Date: 9/24/26 3:45 pm From: Denise and David Hamilton via groups.io <2napabirders...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Montane Bird Irruptions
Hi all,
As many of you have already noticed, there are irruptions of Clark's Nutcrackers, Evening Grosbeaks and especially Red-breasted Nuthatches 9and maybe others) the past few weeks. David and I were at Pt. Reyes this past Monday and the nuthatches were everywhere! Out at the lighthouse they were climbing all over the rocks next to the stairs going down to the lighthouse (among the multiple ones in the trees and elsewhere). At the fish docks, there were some in the parking lot climbing around the fence posts. Every stop we made that day, they were there!
I just received my weekly "Flight Calls" from the ABA and they have an article about it. I am assuming that even folks that aren't members can look at this if you are interested:
Our petition has over 1200 signatures but we are not stopping here. The network created on change.org ( http://change.org/ ) for this cause will give us a way to keep the interested public updated as the process unfolds over the next few months or even years. So we do want Central Valley birders to be in the know about this important issue of avian conservation. Signing the petition is the way to do that. There are several updates on the change.org ( http://change.org/ ) site for this petition that will bring you up to date.
Thanks for your help in conserving Swainson’s Hawks and their habitat. You can visit our website at FOSH ( http://www.swainsonshawk.org )
Feel free to email with questions or concerns.
Jude Lamare and Jim Pachl
<friendsoftheswainsonshawk...>
Fair Oaks, CA
916-769-2857
Date: 9/24/26 11:15 am From: Sally M. Walters via groups.io <bajaowl...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] FOS SPARROWS
Both golden crown 2 and white crown 2 sparrows arrived at 10 am.
Are folks using some other way of communicating for bird sightings. I’d appreciate knowing how to join. Thanks
Date: 9/21/26 1:29 pm From: Glennah Trochet via groups.io <trochetj...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] 21 SEPT 2026 Cosumnes River Preserve
Dear Birder,
I spent the morning at the Cosumnes River Preserve in southern Sacramento County walking the public trails (after parking at the TNC Barn). The best find was a Lewis's woodpecker in the oak savanna near the intersection of the road leading south from the Barn and the trail. I also encountered three red-breasted nuthatches, two in the northeast corner of the copse at the Point and one just west of the railroad tracks at the river.
I have been away from the local birding scene for more than two weeks, so I am unsure when the wintering passerines showed up. Most of those listed below are my personal FOS. Migrant numbers were only fair. The list of modestly interesting things follows:
Swainson's hawk- 2 Lewis's woodpecker- 1 acorn woodpecker- 1 western flycatcher- 2 (one was singing near post #15) Say's phoebe- 2 Cassin's vireo- 1 common raven- 10 red-breasted nuthatch- 3 ruby-crowned kinglet- 4 hermit thrush- 3 sooty fox sparrow- 1 white-crowned sparrow- 12 golden-crowned sparrow- 4 Lincoln's sparrow- 1 orange-crowned sparrow- 2 common yellowthroat- 7 yellow warbler- 4 black-throated gray warbler- 1 Townsend's warbler- 1 Wilson's warbler- 3 western tanager- 3
It might have been a black phoebe hunkered in the marsh bounding the north side of the woodland at the Point, but it occurred to me that maybe I was hearing a swamp sparrow there early this morning. My hearing isn't what it used to be, and the sound source was too distant for me to have confidence in identifying it. It might be worth a listen in the next couple of mornings. It sounded to me to be in the tules about 50 meters out from the trail.
Date: 9/18/26 1:44 pm From: Kate Brennan via groups.io <kbrennan6699...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Sandhills
Sandhill cranes are streaming south over my place in Grass Valley today. Heard my first flock of the season on Sep 13, earliest ever for me in 20 years at this location. Kate Brennan
Date: 9/18/26 12:58 pm From: Dan Tankersley via groups.io <dantank1016...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Sandhill Cranes
We heard at least two distant groups of Sandhill Cranes from our yard in Lincoln about 1230 today. First of fall for us.
--
Dan Tankersley
Lincoln, Placer County
Date: 9/18/26 11:39 am From: Tim Jackson via groups.io <eldoradobirds...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] White-Crowned Sparrow Return Dates
Hi,
We saw White-crowned Sparrows in our yard (Shingle Springs) this morning.
Here are the historical return dates for our yard as well as a histogram
of the return day in September:
Date: 8/28/26 8:40 pm From: Glennah Trochet via groups.io <trochetj...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] more or less recent shorebirds at the Cosumnes River Preserve
Dear Birders,
Owing to the poor economics of growing organic rice this year, very little rice cultivation was done behind the Farm Center gate at the preserve. Consequently, both farmers prepped and flooded fields for birds this season. There has been lots of shorebird habitat behind the gate. Unfortunately, none of this was done on fields viewable by the general public. That is changing just now. Also unfortunately, some medical issues have kept me from checking these areas as often as desirable.
But a week ago I visited and before I got to the Tall Forest, it was apparent that shorebirds were present in good numbers, so I gave a miss to the woodlands. It took nearly four and a half hours to check all the flooded fields. The highlights on the 22nd of August were two semipalmated sandpipers west of the shack and a willet north of Oak Island. Somewhat lesser lights were a semipalmated plover, three short-billed dowitchers and two solitary sandpipers. Here's the list: white-faced ibis- 1850 (almost all gone by sunrise) black-necked stilt- 130 semipalmated plover- 1 killdeer- 25 least sandpiper- 290 semipalmated sandpiper- 2 western sandpiper- 170 peep sp.- 200 Wilson's snipe- 1 short-billed dowitcher- 3 long-billed dowitcher- 2050 solitary sandpiper- 2 lesser yellowlegs- 5 willet- 1 greater yellowlegs- 250 red-necked phalarope- 7 Wilson's phalarope- 1
Incidental passerines detected included a willow flycatcher, several lark sparrows, a yellow warbler and a lazuli bunting, all near the shack. Four river otters were at Garcia's swamp, which looks like it ought to have some Southeastern swamp warbler.
Today I did the same coverage, which took 45 minutes less time because several of the fields dried during the intervening week. Stilts, long-billed dowitchers and greater yellowlegs were present in much higher numbers than a week ago, and there were a few nice things among the common stuff. Here's what I turned up today: white-faced ibis- 1200 (again, gone by sunrise) black-necked stilt- 320 killdeer- 45 marbled godwit- 1 Baird's sandpiper- 2 least sandpiper- 180 western sandpiper- 55 short-billed dowitcher- 3 long-billed dowitcher- 4150 solitary sandpiper- 2 lesser yellowlegs- 6 greater yellowlegs- 450 red-necked phalarope- 14
The godwit conformed to my expectations for that species. It was gone when I drove back by five minutes later. They seldom stick around for long. That, the Baird's sandpipers and the solitary sandpipers were all in the area north of Oak Island.
Incidentals were fewer this morning, just a yellow warbler and three lark sparrows at the shack and a wrentit surprisingly singing from flooded willows at Garcia's swamp. The Savannah sparrows have yet to return to Johnson's pastures, but a loggerhead shrike there was a nice surprise. As was a nice rain shower at 08:15.
The first sandhill cranes might be expected back in about 10 days. So, finally, water is being put out on Pond 1 across from the Visitor Center and on the first pond east of the tracks on the north side of Desmond Road. Water would ordinarily be put out on fields near the boardwalk, too, but repair work to that structure has required delaying that this season.
Date: 8/27/26 5:45 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] SAC Yellow-throated Warbler
It didn't occur to me to post this earlier. Jeri Langham, Michele McCormick, Marc Fenner, and perhaps others saw and photographed a Yellow-throated Warbler this morning just downstream of the Gristmill parking area, about here 38.5786780, -121.3426510 Folks coming out later did not find it. I'm looking now.
Take care,
Chris
Chris Conard Sacramento, California --please excuse this brief message sent with my phone
Date: 8/25/26 11:19 am From: Mark Littlefield via groups.io <aeriesailor...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] red-br nuthatches
You mentioned invasion of red-breasted nuthatches this year. Last week my son was returning a boat from Hawaii to San Francisco and while still 100 miles west of the Farallon Islands, two Red-breasted nuthatches decided the boat he was on would make a great resting place. They stayed on the boat for several hours before flying off. Not sure if they made it back to land or not.
Mark Littlefield
>
> On Aug 25, 2026, at 10:02 AM, Elizabeth Gillogly via groups.io
> <ekgillogly...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Love this bird! I’ve been hearing a RBNU for the past week or so in Auburn
> (Placer County) in the canyon near Placer High School.
>
> Beth Kelley
> Auburn
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 25, 2026 at 9:18 AM Michael Perrone via groups.io (
> http://groups.io ) <michaelperrone10= <yahoo.com...> > wrote:
>
>> R-b nuthatches have been reported widely, mostly as singles, in Yolo
>> county just in the past few days. This has the making of an invasion
>> year, the first since 2019, as I recall.
>>
>> This should be a fun experience for all those who have joined the birding
>> community since then.
>> Listen for those "henk henk henk" calls.
>>
>> Michael Perrone
>> Davis
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
Date: 8/25/26 10:02 am From: Elizabeth Gillogly via groups.io <ekgillogly...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] red-br nuthatches
Love this bird! I’ve been hearing a RBNU for the past week or so in Auburn
(Placer County) in the canyon near Placer High School.
Beth Kelley
Auburn
On Tue, Aug 25, 2026 at 9:18 AM Michael Perrone via groups.io
<michaelperrone10...> wrote:
> R-b nuthatches have been reported widely, mostly as singles, in Yolo
> county just in the past few days. This has the making of an invasion year,
> the first since 2019, as I recall.
>
> This should be a fun experience for all those who have joined the birding
> community since then.
> Listen for those "henk henk henk" calls.
>
> Michael Perrone
> Davis
>
>
>
Date: 8/25/26 9:18 am From: Michael Perrone via groups.io <michaelperrone10...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] red-br nuthatches
R-b nuthatches have been reported widely, mostly as singles, in Yolo county just in the past few days. This has the making of an invasion year, the first since 2019, as I recall.
This should be a fun experience for all those who have joined the birding community since then.Listen for those "henk henk henk" calls.
Michael PerroneDavis
