Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Lytle Ranch

["Rick Fridell" <rfridell at redrock dot net>]

This morning, (1/25), Larry Tripp, Kevin Wheeler, and I went to Lytle Ranch
(Washington County, UT). Larry located an interesting sapsucker in the
orchard at Lytle last weekend.  Our primary goal was to study and try to
photograph this bird.  We relocated the bird right away (working its
sapwells on the darkest tree in the orchard), and were able to study it
through a spotting scope. We also managed to take a few digital photos
through the scope. I am now rather convinced it is an adult male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It has absolutely no red on the nape, a red throat
framed with black, including thick black malar stripes. Overall the nape and
face are very pale (extensively white) compared to a Red-naped Sapsucker. It
looks like this sapsucker may be wintering.
Other than this sapsucker, bird activity at Lytle was very limited.  Please
don't hesitate to contact me if you need any additional information.

Rick Fridell
Hurricane, UT

Other birds seen/heard:
Great Blue Heron
Wood Duck (female)
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle (2)
Ring-necked Pheasant
Gambel's Quail
Wilson's Snipe
Belted Kingfisher
Red-naped Sapsucker
Northern Flicker
Western Scrub-Jay
Common Raven
Verdin (10+)
Bewick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Western Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Cedar Waxwing
Phainopepla
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow




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