...if a woodpecker could peck wood?
Several times Bud and I frequent an area where recently the Texas Bird Sighting posts have noted a couple of woodpeckers that have been spotted. We drive there, only to come up empty handed so to speak! No woodpeckers for the two of us...even when the chalkboard at the kiosk shows they've been spotted the day before or even a few hours earlier than when we arrive on the very day; they're again listed. Well recently, after we made our first stop at one of our favorite areas, we drove to the pond and wooded area where the TxBS postings alerted us the woodpeckers were still in the vicinity. Bud and I spotted catbirds, yellow rumped warblers, one lone grackle, and a trio of turkey vultures in a dead tree. The power lines were loaded with starlings singing their song. At the end of the observation deck, I turned and spotted a Northern Flicker [Red Shafted - defining ID mark is the Red Mustache on the male] very well hidden in the deep, dark, brush below the wooden planks. I waited. Patiently, I thought. After about 10 minutes of the flicker not coming into view of my camera lens, I gave up. I guess that's my vice, or bad habit, of my birding agendas...I have very little patience like some who sit with the scopes for a good part of the day; not moving from their spot. Bud heard a Cardinal about the time I turned to leave, and he spotted it high in the tree branch. While he was watching the Cardinal, he spotted "my" Flicker!! Altho it didn't cooperate with me much...it did come into view on a power pole!! Naturally, he was on the shaded side of the pole. Leaving the power pole it flew to a nearby tree. Still, it remained mostly hidden by branches or shadows. But, I snapped some photos of it anyway.
NORTHERN FLICKER [Red Shafted]
Photos taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas [Mustang Island]
While viewing this red-shafted woodpecker through the lens and binoculars, two other noted woodpeckers came out in the open!! The beautiful, small, Downy Woodpecker and smaller Ladderbacked Woodpecker [I hope I have the correct ID thanks to Wally]. They're habitat boundary shows anyone that they don't come this far south into Texas very often; mostly unseen but here none the less. Of course, rarities happen in the life of birds/birding. I was happy to see these, especially because of the fact they're quite elusive in my part of Texas. These particular woodpeckers were a bit more to a show off! Of which I was pretty darned pleased to be able to get some poses.
DOWNY WOODPECKER [smaller beak] & LADDERBACKED WOODPECKER
photos taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas [Mustang Island]
TRIVIA:
According to Corn.ell Lab, "As with all woodpeckers...Woodpeckers don’t sing songs, but they drum loudly against pieces of wood or metal to achieve the same effect". People sometimes think this drumming is part of the birds’ feeding habits, but it isn’t. In fact, feeding birds make surprisingly little noise even when they’re digging vigorously into wood.
Thing is, I've heard the golden fronted woodpeckers 'sing'!! Not like Mockingbirds of course, but I can hear their calling throughout the neighborhood. Guess the LAB doesn't consider it a song per sé.
Downy Woodpeckers have been discovered nesting inside the walls of buildings.
Now, share your birding experiences: [ps... -Feb 9- is my birthday, I may be late in paying y'all visits to those who leave comments and link up since I won't be home much this weekend!!! Happy weekend to everyone...and get out and enjoy those birds!!!]
