[Leica] IMG: Williamson's Sapsucker

[Jim Nichols]

Thanks, Doug.  That renews my faith in Mother Nature.

On 6/12/20 9:43 PM, Doug Herr via LUG wrote:
> definitely a tight fit but yes both adults squeezed through that little opening several times.
>
> Doug Herr
> Birdman of Sierra County
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/>
>
>
>> On Jun 12, 2020, at 7:37 PM, Jim Nichols <jhnichols at lighttube.net> wrote:
>>
>> Nice work, Doug.  Looking at the male, and the opening in the tree, I ask myself, "Can that bird pass through that nest hole?"
>>
>> What say you?
>>
>> On 6/12/20 9:25 PM, Doug Herr via LUG wrote:
>>> The Williamson’s Sapsucker is a woodpecker of the mountains of western North America.  Living in remote forests, it can be difficult to find reliably but one particular grove of aspens in a mixed conifer/aspen zone above 6300’ elevation has been my go-to spot for at least a decade.
>>>
>>> The grove is several miles from the nearest paved road but fortunately the gravel road is in good enough condition for ordinary vehicles w/o high clearance or 4WD.  This is where I found myself one day this week.
>>>
>>> My plan was to find a nest site, set up a blind nearby to allow for adequate lighting and decent backgrounds, and wait.  Having visited the grove the week before I knew the birds were in the area so I began the day by looking for likely nest trees: a large dead aspen with several older nest cavities seemed a likely prospect, and the scattered wood chips at the base of the tree suggested recent excavation.  I then set up the blind nearby and waited.
>>>
>>> No more than 5 minutes passed before one of the adults flew to the tree with a bill full of bugs.  Refining my blind’s position for photos and waiting several hours resulted in numerous photos, two of which are here:
>>>
>>> male Williamson’s Sapsucker
>>>
>>> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/picidae/sphyrapicus/thyroideus/sphthy11.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/picidae/sphyrapicus/thyroideus/sphthy11.html>
>>>
>>> female Williamson’s Sapsucker
>>>
>>> http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/picidae/sphyrapicus/thyroideus/sphthy10.html <http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/picidae/sphyrapicus/thyroideus/sphthy10.html>
>>>
>>> This species is unusual among woodpeckers for its plumage differences between the sexes.  When european-americans first encountered this bird they believed the male and the female were separate species because of the striking difference.
>>>
>>> As usual, all comments are welcome.
>>>
>>> Doug Herr
>>> Birdman of Sierra County
>>> http://www.wildlightphoto <http://www.wildlightphoto/>.com
>>>
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>>>
>> -- 
>> Jim Nichols
>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>>
>>
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-- 
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA