile of the hike, we observed Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Mountain Chickadees, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Two colorful Western Tanager wowed us from a nearby tree, followed shortly thereafter by a Red-naped Sapsucker drumming at the top of a snag, his red head glowing in the sunlight. A family of Lincoln’s Sparrows flitted around the edges of the meadow, but we became distracted by a nearby Dusky Flycatcher sallying from one stick to another. His cousin, the Western Wood-Pewee, shouted from the top of a conifer off the trail. In another conifer, we noted several Golden-crowned Kinglets; thankfully they dropped down a bit just as our neck muscles started screaming at us!
We were rewarded by seeing at least 4 MacGillivry’s Warblers. © Ray Rozema.
Continuing down the trail, we stumbled onto another family group—this time it was Dark-eyed Junco. The family theme continued as we spotted a mama Western Tanager feeding a couple of recently fledged young. One of our target birds was the MacGillivray’s Warbler, and we were rewarded with nice views of at least four individuals. Yellow-rumped Warbler was the most numerous of the warbler species for the day, with Orange-crowned and Wilson’s coming in second place with two individuals each. Northern Yellow Warblers were scarce, with only one sighting. While taking our lunch break, we were serenaded by a couple of Thick-billed Fox Sparrows posing in full view atop snags. Nearby competition was provided by a Green-tailed Towhee. An Osprey put in a surprise appearance, flying over our heads clutching a fish. A Red-tailed hawk vied for our attention, circling over the meadow a couple of times. Our species’ tally for the day was 30, with two people in the group acquiring lifers!
SAS Field Trip: Dragonflies, 06/28/2026
Damselfly Arroyo Bluet was one of 11 Odonate species we observed. © coombez (via Unsplash)
Leader Tim Manolis reported: Seven people showed up for a morning hike along the American River Parkway near Rio Americano High School. We saw 11 species of odonates: nine dragonflies and two damselflies. The low number of damselflies (species and individuals) was surprising and disappointing, although one of the two damselfly species seen was the locally-uncommon Arroyo Bluet. All the dragonflies were in the family Libellulidae (skimmers and allies).
SAS Field Trip: Sonoma Marshes WA – Huichica Creek Unit, 07/10/2026
Both Wilson’s (above) and Red-necked Phalaropes were sighted. © Daniel Lee Brown.
Leaders Amy McDonald and Nancy Gronert reported: Five birders joined the leaders for a stroll across this Napa wetland area. On a July summer day, birders started out in overcast about 60 degrees and the group ended the morning in breezy, bright sun with a high of 68. The target birds for the morning were Least Terns and possible phalaropes. Success on both! A number of Least Terns put on a wonderful show wheeling and diving into a nearby slough. Both Wilson’s Phalaropes and Red-necked Phalaropes were sighted near the levee and green fenced-in utility areas. The group noticed many Black-necked Stilt with a few young and an American Avocet with a chick. While a bit early for numbers of shorebirds, the group studied Least Sandpipers, Cinnamon Teal, Ring-billed Gulls, California Gulls and others too difficult to easily identify. Raptors tallied were an American Kestrel, a number of Northern Harriers, a family group of numerous White-tailed Kites hunting the area and a Great Horned Owl in the trees. Smaller birds included American and Lesser Goldfinches, Black Phoebes, Marsh and Bewick’s Wrens, Common Yellowthroat, family groups of Song Sparrows as well as Savannah Sparrows. This was wonderful, refreshing birding for a July summer day.