Date: 11/19/25 3:21 pm From: Laura Lush via groups.io <llush...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Peace Valley (Sutter Buttes/Gray Lodge) CBC on Tues. 12/16/2025
The Peace Valley CBC, which includes properties in the Sutter Buttes, the roads surrounding the Buttes, and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area needs more counters! We are open to all levels, and beginners are welcomed. Experienced counters would be greatly appreciated. Our count is Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Optional morning breakfast at our central meeting point and follow-up dinner - both in Live Oak. Hiking and walking/auto routes available and determined closer to count date. Please contact me, Laura Lush, at <lushinthebuttes...> or <llush...> for further information. Thank you, Laura Lush Browns Valley, CA, Yuba County (our count is mostly in Sutter County)
Date: 11/19/25 2:25 pm From: Glennah Trochet via groups.io <trochetj...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] northern parula, etc., in Tall Forest at Cosumnes
Dear Birders,
For a change I had a pretty outstanding day at Cosumnes. A female/imm. northern parula was on the east side of Wood Duck Slough this morning in a nice mixed flock built around bushtits. It also included a couple of Townsend's warblers and a couple of orange-crowned warblers, plus assorted residents and several Audubon's warblers.
Elsewhere I had two more Townsend's warblers, three varied thrushes, a western tanager and a handful of singing fox sparrows. Not singing was an interesting fox sparrow seen too briefly, but it had lively reddish striping on the back. I couldn't entice it to sit up a second time.
Recent birds behind the Farm Center gate that I couldn't find today included golden-crowned kinglet and white-throated sparrow.
The recent rains have water poised to come onto the floodplain, but that hasn't happened yet. It's sitting in a couple of the levee breaches, but it's not flowing.
Date: 11/17/25 5:58 pm From: Clifford Hawley via groups.io <yellowhammerCA...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] CVBC Youth Scholarships- now accepting applications for Summer 2026 Camps
Hi Central Valley birders,
Many youth birding camps have kicked off registration and we are happy to
announce that the Central Valley Bird Club is now accepting applications
for the David Yee Youth Scholarships which covers up to $2,000 of the
tuition and camp fees for birding camps during the Summer 2026 camp season.
If you are a young birder 12-18 years old check out this great opportunity.
If you know a young birder that needs a scholarship to camp, please pass
along this information.
Thanks to the generous support of our members as well as contributions from
Yolo and Altacal Bird Alliances, and Sacramento and Sierra Foothills
Audubon societies we've been able to send a lot of kids to camp over the
years.
Applications are due to me by December 15th, 2025. If you have any
questions, please contact me at <yellowhammerCA...>
If you aren’t a young birder but you’d like to support the scholarship fund
please visit our website and use the donate button in the upper right.
CVBirds.org
Thanks and good birding,
Cliff Hawley
Youth Scholarship Coordinator
Sacramento, CA
--
"For, what are the voices of birds...
But words, our words,
Only so much more sweet?"
Robert Browning
Date: 11/16/25 8:45 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Leucistic Bald Eagle at Michigan Bar, Sacramento
Hi folks,
I made a short visit to Michigan Bar this morning and was surprised to see a leucistic Bald Eagle eating a salmon downstream from the bridge. Some distant photos are here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S284819241
Also, I saw my first Lewis's Woodpecker along Michigan Bar Rd in 2025. Fair numbers have been in the Coast Range, but they seem scarce around the low foothills on the east side of the Valley in the Sacramento area for the second winter in a row (so far).
Date: 11/15/25 5:03 pm From: Zane Pickus via groups.io <zanep987...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Yolo County SAGEBRUSH SPARROW
Hi all,
This afternoon Julian Johnson and I spent a few hours cruising county roads
in southern Yolo County in search of sparrows, raptors, etc. While driving
along County Road 152 we were shocked and thrilled to find a beautiful
SAGEBRUSH SPARROW. It proceeded to put on a show off and on for the next
two hours for a handful of Yolo County birders who chased it. To our
knowledge, this represents a second county record and the first chaseable
individual. The bird spent most of its time moving around the weedy ditch
on the north side of the road, here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1kGjGoXouxa2me2YA?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im
Obviously this species complex presents a difficult identification
challenge when differentiating from “canescens” Bell’s Sparrow, but this
bird seems good for a clear cut Sagebrush with an extremely pale malar,
extensive streaking in the back, and long primary extension. Excellent
photos were obtained by Julian and others and will be posted on eBird
later.
Emmett Iverson notes that this bird, Yolo’s prior record in November 2017,
and his recent bird in Sacramento County all came on the days following
large rainstorms. Perhaps this is coincidence or maybe there is something
to this correlation. Good luck to those who search tomorrow.
Date: 11/15/25 3:28 pm From: Nathan Parmeter via groups.io <nathanparmeter...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] 2025 Eastern Merced County CBC
Hello all Central Valley birders,
The annual Eastern Merced County CBC (formerly the Lake Yosemite CBC) will be held on Wednesday, December 17. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please reply if you're interested in attending or if you have any questions.
Nathan ParmeterSilver Spring, MD (formerly Fresno, CA)
Date: 11/14/25 7:50 pm From: Glennah Trochet via groups.io <trochetj...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Cosumnes birds this week
Dear Birders,
Last Saturday I passed the baton to the new leaders of the Tall Forest bird survey. I have known for some time that my hearing is much poorer than it was just a couple of years ago, and I needed to let go of the reins after leading the monthly surveys there for just over 30 years. Konshau Duman and Lynette Williams Duman have taken charge. I found it both gratifying to see how readily they detected things and dismaying to learn firsthand how many birds I am not hearing anymore. The survey data should now better reflect the numbers and variety of birds actually along the route and be more comparable to my own surveys of some years ago. They wanted to start at 6:45 a.m., so I got in about 45 minutes of birding before meeting them at the gate. I picked up some owls and yellow-billed magpies we didn't subsequently get. But they picked up some things I would have missed for sure. I haven't seen their list, but we had a flyover long-billed curlew, a cattle egret, a horned lark overhead, a couple of golden-crowned kinglets, a varied thrush, a purple finch, about 10 orange-crowned warblers, a Townsend's warbler and an intergrade myrtle x Audubon's yellow-rumped warbler. I may well have failed to recall something else of interest.
On Sunday I guided a group from the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival behind the Farm Center gate. We did something like the survey route done the previous day. We, too, had a golden-crowned kinglet, a few varied thrushes, and a couple of Townsend's warblers. Many on the outing were thrilled to have confiding cranes at close range from the vehicle windows on the meandering drive back to the gate at midday.
On Monday I returned behind the gate and visited wooded areas we didn't get to the previous two days, namely the southern Tall Forest east of Wood Duck Slough and the Bottoms west of the Tall Forest. There were a few highlights, but the birding was slow overall. Warbler Woods had a varied thrush. East of Wood Duck Slough were a white-throated sparrow and a western tanager. A Townsend's warbler was in the Bottoms.
On Wednesday I started at the TNC Barn ponds and then walked the River Walk trail. The barn ponds were very birdy. I arrived in time for the going-to-roost flight of night-herons, and not long after that, still way before sunrise, a peregrine falcon flew low over the ponds. A bulging crop suggested that it had already caught breakfast! A flock of 38 snow geese was my first encounter this season with more than one or two. A flock of 13 tundra swans was my FOS. Both sora and Virginia rails were vocal, and an American bittern (no longer an easy bird at the preserve) flushed from the edge of one of the ponds. Shorebirds included the winter seven, plus one, that being a lesser yellowlegs. The River Walk was disappointing, though I did see a drake blue-winged teal on the northernmost pond adjacent to the railroad tracks, heard a varied thrush near trail marker #15 and found a slate-colored junco among a flock of 30-35 Oregons on the south side of the riparian at the bottom of the constructed wetlands pond array.
This morning I visited the Love Shack (no mapies), Wood Duck Slough out to the river at Tall Forest Landing, and the eastern Bottoms, cleaning up some of the trails in advance of the CVBS next week. My route was not direct, since I thought I heard poachers shooting among the geese northwest of the Tall Forest. By the time I got over there there was nothing to see. Since Wednesday, the numbers of greater white-fronted geese have doubled to about 12,000 and among them was a single Ross's goose (my FOS). I heard a fly-over long-billed curlew and a Townsend's warbler along Wood Duck Slough, and a varied thrush near Tall Forest Landing. Except for the stretch around the pump station on the slough, birding was pretty slow. I ran into only one small bushtit flock all morning.
Date: 11/14/25 1:37 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] Stilt Sandpiper at Sac Sewer EchoWater Facility (aka SRWTP)
Hi folks,
It looks like the initial message didn't post. Anyhow, a group of about 15
of us failed to find the Stilt Sandpiper today despite a careful search.
Take care,
Chris
On Thu, Nov 13, 2025 at 6:21 PM Chris Conard <conardc...> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> This afternoon, 13 Nov 2025, in a quick attempt to get a little birding in
> before going home on this stormy day, I saw a Stilt Sandpiper at the
> EchoWater Facility (formerly known as Sac Regional WTP and that which the
> Bufferlands buffers): https://ebird.org/checklist/S284341085 > There is no regular public access to this site, but I will be available to
> take people to try to see the bird tomorrow midday--I have offsite
> appointments early and late in the day. If it sticks, Saturday in the early
> afternoon might work too.
>
> My window of availability tomorrow is from 11 am until 2 pm and I could
> take in a couple different groups, assuming the bird sticks. Saturday
> around 1 pm to 2 pm would also work.
> This is species number 249 for the property.
>
> Contact me if you're interested:
> Conardc at gmail dot com
> I'll provide directions and other details.
>
> Chris Conard
> Sacramento
>
Date: 11/9/25 12:06 pm From: Putah Creek CBC Compiler - Wickel via groups.io <yoloauduboncapc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Putah Creek CBC - December 21, 2025
Hi all,
Please join us for the 55th annual Yolo BIrd Alliance Putah Creek Christmas
Bird Count, scheduled for *Sunday, December 21*, 2025. We are warmly
welcoming birders of any skill level to participate. Please contact an Area
Leader from the list on our website
<https://yolobirdalliance.org/christmas-bird-count/> for an area you are
interested in helping to cover. Leaders prefer to get their count teams
established early so don’t wait to contact them and sign up! Birders with
disabilities or other accessibility concerns are encouraged to reach out to
the leader of Area 9 (Lake Solano), where we will be hosting a “big sit”.
Our Bird ID and sign-up workshop will take place on *Wednesday, December 10*.
This year’s workshop will be offered in a hybrid format for those who wish
to attend through zoom – register here
<https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y103RYBIStqn1P3DitDJCw>. The
workshop features a primer on bird identification and an introduction to
the use of “eBird”, as well as a discussion of recent count trends, and
historical information about the count.
After the count on Sunday, the 21st our Compilation Potluck Dinner will be
held at 7pm at the Davis Senior Center. Anyone who participated, or is
interested in the results of the count is welcome. Please note that
consumption of alcohol at this event due to city regulations will *not* be
permitted.
Thanks and happy birding!
Bart Wickel,
Davis, CA
Date: 11/6/25 9:34 am From: Rio Cosumnes CBC Compiler - Pickus via groups.io <riocosumnescbc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Rio Cosumnes Christmas Bird Count - December 29, 2025
Hi all,
I am pleased to announce that this year's Rio Cosumnes Christmas Bird Count will take place on Monday, December 29, 2025! This is a really fun CBC to be a part of as it offers birders access to some excellent habitats in the Cosumnes River Preserve, Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, and the Sacramento County Bufferlands. Many of these locations are normally closed to the public. The count typically reports over 150 species and last year we had over 100 participants. If you are interested in joining the count, or have any questions about areas or CBC's in general, please reach out! Feel free to contact me through my compiler's email: <riocosumnescbc...>
Additionally, I am working to organize a post-count Compilation Dinner at the end of the day on 12/29/2025. Many CBC's host dinners after the count to discuss preliminary results, compare notes from the field, and enjoy the company of the many great birders that join on the day. I am still finalizing plans for this, but am expecting to select a restaurant in Elk Grove.
If you are interested in joining the count this year, please reply privately to this email and I will send you an interest survey via Google Forms.
Date: 11/3/25 2:13 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey seeking volunteers
Hi folks,
I'm forwarding this for Blake Barbaree with Point Blue Conservation Science.
Chris Conard
Sacramento
Greetings Central Valley Birders,
We are searching for new participants to count shorebirds along
predetermined routes in the Central Valley from November 15 - December 15,
2025, for the16th annual *Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
<https://migratoryshorebirdproject.org/pfss/>.* What do you need to participate?
- Ability to identify common shorebirds in California.
- Access to binoculars, a spotting scope, and the internet for data
entry.
- Access to reliable transportation – we can assist with finding a ride
if needed.
- Commitment of 1+ day to prepare, conduct a survey, and report data.
- Interest in joining a network of shorebird observers that spans *across
13 countries from Canada to Chile
<https://migratoryshorebirdproject.org/explore-data/interactive-map/>*.
Where?
- There are 50+ routes in the Central Valley, with most covered by
returning participants for winter 2025. We currently have routes available
in wetlands near Los Banos, Suisun Marsh, and Colusa/Glenn/Butte counties
in the northern Sacramento Valley. Other routes may become available next
year.
Interested to learn more? Please email Blake Barbaree
*<bbarbaree...>
<bbarbaree...>*
Date: 10/29/25 5:56 pm From: Kathryn Tobias via groups.io <tobiaskj...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] highlights from today's Tall Forest bird survey
On one of the days before the first big storm we just had, here is a list identified on Merlin as birds in my back yard. I live in Little Pocket (Sacramento, west of I-5) and have no trees in my backyard. The finches are regulars at my feeder, as is the Jay (a family) and morning doves(Also a family), and once in awhile, the bushtit. I've seen the Black Phoebe, and the crows, and I saw the White-Crowned Sparrow under some bushes. I have a lot of Anna's and the Spotted Towhee has been in my yard all year. But, gosh, I'd pay good money to go on a tour to see the rest of these birds and here they are, right around me- I just can't see them! Frustrating!
Northern Mockingbird Hermit Thrush Orange Crowned Warbler Spotted Towhee White Crowned Sparrow Anna's hummingbird Yellow -Rumped Warbler Northern Flicker Ruby- Crowned Kinglet California Thrasher Red-winged Blackbird Black Phoebe Bushtit (Oaktit, I think) House Finch Crow Jay Song Sparrow > Kathryn >
Date: 10/28/25 9:37 pm From: Robin Leong via groups.io <robin_leong...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Benicia CBC Announcement
Howdy Central Valley Birder,
The Compiler of the Benicia CBC cordially invite birders of any level to help make the BCBC the best that it can be. The count is on Monday Dec 15, 2025. For those that list county birds, the circle is in Napa and Solano Counties. Please sign up with Tom Slyker <tcslyker...> or call or text him at (707) 771-1918. We will have a nice Mexican compilation dinner afterwards. Our fingers are crossed for good birds and good weather.
Robin Leong for Tom
Vallejo, CA
Date: 10/28/25 9:32 pm From: Robin Leong via groups.io <robin_leong...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Benicia CBC Announcement.
Howdy Central Valley Birders,
The Compiler of the Benicia CBC cordially invite birders of any level to help make the BCBC the best that it can be. For those that list county birds, the circle is in Napa and Solano Counties. Please sign up with Tom Slyker <tcslyker...> or call or text him at (707) 771-1918. We will have a nice Mexican compilation dinner afterwards. Our fingers are crossed for good birds and good weather.
Robin Leong
Vallejo, CA
Date: 10/28/25 3:18 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Central Valley Birding Symposium, Nov 20-23
Hi folks,
Please see David's note below and don't forget to register soon for the
Symposium.
Also, check out the new and improved Central Valley Bird Club website at
www.cvbirds.org
Chris Conard
Sacramento
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Yee
Date: Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Subject: Central Valley Birding Symposium
Dear Birders:
A reminder that the Central Valley Birding Symposium is upcoming Nov 20-23
at the Stockton Hilton. One can check out the programming and registration
information at cvbs.regfox.com/25home. There is a daily registration
option as well as huge student discounts. Registration questions can be
directed to the registrar Katie Steiner <katie...>
This will be the 29th annual running of the event, and it serves as the
annual meeting and biggest outreach of the highly regarded Central Valley
Bird Club. Evening speakers include Ed Harper on Thur (High Arctic
Birding), Erro Lenhert on Fri (Calif Condors) and Paul Bannick on Sat
(Woodpeckers). The extremely popular bird Identification workshop is
Friday afternoon. Saturday is loaded with UOP and UCD student research
presentations, photography and drawing workshops, as well as a flycatcher
ID workshop by Jon Dunn. Field trip offerings are available everyday.
There are now many bird festivals and birding events held annually
world-wide, and the Central Valley Birding Symposium is considered one of
the premier events by those that regularly attend them. The Symposium is
highly educational, fun, and very community-oriented. Hope you can join.
Happy Fall Birding,
David Yee
CVBS Committee Member
Stockton
Date: 10/26/25 11:50 am From: Jean Broadhvest via groups.io <jeanbroadhvest...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Deer Creek Hills preserve needs volunteers to maintain its Tricolored Blackbird and Burrowing Owls nesting sites
Hi All,
The Sacramento Valley Conservancy is looking for volunteers to help maintain its TRBL and BUOW breeding sites.
Date: 10/24/25 11:10 am From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] Probable Tropical Kingbird at the SAC Bufferlands/WTP
Despite a pretty careful search, we had no luck finding the kingbird this
morning. If it turns up again, I'll let you know.
Chris Conard
Sacramento, California
--please excuse this brief message sent with my phone
On Thu, Oct 23, 2025, 6:42 PM Chris Conard <conardc...> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> I am available to take people in to try to see the kingbird tomorrow
> (Friday, 10/24), at 9am and again in the afternoon (2pm is my earliest
> availability). If it sticks, I may also be free for a while on Saturday
> morning.
> We'll meet at the Bufferlands office north of Laguna Blvd in Elk Grove and
> then caravan to the site. There were some mosquitoes around today, though
> the kingbird appeared to be eating wasps and/or bees. It was actively
> foraging this sunny day at 1230 and again after 3.
> Let me know if you're interested and I'll send detailed directions.
> Roadwork is blocking the customary approach to the office.
>
> Take care,
>
> Chris Conard
> Sacramento
>
> On Thu, Oct 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM Chris Conard <conardc...> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> Photos at eBird link. I'll add a few more:
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S280981827 >> I have a narrow window today to try to show people the bird (from 3 to
>> 4pm).
>> If it sticks, I'll have more time on Friday.
>> Email conardc @ gmail dot com for directions. The site has restricted
>> access, so I have to be able to let you in and out.
>>
>> I'd appreciate thoughts on separating from Couch's. Unfortunately, I
>> didn't hear an obvious call.
>>
>> Take care,
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> Chris Conard
>> Sacramento
>>
>
Date: 10/23/25 6:42 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: Re: [centralvalleybirds] Probable Tropical Kingbird at the SAC Bufferlands/WTP
Hi folks,
I am available to take people in to try to see the kingbird tomorrow
(Friday, 10/24), at 9am and again in the afternoon (2pm is my earliest
availability). If it sticks, I may also be free for a while on Saturday
morning.
We'll meet at the Bufferlands office north of Laguna Blvd in Elk Grove and
then caravan to the site. There were some mosquitoes around today, though
the kingbird appeared to be eating wasps and/or bees. It was actively
foraging this sunny day at 1230 and again after 3.
Let me know if you're interested and I'll send detailed directions.
Roadwork is blocking the customary approach to the office.
Take care,
Chris Conard
Sacramento
On Thu, Oct 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM Chris Conard <conardc...> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> Photos at eBird link. I'll add a few more:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S280981827 > I have a narrow window today to try to show people the bird (from 3 to
> 4pm).
> If it sticks, I'll have more time on Friday.
> Email conardc @ gmail dot com for directions. The site has restricted
> access, so I have to be able to let you in and out.
>
> I'd appreciate thoughts on separating from Couch's. Unfortunately, I
> didn't hear an obvious call.
>
> Take care,
>
> Chris
>
> Chris Conard
> Sacramento
>
Date: 10/23/25 1:54 pm From: Chris Conard via groups.io <conardc...> Subject: [centralvalleybirds] Probable Tropical Kingbird at the SAC Bufferlands/WTP
Hi folks,
Photos at eBird link. I'll add a few more: https://ebird.org/checklist/S280981827 I have a narrow window today to try to show people the bird (from 3 to 4pm). If it sticks, I'll have more time on Friday. Email conardc @ gmail dot com for directions. The site has restricted access, so I have to be able to let you in and out.
I'd appreciate thoughts on separating from Couch's. Unfortunately, I didn't hear an obvious call.
