The deer in the title photo was one of many I saw Sunday (Feb. 18th). The doe still gather in groups but the bucks wander alone until they gather for “Bachelor herds”. This young male may have been staying close to his original family when I took the photo.
I made the trip specifically to video Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers making “Sap Wells”. I was lucky enough to see 5 species of woodpeckers. The first being a male Northern Flicker. The photo below is the closest I’ve gotten to the bright yellow feathers growing on the tail and underwings.
I got quick shots of the other species until I sat and filmed the Sapsuckers.
Pileated excavating a cavity
Red-bellied searching lichen for bugs
Red-headed Woodpecker surveying the area.
When I finally got to the small lake (from where I observed the Sapsuckers earlier) I readily found my target species. This male below was busy creating my film topic while looking for his “Sugar Fix”.
young male Sapsucker in non-breeding plumage.
Here is the Red Maple where the Sapsucker was drilling. The red dots are shallow sap wells
The first video I have is actual speed of the Sapsucker drilling the shallow wells. The depth of each hole is between ¼ to½ inch deep.
9 second video
.
The next film is in slow motion and shows the drilling and drinking of sap from the Maple.
30 second video
.
I turned the sound down because it is a distraction from the activity. Even so, the tongue licking out is so fast that it can barely be seen.
A few other species surprised me on my way back to the truck. I had an Eastern Towhee sneak a peak my way.
I also got to shoot several Swamp Sparrows. Here is the best single shot while the others I took were for id purposes. His look of surprise matched my own.
Swamp Sparrow.
Same Swamp Sparrow in a different location.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream,visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on follow.
|
That is all of my tale for today. I’d like to hear about your own pre-Spring flings.