Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, WT sparrows
November 4th, 2012 by Kristie Nelson
Date of sighting: Nov 2 – 4, more earlier
Hi,
It’s been a great fall for birds at Simis Ranch!
On Nov. 2 I caught sight of a Red-nape-type sapsucker in the old apple trees by our cabin (apparently replacing the Red-breasted which had been present the past week or 2). Although Red-napes are regular fall migrants, especially this time of year, I always check them out to make sure they’re not YB.
Well, after years of always seeing Red-naped Sapsuckers, this one actually WAS a Yellow-bellied! It is pretty hard to see all the marks that separate the 2, but finally I got to see well the complete black boarder to the red throat, that meets up to the base of the bill. Absolutely no trace of red in the nape. Very “tidy” red markings, unlike the red-nape X Red-breasted hybrids we usually have that have faded patches of red around the face/nape. This one also has extensively pale back. Managed to get a few photos with my little point and shoot camera.
This is in the north Mono Basin, 6-7 miles north of Lee Vining on Dechambeau creek. There has also been a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW present in our pig pen area. Saw it this AM, it’s been around several days. What a great fall for WTSP, as Ken Wells has found at least 2 around Mammoth.
The sapsucker was still around as of yesterday – I’ve not checked today.
On October 17 there was an EASTERN PHOEBE and a LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH (first saw on the 15th), both are very rare in Mono COunty (especially the phoebe). On Oct. 22, we had an AMERICAN REDSTART visit for 2 days.
Also, there was an adult male SUMMER TANAGER that arrived in early September, and remained for 3 + weeks. A lot of sightings I’ve not posted in a long time!
- Kristie
This post was submitted by Kristie Nelson.
