Birds Woodpeckers!

Doug Herr

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I spent much of this winter & spring pursuing the local and near-local woodpeckers. First is a hybrid Red-breasted x Red-naped Sapsucker in my yard (Sacramento County California USA, a7rIII, FE 600mm GM)
sphnur13.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/8
  • 1/160 sec
  • ISO 800


followed shortly by nest-building efforts of Nuttall's Woodpeckers and Acorn Woodpeckers (Sacramento County California USA, a7rIII & FE 600mm GM)
melfor16.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/80 sec
  • ISO 400
drynut09.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/320 sec
  • ISO 1250


In Sierra County California I found a Williamson's Sapsucker nest (a7rIII, FE 600mm GM)
sphthy11.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/200 sec
  • ISO 640


and near Lake Tahoe (El Dorado County California) I found a Red-breasted Sapsucker nest (a7rIII, FE 100-400 GM)
sphrub06.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM)
  • 400.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/250 sec
  • ISO 800


I used a blind where appropriate and avoided approaching nest trees to reduce the possibility of leaving a scent trail that predators might follow.
 
I recently found a Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) wintering here in the lowlands of Sacramento County California. Sapsuckers drill tiny sap wells in the bark of trees, returning to eat the oozing sap and any insects that may have been attracted to it. This bird's M.O. was to start at the base of the tree, working its way up, checking existing sap wells and drilling new ones as it deemed necessary. Repeat.
sphrub08.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/320 sec
  • ISO 400


new sap wells
sphrub09.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/400 sec
  • ISO 400


up the tree
sphrub11.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/400 sec
  • ISO 400


upper limb
sphrub12.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/200 sec
  • ISO 400


oooh! fresh sweet sticky sap!
sphrub10.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/400 sec
  • ISO 400
 
Last edited:
a female Nuttall's Woodpecker sneaks a snack from the sap wells while the sapsucker isn't paying attention.
drynut12.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/8
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 400


drynut13.jpg
  • ILCE-7RM3
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/8
  • 1/640 sec
  • ISO 400
 
All of these are fantastic.
 
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pilatus)
July 2022
Calaveras County California USA
drypil01.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/125 sec
  • ISO 1600


drypil05.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/160 sec
  • ISO 1600


drypil07.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/160 sec
  • ISO 1600


drypil10.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/160 sec
  • ISO 1600
drypil14.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/500 sec
  • ISO 400
 
Downy Woodpecker IMBY eastern Sacramento County California

drypub17.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/160 sec
  • ISO 800


drypub15.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/10
  • 1/125 sec
  • ISO 400


drypub10.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/320 sec
  • ISO 800
 
Gila Woodpecker, Pima County Arizona USA

meluro00.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/1250 sec
  • ISO 800


meluro01.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/1250 sec
  • ISO 800


meluro03.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/6.3
  • 1/1600 sec
  • ISO 800


meluro04.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/8
  • 1/1000 sec
  • ISO 800


meluro11.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • 600.0 mm
  • ƒ/5.6
  • 1/400 sec
  • ISO 800
 
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Essex County Ontario Canada

melcar00.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/1000 sec
  • ISO 1000


melcar01.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/1000 sec
  • ISO 1000


melcar03.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/1000 sec
  • ISO 1000


melcar05.jpg
  • ILCE-1
  • FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
  • 840.0 mm
  • ƒ/7.1
  • 1/800 sec
  • ISO 1000
 
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