Birds Woodpeckers!

[Doug Herr]

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)

• 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)

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/80 sec
• ISO 400

• 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)

• 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)

• 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.

 

[Doug Herr]

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.

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 400

new sap wells

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 400

up the tree

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 400

upper limb

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

oooh! fresh sweet sticky sap!

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Doug Herr]

a female Nuttall's Woodpecker sneaks a snack from the sap wells while the sapsucker isn't paying attention.

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 400

• ILCE-7RM3
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter
• 840.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Uncle Kevriano]

All of these are fantastic.

 

[Doug Herr]

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pilatus)
July 2022
Calaveras County California USA

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/125 sec
• ISO 1600

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

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

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

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 400

 

[Doug Herr]

Downy Woodpecker IMBY eastern Sacramento County California

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

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

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/320 sec
• ISO 800

 

[Doug Herr]

immature Red-breasted Sapsucker South Lake Tahoe California

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5
• 1/160 sec
• ISO 1250

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/4.5
• 1/100 sec
• ISO 1250

​

 

[Doug Herr]

Gila Woodpecker, Pima County Arizona USA

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

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

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

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

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/5.6
• 1/400 sec
• ISO 800

 

[Doug Herr]

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Essex County Ontario Canada

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

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

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

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

​

 

[Doug Herr]

Red-headed Woodpecker, Essex County Ontario Canada

• ILCE-1
• FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/500 sec
• ISO 1000

 

[Doug Herr]

Lewis's Woodpecker, Solano County California USA

• ILCE-1
• Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS (SEL600F40GM)
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/640 sec
• ISO 800