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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday - Red-bellied Woodpecker




On a rainy evening just around dusk I caught a flash of red in the trees in the front yard.  An exciting spotting for me--the Red-bellied Woodpecker.  Often worry about the decline of mature trees in my landscape, but if rotting wood and insects under the bark attract these unusual birds guess it's a pretty good compromise.

And here are a few more views, but regretfully never got one of its red belly:


And finally, a couple of shots at my neighbor's feeder the next day:


In most of these photos I noticed that the woodpecker's red "helmet" was blurred.  Must have been really getting down to business pecking out some goodies!

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday .

17 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i like these birds. :)

Unknown said...

Great find!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

mick said...

That is a very beautiful bird to have visiting your yard. Great to get photos of it.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

every time i see a similar one of these in our yard ... i have to say "showoff" ... they really are gorgeous. ( :

Jan n Jer said...

Love his red helmemt! nice capture

Living Life said...

He sure is a handsome fella! We had a huge red headed wood pecker in our yard last week. I couldn't get close enough to get his pic, but I stay on the lookout for him to return.

Carletta said...

You've captured one of my favorite birds. I have a lot of blurred bird heads. They don't stay still long at the feeders. :)

I never got to thank you for your comment about me not looking sixty. My Mom gave me good genes. Thank you for the compliment.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Fabulous!!!!!!!

eileeninmd said...

I love all the woodies, great shots and a wonderful visitor.

Hootin Anni said...

Great birds!!! I think the one in the collage...the one in the woods, at a distance where the red head shows up so clearly is my favorite.

Arija said...

He should be in the building trade, that red helmet is a blast!

Stewart M said...

I dont think you are alone in not getting a shot of the red belly - I dont think I've seen a picture that shows it!

What a great bird!

Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW

Stewart M - Melbourne

Sharon Wagner said...

They are always fun to see. And hear!

Brian King said...

We had them at the feeders all winter. Great shots!

Unknown said...

Beautiful woodpeckers!

NatureFootstep said...

nature needs the old trees and insects. Congrats to the sightings and good shots. :)

Neil said...

Beautiful bird.