Even Our Fine Feathered Friends Love The Fabulous 500!

Oh, it's such a crappy day that nobody wants to come out and play. Not even
a possum or woodchuck, but one of my little feathered friends came out to
play and pose for the fabulous 500. I got off a shot and went back in to
put on the TC and do a comparison shot. He was gone. I know he'll be back
later on when the weather clears up a bit. I'm ready!

<http://www.geocities.com/ritaberk2007/red_head.htm>






Rita

 

I never understood why they called it a Red-Bellied when the head is
the red part.
They are fairly common around here, especially when I put out the
suet..
http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/37521337

 

Keep putting out that suet, as it keeps them warm in the winter.
This is THE best woodpecker shot I have ever seen.
Superb!
Helen

 

It is strange, but it seems that they have three or four small red
feathers on the belly. Apparently, you need to have one in your hand to
see these small red feathers. The name "red-headed" was already in use
for the larger, glossy WP, which has more red on its head. The bird that
is very similar to the red-bellied but with orange feathers is called
"orange cockaded". The orange version has much to recommend it to fans
of both UTs--Texas and Tennessee. Which leads me to two more things: the
picture of "Smoky" the UTenn mascot is the image of my wife's dog.
And--you have a great woodpecker on your web page that I don't recall
your pointing out to us--a pileated, known as a "Lord God" in the East
Texas forests because of its extremely loud call.
Allen

 

I often go out in the woods and listen for the pileated Woodpeckers.
They do make a loud screeching noise. This one, however, was taken in
my front yard on Thanksgiving Day, 2004.
http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/36772438

The "Lord God Bird" is a name usually given to the very rare Ivory-
Billed Woodpecker. These are the birds thought to be extinct that
some people claim have been seen recently in Arkansas and No.
Florida. Some day I'd love to go looking for it and be the first to
get a good photo of it. (I'll probably photograph another UFO first.)

The nickname supposedly came from folks who were surprised when the
huge woodpecker flew by. They'd shout, "Lord God, what is that?"

 

Pileated woodpeckers have more than a loud call, they mean business when
attacking a tree looking for lunch. They leave wood chips around that
would make a lumberjack proud. Rectangular holes and 2 by 3 inch wood
chips 3/8 of an inch thick.

w..

 

For verification of that click on Annika's picture. Compare that
excavation to the neat little 3 mm (approx.) holes drilled by
sapsuckers. And, Annika, you have a hell of a front yard if you have
pileateds in it. A great picture.
Allen

 

Looks very like a Flicker, eh?

 

That was the only time I've ever seen that bird in my yard.
Luckily, I was strapped with the 400 f/5.6L at the time.
I got some pics from that session with the chunks of wood flying out.
Those suckers really can hollow out a tree in a hurry.

 

On Oct 29, 11:48 am, wrote:
http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/37521337

Thanks. I like this one, myself.
http://www.pbase.com/bret/image/78898632

Any time you can get close enough to a pileated to get a decent pic,
consider yourself blessed.
I've been blessed a few times.

 

Then began ' Annika1980 <>' to curse and to swear:

Note: Vulgar posting not quoted.

This is a family news group in which children and young adults read. It is *your* social responsibility as an adult to demonstrate proper Usenet etiquette.

Please refrain from cursing and swearing.

 

I'm going "Lord God. Look at the size of that hole!"

Did the tree survive, LOL?!?