pileated woodpecker!

[earthmother45]

I got such a thrill yesterday morning! I had been out photographing a few places, then came home and sat outside for awhile. Not much happening in the yard, just some squirrels scurrying around, so after awhile I didn't even bother looking up from my reading. I kept hearing sounds in the oak tree that was about 10 feet away from me, but thinking it

Comments

[thoughtsbykat]

What a great set of captures! They are an unusual woodpecker; between their appearance and their call. What a thrill!

[earthmother45]

I love all the woodpeckers we have here in Florida. They are all so cute, I think. The call of the pileated is so distinct and reminds me of what wild birds calling in the jungle would sound like. You always know when they are around.

[egg_shell]

When I saw the one right before he landed I thought it was so funny. Like he was jumping on a trampoline. Cool!

[earthmother45]

Yes, that's exactly what it looks like he is doing!

[gordongirls]

Wow - congratulations on seeing him and getting such nice photos from the comfort of your own chair! I've never seen one before.

I was walking along a path at work and saw an Acorn Woodpecker (the cutest woodpecker in my mind) but no camera with me. I've seen them in California and knew that there were some around here, but this was my first sighting in Oregon.

[earthmother45]

We don't have the Acorn Woodpecker here and I have never heard of them either. So I looked them up and I'm with you about them being the cutest woodpecker! Then I watched a video about them and someone commented that the sight of the tree with holes gave them Trypophobia. I had never heard of that either, so I looked it up. Trypophobia is a proposed fear of a cluster of irregular holes, bumps or patterns. It actually sickens and makes one feel nauseated. The tree covered with holes filled with acorns was wondrous to me, but it is a real fear to some.

I absolutely love learning new things!

[faunhaert]

that's spectacular !!
congratulations!!

they make the loudest pecking noises
you can hear them head banging for miles!

[earthmother45]

I love woodpeckers! Here's an interesting fact about them: Woodpeckers are headache-proof. Their bills do not connect directly to their skulls. There is shock-absorbing tissue in between that allows them to pound for hours every day. They can strike hard wood at the rate of more than ten times per second. The ability of this tissue to spring back to shape and cushion again between each strike compares with the best man-made shock absorbing materials.

[faunhaert]

they are amazing birds.

they been eating bugs off the house
prefer them to do it later in the day.

the little woodpeckers
having been hanging around
think it means their bugs have been poisoned
;(

[kabuldur]

I have found out recently that Pileated Woodpeckers are shy, so it's very special that you got these photos. You must have been quiet! Maybe there's some site somewhere that would really love these pictures. Your camera must be very fast. Is it quiet? I wish mine was.

And what a pretty bird! Beautiful photographs!

[earthmother45]

I think they are shy, too. Only time they don't seem to pay much attention to me is when they are busy pecking away at a hole.

I move slowly, very slowly, because I've found with many birds they react to sudden movements before they react to noise. I've never found a way to make my camera quiet, so there is always a clicking noise, but that doesn't seem to bother them.

[kabuldur]

I can't even seem to be able to point a camera at them before they become all shy!