[Birdnet] Lytle Ranch

[Dennis Shirley]

   I made a over night trip to Lytle Ranch on friday
and saturday, and spent the bulk of friday afternoon
and saturday morning in the orchard, trying to
relocate the Red-breasted Sapsucker reported by Larry
and the Byer's
last weekend. In all my years of birding i've never
seen so many sapsuckers packed into such a small area.
At one time I counted nine in one small persimmon tree
eating the ripe fruit. I believe there were between 20
to 25 sapsuckers in the orchard. I could only find
Red-naped, but it was fun studying differences between
individuals; juveniles, 1st year birds, females, and
brightly colored males. I tried my darnest to make one
a Yellow-bellied or Red-breasted but it wasn't to be.
If you get down that way spend some time here. The
Red-breasted may still be around or maybe a new one
will show up. The orchard acts like a magnet for
sapsuckers passing through.
  I did find one exceptionally unusual bird. A VARIED
THRUSH was in the groove of cottonwoods above the
trailor at the headquarters. It was alone and was seen
fly up from the ground into the trees, then move
through the branches from tree to tree. It appeared to
be a female, with a gray breast band and orange
supercilium and wing bars.
  Overall, birding was slow. But its alway a fun place
to go. You never know what will show up.
  Dennis Shirley 

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