We decided to enjoy the 82 degree spring day with a trip up to Michigan Bar Road in eastern Sacramento County. The trip up the road wasn't overly productive but we did see 4 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS amongst the oaks and a young GOLDEN EAGLE near the top of the grasslands. On our way down, though, we stumbled onto an early WESTERN KINGBIRD:
This turns out to be tied for the third-earliest arrival date ever for Sacramento County (according to eBird). This particular kingbird was feeding west of Michigan Bar Road, about 0.8 miles north from Hwy 16/Jackson Road.
Even closer to Hwy 16, we found a pair of MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS feeding on both sides of the road (this was only 0.1 mile north of Hwy 16). Here's a crummy picture of the male (left) with a Say's Phoebe (right):
And here's the female:
Earlier in the day we birded at Sailor Bar along the American River in Sacramento. Our goal there was to find BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER for the year and we luckily succeeded in finding two. It was difficult to ignore the butterflies though; there were probably hundreds of PIPEVINE SWALLOWTAILS swarming the hillsides. Included was this SILVERY BLUE:
... and this distant ANISE SWALLOWTAIL:
Now stop reading and get outside!
