Here is another close-up of the Male Pileated Woodpecker that I took this past spring. He was working his way around a large tree trunk on his way down to a suet block.
This was the best shot I got of the female pileated woodpecker (no red on front part of head) from my blind. She was on her way up a large tree after dining on suet.
When the male pileated woodpecker heard my shutter clicking, he moved around to the back of the tree. For a minute or so, he would peek around the side to see if there was anything suspicious. Finally he just ignored the clicking and continued eating suet.
The female woodpecker landed on the tree with a large suet block hanging on it. Before feeding, she checked all around to make sure she the area was clear. My blind 50 feet away did not bother her.
This shot of a male pileated woodpecker was made possible by a combination of my tip network (thanks Michelle!) and my new blind. I was 15 feet away from this guy as he feasted on a suet block. What a treat it was to be so close to one of these beautiful birds.
I had to add a new species category in order to post this photo. This female pileated woodpecker shot is my first ever. I've teamed up with a friend of a business partner to track the comings and goings of a pair of pileated woodpeckers in her backyard. 8AM seems to be the most reliable suet feeding time.
From a closer vantage point, I was able to get a better view of the pileated woodpecker hole (but no woodpecker). There are 2 holes, the main one on top and a smaller one below. They are probably after a colony of ants in the tree. Coming soon - a pileated woodpecker at the hole - I hope.
I got a call from someone who had a pair of pileated woodpeckers in their backyard all morning. The woodpeckers left before I arrived, but they were excavating this hole in a backyard tree to get bugs. I'm hoping I will get some shots of the woodpeckers on my next visit.
Bird Species
