Hi Tweeters,

I watched the Shoreline Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on its aforementioned branch today from 12:00-12:40, being joined toward the end of my stay by fellow birder Chad. As posted yesterday, some of its holes had been enlarged to grooves. Every now and then, it would dip the tip of its beak into a groove and appear to be sipping sap. I'm not sure if this was noted earlier, but the red throat was completely outlined in black, including under the beak, which, if I recall correctly, Sibley states as helping to distinguish the male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker from the variant female Red-naped Sapsucker, which can appear quite similar. This was a great lifer for me. Thanks to who ever first posted this sighting on Tweeters and thanks again to Steve for the absolutely perfect directions!

Good birding,

Lonnie Somer
Olympia,WA
wheelermombi at comcast.net