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Success at last: The Pileated Woodpecker

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For over a year, I've hoped to get some pictures of the Pileated Woodpeckers in the woods behind my house. I've heard them call nearby, caught glimpses of them in trees, and seen them flying around in the area - once right over my head - but have never been able to catch them where I could get a picture.

Out in the yard this morning, I heard a Pileated call in a nearby tree once again. I looked around for it, and saw it fly into one of my neighbors' maple trees. I didn't expect it to stay, but if you don't try.... I went in and got my camera.

When I came out, I walked down that way, searching the trees, but I couldn't see it anywhere. Then I heard a hammering - but not the sharp rapping of a recently dead tree, rather a punky pounding - which told me right where the bird was, in the big old dead pine at the back of the cemetery (the one I posted a picture of almost a month ago). I worked down to the corner of the cemetery where I could get an unimpeded shot, and there it was. I got a few tentative shots, but it worked around behind the tree and stayed there, only reappearing briefly - sometimes I had a chance to focus and shoot, sometimes not. Then I realized that having it on the other side of the tree gave me a chance to sneak closer. I worked up to the large gravestone in the previous picture, which gave me support to shoot, and managed another shot or two before it disappeared again. So I picked another, closer, large stone, and moved to that. As I was waiting, it flew from a nearby tree, and I thought I was done. However, when I looked back at the upper part of the pine, the bird was still there - there had been two of them! Moreover, it had moved out from behind a tree into this position; I managed two quick pictures (this is the better) before it flew off after its mate.

Proving once again that perseverance pays off. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

[P.S. - This is a female. The male has red all the way down the forehead to the bill, and red in the mustache.]
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joyfulli

Wonderful photo, Don!!

dondi

I turns out that this is a female. The male has red all the way down the forehead to the bill, and red in the mustache.

Surreal_Heidi

Magnificent shot! Congratulations!

Beekay

Fantastic photo!

PLG1958

Fabulous photo, Dondi! So clear! Congratulations!!!

dondi

Well, Suzy, I have to say that a really good telephoto lens improves your chances significantly! I was still a long way away when I got this one, and he was way up in the tree.

JM_Cookie

Yes Dondi, well done :-)

pumpkinhead

Excellent, Dondi!!! They are so elusive and hard to capture in a photo. This is the best time of year to spot one as they are not hiding in the foliage of the trees. Many hours have been spent chasing the pileated around here and while camping. All I have to show for it are some spots of red, some tail feathers, lots of blur and trees! I can imitate his call quite well though!!! :)
Well done!! This is an excellent picture of him!

Good photo. This is the handsome fellow who was the model for Woody Woodpecker. "That's all, folks".

Great shot!! I've only seen two of those awesome creatures in my life, and both times I was simply amazed!

PenSet

Wow! Good job! And thank you for the amazing shot.

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