ML505409511

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

We initially encountered this woodpecker after finishing up our loop at the probation camp back where we parked here (33.6466199, -117.4435687). I initially heard tapping before seeing the bird and raised my bins to see this bird working its way up the backside of one of the large Coulter Pines. I immediately called out to the group that I had a Williamson’s Sapsucker. We (Josh, Pema, and Sylvia) continued to watch the bird over the next 5 or so minutes before it picked up and flew east into the next group of Coulters down the road to the east. The bird remained there for a minute or two before picking back up and flying into the larger grove of Coulters to the West past the initial grove where we observed it initially. We did not chase further after the bird. This was an overall medium-sized woodpecker with distinct Sapsucker shape. The body was heavily barred throughout the back, wings and flanks with the only exceptions being the rump (which was white), the head (which was overall tannish-brown), and center of the belly (which was a bright lemon-yellow color. The bill was long, evenly tapered and sharp with a slaty-gray coloration throughout. The tail was mostly black with some white banding near the base. The bird was silent for the entirety of our viewing.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS R5

Lens

RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

ISO

1000

Focal length

500 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

942 pixels x 1409 pixels

Original file size

1.35 MB