Tweets,
I followed the advice and directions of my friend Andy Stepniewski in an
effort to add Black-backed
> Woodpecker to my lifelist. I hiked up to the burn off forest road 1705
> east of Whistling Jacks Restaurant on the
> Chinook Pass Hwy this Saturday, Sept 18. (See the Tweeters archives for
> directions.) Unfortunately, I did not see the Black-backs or any
> woodpeckers at the burn itself, but it was beautiful basking in the sun
> between 10:15-11:30am. Also I did see a Kestrel, a Sharpshin, a Redtail,
> 5 Ravens, and about 30 Cliff Swallows cruise by (though there was no
> obvious migration direction). I also got a less than desirable look at
> what I believe was a Townsend's Solitaire at the burn.
>
The most interesting bird for me was on the walk back to my van. I believe
the bird was a female Williamson's Sapsucker. I got a good, long look at
the back and sides and saw the brown barring (not as well on the sides), but
definitely no white wing patches. The only thing that made me doubt the ID
was that I was originally looking at a Red-naped male when I spotted the
camouflage female working the same tree just above the male. The male was a
little ruffled but otherwise true to the National Geographic guide I had in
the field (I also got a good look at another Red-naped male earlier in the
day.) Now that I am home a studying in Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding and
other guides I realize that sapsuckers are more difficult than I thought
especially considering hybrids. I've only seeing a couple male Williamson's
and don't remember if I've seen a female before, but still think my IDs
might be right. Any thoughts from you sapsucker watchers out there?

Here is my total count from 1705 to and including the burn (9:15am-12:15pm,
fairly quiet but beautiful morning)
Turkey Vulture 1
American Kestrel 1
Sharpshin Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Williamson's Sapsucker (female) 1
Red-naped Sapsucker (male) 2
Northern Flicker 1
Common Raven 5
Black-billed Magpie 1
Stellar's Jay 1
Cliff Swallow 30
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
American Robin 20 (migrating flock?)
Townsend's Solitaire 1
White-crowned Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Chipmunk 5

Still looking for Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers.

Bob Schmidt
home: (425) 483-0997
BobS at BestNet.com