Hi Tweets,

Gerald Hamilton writes:

>.....The Red-breasted Sapsucker is 'lifer' for me. It wasn't present the
>first time I went by the oak tree(it was reported earlier as having been
>seen).

There's a good chance this bird was a migrant--if it's on an oak tree, it's
not in usual habitat; I heard of another Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus
ruber a few days ago in an area of Greater Vancouver BC in which they're not
resident. Some other species which seem to be heading north as well right
now, though as with the sapsuckers the migrant components are masked by
locally-resident birds, are Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias, interior-race
Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers Picoides pubescens P. villosus, Golden-crowned
Kinglet Regulus satrapa, Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus and Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)