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March 17, 2014 - 5:30pm

A gathering of late winter woodpeckers

The past couple of weeks we've seen an incredible amount of avian activity taking place, species ranging from songbirds to raptors. Among the wide variety were a number of woodpeckers, like the red-bellied woodpecker pictured above. He had been hard at work before sensing my presence and then abruptly snapped to attention.  

After several minutes he decided it was safe to get back to the business at hand.

Pileated wood peckers have been frequent visitors throughout the winter. This is the first frontal pic I've taken - quite by accident as it turned in my direction just as I took his picture.  

Moments later he provided the angle I wanted. Here he's perched on a dead limb of a towering cottonwood.    

Downy woodpeckers have been showing up daily to feast on suet.

It almost seems as if he stopped to check out the falling snow.

Another red-bellied woodpecker investigates the spillage below the bird feeder.

Julie Morales
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Last seen: 5 months 5 days ago
Joined: Nov 27 2009 - 1:29pm

That’s a striking profile of the pileated woodpecker. He makes me think of the Phantom of the Opera wearing his mask and cape. I like his wild messy hair, too.

JIM NIGRO
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Last seen: 3 years 9 months ago
Joined: Oct 14 2008 - 4:37pm

The Phantom with a classic case of bed head!

kevin kretschmer
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Joined: Jan 26 2010 - 9:32pm

Here's a pic I'd thought you'd appreciate, Jim. A patron spotted it when she came out of "Cartwright's" the other day. She said it was just sitting there oblivious to everybody, enjoying the warm weather. Probably couldn't help but be drawn by the wonderful aroma of their sausage cooking.

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/p235x350/1458477...

JIM NIGRO
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Last seen: 3 years 9 months ago
Joined: Oct 14 2008 - 4:37pm

A bobcat!! Not something you see everyday, let alone sitting on the trunk of a car. I guess once it got a whiff of the sausage, stealth went right out the window.

Thanks much, Kevin - hope to see you all on the river soon.

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