New Things and Surprises

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Every day during this first week of living in the Dallas Retirement Village has involved learning new things, and encountering surprises. Just the layout of the building of our apartment, the location of the elevators, and stairways to navigate the three stories, the locations for trash and recycle, the locations of half dozen or more lobbies, and most important, the names of our neighbors and fellow residents, has all taken intense concentration. But it is now getting organized in my brain and feels like it is starting to flow nicely.  We marvel every day at how much we are enjoying living here, and even a bit surprised at every ones openness and and genuine joy to meet us. We are now unpacked and have figured out where most things fit in our apartment. 

And now to the surprise I intended to write about, this Red-breasted Sapsucker.  During a break in yesterdays showers I went for a quick birdwalk here in the Village.  I spotted a bird about the size and shape of an European Starling disappear into a tree. I'm going out on a limb here with my best guess that the tree is a Weeping Cyprus, and I hope if someone knows for sure they will correct me. I walked up closer to the tree to see if I could get a better look, and to my complete surprise I found this Red-breasted Sapsucker in this hide-hole. Normally I see this member of the Woodpecker Family on the side of a tree either drilling new sap holes or revisiting to harvest sap or insects. So, even though I consider myself as someone who knows a lot about birds,  I'm delighted to find I have more to learn about birds right here at the Dallas Retirement Village.