Observers: Tom Wurster & Liga Auzins
Email: llauzins@yahoo.com
Verification: MONO
Remote Name: 4.232.219.34
Date: 12/04/2007
Time: 01:10 AM -0500
Sunday morning we observed a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the date grove at Furnace Creek Ranch: grayish-black feathering fully retained on chest and belly, red throat (entire, but faint), and black and white head and throat markings all heavily veiled, back with two broad buffy/off-white rows separated narrowly by black on mid-line. We later observed an adult male Red-naped Sapsucker. At least 6 Lewis's Woodpeckers continue, as does one White-throated Sparrow (adult, ten striped morph). The clearing for the new solar generating field is nearly complete. Most of the palms have been relocated within the "manicured" grove remanants bordering three sides of the driving range, thereby greatly increasing the density of palms in these areas. Lets hope they stop mowing the lawn beneath. This will allow the grass to grow tall and wild again and give mesquite and other bushes a chance to invade and recreate the cover and resources lost to birds and other wildlife when the abandoned date grove was cleared of such to make the new solar generating field.