Tweeters,

A friend (GT) and I photographed Red-breasted Sapsuckers tending wells last summer. Many species also visited the wells. Sixteen percent sucrose is pretty attractive.

For the past three weeks, a Red-breasted Sapsucker has spent much time on my Birch Tree. This has happened every other year for a total of three, each two- five week Fall visits.

Monday, I filmed it tending the larger of the two types of sap wells. One of the things I found interesting was that the resident female Anna's came to nearby inactive sap wells on a regular basis-approximatley 1X/ hour.
After a few hours the sapsucker left the Birch and I waited to see if the Anna's would arrive to drink from the active wells. She did, twice in ten minutes. She was followed by a sipping Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a nice surprise.

Best regards,
Dan Reiff
Mercer Island