Ruby Tuesday: Pileated Woodpecker

Sunday afternoon I glanced out my sunroom window toward the edge of the woods and saw what I thought was a crow and wondered what it had in its mouth that was white. The crows have been building a nest in the nearby woods. The 'crow' moved and I noticed the red head. I was so excited but knew even my zoom lens could not pick up what I realized was a pileated woodpecker. Hubs came in and we watched it fly away. As hubby walked to the dining room he said it was on the trees near the dining room window. I grabbed my camera and the above image is that attempt. You can see it was still far away. I went back to my computer and saw it land on a tree just outside my window. I grabbed the camera and again it took off.

I hurried to the living room window hoping and there it was on a small tree trunk. This time success even through the dirty window.

Near that small tree is a dead tree trunk and a perfect spot to grab a snack. She was all around the bottom of the tree trunk and I just keep clicking. Here I caught her with her wings out and was able to capture the white markings on her wings. At least I'm fairly sure it is a female. Even though the photos aren't super I don't see the red line from bill to throat that would indicate a male.

This profile shot is my favorite. Hubs teased me that I chased her all around the house. I started out just being happy I had even seen this beauty at the edge of the woods but my persistance paid off and I have photos to prove she was really here.

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