The trails were ours alone at Germantown Reserve.
The browns of fall, faded now. The sunlight barely penetrating, though not a leaf between us and sky.
We walked past tree after tree, the gray furrowed bark chipped bare--a brilliant, red core revealed.
In the distance, the Pileateds call.
These woods of Twin Creek are their home.
New work and old.
The striking black-and-white, with the showy red crest has carved his name here.
The deep, chiseled holes equally striking in the spring sunshine.
Cherry trees.
And fallen chips.
"Have you seen...." is an effort to discover the unusual beauty in things not usually appreciated for their beauty.
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19 comments:
i'm very sad... i can't see any of your pictures on this one...
Nor can I.
Sorry, folks.
The code had a glitch in it--should be straightened out now.
Glad that I made it here by the time you fixed the photos! Those woodpeckers can really make those trees holey!
We have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers who are at our suet several times a day. Last year they brought two fledglings to teach them how to eat there. What a sight to behold!
I love walking through our woods and looking for the holes they have drilled. Interestingly enough, they drum on different trees than they drill. It must have something to do with the bark, or the hollow nature of the tree. We seem to have the perfect drumming tree outside the bathroom window. I could listen for hours.
Cool woodpecker tree, Nina.
What is that white flowering shrub in the background?
What amazes me is : how do these magnificent birds know that there are insects (mostly ants I would guess) deep within the tree ?? It would be a lot of wasted energy to do all that chipping and digging and find that the cuboard was bare.
ncmountainwoman--I'd love to have them that close! We have a pair that teases us each spring with the hope of a nest nearby--but we usually only get them to within 30 feet or so.
RuthieJ--sorry the photo is misleading. That's a young beech tree, still holding last year's leaves. But, even so, they're a lovely accent to dark, brown woods!
Cestoady--can they hear them??
Nina,
So that's the work of a pileated? I've seen those holes before. I'll go back and examine them more closely. Thanks..
It gives me a headache just looking at those holes. They have to work so hard for their food.
WoW! What strong little guys they are! Such power, I'm impressed.
WOW--that row of holes is amazing.
I can hear the woodpeckers in woods near us, but have not seen them here.
I did see them on a recent trip to Indiana, and was very proud of myself for being able to ID 3 types of woodpeckers--me, the non-birder.
The third pic has a shape of a heart! Or maybe it's just that I'm in love and I see them everywhere.. :)
What a very lovely, rich colour revealed from under the bark. Very nice photos.
Mary--Yes--that's the pileated--as identifiable by the size of the chips (almost like mulch!), as the size of the hole being worked!
Chris--they wield their bill like a crow bar--aren't they interesting?
Donna--We didn't see any this day, either--good for you with your IDs--you ARE a birder!
Mel--I see the heart--thanks for pointing that out. Everyone see it a little differently. I'm glad you're in love!
Me and my camera--I loved the contrast. The silvery gray against the rich coppery red--and such texture. (and they all seemed slightly different in composition--I took tons of ics of them!)
What a truely fantastic sight to come across.. I really glad you took these shots and then posted them here..
Tom
Woodpeckers are one of my favourite bird families. A pair of great spotted woodpeckers (which are about the size of starlings) have just returned to my garden here. In the spring they are extremely noisy as they drum to indicate territory!
I love your "Have you seen" premise. I've inadvertently followed a similar tactic during the winter when I was desperate for something to photograph and post. You've shown that it's important to observe and appreciate all nature's beauty and events throughout the seasons.
these are all sights I DO see and pay attention to. That's why visiting your blog is so worthwhile: to know that others are observing in the same way. Lovely post.
Diane
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