Sunday, December 13, 2009

Hunt for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

December 11, 2009

Bryan Ehlmann:

Rich Stevens and I were seeking a place to go for a walk on this balmy (38 degree) day. It felt much warmer after our recent days with a string of temperatures in single digits.

Rich had not searched for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers yet this year in Golden so we drove to the west side of Denver. Our expectations were low; but we were getting some exercise. Our hunt centered around 1519 Ford Street where several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been reported in the past.

Surprisingly, I noticed a sapsucker clinging to the side of a tree along 15th street, just west of Ford Street. This was during our third circle of the area. It stayed completely still for 10 minutes, then took off up 15th Street to the northeast.

We found it again about halfway between Ford Street and East Street. A Sharp-shinned Hawk chased House Sparrows in the same area and we lost sight of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

We stopped briefly at Red Rocks Park, Jefferson County. No additional Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were found. We did see a flock of 9-10 Bushtits.

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