Posts Tagged "red-bellied woodpecker"

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Posted by Pat Stewart on Oct 3, 2012 in Portfolio, Slider | 0 comments

The Return of the Red-bellied Woodpecker

Posted by Pat Stewart on Oct 3, 2012 in Backyard Birds, My Blog | 0 comments

Recently when I experienced a hard drive crash, I ultimately lost so much of my writing and photography work.  PAINFUL lesson on the supreme importance of verifying one’s backup procedures.  Couple that with having spent the summer in Florida away from my birds who seemingly have come to depend on my feeding and caring for them, I have truly been mourning my losses.  Seriously! The backyard birds have been slowly returning to the feeding stations and enjoying the huge holly tree that I refer to as “Air Traffic Control.”   The holly tree was picked clean of berries at the end of winter by a convergence of robust robins and beloved Cedar Waxwings.  That was a process to observe!!!  I most often see robins on the ground searching for the proverbial WORM.  So, for me, it was a new experience to see them arrive in flock and devour the holly berries sometimes 5 or 6 berries at a time.  This occurred over several days. Then, one cold late afternoon, I caught a glimpse of what looked like the mysterious Zorro-masked Cedar Waxwing in an opening in the holly.  Could it be?  My heart began to race as I grabbed my camera to zoom and there he was standing sentry while yet another waxwing plucked the berries from further within the tree. But back to the Return of the Red-bellied Woodpecker.  I’ve had to be patient as the backyard birds slowly began to trust again after my absence, so I’ve been enjoying the Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, the Mockingbird, my soul-mates the Mourning Doves, Carolina Chickadees, the precious little Downy Woodpeckers and House Finches.  How I have longed to see the Red-bellied Woodpecker return, but no sign of one until yesterday.  And such a return it was!  She flew right outside my window as I was working at my computer and nearly took my breath away.  So striking, different and colorful as she crouched on a limb surveying the area before she moved to the suet feeder.  I was able to capture one good photo of her and gave thanks that I had received such a blessing in that moment. My, what wonders our Creator has done and continues to do in our world of...

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Posted by Pat Stewart on Feb 9, 2012 in Portfolio, Slider | 0 comments