I have hit Lake Park in Milwaukee almost daily this week in hopes to see the large numbers of the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that come through. This year like last, I may have missed the big event. Stops have had numbers of just 3-5 birds and some times not even photograph-able as they were high up in the trees. Maybe they are still coming but I think it is just one of those things that I won’t see that event. The few I have seen have been stunning as always, actively feeding on sap, making new holes in trees for more sap, they seem to know where to go. Most of the birds I have seen were higher in trees, not low near the truck. I would think that has to do with the sap situation in the tree. Still exciting to see these birds come through even if it was only one. Images were taken on the 8th and 12th of April 2019.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male, working on a hole getting sap too…
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male working on a hole…
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female-left, male-right
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male, they like to hide when someone is around and come around corners slow…
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Getting sap
Working the hole and then getting more sap…
Female getting sap…
Getting sap…
Awesome series Jim. We are lucky to get them visit a hard maple tree in our yard each year. So fun to watch and then enjoy all the other birds feed on the insects that are attracted to the sap.
Jim, your photos show the “yellow belly “ just beautifully!
This is a beautiful woodpecker. We found an injured one in our yard a couple of weeks ago. We were able to connect with a rep from Wildlife of Wisconsin up in Cato…we met in Manitowoc and turned the bird over for care. The rep thought it was a head injury…but, the Sap sucker was very feisty and vocal. We don’t know what has happened, but it was a privilege to care for this little guy.
saw male Yellow-bellied on upper bluff over river ravine at north end of Kletzsch Park, Milw 4/14/2020 ~ 11AM