The pileated woodpecker has to work for his meals. This is Woody, who came to check out the old fir stump in my overgrown veggie garden. Notice how his tongue sticks out now and then to help lick up anything he finds crawling around inside the wood.
After he had his meal, he flew into the forested area around the side of our house to have dessert at one of the other stumps we’ve left there.
I followed him to try to get another photo and was surprised when Junior flew in and landed in a tree quite close to me. You can tell that this is a young bird, maybe a female because of no red malar stripe (moustache). The red on her head is not as brilliant as it will be when she matures.
By the time I recovered from the surprise of her appearance, and refocused the camera, the backyard superintendents woke up from sleeping on the job, and came along barking their fool heads off, scaring the birds away.
I sighed, but couldn’t really reprimand them. After all, they are bird dogs.
That’s a great video!
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Thanks, Terry. I’m not very used to posting videos and I was hoping it would work.
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I like the video! Nice photography Anneli. 😎
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Thanks, John. I should put a sign out in the garden:Visitors must stand still for photos before exploring.
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Love the video clip. I made it full screen and cranked up the volume. Even my cats loved it.
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I was surprised that there were other bird sounds in it. I was just concentrating on not breathing too hard into the camera!
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What a fantastic video, Anneli! I love the photo of the dogs…they look so sleepy. 🙂
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The video was an afterthought but I was pleased that it turned out. Glad you enjoyed it.
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I enjoyed watching the video. It is not often that you catch a woodpecker at ground level. Best wishes! Peter
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I think he thought he was “in the wild.”
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Lovely 🙂
Thank you ……
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I love the term “backyard superintendents”! 😀
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That’s what they think they are. LOL.
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Such wonderful birds! Nicely done Anneli!
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TNX, Belinda. I’m always thrilled to see one in my yard. It doesn’t happen often.
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I love your video. 🙂 what a great little visitor.
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I was so tickled that he came right in close for a visit. Glad you liked the video.
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Wow. Love the video!
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I was really lucky that he stayed as long as he did.
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This was terrific. I didn’t know about the red mustache. Gotta love the bird dogs!
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I didn’t know about that malar stripe either until I looked it up to find out whether I should be calling “it” a he or a she. And yes, I do love my “bird dogs.” They are the sweetest.
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Bird dogs are the best. We always had Labs. ❤️
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We had labs when we lived in the Queen Charlottes, but for upland game the spaniels are better. They don’t get overheated like the labs do.
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I didn’t know that about spaniels. Glad to know you had labs, too. 🙂
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These are field bred spaniels, a springer and an English cocker. They are not like the bench (show) spaniels. Great upland bird dogs and really good pets.
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Ah! Thanks, Anneli. 🙂
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Ruby and Emma – just doing their jobs.
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Yes, they’re good at supervising. 😉
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