May has arrived and to my surprise, a rare wood pecker to this part of Alberta, arrived as well! At first I thought this was a 'Yellow-Bellied' Sapsucker but the red patch on the back of the head would indicate that this in fact is a 'Red-Naped' Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis). Sapsuckers take a different approach to the standard 'woodpecking!' They will drill holes or 'wells' in parallel lines in tree bark. These holes fill with sap, attracting bugs which, of course become trapped. The Sapsuckers return in May and immediately start 'lapping-up' the previous year's sap wells! Apparently a 'tasty' treat! That's your Sapsucker education for the day! Haha!
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