April 5, 2011

Woody


Good morning, all... it's actually 1:00 a.m.while I'm typing this...
We are having bad storms tonight and I'm not sure if the power will be on or off in a minute so I'll have to make this a quick post.

Just wanted to share some pictures I took over the weekend of a rare sight around here: a pileated woodpecker!
(Sorry for the poor picture quality... it's times like these I would really love to have a camera with a BIG zoom... *sigh*)

I took this quickly because I was afraid he would fly away when he saw me....


 But after a minute or two, he looked down as if he was trying to figure out why the chickens below him were making such a fuss.
(He was HUGE... no doubt they thought he was a hawk. Or a 747...)


One more shot... the best close-up I could get....

And then he was gone....


Mr. Woody, thanks for dropping by and staying a few minutes- you made my day!

33 comments:

  1. He is really BIG! So glad you could get some pictures to share. The strong wind has me up in the middle of the night too!

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  2. Wow! Those are great pics! I'm glad he didn't fly away when he saw you. I'm not surprised that he scared the chickens.

    Hope your storms aren't bad.

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  3. Oh Paula! He's wonderful-the pictures are great!
    My girls don't like big birds either-they saw 3 great blue herons flying low yesterday morning-the alarm calls (honks) went up loud and clear!
    I bet your girls were glad you were in sight when woody was in that tree....
    Love, Debra

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  4. terrific pictures - absolutely - they are impressive birds.

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  5. Wow! What a Big Woody!!Hahahaa...no pun intended!!
    Great shots Miz Paula! It really pays to carry that camera!!
    hughugs

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  6. Hummer's and Woody's are my favorite and you sure captured one that is after my heart. Look at that sweet one, HE says, "I see you!!!!" I am on the lookout for my Pileated. Don't they remind you of something prehistoric? So allusive but you know that call when they are in the area. Great Photos.

    I hope you are all okay, did you lose power or trees?

    What a bad storm we had. Power when out at midnight. Wind was awful, we got the parrots and went to the den and hovered in the corner by the steps. Power was out for 4 hours. We came through safe but power is still out around us and many trees down. Thanking the lord for his protection.

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  7. How lucky to get such good pics. Those things look positively prehistoric, don't they? Deb

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  8. Very cool!
    Hope you have the opportunity to see him again. I think your pictures turned out great!
    Poor girls... hope they didn't get too nerved out thinking that big guy was going to swoop down on them.
    Hope you are all safe and sound and weathered the storm safely.

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  9. Those are great! Glad you were able to catch his lovely topknot!

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  10. Wow, those were some super pictures. We have woodpeckers here but they are not as colorful and are on the smallish side. There is a row of pinetrees alongside my neighbors fence and the local woody loves whatever bugs are on there. I love to watch them peck. Just so cute.

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  11. I love when the woodpeckers come here for the spring. And I want a bigger camera too.

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  12. These are really good pictures..such a different kind of a tree for a woodi to be in, I usually see them on a wood type tree. Poor little chickens..that would give them and you are heart attack! ;D

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  13. great pics! and how cool to see him. it's been really windy and rainy here too...ugh
    Kris

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  14. You did a good job; cause those rascals are hard to photograph! Bet those silly chickens were in an uproar.

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  15. We had the same kind of Woodpecker visit us at our old place a few years ago. I was SHOCKED at how BIG HE WAS! They are quite a sight!

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  16. What a great photo. I have been trying to get one of the woodpecker we have in our tree but I can't get my zoom in fast enough for him.
    I sure do hope that you get through the bad storms ok.
    The wind here has been relentless,you almost need to weight down yourself.
    Hugs

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  17. Just saw this, Paula, and he's beautiful! I'm so glad you got pictures of him. I would love to see one here!

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  18. Wow, those are good pictures. He is huge! No wonder the chickies were freaking out.

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  19. He looks huge ! ! Great pictures, I've never seen one, the woodpeckers down here are smaller and look much different...they still make a lot of noise though!

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  20. Great Pictures, He is a big one, we see one occasionaly around here but its rare. Thank you for your post and hope everything is well after the storms. We had them bad too. Thanks Susie

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  21. Aren't they beautiful?! When we lived in the Seattle area we had one visit occasionally. I must say he wasn't as big as yours though.

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  22. What an amazing visitor! I haven't seen one of those is YEARS! But if i was a woodpecker, i would definitely visit you!(If i could fly it would be much easier! ;)

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  23. Great pictures, Paula! They are a very common site here--I hear them hollering all the time. Some of my chickens and cats are afraid of them, LOL!

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  24. WOW----he is quite a big boy!!! reat pictures!!

    Come on over and say hi!!

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  25. Hi Paula, Your new visitor is wonderful. Was he pretty noisey? Is that how you knew he was around?
    We get alot of woodpeckers around our yard but not that big. Have a good day. Lisa

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  26. Wow! How awesome...He is really HUGE! Those are some wonderful pictures. How lucky of you to have had him visit you and allow you to take these wonderful pics.

    Irma :)

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  27. Love the pics! I haven't seen any around here with such beautiful coloring. Take Care :)

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  28. He is gorgeous Paula! Thanks for sharing the pictures and I hope the storm wasn't too bad.
    Tracey

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  29. I was just sitting here in awe, until I got to the "747" part... then I laughed. Thanks for never failing to keep me in stitches :D Hope your power stays on!!

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  30. Wow, what great shots you got! How cool to see them AND get pictures!

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  31. Hi Paula.. I do not think that you are coming up on my google readers list... I can't believe I have missed two of your postings.. I decided to go in from my blog and there you are... Sorry ..
    You probably did't miss me anyway as you are so popular.. giggle..
    I love the pics of the woodpecker. I was doing the same yesterday but he is much smaller.
    Have a good weekend dear friend and take care...
    Hugs...

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  32. I can never see one of those things without imagining it sitting on my shoulder and pecking my brain out my ear! I don't know why, but they are just so stinkin' intimidating!!! We have them here, too ~ equally elusive, but fun to watch.

    Great shots.

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  33. What a special treat!!!!! We do not have these around here, but I have taught the children about them. It must have been amazing to see one in real life!!!

    Thank you for sharing!
    Carissa

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