Sierra Nevada Birding Extravaganza: Chasing Nutcrackers & Sapsuckers through Snow & Streams

The Sierra Nevada is iconic. We explore these mountains with our guide Rachel Clark, in order to look for Clark’s Nutcrackers and Williamson’s Sapsuckers.
To learn more about Rachel's guiding services, check out her website here: centralcaliforniabirdingtours...
Gear Links (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases)
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description
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Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod
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Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod
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Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera
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Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300
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Connect with us!
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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps
www.sdakotabirds.com/index.ht...
Williamson’s Sapsucker photos in video and cover image by Rachel Clark
Other birds in cover image are public domain
All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann
#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[@birdocs]

Birding is life.

[@pauraque]

I literally just found the Costa Rican subspecies of American Dipper today. The fact that I've seen one near a glacier and deep in the rainforest is insane to me!!! They truly are adaptable!!!

[@richiephillips1541]

Heck. I'd be excited just to see a mountain bluebird!

[@rerolley]

I like dippers. They are such cool birds.

[@ryanwashere]

I bet she's a great guide... Love the enthusiasm!

[@daltonadger6489]

The Sierra-Nevadas helped get me into birding. Went on my honeymoon to Lake Tahoe five years ago, and while we were there, I noticed Ospreys in their nests and fishing. I was so interested. Became one of several spark birds.

[@RoyceMarcus]

Nice job on the dipper! I was lucky enough to get a look at this during a casual walk on a trial in Washington. Had no idea it existed before that and the behavior blew my mind! Such an interesting and strange bird. Also - very cool on the white headed woodpecker!

[@darylbernard2616]

BVD birds certainly count - AND, they'll keep you coming back for another experience with the bird. Life Bird HIGH FIVE!

[@kevincox1493]

Really enjoy watching your videos. Great quality! Feel like I’m taken on a journey. Particularly like the videos over ten minute length ; more relaxing. Thank you.

[@barbaracole709]

I love the white-headed woodpeckers! Glad you found the 2 lifers even if you didn’t get to see them as long as you would have liked! It’s such a beautiful area!

[@GenghisAttenborough]

Glad you saw them, that's two species I'd love to see

[@ABirdersParadise]

Glad you guys managed to get both! I saw my lifer Clark's Nutcracker at the picnic area just before the Paradise Visitor Center at Mount Rainer NP. It came to investigate our picnic food along with some Canada and Steller's Jays. Since then, I've had them fly over my yard in North ID. Not regularly though.

[@Beryllahawk]

What an adventure that was! And the snow is quite impressive (says the woman used to desert and scorching Southern heat, lol) But I swear I could practically smell that place, reminds me of the very short time I lived in upstate New York. (I know, I know: vastly different habitats and way less snow but I was like 6 so a normal snowdrift WAS over my head, literally!) I can't even imagine myself hiking such a long way though - you two are in pretty decent shape and a LOT more determined than me, heh! So glad you got those looks, even if they were so brief and short! And that shot of the Nutcracker in flight is SO pretty, really love how that looks! They're such elegant looking birds too from that sort informational shot you included. Like they're wearing little waistcoats! Thanks for taking us along on so many of your birding adventures, it's always a good day when I get to (virtually) hang out with y'all!

[@jackaanerud2938]

Red crossbills are my nemesis bird. I’ve tried all over different forests here in Wyoming. But Clark’s nutcrackers are everywhere in the mountains down here.

[@pauraque]

It's one of those terrible birds you just randomly see sometimes. They are basically impossible to chase, but if you are outside enough you're bound to come across some.

[@YuasBirds]

​@@pauraqueit's true, unfortunately the only time I run across them is when I left all my gear at home so I never get pictures lmao

[@pauraque]

@@YuasBirds REAL 😭

[@jackaanerud2938]

@YuasBirds and @pauraque it’s good to know that it is actually difficult to see red crossbills.

[@pauraque]

@@jackaanerud2938 Yea I am looking back through my records. Apparently I've seen them 11 times in 6 years and all records are in west coast national forests with loads of pine trees. I do have one record for my house in the middle of San Francisco that was genuinely insane. That and rough-legged hawk are probably the rarest things I have seen from my house. So definitely a super hard bird.

[@juanitakelly3082]

I saw a lovely Clark's Nutcracker a few years ago in a parking lot at Crater Lake in Oregon. The roads were plowed with high side banks just like the ones you were on so this was like deja vu for me! Fun!

[@StephanieHughesDesign]

Such a delight watching you guys go birding. Rachel totally rocks. Welcome to CA.

[@malolm]

those crossbills were awesome 🔥

[@Thundermanti]

Great finds! I need both of those birds for my county year (and life) list! Hoping to have some luck in the coming months!!

[@Juzcotton22]

Great vid! I'm moving to Reno, Nevada this month so I'm excited to see alot of these species!

[@seanhuntley7203]

Yo, you guys should come to Colorado. Good mountain birding, as well as Brown Capped Rosy Finch, White Tailed Ptarmigan, and Gunnison Sage Grouse

[@sandyjacobs7840]

Love this video!! so much fun to finally get your birds!

[@Chris_Wolfgram]

Wait, you guys came here to go birding in my back yard, and didn't even tell me ? :) lol Actually, you guys were a bit South. I'm from Sacramento, and generally do my Sierra birding around Lake Tahoe. What are the odds that I live here, yet I just got my Red Crossbill, Clarks Nutcracker, and my Williamson's Sapsucker, in the last few weeks ??? I can do better with all these shots though. And I SO want a Mountain Quail ! I really need a Dipper too. Great video guys :) Thank you.

[@withvinayak]

Your best chance for dipper is in Lassen volcanic national park near the manzanita lake! I saw at least two dippers when I was there. They are almost non existent to non birders, patience is the key!!

[@joshdewitt8796]

My general experience with nutcrackers too. They’re always on the move! They’re common in Alberta where I saw and heard many, but they don’t stay in one spot for too long.

[@nicks.7296]

Another great video, guys! 👏🏼👏🏼

[@FreeRoamingPhoto]

Hit me up if ya'll ever visit Jackson Hole, WY. I can help with that Clark's nutcracker. Great video, regardless!

[@m.brodie8872]

So fun to watch your California series of videos, which is my home state. The places all felt so familiar it was as if I was out there birding with you guys! Stoked you got to see so many of our awesome species while out here!

[@user-qw5pm6lr9d]

Those were awesome finds for you both to see.

[@RaeInTime]

Great video! 🐦❤🙂

[@elainemartin7141]

Dipper❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@thecornells7430]

Super video guys, excellent. Thanks. . Any chance of linking in locations for us UK based birders.

[@garymeredith2441]

When are you guys up there with snow still on the ground ????

[@pauraque]

Do you count heard onlies as lifers?

[@malolm]

i do 😎

[@pauraque]

@@malolm THANK YOU! Everyone should, I just know plenty of people who don't and it pisses me off.

[@michaelhochstetler8483]

I do, but out of my latest 80 lifers only 3-4 were heard only. I also live in MA so most birds here are more cooperative than birds living in rainforests for example.