In early 2006 (how can it be over six years ago!) I spent a couple of weeks with a friend of mine in Ohio. I presented some workshops with him, spent some time in his school and spent more than a few hours watching the birds in his yard. We were both teachers then – now he is occupied with busy retirement and I work in research.
As I have mentioned in more than a few comments on other people posts (sorry Gary!) we have no woodpeckers in Australia and I miss them. Back in the UK there are only 3 species of woodpecker you can expect to see on a regular basis, and only two of those are common enough not to be considered a red-letter bird. So a cracking black woodpecker, with a cartoon red crest, weighing in at about the size of a chicken was always going to attract my attention.
These may not be the best pictures I have posted, but they do hold a special place. I hope you enjoy them.
You can find more birds from around the world at World Bird Wednesday.
You can find the latest post to my other blog by clicking on the Paying Ready Attention image on the RHS of the page.
Enjoy the birds.
Stewart,
ReplyDeleteI love woodpeckers and your's definitely stands with the red:)Nice captures and thanks for sharing.Have a great day!
Shantana
Oh, I do love seeing the woodpeckers. Great pics of these red-heads.
ReplyDeleteOh, Very cute. I have never seen this kind of wood peckers.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day.
well, i love getting to see these crazy birds, too. we have at least one pair in our area and i love to catch sight/sound of them.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy the pictures very much, especially when clicked on and enlarged. I like woodpeckers, and this is a fine looking one.
ReplyDeleteI think the pictures are just fine -- there's really no other way to get a pileated except on a tree trunk! Earlier in the season here we had the red-bellied (much smaller) and now I am seeing the pileated, but can't get a picture at all, so thanks for yours! (This the real Woody Woodpecker, don't you think?)
ReplyDeletePileated's are really very special!! We have them here, of course. Nice shots and great you could see them. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteI see Pileated Woodpeckers quite often when I'm in the woods, although I've never photographed them. They're my favorite of the woodpeckers we have in the US. These are great photos, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of a great looking bird. Looking back at good memories can be fun!
ReplyDeleteYou captured a wonderful moment Stewart!
ReplyDeleteThere is a female living in the woods on my property. I posted her a few weeks ago. I haven't seen her in awhile but I have heard her.
It's nice knowing she is still around.
There's nothing else which I've heard that sounds like a woodpecker, they're distinct sound of knocking on wood, literally, gives them away all the time. Fantastic colors in this one, great capture Stewart!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics.
ReplyDeleteNice captures, Stewart. Always good to photograph birds that we don't have in our country when we travel.
ReplyDeleteGreat captures of the Pileated Woodie. I just love all the woodpeckers. Have a great day, Stewart.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the Pileated! I have seen them occasionally here, but only managed to get one far-away shot of one. Usually, the woody canopy is too dense and they are too fast for me! By the time I figure out where they are, they fly off!
ReplyDeleteOh neat, you have Pileated Woodpeckers too. They really are such wonderful birds, I love to watch them and also those voices, love it. your images are great~
ReplyDeleteThey're so cool.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you were to get such good shots. I live in Ohio and I've heard them, even caught a glimpse of one, but no photos.
I have never seen a Pileated woodpecker, though I know we have them here in Michigan (which is right next door to Ohio). We have lots of other wood peckers, though, and I would miss them if I lived in a place without them. You got some great photos of this neat bird.
ReplyDeleteI have only seen a few Pileated Woodpeckers (Vancouver, BC) although they are around. It's just a matter of being lucky enough to come across them. When I do, I always feel I've been given a special gift. I'm not officially a bird watcher but came to it through the discovery of an osprey nest that had a chick in it. I bought my camera and big lens to better see the chick, and was rewarded by witnessing its first flight. I slowly became hooked on all birds, but have a LOT to learn.
ReplyDeleteJust an added note that i also really enjoyed your post about "Living in the Past" and will return to read more of your "ramblings" :)
Hauntingly beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful bird with a striking appearance. Thanks for sharing !
ReplyDelete