A red-breasted sapsucker was in my backyard here in the Madrona/Central
Area neighborhood last week. My husband and I have probably seen
sapsuckers this time of year during about half of the 11 years we've
lived here. So I guess I'm trying to say that, based on our experience,
I don't view it as a totally unusual thing to see one this time of year
in Seattle.

Martin Muller wrote:
>
> Greetings tweeters,
>
> This morning I found a Red-breasted Sapsucker at Green Lake, Seattle.
> I associate this species (in this location, at 155 feet above sea level) with
> a severe cold snap in December or January. The bird was located in the
> coniferous trees around the tennis court at the north end of the lake, one of
> the typical location for this species at the lake. I always check this stand
> thoroughly for Red-breasted Nuthatches (very quiet this time of year), so I
> don't think this is an artifact of spending an unusual amount of time in this
> spot.
> One single bird countering El Nino? ;)
>
> Martin Muller
> Seattle, WA
> MartinMuller at msn.com

--
Jane Hadley
jhadle at halcyon.com
Seattle, WA