Monday, April 29, 2013

Woodpecker Week

I'm living in a Woodpecker Wonderland!

Sunday morning I was treated to a Pileated Woodpecker 'fly-by'.

And I spied this shy Red-breasted Sapsucker tapping away in a Big Leaf Maple.  This is a great photo if I do say so myself!  I was 30 yards away and the zoom is so clear that even the eye of the bird has detail. 

I've 'caged' the suet to make it so the Pigs Starlings don't eat it.
The Flickers now have to work hard to get at it, but if they stretch, they can.

I think this female Red-shafted Flicker looks as though she's posing for the camera. 

She's a pretty bird with polka dots on her chest and stripes on her back.

I've finally figured out how to tell the difference between male and female Acorn Woodpeckers.  This is a female.  The top of her head is white, then black, then red.  The males are just white, then red (no black on top). 

As you can see she's become a 'regular' at the peanut feeder.

She uses her long pink tongue to help snag a peanut. 

And here is a male Acorn Woodpecker and he's got a peanut too!

12 comments:

  1. Always enjoy seeing your Nature shots, great photography and a great start to my day, thanks for sharing.

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  2. Always enjoy seeing your Nature shots, great photography and a great start to my day, thanks for sharing.

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  3. Fantastic selection of photos today Beth, I love the one with the woodpecker using her tongue.

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  4. What handsome birds, Beth! We thought we heard a bird pecking at a nearby tree yesterday, but weren't able to find it to identify it... You really do live in Woodpecker Wonderland :)

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  5. Such lovely photos ..
    Big hugs x

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  6. Fantastic! I so enjoy your pictures -- the new camera is wonderful!

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  7. Yes indeed!!! You are living in woodpecker paradise! The tongue photo is amazing.

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  8. We call our Starlings the mob/gang. They hit our feeders in large numbers, fight over space and leave a mess on the ground, which the blackbirds love.

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  9. Gorgeous woodpecker pictures, Beth! The starlings are little thugs at our suet feeder, too.

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  10. So many woodpeckers! Thanks for the lesson on the Acorn Woodpecker too.

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Thank you all. I appreciate that you've read my blog and are taking the time to comment.