May 21, 2010 - 2
Cool sighting of the week:Definitely one of the coolest sightings ever in this backyard, as briefly mentioned, a huge pileated woodpecker was seen in the backyard this week.
Sometimes we'll get a fly-over and catch sight of the big bird in that way, but this time he was on the ground, close by, and he wasn't very timid at all. I heard a familiar call and thought it to be the northern flicker, when my friend said - "Oh, no, Gene - take a look over there, it's the pileated woodpecker!" I looked toward the sundial table and could just see something red and black perched on the old maple tree stump and poking it's head up through the grass. It was huge and didn't seem to mind at all that we were watching him.
My friend grabbed the camera and before long we had some great shots of the oversized bird. It just goes to show that it's often beneficial to leave nature to take care of itself. This sighting may never have happened if I'd have taken out that old stump.
Meanwhile, there's at least one rare and beautiful pileated woodpecker who may grace us with it's presence as long as it can find a place to eat in this backyard.
Either way, catching a close-up view of the pileated woodpecker this week was very cool!
Heard on WDVR FM every Friday at 3PM during Anything Goes!
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