"Sharon & Don Haller, Astoria" wrote:
>
> Last Saturday while at a relative's graduation party near Olympia, WA, I
> thought I saw a Red-naped Sapsucker. The party was at suburban park that
> I believe was called Lake Lucinda Park or Lucinda Park. The bird was at a
> small nearby lake that I presume is Lake Lucinda, although the De Lorme CD
> does not show either the lake or the park. The location was at the narrow
> end of the lake in an area of shallow water with several dead snags and
> thick shoreside brush. Access to the point in question was by a mowed
> path from Laguna to the lake. The general area is west of I5 and Scott
> Lake and north of Littlerock and south of Delphi. Very approximate
> gridblock 10T 0496800 5200600, NAD 27, by later map inspection.
>
> Time was about 6pm. The bird, and its distinctive head and upper body,
> was first seen from about 5 feet in shrubby shoreline shrubs. After a
> short (2-3 sec) view it flew away. As I stepped clear of the bush I was
> able to watch it land on a snag 25 to 30 feet away, in excellent light,
> and watch it watch me for about another 30 seconds. The red, black and
> white head pattern was clear and, I feel, unmistakeable. No binos, but
> did have my glasses on and cleaned. I was the only person present.
>
> I am familar with Red-headed and Red-naped Sapsuckers from western Oregon
> and eastern Oregon respectively. At the time, I assumed that this was one
> of the latter that had a range that swung over to the west in Washington
> more than Oregon.
>
> >From the books I have I see that's not the case. Since almost all of the
> rarities I think I see aren't (Haller's Razor), my first thought is that
> there is perhaps a fair amount of variation within what used to be one of
> three subspecies of YB Sapsucker. The example of flickers comes to mind.
> I do not know, so I'm asking. The second thought is that the range may
> not be so distinct in WA as the field guides suggest (and as Gabrielson
> and Jewett and Gilligan et al confirm for Oregon.) The third thought is
> that there may be juvenile plumage stages that I am not familiar with.
> The one thing it was not was anything close to an adult RH Sapsucker.
>
> I await enlightenment, or at least comments.
>
> For the cynics among you who noted the word "party", I should add that I
> had nothing to drink other than water.
>
> Don Haller
> PS please do not reply directly to me as my ISP has a runaway security
> software problem and the text will be deleted all or in part. replies to
> the list are unaffected.

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
that amazes those with ears who hear not.

-Neltje Blanchan

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html