From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Wed Feb 2 20:36:22 2005 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id j134YFGp006605 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:34:15 -0800 (PST) Received: from mail.coastside.net (iris.coastside.net [207.213.212.14]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id j134XIAf006562 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:33:18 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> Received: (qmail 13142 invoked by uid 88); 2 Feb 2005 20:33:15 -0800 Received: from unknown (HELO ?66.81.114.249?) (66.81.114.249) by mail.coastside.net with SMTP; 2 Feb 2005 20:33:15 -0800 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express for Macintosh - 4.01 (295) Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 20:30:29 -0800 From: "Garth Harwood" <[[email protected]]> To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]> Subject: [SBB] Sapsucker details X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5b1 Precedence: list List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Unsubscribe: , List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Errors-To: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] > Mime-version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Hi folks, When I first reported the YBSA this morning I promised to send details later. My priority was to get the word out ASAP so that more people might be able to catch the moment. A couple of years ago I had a Red-naped Sapsucker at HV but never got a "second" on it, and was unable, based on the looks I had, to conclusively rule out a hybrid bird. So I truly appreciate the folks who came out today and refound this sapsucker! Today's YBSA first caught my attention by flying out of the lower part of the magnolia tree mentioned in earlier posts. It flew in the undulating flight pattern typical of many woodpeckers. Given the bird's size and location - this particular tree is a perennial favorite with sapsuckers - I followed it to the large nonnative spruce at the fork in the road. Only then did I confirm that it was an unusual sapsucker. That much was apparent at first glance. Seen from the back, this bird is very pale for a sapsucker, with substantial white flecking in its back, wings, nape, and tail. Indeed the overall appearance from directly behind is of a bird that is almost leucistic. The back was especially pale, with barring interrupted by a dark vertical pattern. The darker parts of the back were brownish in hue compared to those of the wings, head, etc. No red or other colors could be seen from the back perspective (including of course the nape.) The entire forecrown was red however, seen well whenever the bird checked out its surrroundings between feeding bouts. Similarly, the throat and entire chin up to the base of the dark bill were brilliant red, but sharply constrained by a well-defined black border showing no "bleeding" of red into the border or surrounding areas, which would be typical of hybrids. I could not acquire a view of the lower breast, but Mike Rogers did later, and he noted that the lower border was not yet complete, indicating a hatching-year male. When Josh Bennett and I returned for another look at about 11:20, we also looked at the bird's underside and perceived a faint yellowish wash in the belly, but no more than that. Mostly, the belly, breast and flanks were whitish, with the flanks having a vague grayish cast with subtle barring. This bird was silent throughout my encounters with it. Although it drilled energetically for a while, even that made no sound that I noticed. On the plus side, it stayed put in high-traffic areas throughout a busy day at Hidden Villa, staying high in its favorite trees for the most part, but not showing any particular stress as people passed beneath it. A few words for potential HV visitors about access and etiquette: the farm is open to the public during business hours and weekends EXCEPT Mondays which are reserved for meetings, maintenance etc. There are 16 miles of hiking trails in addition to the farm itself; a map can be obtained at the info kiosks. We have up to 200 kids a day visiting on school field trips, especially before 12:30, so it is important not to set up scopes in vulnerable locations such as trails etc. Obviously, areas marked "private" are off-limits, but garden areas behind closed gates should be treated similarly, although it is OK to ask HV staff for permission to enter such areas. There is a section on Hidden Villa in "Birding at the Bottom of the Bay" also. There is $5 parking fee per vehicle (honor system except on weekends) but otherwise access is free. And, for what it's worth, we are expecting piglets over the weekend. Good birding to all, Garth Harwood _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. south-bay-birds mailing list ([[email protected]]) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://www.plaidworks.com/mailman/options/south-bay-birds/south-bay-birds-archive%40plaidworks.com This email sent to [[email protected]]