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.
June 30, 2018 at 9:56 am
That’s a great video!
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June 30, 2018 at 10:02 am
Thanks, Terry. I’m not very used to posting videos and I was hoping it would work.
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June 30, 2018 at 10:26 am
I like the video! Nice photography Anneli. 😎
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June 30, 2018 at 10:30 am
Thanks, John. I should put a sign out in the garden:Visitors must stand still for photos before exploring.
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June 30, 2018 at 10:30 am
Love the video clip. I made it full screen and cranked up the volume. Even my cats loved it.
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June 30, 2018 at 10:35 am
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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June 30, 2018 at 11:24 am
What a fantastic video, Anneli! I love the photo of the dogs…they look so sleepy. 🙂
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June 30, 2018 at 11:43 am
The video was an afterthought but I was pleased that it turned out. Glad you enjoyed it.
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June 30, 2018 at 12:09 pm
I enjoyed watching the video. It is not often that you catch a woodpecker at ground level. Best wishes! Peter
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June 30, 2018 at 2:11 pm
I think he thought he was “in the wild.”
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June 30, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Lovely 🙂
Thank you ……
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June 30, 2018 at 2:43 pm
I love the term “backyard superintendents”! 😀
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June 30, 2018 at 2:44 pm
That’s what they think they are. LOL.
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June 30, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Such wonderful birds! Nicely done Anneli!
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June 30, 2018 at 2:52 pm
TNX, Belinda. I’m always thrilled to see one in my yard. It doesn’t happen often.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:05 pm
I love your video. 🙂 what a great little visitor.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:19 pm
I was so tickled that he came right in close for a visit. Glad you liked the video.
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June 30, 2018 at 11:49 pm
Wow. Love the video!
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July 1, 2018 at 8:28 am
I was really lucky that he stayed as long as he did.
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July 1, 2018 at 5:18 am
This was terrific. I didn’t know about the red mustache. Gotta love the bird dogs!
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July 1, 2018 at 8:26 am
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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July 1, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Bird dogs are the best. We always had Labs. ❤️
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July 1, 2018 at 2:48 pm
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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July 1, 2018 at 6:22 pm
I didn’t know that about spaniels. Glad to know you had labs, too. 🙂
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July 1, 2018 at 6:46 pm
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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July 2, 2018 at 6:19 am
Ah! Thanks, Anneli. 🙂
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July 1, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Ruby and Emma – just doing their jobs.
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July 1, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Yes, they’re good at supervising. 😉
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