Date: 11/12/26 8:57 pm From: Zane Pickus via centralvalleybirds <zanep987...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Yolo County GARGANEY - Bridgeway Island Pond, West Sacramento
Hi Birders,
Tom Uslan and I spent some time today birding a few spots in the Clarksburg/West Sacramento area of Yolo County. The indisputable highlight was finding a male GARGANEY at Bridgeway Island Pond in West Sac. It was hanging out with hundreds of Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teal in the retention pond there. Local birders know this location as having hosted one of Yolo's previous records of Garganey, an adult male found in March 2019 and returning the next winter for a month in January 2020.
The bird appears to be an immature male, but opinions on age are welcome. Some nice spread-wing and flight shots were taken and are on eBird from various birders. It is a subtle bird to pick out, but the facial pattern is useful when visible, and when facing toward you the bird has a strong demarcation between the intricate breast pattern and the pale/off-white belly. Many photos of the bird are on eBird.
The exact location of the pond is below. The Garganey moved about the pond with the other dabblers (mostly teal) and was apparently last seen this evening flying to the western-most of the three islands in the pond.
(38.5413772, -121.5792762)
Other sightings of local interest include a Short-billed Gull at Bridgway Island Pond, a Brown Creeper in full song ("Trees! trees! Beautiful trees!") at Babel Slough, and a continuing Hairy Woodpecker in Clarksburg at Uslan Reserve. The woodpecker represents one of few/the only record of the species for the southeastern part of the county.
Good luck to those who search tomorrow. I hope to see many of you at the Central Valley Birding Symposium in a few weeks.
Date: 11/10/26 8:15 am From: Robin Leong via centralvalleybirds <robin_leong...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Benicia CBC is on Monday Dec 14, 2026
Good Morning,
Just a short note to tell Central Valley Birders that the Benicia CBC is on Monday Dec 14 this year. We could use help to make the Benicia CBC the best that it can be. We have areas in Solano and/or Napa County if you are a county birder. Please check Benicia's CBC circle by going on National's CBC site.
Contact Tom Slyker <tcslyker...> or Robin Leong <robin_leong...> or call him at (970) 234-5727
Date: 10/30/26 2:42 pm From: Clifford Hawley via centralvalleybirds <yellowhammerCA...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] The 30th Central Valley Birding Symposium (CVBS) is next month
Dear Birders:
The CVBS will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next month, Nov 19-22 at the Stockton Hilton. The CVBS serves as the annual meeting of the Central Valley Bird Club (CVBC), also in its 30th year. The website with the schedule and registration information is https://cvbs.regfox.com/26.
To celebrate our 30th, our two keynote speakers have their roots in the Central Valley, but from very different stages of their lives. Nationally acclaimed bird illustrator and author, Keith Hansen, will share a lively program with lots of striking visuals of his life-long fascination with all things avian starting from his early years in Fresno to his current life in Marin County, the location of his amazing art gallery. Our second keynote will be Mackenzie Hollender, a highschool senior from Sacramento, who is just starting her career in bird study and conservation. Mackenzie was awarded 2026 American Birding Association Young Birder of the Year for her field sketching abilities and her conservation work in Sacramento. Her program will highlight how her love for birds inspired her to protect 8,000 acres of open space in the Natomas area of Sacramento. Mackenzie is obviously mature beyond her years, with a vibrant and engaging personality. Her future is bright.
I would like to highlight two additional programs. On Saturday morning Lynette Williams of UC Davis and Dr Karan Odom of UOP (Stockton) has organized student speakers to speak on their current bird-related projects. Having student participation in the event has been a very important part of the event in recent years. The other program is the Specimen Workshop on Saturday afternoon. Andy Engilis, who is the curator at the UC Davis Museum of Natural History will bring a select group of specimens for us to study and appreciate. He and his staff will place specimens of bird groups and families side by side that are notoriously difficult to separate, and they will then go over what to look for when you have them in your hands!! This is a rare and unique opportunity, as most museums never allow their precious collections to be open to the public in this fashion.
Finally, there are always wonderful artists and vendors on display. And visiting them is free at the Stockton Hilton on Nov 20-21. In particular, there will be Out of this World Optics from Mendocino present. They will have a full complement of binoculars, spotting scopes and tripods of all brands at every price range on hand at discounted prices.
Hope to see you in November! If you have any questions, please contact me, or be in touch with Katie in registration (contact info on the website).
Happy Fall Birding, David Yee Stockton CVBS Chair 209-329-5490 <(209)%20329-5490>
-- "For, what are the voices of birds... But words, our words, Only so much more sweet?" Robert Browning
Date: 10/29/26 4:20 pm From: Nathan Parmeter via centralvalleybirds <nathanparmeter...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] 2026 Eastern Merced County CBC
Hello all Central Valley Birders,
The annual Eastern Merced County CBC (formerly the Lake Yosemite CBC) will be held on Friday, December 18. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please reply if you're interested in attending or if you have any questions.
Date: 10/15/26 4:17 pm From: Sally M. Walters via groups.io <bajaowl...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Myrtle's Warbler
Today at 3:pm, I had a Myrtle come up an perch for 30 to 60 seconds near my window. The white throat patch was clean white and pointed going past the eye/under the cheek. Originally I assumed male but looking at pictures in Sibley the male has a bit of a notch at the ear point though the Myrtle App photo does not. Very contrasting black and white overall - hence male. A fun look!
