My alarm clock

Well, this one I happened to spot while riding with my husband earlier this week, but there is also one rat-ta-tat-ta-tatting in our yard every morning. I just love the Pileated Woodpeckers! Even though I never loved Woody Woodpecker, lol.

Pileated Woodpecker - In my own backyard! Squeals!

I couldn't believe I was lucky enough to look out the window at the same moment he decided to spin around on my suet.

Persistence

Persistence is a must! I have seen Pileated Woodpeckers many times, too many to count, but today was the first day I have gotten a decent photo of one. I didn't give up, and I will still keep trying to get a better, closer, shot. This drive is just as important when it comes to the health care needed to make sure remission stays. If my oncologist doesn't seem to listen, I find one who will. A Pileated Woodpecker is not going to fly into my living room and land on my head screaming, 'Look at me!', I must get out of my comfort zone and find him.

~ You can see the explanation behind this project by going here or see the all posts in this category by going here. ~

I was chasing a Northern Flicker when I almost ran into this guy! I was about 10 feet away when I noticed him - I literally gasped!

I wish I had been better prepared for him, I could have had some better shots. I really thought he had left our neighborhood. But I had my camera settings correct to shoot in a sunlit subject, that Flicker I mentioned, when I stumbled on Mr Pileated in shadows. Dang! The settings were to slow to freeze his rat-tat-tatting perfectly. But these will have to do for now.

This is not the first time I've seen him in this exact spot. I'm sure it won't be the last.

It's a Wonderful Spring!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

How about some Mourning Doves? They sat there so quietly that I almost missed them. But I’m feeling very fortunate this spring because not only has Pixel, the flying squirrel, moved into one of my birdhouses, but . . .

I know where a Pileated Woodpecker hangs out. I’m hoping he will cooperate for a better photo soon.

And within 100 feet of the Pileated are a pair of Ospreys hard at work building a nest.

She would place the sticks as he brought them to her. But as I neared she was sure to keep her eyes on me.

In the meantime, Mr Osprey, tired from all his stick gathering, stood scratching his butt. Men!

Yes indeedy, it's a great spring!

An unlucky outing

We decided to go to Wabasha Minnesota and take a look for some eagles. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the memo. This is the closest we got.

When I tried to get a little closer, he took off.

Oh well, better luck next time.

I tried sneaking up on the Pileated Woodpecker, but he took off too. It just wasn’t a good day.

Pileated Woodpecker

As we were driving down the road a few days ago, in a residential neighborhood, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker on a stump, right by the road! I was so excited and Dennis pulled to the curb while I grabbed my camera. But the huge honkin’ lens poking out of the window must have been pretty scary as the bird flew to a tree a little further away.

We saw him a few more times while driving. . . Ok we chased him, but that’s the closest I got. Still, it’s a little better than last time.