Saturday, February 21, 2009

Onward!

This morning I walked part of the Interurban Trail when....

I was suddenly startled by a very loud, deep hollow drum hammering noise, looked up and spotted this woodpecker!  Not a dainty tap tap tap or fast brrrrrp no,  "Bam Bam Bam Bam" machine gun style!  So of course I am scrambling to get my camera out of my fanny pack and trying at the same time to not scare him away.  The camera hangs up on something and the bird moves to another snag.  I finally get the camera loose, he moves again.  I turn on the digital camera, he moves to another snag even more secluded.  I hunt for him trying to zoom and focus at the same time and can't find him!  Darn, how frustrating!

And then, there he is!  A Pileated Woodpecker!  My bird book says, "With its flaming red-crest, breathtaking flight and maniacal call, this impressive deep-forest dweller is successful at stopping most hikers in their tracks."!!  I'll say, he got my attention!  I wonder what he is doing in town?

Speaking of town.  Looks like things are getting desperate.

7 comments:

  1. Nice picture of the woodpecker. You'll probably see flickers around there, too. But "maniacal call"? Isn't that a little judgmental on the part of your bird book? Reminds me of "hysterical female" somehow :)

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  2. Wow! I've seen only one pileated woodpecker and that was in my front yard. Great picture.

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  3. Congratulations Ron on 500! I love logging into you blog each day and seeing what's going on in the world. Thanks to you I've alsos started following several othe blogs. Best wishes to your mom-in-law and the next 500. T

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  4. Congratulations on your 500th post! In appreciation for waking me up to the important things in Life, I am presenting you with a Kreativ Blogger award!

    Please pick up your award at my blog, http://nostalgiatodayandyesterday.blogspot.com (Scroll down to the picture of the award, click, and get the image to paste on your blog. I think that's what I did--I'm so new at this!).

    If you wish, you may then transmit this award to seven other deserving bloggers, but that is not a requirement if you prefer not to do so.

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  5. Oh, what a handsome shot! You had me on the edge of my seat; is he gonna' get that shot or not?

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  6. Congratulations on yer 500th! May yer next 500 be just as fun.

    BTW, this Amercan talk of fanny packs is always good for a giggle. See the Ducktionary.

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