Today I ran this month's iteration of the Lost Slough bird survey at the Cosumnes River Preserve. This is the parcel west of Franklin Boulevard partly viewable from the Wetlands Walk trail system. The highlight was a pectoral sandpiper, a first for me in spring, I think. This and most of the other shorebirds were well north of what may be seen from the public trails. Other highlights for me on this windy morning were the following: semipalmated plover- 23 solitary sandpiper- 2 Swainson's thrush- 3 golden-crowned sparrow- 1 (the only winter sparrow detected) yellow-headed blackbird- 2 red-winged blackbird- 2 late males with broad, bright yellow margins to their red epaulets Townsend's warbler- 1 western tanager- 3 black-headed grosbeak- 8 lazuli bunting- 1
