Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Pileated Woodpecker

I've heard and seen this Pileated Woodpecker in my back yard since we moved here over three months ago.  She's a frequent visitor to the tall pines that surround my home.  Her loud, boisterous calls announce her arrival moments before she's seen scooting along the tree trunk of a large pine, seeking a satisfactory spot to begin drumming.  I felt confident that sooner or later she would come within close enough range of my camera lens to get at least a "decent" shot of her.  


I heard her familiar drumming the other day and I scanned the nearby trees looking for her. There she was- about midway in an old, decayed tree close to the edge of my back yard.  I grabbed my camera and started shooting...


I watched her as she rapidly pecked at the old wood for several seconds.  She then leaned back and curiously moved her head side to side, looking for a sign of crawling insects.  No such luck at this spot- moments later she was gone.  


Linked with Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday


7 comments:

  1. they're just wonderful woodpeckers! as you said, so loud and so big!

    ReplyDelete
  2. How neat that you were able to capture a pileated woodpecker!! My uncle and cousin recently saw one at a nearby lake.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm so pleased you have a good variety of birds in your new place of residence. These are great shots of the Pileated Woodpecker Susan. Most Woodies love peanuts.They only started coming to my garden when they discovered the peanuts, but we don't have this kind of Woodpecker. Nice to see!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the beautiful woodpecker. They are an awesome sight to see, great shots! Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. One flew over my head the other day, as I walked the pups through the park. Didn't have my camera. Dang. I used to see them in my neighborhood all the time...then went years without a single glimpse. Now...to entice them to stick around my place. I love watching them. (I have too many oaks and not enough pine around my house, I guess)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your patience paid off. Wonderful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  7. They are such odd looking birds aren't they..? I haven't seen one of these yet...but, I know they are around somewhere ...

    ReplyDelete