Female Downy Woodpecker
October 20, 2002—It's been a while since I sat in the front yard with the camera, but this afternoon, I did just that because we installed a new feeder today and I was hoping to catch a picture of a bird using it. No such luck, of course, but my efforts did not go unrewarded. Very soon after I set myself up, look who appeared in the tree:
This female downy woodpecker has been a frequent visitor to our suet feeder. She comes at least twice a day, every day. So, I was fairly sure that that's where she'd be heading this time. Having flown in from the large tree in our neighbor's front yard, she took a cautious look around. She didn't look straight at me, but I had the distinct impression she was assessing whether or not I was a threat.
Satisfied I was indeed nothing to worry about, she hopped nearer the feeder (you can just see the top of the chain in the picture at left), and then down on to the feeder. By the way, earlier today, I saw a red bellied woodpecker partaking of the delights of this feeder, but by the time I'd fetched the camera it had flown away.
This feeder tends to spin rather rapidly when a bird is on it, so the photographs appear to be from different directions, but in truth it's the feeder and bird that are in motion. I was sitting comfortably snapping off these shots.
Of course, most of the pictures I get are like the one at right. The bird is much more interested in eating the food than posing for me to take pictures!